A day on the reef

Sometimes the weather gods have other plans, and our day trip to Hastings Reef aboard the Passions 3 catamaran was one of those occasions. We’d booked this trip with high expectations - Hastings Reef sits about 60km northeast of Cairns and has a reputation as one of the premier outer reef destinations.

The Passions 3 is a sizeable catamaran that can handle decent numbers without feeling overcrowded, and the crew were professional from the get-go. Smooth departure from the Reef Fleet Terminal, and the journey out took about 2 hours through relatively calm seas. No complaints about the vessel or the service - they know what they’re doing.

The reef structure at Hastings is genuinely impressive when you get in the water. Massive coral formations rise from the sandy bottom, creating natural amphitheatres teeming with marine life. We spotted the usual suspects: parrotfish, angelfish, and a decent variety of smaller reef fish going about their business and a lone green sea turtle.

What struck us was the sheer scale of the coral formations - some of these bommies are absolutely enormous. The diversity is impressive too, from delicate staghorn corals to massive brain corals that must be decades old.

The crew took us to two different sites, giving everyone plenty of time in the water at each location. They clearly know these reefs well and positioned the boat to take advantage of the best coral viewing spots. All snorkelling gear was provided and in good condition.

Lunch on board was solid - nothing fancy but decent quality and variety. The crew were happy to share their knowledge about what we were seeing, pointing out different fish species and coral types for those interested.

Hastings Reef clearly has the goods - the coral health and fish diversity speak for themselves. Passions 3 is a solid operator with experienced crew who know how to show visitors the best their patch of reef has to offer. Worth doing if you’re in Cairns and want to experience the outer reef properly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Read more