Reefsuites Australia: Sleeping Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef
If you’re ever dreamed of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, sleeping among the fish, and seeing the Milky Way at night, you need to put Reefsuites at the top of your bucket list. Reefsuites is the first underwater hotel in Australia and offers you the opportunity to experience one of the Natural Wonders of the World is a unique way.
This all-inclusive experience is so much more than just a room underwater – it includes transportation, amazing food and drinks, and enough activities to keep you busy the whole time.
My stay at Reefsuites was the highlight of already incredible trip. I flew in a helicopter and scuba dived for the first time, snorkeled with a sea turtle, and got to watch giant trevally swim by my window all night long.
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What is Reefworld?
Reefworld is a pontoon anchored next to Hardy Reef 39 nautical miles from the shore of Queensland, Australia. It sits on an ancient river between Hardy Reef and Hook Reef. To get there, you take a boat from Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, or Daydream Island. The ride takes 2-3 hours depending on your starting point.
This pontoon is actually the 2nd iteration of the Reefworld pontoon, as the original one was damaged by Cyclone Debbie in 2017. The original one is in sight of the new one and is now serves alternate purposes, including housing some Reefworld staff overnight.
Cruise Whitsundays brings over a hundred guests out to the Reefworld pontoon each day for families. Most return home after 4 hours of exploring the reef, but Reefsuites and Reefsleep guests stay overnight, getting more time in the water.
Booking the Reefsuites
We booked our Reefsuite directly though Cruise Whitsundays and paid $2100 AUD (~$1375 USD) for 2 people for the 1-night stay in November 2023. The rate is the same every day of the year and increases each calendar year. For 2024, the daily rate is $2190 AUD for 2 people. There is a supplemental fee if you are a solo traveler. Children as young as 6 are able to stay, but there are no discounted prices for them.
There are only 2 Reefsuites at the pontoon, so they do book up quickly. I booked my stay 11 months out because I only had 1 night that would work on my schedule. If you’re more flexible, you can find availability much closer in.
When you book, you’ll see the option to add on additional items to your package, including dives, champagne, chocolates, and luggage storage. I didn’t add on any of these extras at the time of booking and ended up booking 2 introductory dives on-site day-of.
After submitting my booking, I received an email stating my booking was tentative until I paid, though it already showed up as pending on my credit card. I emailed them and they confirmed they’d received my payment in full and my booking was good to go.
About a week before our arrival, Cruise Whitsundays sent me an email with links to fill out the medical and dietary requirement forms. These are required for each guest to fill out.
If you are interested in booking Reepsleep in instead, you can do so either on the Cruise Whitsundays website.
How to get to Reefworld?
Since Reefworld is located 39 nautical miles offshore, the primary way to get there is by boat. The boat picks up from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. The ride is 3 hours from Airlie Beach and about 2 hours from Hamilton Island.
If boats aren’t your thing, there is the option to take a helicopter to/from the pontoon, but do know this comes at a substantial additional charge.
We arrived at the marina in Airlie Beach 15 minutes before departure, checked in, and were given Reefsuite wristbands. We then boarded immediately as Reefsuites and Reefsleep guests get priority boarding and a special seating area on the boat.
On board, they offered sea sickness medication for anyone who needed it. This is best taken preventatively, so if you’re prone to seasickness, take it as soon as you board. We lucked out with calm water and low winds each day.
During the boat ride, the crew go over all the safety briefings and information you need to know so that as soon as you arrive at Reefworld, you can head off and play. This is also when you can sign up for a helicopter ride and/or scuba diving (both of which come at an additional cost).
You can also rent a GoPro (in a dive case) on board for $75AUD and you get the keep the 64GB SD card when you return it. The rental is the same price whether you’re a day guest or staying overnight.
The Reefsuites
When we got off the boat, we were immediately escorted to our room to put our stuff down, shown where everything is, and given a quick safety briefing (we are on the water after all). We had a private stairwell to access our underwater room and when I first opened the door, I got so giddy with excitement.
The pictures on the website really do the room justice and there was never a moment without fish swimming by the windows and the glass panels in the floor. During the day, the majority of the fish were smaller, but at night the nocturnal giant trevally (GT) came out. They were massive and so fascinating to watch. I didn’t even want to sleep.
The king size bed was very comfortable and the AC unit on the wall allowed us to stay at a cozy temperature all night. Next to the bed were side tables with lamps that had built in wireless charging. Our room did have a distinct scent to it, but I couldn’t put my finger on the smell and quickly got used to it (it wasn’t bad, just odd).
To set expectations appropriately, it’s important to know that while Hardy Reef is only about 5 meters away from your window, you can’t see it from your room. Luckily, the blue lights on the outside of the room attract plenty of fish to your window day and night.
Amenities
Included in the room were both beach towels and bath towels, as well as 2 bars of reef-safe solid shampoo/conditioner/body wash that I liked enough to take home with me. I also found liquid hand soap next to the sink and liquid body wash in the shower. There were also robes and a hair dryer. The bathroom had a reed diffuser above the toilet to keep it smelling fresh.
Bathroom
The bathroom was very standard, featuring a shower that heated up quickly and had great water pressure. There was also a standard toilet, freestanding sink, and some shelves to store your toiletries.
The most impressive part of the bathroom had to be the floor to ceiling view of the fish. The only blind is found in the bathroom in case you want some privacy from marine life or scuba divers passing by.
Reefworld does make their own water on board, so it’s important to use it sparingly. We were encouraged to limit our showers to 3 minutes and keep toilet flushes to a minimum (“if it’s yellow, let it mellow”).
Timeline
Here’s a quick breakdown of how we spent our 2 days at Reefworld:
Day 1
7:45 AM – checked in at marina
8:00 AM – boat left Airlie Beach, morning tea served on board
11:00 AM – boat arrived at Reefworld, checked into Reefsuites
11:50 AM – helicopter ride
12:15 PM – lunch on the boat
2:00 PM – introductory scuba dive
3:00 PM – boat left, safety briefing with all guests
3:15 PM – afternoon tea, bar opened
3:50 PM – snorkeling
4:30 PM – shower
6:00 PM – sunset canapes
6:30 PM – dinner
Day 2
7:00 AM – breakfast
8:00 AM – snorkel safari
10:00 AM – checked out of Reefsuite, moved to Reefsleep day bed
10:00 AM – morning tea
11:00 AM – second introductory scuba dive
12:00 PM – lunch
12:30 PM – snorkeling
2:00 PM – Reefsleep check out
2:30 PM – Q&A with marine biologist
3:00 PM – boat left
6:00 PM – arrived back in Airlie Beach
Activity options at Reefworld
There are several activities to pick from at Reefworld. It’s more a matter of what will you do first since you have time for everything as an overnight guest. All activities are weather-dependent.
Helicopter Ride
For a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef, Reefworld offers a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight that flies you above the pontoon and takes you to see the nearby Heart Reef.
I had never flown in a helicopter before because I am scared of small planes and that includes helicopters. But in the moment when it came time to book the ride, it felt like a bucket list opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
The ride cost $170 AUD per person. There were only 24 seats available (6 seats per flight across 4 flights). Once we signed up, they had us step on a scale and recorded our weights for flying purposes and they assigned us our flight time of 11:50AM. Note that due to scheduling, you can only do a helicopter ride on the first day of your stay.
When it was our turn, we boarded small boat to ferry us over to the nearby helipad pontoon where we boarded the helicopter. Thomas and I were the only ones in our group who had never ridden in a helicopter before so they put us in the front seats.
After they buckled us in, gave us headsets, and closed the door, we were off! Any anxiety I had about the flight very quickly dissipated and I just got to enjoy the Natural Wonder of the World beneath me.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is an add-on activity, so it does come at an extra cost. The exact prices depend on what type of dive you’re doing. For either type of dive, the second dive is significantly cheaper than the first. Also, you are required to fill out a medical questionnaire and most notably, you can’t take a flight within 24 hours after your last dive, so plan your schedule accordingly. Additionally, you can’t drink alcohol within 8 hours before diving. All dives last 40 minutes.
You can bring GoPros with you on the dive as long as they are in dive housing. Phones in waterproof pouches are not allowed as it’ll destroy your phone! Also be sure to take off watches that aren’t dive-safe.
Introductory Dive
Historically, you could only scuba dive if you’re gone through a course and gotten certified. Nowadays more and more places are offering introductory dives that require no previous experience. It doesn’t get much cooler than scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, so we took advantage of this opportunity.
The instructors were so helpful every step of the way, from explaining the hand signals to literally putting our masks on for us. After you get in the water, they bring you to a shallow pool so you can practice breathing, getting water out of your mask and mouthpiece, and popping your ears to equalize as you descend. If you get to this point and decide it’s not for you, they’ll refund you for the experience, so there’s no risk if you can’t do it.
On our first dive, they held our hands the entire time and constantly checked that we were ok. On our second dive, they held our hands the first half and then let go so we could swim on our own nearby. We never went further than 6 meters on either dive.
Certified Dive
Be sure to bring proof of certification for a certified dive. Just like an introductory dive, an experienced crew member will accompany you on all dives, but you get to go much deeper.
Snorkeling
For all the activities in the water, you just need to bring a swimsuit – everything else is provided. October to May is stinger (jellyfish) season, so it’s recommended to wear a stinger suit. They have hundreds available hanging on racks by size (which is based on height). The suits are full body, covering everything from your ankles up, including optional mittens over your hands and a hood for your head. I really liked that they also kept me from getting sunburned.
Masks, snorkels, and fins are also provided as well as pool noodles and life jackets if you aren’t a strong swimmer.
There are marked areas where you can snorkel and a small boat that will help you if you’re in distress. Part of the safety briefing on the boat ride covers hand signals to say that you need help.
We snorkeled several times during our stay, at one point swimming with a sea turtle for about a half hour! If scuba diving isn’t in the cards for you, you’ll still have an unforgettable experience snorkeling among the 1400+ species of coral and tons of marine life.
Snorkel Safari
Our Reefsuites stay included a 30-minute snorkel safari for free, though other guests can add this to their experience for an additional fee ($69AUD for adults, $39AUD for children). We wouldn’t have paid additional money for this, but since it was free we were happy to participate.
The difference between the Snorkel Safari and going our snorkeling on your own is that you’re accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who points out various marine life and explains how each is unique, from corals to fish and everything in between. I was really impressed at the breadth of knowledge our guide had.
If you’re not a strong swimmer, you are welcome to bring a pool noodle with you. The guide also carries a life ring you’re welcome to hang onto at any time.
Underwater Observatory
If you’re staying in the Reefsuite, the underwater observatory is a step down from your room as there are no glass floors in the observatory.
The last activity we did before boarding the boat to return to Airlie Beach was visit the underwater observatory where a marine biologist did a 25-minute Q&A while someone threw fish pellets into the water from above to attract the fish. This was free and I did find it pretty interesting.
Semi-Submarine
Another activity out of the water is taking a ride on the semi-submarine. As the name implies, the boat is partially submerged, so you take a set of stairs down to the lower level. There, the room is covered in windows all the way around and plenty of seats for everyone to sit and look out.
We didn’t have time to take a ride, but we heard we didn’t miss much. The semi-sub has to stay further from the reef for safety, so you can’t see the reef on the ride and the sound of the boat tends to scare a lot of the marine life away.
We did visit the semi-sub after dinner on our first night while it was docked to the pontoon. It was there that we spotted George, the massive 2-meter-long resident Queensland Grouper who likes to hang out around the pontoon.
The Food at Reefworld
We were kept well fed on this trip! Between all the great meals and the generous number of snacks, I was never hungry. Here’s a breakdown of the 4 meals we had on the trip. Reefworld has a private chef on board for the Reefsuites and Reefsleep guests, and they do a fantastic job!
If you have any dietary requirements, they can be accommodated as long as you note them when you fill out your dietary form.
Day 1 Lunch
This was the only meal not cooked by the private chef on the pontoon. Instead, we had the buffet lunch served on the boat that all the day guests eat too. There was curry chicken and meatballs, along with rice and potato salad. This was nothing too exciting.
Day 1 Dinner
Before dinner, we had canapés on the top deck as we watched the sun set. This leaned seafood heavy but they were artfully prepared and delicious.
After sunset, we moved down to the main level where we spread out across 3 tables and got to know each other over dinner. Dinner was a delicious beef filet with veggies (vegetarians got a pumpkin steak). Dessert was a nutty brownie with cream and a macaron (everyone’s was a different flavor). Someone did have a nut free brownie so that was an option for allergies.
Overall, dinner was much more upscale than the buffet lunch. I went to bed full, happy, and very impressed.
Day 2 Breakfast
Like dinner, breakfast didn’t disappoint. It was served buffet style and there were fixings for a granola bowl as well as sausage, bacon, and beans. I most enjoyed toast, avocado, salmon, and scrambled eggs. I also tried Vegemite for the first time (spread on buttered toast) and really liked it!
They had hot water for tea and an espresso machine where a crew member made guests coffees. They had every type of milk available and we lucked out that they had ice that day, so I was able to have an iced latte.
Day 2 Lunch
Lunch on the second day was served on the top deck by the Reefsleep pods. There were salmon and chicken options and they seemed to just place one at random in front of you, which I found a bit odd. I had the salmon and it was perfect. It was followed up with a berry parfait dessert.
I really appreciated that all of the meals felt healthy and nutritious. We were exerting lots of energy in the water each day, so this food provided the perfect fuel.
What to Pack for REefsuites
You can only bring a small bag with you to Reefworld, so you’ll need to be strategic about what you bring. Luckily, since all snorkeling, scuba, and safety equipment is provided, you can pack pretty light and just bring a small backpack.
Here’s my packing list:
- Swimsuit + cover up
- Flip flops
- Sunglasses
- Reef safe sunscreen (though they had some as well)
- GoPro + dive case (unless you plan to rent one)
- Toiletries (though reef safe shampoo/conditioner/soap was provided)
- Phone + camera chargers (though wireless phone chargers were provided)
- Hair straightener + converter/adapter
- Hairbrush
- Riptie tangle free hair ties
- Change of clothes
- Medications
- Light jacket (it can be a bit chilly once the sun sets)
Where to Store Your Luggage
We stayed at the Airlie Beach Hotel before and after our trip to Reefworld and they had no issues storing our bags by the front desk overnight for us.
Another option is to store your luggage at the marina, though there may be a fee associated with this.
Cell Service at Reefworld
There is no WiFi at Reefworld, and because you are very far from shore, there’s virtually no service. Only the Telstra network occasionally had 1-2 bars, but I was never able to upload more than a photo to my Instagram story.
I’m definitely not complaining though. There were more than enough activities to keep us entertained. I didn’t even miss the internet because I was having too much fun.
Photos
You’re welcome to bring your own cameras, GoPros, etc. and as mentioned, some are available for rent. Additionally, there are photographers on the pontoon and in the water ready to take your pictures as well. Then on the boat ride back, the crew walk around with iPads and you can buy any pictures you like.
We purchased 2 photos for $40AUD ($26.45 USD) and they were emailed to me via WeTransfer before we’d docked in Airlie Beach.
A Note on Drones
There is a lot of conflicting information online about the legality of flying drones over the Great Barrier Reef, so be sure to do your due diligence if you go down this route.
Cruise Whitsundays also generally doesn’t allow drones on any of their experiences, but you can email their reservations team to potentially get approval.
One person staying overnight did bring his drone and I saw staff members flip flop on whether it was okay. I think time of day mattered a lot – if the helicopters are around, it’s probably a no-go. Near sunset when I it was quiet seemed to be fine.
I personally just left my drone at home and didn’t bother.
Final Thoughts on Reefsuites
This was one of the coolest experiences of my life and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable way to experience the Great Barrier Reef.
The crew are absolutely lovely and there to help with anything you need.
If you can’t afford Reefsuites or it’s already booked on your dates, I would still recommend Reefsleep. Although you don’t get the epic views from your underwater hotel room, the rest of the experience is pretty much the same.
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