WELCOME TO OCEAN SAFARI

Welcome to Ocean Safari’s Turtle Tripper Adventure! 

Experience an exhilarating ride to swim with turtles and snorkel the pristine Great Barrier Reef with the multi-award-winning team at Ocean Safari.

Ocean Safari offers two half day tours from Cape Tribulation beach, taking you on an exhilarating 25-minute ride before snorkelling two fabulous locations at Mackay Reef and Mackay Cay. You’ll embark on your journey in a custom designed semi-rigid inflatable vessel, based on the original design of a rescue craft with 360-degree views.

On both the morning and afternoon tours, visits to two different snorkel destinations showcase an extraordinary array of marine life and coral species. After your fast and invigorating ride, you will be more than ready to snorkel the incredible locations at Mackay Reef. On most days, you will snorkel alongside sea turtles, which are found in abundance swimming over reefs full of colourful coral, along with myriads of tropical fish, eagle rays, giant clams and starfish. 

Your fun and experienced Skipper and Eco Host will help you discover the ecological wonders of this precious environment, and ensure your trip is one you’ll never forget!

Play, Eat and Stay in Paradise 

Fall asleep in the jungle lulled by the sounds of the rainforest and wake in the morning to tuck into a hearty, locally produced breakfast, before embarking on an Ocean Safari adventure where you’ll make memories snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. This is all possible in the one convenient vicinity at Ocean Safari, which is also home to Safari Lodge and Turtle Rock Café, offering a complete reef and rainforest experience.

Ocean Safari’s accommodation, Safari Lodge, offers guests a choice of secluded cosy huts or campsites situated in the tropical Daintree rainforest, and just 400 metres from the beach. And it doesn’t stop there. Safari Lodge also offers guest facilities including a swimming pool, camp kitchen and barbecue areas. If cooking breakfast or lunch is not on your agenda during your staycation, you can hop over to the Turtle Rock Café to satiate all your culinary needs. Treat your body to wholefoods prepared to order from fresh, local and sustainably sourced ingredients and sip on local coffee until your heart’s content. 

Where Rainforest Meets Reef 

This magnificent region is home to the lush greens of the Daintree Rainforest which meet the blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the only destination in the world where two natural World Heritage areas meet side by side.

A visit to the Daintree isn’t complete without a tour to the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Safari. Just a 2.5-hour drive north of Cairns and 1.5-hour drive north of Port Douglas, this beautiful part of the tropics at Cape Tribulation is truly where the rainforest meets the reef. The rainforest can be explored by self-guided trails and walks so be sure to ask the Ocean Safari team for more information on exploring this beautiful region. 

You’ll also have the Great Barrier Reef at your fingertips, where you can explore an underwater paradise, teeming with colourful tropical fish and the most beautiful, brightly coloured coral. 

The area experiences a tropical climate with high temperatures, humidity and rainfall – ideal for growing rare tropical fruit. 

The name Cape Tribulation can be traced back to Lieutenant James Cook who was trying to find a way through what he described as ‘the insane labyrinth.’ His ship ran into Endeavour Reef, north-northeast of Cape Tribulation. He wrote: “I name this point Cape Tribulation, because here began all my troubles.” Today, however, Cape Tribulation is highly regarded as a tropical paradise where you can be at one with nature, and the only trouble you will have is deciding how to spend your time. With so many adventures and experiences to choose from, you’ll want to keep returning to this special part of the tropics for more.

Preserving Paradise 

Ocean Safari is making waves in the sustainability space. It is acknowledged as an Advanced Ecotourism operator and as a Green Travel Leader through Ecotourism Australia, which highlights Ocean Safari’s extensive and ongoing commitment to conservation and sustainability. The team at Ocean Safari are diverse, multiskilled friendly professionals who are committed to minimising threats to the Great Barrier Reef’s health, proudly presenting the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to visitors. 

The team at Ocean Safari aim to educate and encourage reef conservation and sustainable practices through their involvement with initiatives like Eye on the Reef and the Reef Seeker program. Ocean Safari's knowledgeable Skippers and Eco Hosts showcase the history, geology and cultural heritage of the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and as the one and only tour of its type in Tropical North Queensland, you’ll be sure to take away exhilarating thoughts of a very special experience!

Accessibility

Wherever possible, Ocean Safari's warm and welcoming team delight in enabling people of all abilities to enjoy the unforgettable rush on the quickest ride to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Ocean Safari vessel is suitable for most ages from 6 months upwards (weather permitting). Unfortunately, tours are not suitable for guests with pre-existing back, neck or hip injuries or who are heavily pregnant.

Ocean Safari tours depart from the beach at Cape Tribulation, which is a short 5-minute walk from the check-in office. Boarding the vessel is via a set of stairs which drop down onto the sandy beach from the front of the vessel. Due to the nature of the day’s activities, the accessibility of the boat, and the necessity of beach boarding, some guests with limited mobility may require additional assistance or may be unable to participate, depending on individual circumstances. Ocean Safari will always strive to accommodate where practical and possible, within the constraints of existing infrastructure.  Please contact Ocean Safari’s supportive team to discuss your unique access requirements by phoning (07) 4098 0006 or emailing tours@oceansafari.com.au.

Please note that snorkeling can be a strenuous activity with additional risks for some guests. You will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire prior to boarding, which can also be completed ahead of time using your own device. Please ensure you answer this honestly for your own safety. If you are not a confident swimmer, please make sure you notify staff at check-in. Life jackets and pool noodles are offered on board for extra buoyancy, and a range of prescription masks are available for hire. Please note that a ladder is the only means of water entry and exit at snorkel sites. 

The Ocean Safari office is located onsite at Turtle Rock Cafe, which is also home to Safari Lodge. Free car parking is available and Ocean Safari offers a courtesy pick up from most Cape Tribulation accommodation houses.pristine beaches and perfectly clear waters. If you are visiting the area and you want to experience all of this and more, without the crowds, and all while having the ride of your life, an Ocean Rafting tour is a perfect choice. Ocean Rafting is a fun and invigorating way to immerse yourself in the best the Whitsundays has to offer. 

Travellers who have a keen sense of adventure will fit right in on an Ocean Rafting tour. Ocean Rafting vessels travel super-fast through the crystal-clear waters surrounding the Whitsundays. You will absolutely feel invigorated, smelling the fresh, salty air, zipping along with the wind in your hair and the sunshine on your face. The boats are open-air, so hold onto your hat! Ocean Rafting’s adventures truly put the ‘action’ back into natural attraction. 

Along with its unforgettable aquatic adventures, Ocean Rafting also offers breathtaking 60-Minute Scenic Flights, flexible Fly/Raft options and private charters to enable you to experience the wonders of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef from every angle. 

With small group sizes, tour options tailored to suit your itinerary and interests, and daily departures from Airlie Beach, Ocean Rafting is an obvious choice for those chasing a natural high in tropical paradise.

Action-packed Adventures

Ocean Rafting offers two exhilarating day tour experiences for you to choose from, as well as spectacular scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef and unspoilt islands of the Whitsundays. 

For sun seekers and beach babes, the Southern Lights tour presents an enticing fusion of relaxation and fun-fuelled adventure. Experience an exhilarating ride across the ocean to laze on the powder-soft sands of South Whitehaven Beach, where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and approximately two hours to chill out and bask in the beauty of an idyllic island paradise. Enjoy a guided bushwalk to witness the spectacular shifting sands at Hill Inlet Lookout, and snorkel and swim amidst coral reefs teaming with magnificent marine life. These tours depart daily at 10am, returning to Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach at 4:30pm. 

Eager to get amongst the aquatic action? Ocean Rafting’s Northern Exposure tour is an excellent choice for those keen to snorkel and those eager to enjoy an uncrowded lunch on the picturesque beach at Hill Inlet. Ocean Rafting is the only tour operator to have direct access to the stunning Hill Inlet Beach and some extra special snorkel sites, boasting beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine life. The Northern Exposure tour includes two spectacular snorkel sites, time to relax and enjoy lunch at Hill Inlet, and a guided bushwalk to see the famous swirling silica sands at Hill Inlet Lookout. The tour departs daily at 8:45am, returning at 3:30pm.

For a spectacular sky-high experience, why not sign up for Ocean Rafting’s breathtaking 60-Minute Scenic Flights? Fall in love with the splendour of iconic Heart Reef and take photos of some of Australia’s most picture-perfect views, as you soar above the spectacular Great Barrier Reef and a sparkling sea dotted with 74 magnificent Whitsunday islands.  

For the best of both worlds, consider combining either the Northern Exposure or Southern Lights tour with a 60-Minute Scenic Flight for the ultimate Fly Raft option, enabling you to truly immerse your senses in this natural paradise from land, sea and sky. For more information about each tour option, please refer to the corresponding audio guide available on our website at oceanrafting.com.au. 

Ocean Rafting also offers private charters for the ultimate personalised experience. 

The Rafting Experience

Amp up the adventure and strap in for the ride of your life aboard Ocean Rafting!  

Ocean Rafting’s fleet is comprised of eight semi-rigid inflatable vessels, which were originally designed as rescue crafts. Most of the vessels measure 12 metres in length and are operated by 700 horsepower engines, allowing them to achieve speeds of up to 30 knots. They deliver an action-packed adventure that varies in intensity according to weather conditions – ranging from fast and fun to exhilarating and wild! These are some of the fastest day boats in the Whitsundays, meaning less time travelling, more high-speed thrills, and more time to soak in the natural splendour of the Whitsundays. 

The bright yellow and blue vessels reflect the relaxed beachy ambience of the tours themselves. A canopy provides partial shade cover, and open sides offer plenty of opportunities for invigorating salty splashes and refreshing ocean breezes to wash over you. It’s all part of the exhilarating adventure! Once you’re underway, speakers pump out the party tunes, adding to the atmosphere of excitement. 

At the spectacular snorkel sites, a ladder extends down the front of the smaller boats, and down the front and sides of the larger vessels, allowing convenient access into and out of the water. 

Ocean Rafting’s vessels allow for a maximum of 25 to 32 people each, ensuring the experience remains authentic and uncrowded.  

Sustaining Spectacular Environments

While the Ocean Rafting team always love to have fun, there are some things that need to be taken really seriously – like its commitment to responsible travel and preserving the pristine environment in which they are blessed to work, live and play. 

The Whitsundays are an exquisite piece of paradise. Nestled in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, this stunning archipelago boasts 74 idyllic islands surrounded by the protected waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, teaming with magnificent marine life. It’s a pristine natural playground and a fragile and treasured ecosystem that Ocean Rafting is dedicated to protecting for future generations. 

The Ocean Rafting team are proud ambassadors for environmentally responsible, ethical, educational and sustainable tourism. At Ocean Rafting, environmental and educational tourism is an essential part of its operation, and the team are passionate about their duty in protecting the future of the Great Barrier Reef, adopting environmentally friendly practices into everyday operations, presenting its Reef Seeker Citizen Science program to eager students, and protecting the reef in an extensive array of monitoring, conservation and protection activities, which can be found on their website.

Ocean Rafting holds Advanced Ecotourism Certification, is a Green Travel Leader and a Climate Action Business. As an Advanced Ecotourism Operator, Ocean Rafting has been entered into the coveted Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame for being continuously certified for 20 years or longer.  

This means you can sit back and relax with the calm reassurance that your Ocean Rafting adventure will not only be fun, but also educational, ethical, and ecologically sustainable. 

Accessibility Overview

Wherever possible, Ocean Rafting’s warm and welcoming team delight in enabling people of all abilities to enjoy the unforgettable rush on the “ride of their life” in the beautiful Whitsundays. 

The Ocean Rafting vessels are suitable for most ages from 6 months upwards (weather permitting). Unfortunately, tours are not suitable for guests with pre-existing back, neck or hip injuries or who are heavily pregnant.

Ocean Rafting tours depart from the Coral Sea Marina, which features wide docks, ramps and access gates. However, due to the nature of the day’s activities, the accessibility of boats, and the necessity of beach boarding, some guests with limited mobility may require additional assistance or may be unable to participate, depending on individual circumstances. Ocean Rafting will always strive to accommodate where practical and possible, within the constraints of existing infrastructure.  Please contact Ocean Rafting’s supportive team to discuss your unique access requirements by phoning (07) 4946 6848 or emailing tours@oceanrafting.com.au.

Please note that snorkelling can be a strenuous activity with additional risks for some guests. You will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire prior to boarding, which can also be completed ahead of time using your own device. Please ensure you answer this honestly for your own safety. If you are not a confident swimmer, please make sure you notify staff at check-in. Life jackets and pool noodles are offered on board for extra buoyancy, and a range of prescription masks are available for hire. Please note that a ladder is the only means of water entry and exit at snorkel sites. 

The Ocean Rafting office is located at the Northern Village of Coral Sea Marina, Shingley Drive, Airlie Beach, next to Sorrento Restaurant & Bar. Car parking is available at the marina for a small fee. Alternatively, Ocean Rafting offer a courtesy pick up from most mainland accommodation houses as well as from Daydream Island Resort on request. 

Most Ocean Rafting vessels have toilets on board. There are also toilets at Coral Sea Marina, at the Hill Inlet Lookout, and at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach (only accessible from the Southern Lights tour). The toilets at the Coral Sea Marina are wheelchair accessible. 

With at least a day’s notice, Ocean Rafting can cater for most dietary requirements and allergies.