2 days under sail

Private Overnight Charters from Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef

A boutique, locally owned charter, tailored to your group.

Liquid Desire offers private overnight charters from Port Douglas to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. We’re a husband-and-wife team with 39 years’ experience on the reef, and every charter is custom-designed around your group. It’s the personal touch you won’t find on a big-boat tour.

Your own private sailing catamaran

Overnight trips are our speciality. There’s no better way to experience the reef, and the magic of cruising, than aboard your own private catamaran with your closest friends and family. Liquid Desire was custom-built by the owner and skipper, so we know every inch of her.

Your crew is just the two of us. I’m your skipper, and my partner is your onboard chef.

Fresh, healthy and cooked onboard

Lunch is the highlight. It’s a luxury meal with all the trimmings, cooked fresh onboard on the day. It’s never cold cuts or a pre-supplied pack.

Who it suits

We take small private groups of 4 to 6 for overnight trips.

What’s included

• Your skipper and crew, snorkelling gear, and meals from our private chef, made to suit your tastes.
• We provide soft drinks. Yes. Bring your own alcoholic drinks; we will have a fridge or esky for them.
• Snorkelling gear, stinger suits, wet suits and towels.
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Fishing equipment (we fish for food, but our trips aren’t all about fishing)
• Reef taxes

Getting here

Liquid Desire departure and return point is the public pontoon in Ashford Avenue. Not the marina. Use the map and link on the website. Or type in Ashford Avenue to Google. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. We can also arrange a shuttle bus from Port Douglas, Cairns or anywhere on the Northern Beaches. It’s best to organise this yourself, or ask your accommodation manager or travel agent to help.

Pricing note: a 25% surcharge applies on Queensland public holidays.

It is useful to be comfortable in the water. We do regard our trips as reasonably adventurous. If you are not a strong swimmer, we will manage with either flotation devices or a guide if possible. Flotation vests and noodles are on board.

We fish only where the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning allows it, and the focus is on soft plastics and lures.

Sailing Options

OPTION 1 - OPAL REEF / 3RD SISTER REEF

Day 1

Located 28 nautical miles offshore on the Outer Barrier Reef, this is approximately a 4-hour sail, a great opportunity to troll for Mackerel or Tuna along the way.

Opal reef is a premium Outer Reef location, with dozens of snorkel sites available. You can expect to see over 400 species of colourful coral, reef sharks, rays, large fish such as the beautiful Maori Wrasse, and occasional turtles.

Liquid Desire can anchor at Opal reef with a beautiful coral garden directly behind the Yacht. There may be a bit of current here and we often engage in exciting ‘drift snorkels’ using our high-speed tender. You can go stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, or simply relax and unwind on the beautiful catamaran.

Watch the sun set and be treated to a delicious meal cooked by your personal chef.

View the stars at night from your bed while you gently rock to sleep.

Day 2

After breakfast the following day plenty of time for another snorkel session or two before lunch and a leisurely sail home.

We can cater to all your preferences and have activities such as snorkelling, diving (at cost), stand up paddle boarding, fishing, spearfishing and of course sailing.

OPTION 2 - LOW ISLES / BATT REEF OR TONGUE REEF

Day 1

The Low Isles is a spectacular island group located on the Inner Barrier Reef only 8 nautical miles offshore, usually about a 1-hour sail. The Island offers beautiful and easy snorkelling, plenty of turtles and sea life, relaxing on the beach and enjoying our water sports activities. Perfect for kids, or guests who are learning to snorkel.

Batt and Tongue Reef are gorgeous reefs located 18 miles offshore on the Outer Barrier Reef, about a 2-hour sail. Batt and Tongue Reef offers a wider variety of coral species and more marine life. You can really see all the Reef has to offer here, and we often engage in ‘drift’ snorkels here. This location can please both experienced adventurers and younger ones alike.

Day one can be spent either sailing to Batt and Tongue Reef and spend the day snorkelling and enjoying the area. Then we would sail back to Low Isles for the afternoon and spend the night there on anchor.

Day 2

Low Island is a beautiful, calm anchorage featuring a tropical island and historic Light house. There are many options at the Island including Island walks, Stand up Paddling and snorkelling. One thing to remember is that Low Island is a popular spot and there will be day boats there between 10am and 3pm. outside of these hours you will generally have your own private island, all to yourself!

The island also offers a safe anchorage in windy conditions.

Boarding and sailing

ARRIVAL AND BOARDING:

• Depart from Port Douglas and start sailing along the coastline.
• Enjoy the scenic views as the yacht glides through the water.
• Take in the beauty of the surrounding landscapes and the changing colors of the sky.

SETTING SAIL:

• Depart from Port Douglas and start sailing out to the reef or Island
• The island takes around 1 hour and the outer reef 2 hours.
• Enjoy the scenic views as the yacht glides through the water.
• Anchor in a sheltered reef / island lagoon and go for a snorkel.
• Enjoy a tasty lunch and enjoy your choice of activity for the afternoon
• Either stay on anchor or find another anchorage depending on weather and your preferences and settle in for the night.
• Enjoy the sun setting over to the west and get rocked to sleep for the night.
• The following day you can enjoy a healthy breakfast then we plan the days activities. Snorkelling , SUP , Sailing , relaxing.
• By mid afternoon we up anchor and sail back to Port.

RETURN TO PORT:

• As the sail comes to an end, head back to the departure point in Port Douglas.
• Disembark from the yacht, bidding farewell to the crew.