Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef - Cairns

[PDT]

Hi everyone.

As you may be aware Australia has opened its international borders into the states of New South Wales which is Sydney & the state of Victoria which has Melbourne as the landing destination. You don't need to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated which is great.

From these two cities, you can travel now into Queensland to Cairns for that dive or snorkeling trip. I found this site Jusdivensnork a great place to start. They are many day operators who have reduced their travel days & capacity due to COVID restrictions but they are starting to get more travelers as the borders have just opened on Monday 20 December.

If you are in Cairns or anywhere close to the Great Barrier Reef, take a day trip & support the locals!

Stay safe & hope to see you out snorkeling soon

 

[mwerle]

Please be aware that this is not as easy as it sounds as Queensland still has stringent entry requirements, especially if arriving from overseas. You will be required to quarantine for 14 days at your point of arrival in Australia if you want to go to QLD. So even though NSW allows quarantine-free arrivals, you are NOT allowed to then immediately travel to Cairns. (I would be VERY happy to be proved incorrect on this). You could spend 14 days travelling around NSW first and then get a travel pass into QLD.

Please see official information, for example: COVID-19 advice for international arrivals to Queensland

 

[happy-diver]

I'm in QLD and would suggest eating your turkeys rather than counting them.

 

[PDT]

Good points made, the original post could read like you can trip from overseas to Queensland with interstate travel, but this is not the case, international borders with Queensland still require a 14 day quarantine period for travelers & permits. If that same traveler was to enter NSW or Victoria & then go directly to Queensland this would also require a 14 day period of quarantine. Interstate travel opened on 20 December for those already in the states of Victoria & NSW for over the 14 day period, & are fully vaccinated.

If you can get to Cairns or diving in Queensland please support local operators, they need your help.