Reef Unlimited makes waves in Cairns with Aquarius II
New vessel to grow the company’s capacity in Cairns and on the Great Barrier Reef
Experience Co. is expanding its fleet with the acquisition of Aquarius II, a multi-functional vessel, aimed at capitalising on the growing day tour, cruise and business events charter
markets in Tropical North Queensland. The new 26m, 240-passenger Aquarius II will operate under the Reef Unlimited brand and will enhance the company’s special events and charter offerings, including business events.
It will also provide additional capacity for Reef Unlimited’s popular half and full-day Reef tours from Cairns – which visit the company’s Reef Magic platform at Moore Reef as well as Green Island and Fitzroy Island – and Port Douglas.
“We have seen strong demand for our Great Barrier Reef experiences for some time now. This has been off the back of continued domestic patronage as well as the return of international travellers. We believe that The Great Barrier Reef will always be one of Australia’s leading tourism drawcards and the launch of Aquarius II reinforces our ongoing commitment to this region.” – John O Sullivan, CEO Experience Co
Aquarius II Features
- Three levels of spacious comfort for guests
- Large sundeck and shaded areas
- Fully air-conditioned saloon and bar area.
- Sizeable food service area with a large cool storage facility allowing for hot and cold buffet catering
- Starlink Wi-Fi all of which make it an easy choice for special events and bespoke charters.
- The vessel is also equipped with a spacious hydraulic platform for easy water access
- Full diving gear setup
- In-built air compressor, perfect for guests who want to enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving in the renowned Great Barrier Reef.
Aquarius II will also support the growing cruise sector in Cairns delivering ship to shore transfers as well as providing shore excursion capacity. Assistant Tourism Minister and Member for Barron River, Bree James welcomed the additional vessel and the boost it will provide for the region.
“We’re delighted that Experience Co has chosen to increase their passenger capacity, which will support continued tourism growth out on The Great Barrier Reef. The launch of Aquarius II enhances our reputation as a tourism destination offering authentic experiences with connections to people and nature. We are also excited by the growth of the cruise sector in Cairns which delivers important economic returns to the region” – Bree James
