Ocean Spirit Michaelmas Cay Day Trip

Overview

Michaelmas Cay is a sliver of white sand sitting on the Great Barrier Reef, ringed by shallow coral gardens, and arriving by sail makes it better. Ocean Spirit is a 32-metre luxury sailing catamaran, which means the trip out of Cairns is a cruise in the old-fashioned, wind-in-canvas sense.

You get a long day of it: 8.5 hours all up with four full hours at the reef. Snorkel the cay's surrounding gardens with equipment, instruction and buoyancy vests provided, or view the coral dry from the semi-submersible or glass-bottom boat with commentary. A marine biologist presentation and a fish-feeding session fill in the picture, and lunch is a full hot-and-cold buffet, not a sandwich in a box.

Morning and afternoon teas bracket the day, and the homeward sail comes with a complimentary glass of sparkling and crackers. Reef days don't come more civilised.