Gold Coast Snorkeling Tours: Our Top 8

1.Moreton Island: Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,039 reviews · 1 day · from $152Our pick

Spend a full day aboard the Spirit of Mulgumpin, a purpose-built catamaran from Brisbane to Moreton Island. Snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks with a guide, watch for dolphins, turtles, and dugongs, enjoy a tropical buffet with ocean king prawns, then paddleboard or relax on the beach. Gold Coast pickup is available.

“Had an awesome day out with See Moreton! Our snorkeling was incredible, lunch was super tasty, and I really enjoyed the free time we were given to explore and lounge! 10/10 would recommend!!”

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2.Gold Coast: Wave Break Island Kayaking & Snorkeling tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 340 reviews · 2h 30m · from $63

Paddle from Biggera Waters to Wave Break Island with guides such as Jane or Nelson, then walk across the island to a sheltered rocky reef. You can snorkel with subtropical fish, watch for stingrays and dolphins, enjoy local snacks, and receive digital photos. The tour suits beginners but still needs moderate upper-body effort.

“I highly recommended Seaway Kayaking! It was an amazing tour with Nelson as the tour guide! Nelson was super friendly & knowledgeable! He showed us all the spots to see marine wildlife & even eagles! We saw lots of fishes during snorkelling! Also! He took lots of photos for us & they are all for free! I felt safe kayaking and snorkelling in this tour even I am not good at swimming! At the end he even walked with his kayak to spot us a baby stingray! Thank you Nelson! It’s a must do tour in Gold Coast :)”

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3.Gold Coast Kayaking & Snorkelling Tour (2.5 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 318 reviews · from $63

Paddle from Biggera Waters across the Broadwater to Wave Break Island with guides such as Nelson, Karen, Caroline, or Gonzalo. You’ll get a safety lesson, kayak gear, snorkel equipment, snacks, water, photos, and a short island walk. The snorkeling depends heavily on tides, wind, and water clarity.

“We are not strong swimmers but we felt safe and well looked after the whole time. Being first time kayaking and my husband requiring additonal help, we struggled a little and the friendly operator kindly towed us so we can keep up with the group. My 8yo throughoutly enjoyed snorkelling walking out from a beach so she can adjust slowly to the equipment and how deep she wants to head out to explore. Highly recommended for families.”

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4.Snorkel with Turtles Gold Coast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 159 reviews · from $114Top rated

From Chinderah, join a maximum of 12 people for a 20-minute boat ride to Cook Island Aquatic Reserve. Guides such as Connor, Cass, Lachy, Will, and Gemma help you spot turtles, rays, fish, and sometimes dolphins or whales. Snorkeling gear and fresh fruit are included, but you must be able to swim.

“Simply an incredible experience, the water was so clear and just bursting with life, we saw dolphins plus plenty of turtles, and even a pair of Humpback whales on the way back to shore. The guides Lockie and Will were so knowledgeable about everything and helped make the experience even better! Cannot recommend highly enough, amazing!”

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5.Gold Coast: Snorkelling in Wave Break Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 143 reviews · 4 hours · from $55

Spend four hours travelling by boat from Main Beach to sheltered Wave Break Island, where more than 50 fish species gather in calm water. Your English, Japanese, or Spanish-speaking instructor helps with gear, fish feeding, and photography. You can also use a boogie board with viewing holes. Hotel pickup is limited, so arriving at the snorkel shop is often easiest.

“Wish we had more time to snorkel and we finished earlier than said but still a good experience”

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6.Gold Coast: Snorkeling with Turtles Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 98 reviews · 3 hours · from $105

Cruise from Chinderah to Cook Island, about 600 metres off Fingal Head, for a guided snorkel with turtles, colorful fish, rays, and other marine life. You’ll receive a wetsuit and full snorkel kit, safety help in the water, and commentary from guides such as Gemma and Lachlan. The boat holds no more than 12 passengers.

“A most enjoyable experience. Lachie and Jemma were superb guides who were friendly, enthusiastic, demonstrating a keen love for the environment and knowledge about the area, turtles and dolphins. We saw a huge family of dolphins in the morning going to snorkelling area. I was also surprised as to how many turtles there were and their size as well as overwhelmed by the amount of colourful fish life. A most enjoyable experience!”

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7.Gold Coast: Kayaking and Snorkeling Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 36 reviews · 2 hours · from $53Best value

You’ll kayak across calm Southern Moreton Bay with an English-speaking guide, then snorkel from Wavebreak Island’s beach among sub-tropical fish. Dolphins are often spotted, and stingrays may pass below. The tour suits beginners, but bring sturdy water shoes because the island walk and shore can include sharp shells and rocks.

“the guide was amazing and the Very knowledgeable about Australia and gave me lots of Intel about the ocean and Australia as a whole. very much enjoyed the trip”

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8.Gold Coast: Kayaking & Snorkelling Tour with Fish Feeding

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 35 reviews · 3 hours · from $63

Paddle the calm Gold Coast Broadwater in a stable double kayak, guided by an experienced English-speaking instructor. You will kayak to a man-made island, snorkel with subtropical fish, feed them, and enjoy a light continental breakfast on the beach. Dolphins and stingrays may appear along the way. No swimming skills are needed.

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