Great Barrier Reef visitor charges from 1 April 2027

The permit holder collects the visitor charge

The standard tourism program charge is collected by the permit holder and remitted quarterly to the Reef Authority. The authority’s schedule lists the charge per visitor and distinguishes full-day and part-day categories. It says GST is not payable on the Environmental Management Charge collected. Source 1

Trip length and timing determine the category

The schedule lists three hours or more in the Marine Park as a full-day duration and less than three hours as a part-day duration. It has separate timing rules for the first and last days of a trip. A standard extended charter uses the full-day charge for its first three days. Source 1

Some commercial passengers and excursions use separate rates

The non-tourist commercial charter charge is AUD 2 per person on the first day, including for specified research or survey trips. The authority also lists AUD 0.40 for qualifying stand-alone glass-bottomed boat and semi-submersible excursions and for sightseeing flights. An excursion that forms part of another tourist program follows separate treatment. Source 1

The April change affects the two standard passenger rates

The Reef Authority says the full-day amount increases by AUD 0.50 and the part-day amount by AUD 0.25 on 1 April 2027. It says other charge categories are unchanged. Its schedule identifies exemptions including passengers who have already paid the full charge that day to another operator. Source 1

Sources

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Environmental Management Charge schedule