Cairns · Great Barrier Reef
Bring everyone Groups & private charters Corporate, sport, schools and special occasions
One pontoon on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, a fleet of stabilised catamarans, and a crew that has hosted groups of every kind since 1991.
Quick Answer
Sunlover runs group days and private charters to Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island from Cairns, every day of the year. Groups of 10 or more are quoted and tailored directly — corporate days, sports teams, celebrations, school groups and cruise-line shore transfers. Full-day and half-day private charters are available, with private catering and open bar options. Email groups@sunlover.com.au or call 07 4050 1333 and tell us the occasion.
One reef, every kind of group
The Moore Reef pontoon is a stable, spacious base 40 nautical miles offshore — which is what makes it work for groups. Swimmers snorkel, non-swimmers ride the semi-submersible and glass bottom boat, and everyone shares the same deck, the same buffet and the same day. No one gets left on the beach.
Who we build days for
Every group day is put together with our groups team, not booked off a shelf.
Team days, retreats and launches
Product launches, executive retreats and team-building days on the reef, with private catering and open bar options available.
- Full-day or half-day private charters
- Reef Restoration team-building experiences
- Home of the annual Great Barrier Reef Ocean Swim
Teams that train and bond together
Days crafted for sports groups — a mix of physical adventure, recovery time and the kind of shared experience that builds a team. Customised to your squad's goals.
- Snorkelling and open-water swimming at the pontoon
- Island and outer-reef options for lower-key days
Birthdays, reunions and milestones
Tell us the occasion and the number of people, and we will build the day around it — reserved group seating, catering options and a crew who make a fuss of the right person.
- Moore Reef, Fitzroy Island, or both in one day
- Groups of 10 or more quoted directly
Curriculum-aligned reef learning
School groups get their own program — Marine Biologist for a Day, guided by marine biologists and Master Reef Guides, with students contributing real survey data to the Reef Authority's Eye on the Reef program.
Want the whole boat? Charter it.
Full-day and half-day private charters
For the days that should belong to your group alone — a private charter puts your people, your schedule and your occasion first. Private catering and open bar options are available, and the groups team will shape the itinerary with you: reef time, island time, or both.
Charters are quoted individually. The earlier you enquire, the more of the calendar is yours to choose from.
Cruise lines: ship-to-shore transfers
Charter the Sundancer for tender operations
Cruise ships at the Cairns, Yorkeys Knob and Port Douglas anchorages can charter the Fitzroy Sundancer for ship-to-shore transfers — a 200-passenger, 22-knot catamaran crewed by people who work these waters every day. For larger passenger movements, our 400-passenger catamarans can also be deployed. Ship-to-shore charters are booked through the cruise line’s shore-excursion ground-handling company, not with the ship directly. Ground handlers and port teams: contact the groups desk with your call dates and passenger movements, and we will quote the operation directly.
A sample tender day — from a real operation:
- 6:15am — Sundancer departs Cairns Marlin Marina
- 8:30am — alongside the ship at anchor; tender operations run to the ship’s schedule through the day
- 7:00pm — released by the ship, returns to Cairns Marlin Marina
Crew lists and Border Force transfer permissions are handled by our operations team as part of the service.
groups@sunlover.com.au · +61 7 4050 1333
Choose your vessel
Every charter is matched to a vessel. The fleet at a glance, so coordinators can shortlist before talking to the groups team.
| Vessel | Guests | Size & speed | Decks & seating | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropic Sunbird | 400 330 max on pontoon days | 33.4 m · 22 knots | 3 decks · 355 interior seats (tables, lounges) + 64 exterior · snack & bar servery on the main deck | WiFi · bathrooms · accessible toilet · designated wheelchair area |
| Tropic Sunseeker | 400 330 max on pontoon days | 33.4 m · 22 knots | 3 decks · 355 interior seats (tables, lounges) + 64 exterior · snack & bar servery on the main deck | WiFi · bathrooms · accessible toilet · designated wheelchair area |
| Catalina | 213 | — | 3 passenger decks · main deck 115 seats, upper deck 70, sun deck 28 | Bathrooms · accessible toilet · stairs to the middle deck · no designated wheelchair area |
| Fitzroy Sundancer | 200 | 21.8 m · 22 knots | 2 decks · 105 interior seats + 80 on the top deck (44 undercover) · the ship-to-shore tender | WiFi · bathrooms · ramp + 2 steps aboard · manual wheelchairs only, no accessible toilet |
Guest numbers are each vessel’s survey capacity, and crew travel in addition to them. On Moore Reef pontoon days, total numbers are managed so that everyone on the pontoon — guests and crew together — never exceeds the pontoon’s 342-person capacity — which is why the big catamarans carry a maximum of 330 passengers on pontoon days. Fitzroy Island arrivals are capped at 475 guests per day across all Sunlover departures. The right number for your day also depends on the operation and conditions, and the groups team confirms it when quoting. Accessibility details match our Accessibility & Inclusion page.
What groups tell us
"It was a well run operation and safety is always a first for them."
JJ — Google review, Moore Reef day trip
"The ferry ride from Cairns was smooth and comfortable, and the staff were incredibly friendly, professional, and knowledgeable."
Monique — Google review
How a group booking works
Tell us the occasion
Use the form below, email groups@sunlover.com.au or call 07 4050 1333 with your dates, numbers and what the day is for.
We build the day with you
The groups team quotes your group directly and tailors the itinerary — tour choice, seating, catering, add-ons.
Lock it in
Confirm and you're done. Popular dates — especially school terms and event season — book out early, so start the conversation ahead of time.
Common questions
How many people counts as a group?
Can we charter a vessel privately?
What if some of our group don't swim?
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
How far ahead should we book?
Who do we talk to?
Request a group booking
Tell us who's coming and what the day is for — the groups team replies directly.
Got a crowd? Good.
Groups of ten or more, sports teams, school years, whole companies — we run to the reef every day of the year, and the day is better shared.
Email the groups team See tours & prices