Reef Sleep 2-Day Overnight

Reef Sleep: 2-Day Great Barrier Reef All Inclusive Overnight runs through Cruise Whitsundays. Rated 4.6 across 52 reviews. Runs 2 days. From A$698.

Overview

Reefsleep puts a small group of overnight guests on Reefworld, a pontoon moored at Hardy Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef and reserved exclusively for them. Run by Cruise Whitsundays, the trip runs for 2 days and starts with an 8:00am departure from Port of Airlie, picking up more guests at Hamilton Island before the cruise out through the Whitsundays. Guests get priority boarding, reserved VIP seating and a dedicated host for the stay.

The afternoon at Reefworld is unstructured. There is a seafood-led buffet lunch on the lower deck, snorkelling in the coral gardens, a guided snorkel safari with a reef expert, and an underwater observatory for anyone who would rather stay dry. At 3:30pm guests check in to a newly designed Reefbed on the upper deck. Sunset drinks and canapés start at 5:00pm, followed by a 6:30pm dinner with wine, then a night under the stars with the ocean moving underneath.

Scuba diving and helicopter flights cost extra, and spirits are an added purchase. It suits travellers who want a full night on the outer reef with meals and drinks handled. Reviews repeatedly single out the crew and the food, and one reviewer called the atmosphere of sleeping on the reef the standout of the stay.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Cruise to the reefDepart Port of Airlie at 8:00am with priority boarding and reserved VIP seating, then stop at Hamilton Island at 9:00am to collect more guests. Departures are also available from Daydream Island and Hamilton Island.
2. Morning tea at seaTea and refreshments are served while the vessel travels through the Whitsunday Islands towards the outer reef, with an introduction from the Reefsleep host.
3. Arrive at ReefworldArrive at 11:00am at the overnight-only pontoon on Hardy Reef. A welcome drink, crew introduction and safety briefing open the stay, and luggage is stored securely.
4. Seafood buffet lunchA seafood-led buffet is served on the lower deck at 12:00, with inclusive beverages and options for a range of dietary requirements.
5. Reef afternoonFree time for snorkelling, a guided snorkel safari, the underwater observatory or the sunbeds until check-in.
6. Reefbed check-inAt 3:30pm guests settle into their Reefbed on the upper deck and get a run-through of the accommodation and overnight amenities.
7. Sunset drinksDrinks and chef-prepared canapés on the upper deck from 5:00pm as the sun sets over the reef.
8. Dinner and overnightAn à la carte dinner with paired wines is served at 6:30pm, followed by tea and coffee. Guests sleep in their Reefbeds, with the pontoon reserved exclusively for overnight guests.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points before booking, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report back.

• Packing light. Bring one small overnight bag plus toiletries and your own bath towel. Swimwear, a hat, sunscreen, a light jacket for windy days and a card for optional extras such as a dive round out the list.
• Food and drink. All main meals, morning and afternoon teas and a range of beverages are included. Reviews consistently describe the food as excellent or spectacular, and one solo traveller noted that requests were catered for.
• Sleeping on the reef. The night is spent in a Reefbed on the upper deck of the pontoon, falling asleep to the rhythm of the ocean as the listing describes it. One reviewer pointed to the atmosphere of sleeping on the reef as the highlight, and the crew remain available throughout the night.
• Snorkelling pace. You can snorkel independently or join the included guided snorkel safari with a reef expert. A traveller who went alone said the snorkelling was beautiful and that a guided tour or a dive could also be booked on site.
• Solo travellers. The setting is a small overnight group with a host and crew on hand all night. One reviewer who travelled alone said they felt comfortable throughout, and others mention the crew looking after each guest individually.
• Paperwork. Cruise Whitsundays emails a dietary and medical disclosure form after booking. It needs to be returned within 48 hours of travel.

Common issues. Hotel pickup is not included, so travellers make their own way to the departure port. Scuba diving and helicopter flights cost extra, and spirits are not part of the included drinks. The operator requires the dietary and medical form back within 48 hours of travel, and cancellation with a full refund is only possible up to 14 days in advance.

How To Choose