Where to Go Private: the 4 Best Luxury Yacht Cruises in Australia

1.From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,567 reviews · 9 hours · from $190Our pick

Join Passions of Paradise for a full reef day from Cairns. You’ll sail by catamaran to two outer reef sites, snorkel with crew support, enjoy a chef-prepared buffet, and hear marine-life talks from guides such as Lily and David. Scuba, prescription masks, wetsuits, and flotation belts are available.

“It was amazing!! So glad we did this excursion, the team on the boat was fantastic! We had a guide come with us on a ring and he showed us the giant clams opening/closing, different fish and gave us facts we wouldn’t have got snorkelling on our own! We saw all sorts, highly recommend!”

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2.Port Douglas: Sunset Sailing Cruise on Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 342 reviews · 1h 30m · from $66Best value

Check in at Sailaway Boathouse at 4:30pm for a 90-minute catamaran cruise from Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina. You will sail along the Coral Sea and Daintree coastline with hot and cold canapes, music, attentive crew, and one complimentary beer, wine, champagne, or soft drink.

“Wonderful experience, staff were amazing. Will recommend to others”

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3.From Port Douglas: Outer Reef Cruise by Luxury Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 182 reviews · 9 hours · from $240

Sail from Port Douglas aboard Sailaway’s spacious catamaran to Mackay Cay, about two hours offshore. Snorkel with a marine biologist, spot turtles and giant clams, visit the coral cay by glass-bottom boat, and enjoy lunch, morning tea, and afternoon tea. English-speaking guides, including Zara on some trips, lead the reef sessions.

“This was our third trip to the reef in a few weeks, it was the best by some distance. Lovely catamaran and staff, food really decent bearing in mind it's a buffet on a boat and not too many people so much less chaotic. The weather was really not very good sadly so this definitely was a real dampener on the experience but clearly not the guides fault and they still got us onto the small sandy island via the glass bottom boat in less than ideal conditions. I can only imagine how even more lovely this would have been in calm sunny conditions but regardless of that, everything was…”

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4.Luxury Sailing Cruise on Sydney Harbour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 171 reviews · from $251Top rated

Join Captain David and a maximum of seven other passengers aboard the 40-foot yacht Emma Mei. Sail past Sydney icons, hear local stories, enjoy a seafood-rich lunch with Australian beer or wine, and stop at Store Beach for swimming, snorkeling, or a quiet walk.

“One of the very best tours we have done. The perfect way to see Sydney Harbour. David and his daughter Emily were super organised and friendly hosts on the Emma Mei. Commentary was interesting and relatable. The lunch was fantastic. Wonderful.”

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