15 minutes from the Port Douglas reef boats
Great Barrier Reef Resort near Port Douglas
Stay on the reef coast, a short drive from the reef boats
Thala Beach Nature Reserve is a private beachfront headland just south of Port Douglas, 75 minutes from Cairns Airport and on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. Our tour desk books your reef trip, the boat operators pick you up from Thala, and at the end of the day you come back to a timber bungalow in the forest above the Coral Sea.
- 15 min
- to Port Douglas
Marina - 75 min
- from Cairns
Airport - 3,000+
- individual
reefs - 1
- of the seven natural
wonders of the world
Our tour desk
How to visit the Great Barrier Reef from Thala
Reef day trips leave from Port Douglas Marina, about 15 minutes from Thala. Different operators run different kinds of trips, so whether you’re an experienced scuba diver, a first-time snorkeller or somewhere in between, there’s a day on the reef to suit you.
With our local knowledge, the tour desk can recommend the right trip for you and book it.
- Book your stayBook direct, and mention the reef when you book if you’d like us to help plan your trip.
- Choose your tripTalk to our tour desk when you book or after you arrive, and we’ll match you with the right operator.
- Picked up from ThalaReef operators collect you from Thala and bring you back at the end of the day.
- Back to the headlandSwim in the freshwater pools, then dinner at Osprey’s overlooking the Coral Sea.
Ways to see the reef
In the water, amongst the coral
Snorkelling
Almost anyone can do it. Boats leave Port Douglas every day for some of the most colourful, vibrant reefs in the world.
Scuba diving
The reef is world-renowned for its dive sites, with trips for certified divers and first-timers alike.
The right boat for you
Each operator runs a different kind of day. Our tour desk knows them all and can advise on the best option for your visit.
About the reef
One of the seven natural wonders of the world
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, made up of more than 3,000 individual reefs. It’s bigger than the Great Wall of China and can be seen from space.
The colours of the coral, the sheer amount of marine life and the size of this underwater world impress even the most seasoned traveller. If you can, nothing beats being in the water amongst it.
Good to know
How far is Thala from the Great Barrier Reef boats?
Reef day trips leave from Port Douglas Marina, about 15 minutes’ drive north of Thala. Operators pick guests up from Thala and drop them back.
Can Thala book my reef trip?
Yes. Our tour desk can book any of the Great Barrier Reef day trips, either when you book your stay or after you arrive.
Do I need to be able to dive?
No. Snorkelling is open to almost anyone, and there are trips for first-time divers as well as experienced ones.
Can I swim at the beach at Thala?
Swimming in the ocean isn’t recommended between November and May because of the possible presence of marine stingers along northern Australia’s coast. Thala’s two freshwater pools are open for swimming year-round.
Your base for the Great Barrier Reef
A private beachfront headland between the reef and the rainforest. Book direct for the best rate.