4 Best Restaurants in Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

At this much-lauded seafood restaurant, modern Australian dishes put the focus on fresh North Queensland produce and seafood, which is delivered direct from local fishing boats. You can choose your own live mud crab from holding tanks, or down the sunset special---a generous bucket of prawns and a choice of Aussie beer or wine.

This low-key eatery's simple beach-shack setting on Palm Cove's seafront underplays the freshness and flavor of its modern Asian food. The small but satisfying menu is full of fresh spins on favorite dishes from around Southeast Asia, and seafood is the specialty here.

The menu here showcases seafood in all its forms—from beer-battered fish-and-chips to seafood chowder and wild-caught barramundi (the chef will even cook your catch). The bar is stocked with 500-plus rums and has a mean cocktail list.

There's nothing fancy about Popeye's—but then, that's the point. This fish-and-chips joint is set up as a casual, reasonably priced alternative to some of the more upmarket dining options on Hamilton Island, with all of the favorites: battered or grilled fish, family-friendly "fisherman's baskets," potato scallops and more. Enjoy them while looking out over the marina.