Liquid Desire offers private day charters departing Port Douglas to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef.
All charters are professionally catered for by our onboard French and or Asian chef’s. Liquid Desire is also crewed by myself as skipper and an in water guide / deckhand when needed. Day trips to the Barrier Reef are our speciality and there is no better way to fully experience the reef and the magic of the cruising experience, sailing aboard your own private catamaran with up to 5 of your friends and family.
The 2023 rate per day is $3900. The 2024 rate per day is $4200.
This includes:
- Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea
- Non alcoholic refreshments, alcoholic beverages are BYO
- Snorkelling equipment including wetsuits / or stinger suits
- Stand up paddle boarding
- Fishing equipment
- Reef taxes
Port Douglas to Lizard island
This is a 6-day trip to Lizard Island. Lizard Island which is our premier trip. There is a return delivery fee of $800 per day for me and the crew to sail the Yacht back to Port Douglas. It takes 2 days for me to return to Port.
Daintree air can provide a private plan out of Lizard Island and back to Cairns … takes about an hour and is very scenic. You can contact them directly to arrange … talk to Greg, he owns the business. Aprox cost are $2600
https://www.daintreeair.com.au
The best option for a 6-day trip from Port Douglas to Lizard Island would be.
Day 1 Port Douglas to Hope Island
Hope island is located 50 nautical miles north of Port Douglas and directly offshore from the famous Daintree World Heritage Rainforest. Which offers stunning mountain views as we sail by.
The island itself is your classic tropical paradise with coconut trees , a fringing reef , beautiful white sand , many species of birds and loads of bait fish in the shallows.
We will arrive here just after lunch and have the afternoon to relax and enjoy the Island. Beach combing is always interesting and you can find beautiful shells and flotsam washed up above high tide.
You can snorkel directly off the beach , Stand Up Paddle or throw a fishing line in. It is also possible to have a fire on the beach and a enjoy a cold beer or wine as the sun sets. We spend the night a Hope and Sail out to the outer reef the next morning.
Day 2 Hope Island to Steve’s Bommie
Steve’s Bommie is located 28 nautical miles offshore from Hope Island on the Outer Barrier Reef. This is approximately a 4 hour sail, a great opportunity to troll for Mackerel or Tuna along the way.
Steve’s Bommie is a premium Outer Reef location, with a pinnacle rising up from 30 mt housing some of the best reef and fish-life in the area. You can expect to see over 400 species of colourful coral, reef sharks, rays, large fish such as big eye travelly , basketball size stone fish , yellow snapper , clown fish , and occasional turtles. During June and July it is possible to spot a pod of Minke Whales in the area. We can overnight on the bommie or travel in closer to the main reef ( Ribbon # 3 ) and have another snorkel or two in the afternoon. Fishing is also possible if you feel like something fresh.
Day 3 Ribbon # 3 to Ribbon #9 and # 10
Ribbon # 9 and # 10 are located 35 nautical miles from Ribbon # 3 ( Steve’s Bommie ) Sailing on the inside of the outer reef is something else , Relatively calm seas and fast broad reaching is an amazing way to travel. We are normally flying the spinnaker and trawling for Mackerel or Tuna. There are some great drift snorkelling to be experienced in the location with some reefs in the passage between Ribbon # 9 and Ribbon # 10 , particularly on the incoming tide where we end up starting out on the pass and finish up in the shallows at least 1 to 2 km away. Drift snorkelling is easy with our high speed tender and experienced crew always with you.
In this area there are some spectacular underwater peaks with various large schools of fish circling in the current. Lunch on day three is generally served whilst underway and we can either spend the night on a mooring or anchor in the shallow’s of Ribbon # 10. Watch the sun set and be treated to a delicious meal cooked by your personal chef.
Day 4 Ribbon # 10 to Lizard Island
Lizard Island is located 20 to 25 nautical miles from Ribbon # 10 and we can sail via the Cod Hole if you would like to snorkel it.
A morning snorkel in the shallows at Ribbon # 10 is also an option before departing and this drift snorkel can be quite spectacular with a close up look at the reef offering a different perception as you gently float over the top of it all.
At the Cod Hole it is possible to swim with the famous potato cod along with reef sharks and large schools of red bass. We would have lunch on the mooring there then set sail for Watsons Bay / Lizard Island and have you on the beach by the afternoon around 4pm.
Day 5 enjoying Lizard Island
Lizard Island has some amazing walks and reefs to enjoy. You can easily spend time here enjoying the many attractions. The walk to Cooks lookout is highly recommended.
Coconut beach is also a great walk that has some ropes to help descend onto the beach. Lots of drinking green coconuts and great beach combing. There is some great snorkelling in the clam garden directly behind the anchorage.
Day 6 enjoying Lizard Island then fly out to Cairns
There are some good options for the day including spending the day at Mermaid beach with the Yacht. It is generally very quite in this little bay that has some snorkelling , fishing and beach combing options.
Or check out the research station and do a walk back around to the blue lagoon and return to Watsons Bay.
I think this trip would be a fantastic way to experience the remote Outer Ribbon Reefs along with a stunning Tropical Island and then have the time at Lizard Island to really relax and enjoy the place. The best of both worlds.
You can fly out at around 4 or 5pm.
We can cater to all your preferences and have activities such as snorkelling , diving , stand up paddle boarding, fishing, spearfishing and of course sailing.
Diving ( an instructor is required along with all the certified gear / add $860 a day for 2 divers / $1000 a day for 3 divers and $1150 a day for 4 divers / with 2 dives each day / yes a dive compressor is onboard ).
Liquid Desire departure point is right in the heart of Port Douglas from the Public Pontoon, located on Ashford Avenue. There is plenty of free parking available.
A shuttle bus can be arranged for pick up from Port Douglas, Cairns or anywhere on the Northern Beaches. Best if you arrange this yourself or have your accommodation management / travel agent assist.