Great Barrier Reef News & Updates

A Day at Moore Reef Pontoon With Kids: A Mum’s Guide

Mar 23, 2023

I get asked the same questions before every reef trip, so here’s the full day at Moore Reef pontoon, from a mum’s perspective — the schedule, what’s actually included, and the practical stuff nobody tells you before you book.

Quick answer: what does a day at Moore Reef pontoon with kids look like?

Check-in is 8:30–9am at the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns, the boat departs 9:30am and arrives at the pontoon around 11:30am. You’ve got roughly four hours out there — glass-bottom boat and semi-sub tours, a buffet lunch, self-guided snorkelling in a buoyed-off area, a waterslide, and a shallow enclosed wading pool for young kids — before pack-up at 3:40pm and a return to Cairns around 5:30pm.

Key takeaways

The full day runs 8:30am check-in to around 5:30pm return — about four hours actually at the pontoon.
Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket, and stinger suits down to baby sizes) is supplied and stored at the pontoon.
There’s a enclosed ocean wading pool (about 4m × 2m, under a metre deep) for young kids who aren’t ready for open snorkelling.
Green sea turtles and hawksbills turn up in the snorkelling area most days.
Parking near the Reef Fleet Terminal: around $20/day under the pier building, or as low as $5/day on the street near Hemingways.
Take seasickness medication before boarding if you’re prone to it — it works better taken early than after you start to feel it.

The full day, hour by hour

8:30–9:00am — check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal and collect your tickets.
8:45–9:10am — board the boat. It’s a large, three-level, air-conditioned catamaran; the middle level has lounge-style seating with easy access to the outside deck.
9:30am — depart Cairns.
11:30am — arrive at Moore Reef pontoon. The boat stays docked there the whole time and is a dry, air-conditioned space you can retreat to.
From 12pm — glass-bottom boat and semi-sub tours run roughly every 20 minutes, and a buffet lunch is served on board.
3:40pm — the pontoon is packed up and everyone boards for departure. Good time for an ice cream before you go.
Around 5:30pm — back at the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns.

What’s actually at the pontoon

Snorkel equipment — mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket, and lycra stinger suits in every size, including for babies — is stored at the pontoon; ask the crew if you can’t find your size. There are change room cubicles and freshwater showers. A waterslide runs off the top deck with a crew lookout stationed whenever it’s operating. The snorkelling area itself is a large stretch marked out by buoys and ropes, with lookouts watching for safety and to call people back if they drift toward the perimeter — plenty of room to snorkel close to the pontoon or further out, and green sea turtles and hawksbills show up most days. For younger kids not ready for open-water snorkelling, there’s a enclosed ocean wading pool, roughly 4m by 2m and under a metre deep — a good way to get them confident in salt water first.

Practical tips from a Sunlover mum

Parking near the Reef Fleet Terminal runs around $20 for the day under the pier building, or you can find street parking near Hemingways for as little as $5 a day — just allow extra time to walk down to the terminal. If you’re prone to seasickness, take your medication (Travacalm works for most adults) as soon as you board rather than waiting until you feel unwell; it isn’t recommended for young children, so ginger tablets are the better option for kids.

What time does the Moore Reef pontoon day trip leave and return?

Check-in is 8:30–9am at the Reef Fleet Terminal, the boat departs Cairns at 9:30am, and you’re back at the terminal around 5:30pm. You get roughly four hours at the pontoon itself.

Is Moore Reef pontoon suitable for young kids?

Yes — there’s a enclosed, shallow ocean wading pool for kids who aren’t ready for open snorkelling, and stinger suits are available in sizes down to babies. Lookouts supervise both the wading pool area and the open snorkelling zone.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?

No, mask, snorkel, fins, life jackets and stinger suits in all sizes are supplied and stored at the pontoon.

What if I get seasick?

Take a seasickness tablet as soon as you board rather than waiting — it works far better taken early. Products like Travacalm aren’t recommended for young children; ginger tablets are the usual alternative for kids.

Is there parking at the Reef Fleet Terminal?

Yes. Paid parking is available under the pier building (around $20/day), and cheaper street parking can be found near Hemingways from around $5/day, a short walk from the terminal.