About Fantasea Adventure Cruising

Fantasea Adventure Cruising is a multi award winning marine tour and transport operator based in the Whitsundays.  Proudly Queensland owned and operated, Fantasea is part of the leading Australian marine transport group, Riverside Marine.  

Fantasea is synonymous with the Whitsundays region, given that it has been operating for over 25 years, with guests returning year after year to travel with Fantasea to some of the Whitsunday’s most visited icons, including the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and island resorts including Hamilton Island and Club Med Lindeman Island.   The Fantasea Express Ferry services operate comprehensive timetables connecting Hamilton Island Airport, Hamilton Island Marina and the Whitsunday mainland at Abel Point Marina (Airlie Beach) and Shute Harbour.

Fantasea also offers The Reefsleep Experience, a unique overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef with exclusive accommodation based on the Reefworld pontoon.  There is nothing else like this on the Great Barrier Reef and is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience. 

Fantasea is an advanced eco certified operator and offers a genuine eco-tourism experience on all day cruises and Reefsleep.  Fantasea is also proud to operate the Fantasea Foundation, which was established in 1996 and undertakes the serious commitment of acting as ambassadors for the protection of, and research into, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Fantasea’s commitment to providing a professional operation reflects through the friendly staff and quality of the vessels, pontoons and facilities.  Based at Shute Harbour, the fleet consists of eight high speed, air conditioned passenger vessels, plus smaller vessels including semi-submersibles and passenger rails.  The vessels are fitted out for day cruise and ferry operations, ensuring a smooth and comfortable passage. 

Many staff are bilingual and on board literature is printed in eight languages. In addition to carrying thousands of domestic and international holidaymakers every year, Fantasea Adventure Cruising also has extensive experience with tour groups, coach groups, social clubs, school groups, wedding parties, conferences and incentives.  Specially tailored cruises can be designed to suit the needs of any group.

From June to September, guests may experience the thrill of coming face to face with majestic humpback whales on their annual migration to the warm Whitsunday waters.  These gentle giants visit the area to raise their newborn calves in the sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.  In previous years Fantasea Adventure Cruising has conducted dedicated Whale Watching cruises, but with the increasingly early arrival of the whales, along with increased numbers, guests travelling on our daily scheduled cruises are treated to breaching, spy hopping and fluke-up diving. Our crews ensure that passengers get a great view of these fascinating mammals if one is sighted.  Visitors come from all over the world to see humpback whales in the Whitsundays and describe this sight of whales at play as a life-changing experience. There is no feeling on earth that compares to that of sharing the sea with these fascinating marine mammals.

Fantasea Adventure Cruising always do their best to deliver the services offered on this website and other brochures and publications. Once in a while however, it can happen that the weather or other unforeseen circumstances will cause the cancellation of or alteration to one of our services. In such case(s), our liability is limited to the supply of an alternative offer or a full or partial refund.

EMC

The Australian Government levies an Environmental Management Charge (EMC) of $5.50 per head on tourism operations for all visitors over 4 years of age visiting the Great Barrier Reef and environs. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has the responsibility for the management, protection and sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef. The EMC is being used for this purpose, to ensure the continued enjoyment of the reef and its environs for future generations.