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You’ll board either a dinghy or a high-speed catamaran at Cairns. Boarding will begin 15-30 minutes before departure, so arrive early to settle down before moving.
Book Great Barrier Reef Tours & Cruises
- Self-guided boardwalks, snorkeling, or glass bottom boat tours - a Green Island day tour of your own making.
- Best for families, couples, and adventure seekers who want to relax or explore the reef
- What you’ll do Snorkeling, glass bottom boat tour, and self-guided walk on the island
- What you’ll see Watch colorful fishes and reef sharks from the glass bottom boat or see jellyfish, corals, and turtles up close during snorkeling
- What’s unique: You can choose to snorkel, hike, or relax on the beach - a chance to experience Green Island the way you want!
- Self-guided boardwalks, snorkeling, or glass bottom boat tours - a Green Island day tour of your own making.
- Best for families, couples, and adventure seekers who want to relax or explore the reef
- What you’ll do Snorkeling, glass bottom boat tour, and self-guided walk on the island
- What you’ll see Watch colorful fishes and reef sharks from the glass bottom boat or see jellyfish, corals, and turtles up close during snorkeling
- What’s unique: You can choose to snorkel, hike, or relax on the beach - a chance to experience Green Island the way you want!
Inclusions
- Full or half-day cruise to Green Island (as per option selected)
- Choice of snorkeling gear or glass-bottom boat
- Snorkeling demonstration and reef presentation en route to Green Island
- Use of Big Cat vessel during time at island as an air-conditioned base (as per option selected)
- Snorkeling safari for 50 minutes (as per option selected)
- Self-guided walk on the island (as per option selected)
- Commentary by a Marine biologist (as per option selected)
- Experienced snorkeler (as per option selected)
-Access to
- Semi-submarine tour (as per option selected)
- Island rainforest boardwalks
- Buffet lunch (as per option selected)
- Tip: If you want to really destress, visit the day spa on the island and get pampered with spa and massage treatments.
- The vessel is pram/stroller accessible.
- Guests over 16 years of age can travel without adult supervision. However, photo identification will be required at check in.
- Guests over 18 years of age must be with guests under 16 years of age at all times.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Snorkel at an exclusive site with a small group for personalized attention.
- Best for families, couples, or nature enthusiasts looking to explore marine life with a small group.
- What you'll do: Sail, snorkel, and scuba dive on exclusive reef sites, with time to relax on Green Island as you please.
- What you'll see: Coral gardens and marine life in uncrowded reef sites, plus Green Island's rainforest, walking trails, and beach.
- What’s unique: Not only will you get personalized attention during the activities, you decide the time you spend between reef activities and Green Island.
Snorkel at an exclusive site with a small group for personalized attention.
- Best for families, couples, or nature enthusiasts looking to explore marine life with a small group.
- What you'll do: Sail, snorkel, and scuba dive on exclusive reef sites, with time to relax on Green Island as you please.
- What you'll see: Coral gardens and marine life in uncrowded reef sites, plus Green Island's rainforest, walking trails, and beach.
- What’s unique: Not only will you get personalized attention during the activities, you decide the time you spend between reef activities and Green Island.
Inclusions
- Full-day Great Barrier Reef and Green Island cruise
- English-speaking crew
- Marine interpreter guide
- Small group of up to 25 people
- Round-trip dinghy transfers from Green Island
- Coffee/tea on boarding
- Danish pastries and fresh fruit on boarding
- Smorgasbord lunch
- Tropical afternoon tea – cheese platter / fresh fruit platter/cake platter on the sail home
- Scuba diving demonstration
- Snorkeling fee and equipment
- Fish feeding
- Access to Green Island beach
- 1 glass of wine on return journey
Exclusions
- Recreational area and environmental management charges
- Certified and non-certified diving experiences
- Round-trip bus transfers
- Tip: Keep an eye out for blue-spotted stingrays and turtles in the shallow waters of Green Island when you take a stroll around the remote beaches.
- This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.
- Guests with asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, and epilepsy are restricted from participating in the scuba diving experience.
- Children must be supervised by their parents at all times.
- Guests can convey their dietary preferences or allergy concerns to the operator 24 hours prior to the trip.
- Guests must be at least 12 years old to do an introductory dive.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Top things to do in Cairns
What your Green Island cruise looks like
Journey to Green Island
Your Green Island cruise options
Half-day tour
Duration: up to 4 hours
Suitable for: short on time, budget day cruise
- A relatively short tour of Green Island, a half-day tour is your perfect pick if you’ve got other evening plans or want to start your day a little late.
- With an extremely flexible itinerary, you’ll have plenty of time to go snorkeling, explore the island and even add a semi-submarine tour for an additional fee.
Recommended experience:
Half Day Green Island Reef Catamaran Cruise
Full-day tour
Duration: 6 to 9 hours
Suitable for: planned itinerary, all-inclusive cruise
- Forget the hassle of scheduling your day and pick a curated full-day cruise tour that includes various activities to explore both the reefs and the island.
- With various upgradable options, enjoy a relaxing cruise on a sailing boat, indulge in a delicious smorgasbord meal, feed the reef fish or get a marine biologist to share keen insights.
Recommended experience:
From Cairns: Small Group Sailing Cruise in Great Barrier Reef & Green Island
Plan your Green Island cruise
Timings
Best time to visit
Boarding point
Facilities/Accessibility
Rules
Tips
Half-day cruise: 9am and 1pm ; Duration: 4 hours
Full-day cruise: 8am or 9am ; Duration: 6 hrs or 9 hrs (based on option selected)
Boarding time
Boarding for your cruise will begin 15-30 minutes before the departure time mentioned on your voucher. We suggest that you arrive at the boarding point at least 15 minutes before departure to board the cruise smoothly.
Note: While the island doesn’t have specific visiting hours, reaching the island may sometimes be difficult due to strong winds. In such cases, your tour operator will inform you about further steps.
Peak season: Dec to Feb (Summer) ; Low season: Jun to Aug (Winter)
Green Island is a tropical island where temperatures mostly range between 22℃ to 27℃ throughout the year. Summer time brings in the largest crowds, especially because of school holidays. The seas remain calm, which is perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving. Expect a few random showers and carry some rain gear with you.
Winter also brings clear skies and waters, but the water is too cold at this time for a long swim. However, winter is the perfect opportunity to relax on the beach, head on boardwalks and explore the island.
Shoulder seasons like Spring (Sep to Nov) and Autumn (Mar to May) are also great times to visit Green Island. The temperatures remain relatively comfortable and crowds are much lesser compared to the Summer. The water also remains warm enough for prolonged underwater activities. Keep your eyes peeled for migrating humpback whales during the Winter and Spring, especially between June and September.
Address: Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia. Find on Maps
Getting here
By bus: The closest bus stop is at Spence Street at Grafton Street, which is a 9-minute walk from the boarding point. You can take the routes 110, 111, 113, 120, 121, 123, 130, 131, 133, 140, 141, 142, 143, 143W, 150 and 150E to reach this stop.
By train: The nearest train station is Cairns Central Station, which is about 20 minutes away by walk.
Parking:
- Island ranger: A ranger is always available on the island for any issues with the island’s flora or wildlife.
- Information desk: There is an information desk available on the island to help you with directions and other information.
- Wheelchair accessibility: While some vessels are wheelchair and stroller accessible, some are not. We suggest that you confirm the accessibility information for your cruise before booking your tickets. The boardwalks on the island are also completely wheelchair accessible.
- Service animals: Service animals are allowed to enter Green Island. However, they may need to be registered with the island authority first.
- Check for pests before deboarding: Green Island is a preserved and isolated environment and uninvited pests can harm its biodiversity. Dust yourself off, check creases and remove dirt, soil or insects on your clothes and equipment before stepping onto the island.
- Don’t touch the coral: They can be quite sharp and cause cuts or bruises. This is also to conserve them.
- Throw trash responsibly: Don’t throw anything into the water or leave litter lying around on the beach.
- Don’t feed the wildlife: Avoid feeding fish or birds as they can get aggressive. Fish feeding is only allowed as a tour authorized activity.
- Preserve, don’t collect: Collecting shells or pieces of the reef is prohibited.
- Rest on the sand: Be careful as to not lean, step or kick the reefs during underwater activities and rest on the sand instead.
- Carry sun protection: Protect yourself from sun damage with a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Reef-friendly sunscreen is essential to conserve the corals.
- Get insect repellent: Sandflies are prominent here, especially in warmer seasons. Carry some insect repellent to avoid bites.
- Keep your medicines handy: Bring your medicines along as it’s likely that they may be unavailable on the island.
- Watch your footing in wet conditions: The island boardwalks may get slippery after rains so take care to watch where you step.
- Keep a lookout for jellyfish: Jellyfish or stingers are common along the island’s beaches, especially in the warmer months. Ask your tour operator for a lycra bodysuit to avoid stings.
Best ways to explore Green Island's biodiversity
Snorkeling
Green Island’s clear waters and thriving coral gardens make it a snorkeler’s paradise, offering close encounters with tropical fish, rays, and sea turtles.
Frequently asked questions about Green Island cruises
What should I bring for a Green Island cruise?
Bring essentials like sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, and a reusable water bottle. For snorkeling, you can use the gear provided by your cruise operator. Don't forget cash or cards for food, drinks and souvenirs.
What should I wear for the trip?
Wear light, comfortable clothing suitable for tropical weather, like breathable fabrics with a swimsuit underneath. If you’re exploring the island, wear sturdy and comfortable shoes as some wet areas may be slippery.
Are there any rules to follow while on Green Island?
Visitors should respect the natural environment by avoiding littering and following snorkeling and diving guidelines to protect the coral reef. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas and pets are not allowed.
Is there an island fee I need to pay?
Some Green Island tours include an Environmental Management Charge (EMC) as part of the ticket price to support reef conservation. You can confirm whether this is included in your ticket while booking.
How far is Green Island from Cairns?
Green Island is a coral cay located about 27 km (17 miles) from Cairns, making it a short yet scenic journey.
How long does it take to travel from Cairns to Green Island?
The travel time is approximately 45 minutes to an hour by catamaran, depending on weather and sea conditions.
How much time should I spend on Green Island?
A typical visit lasts 4 to 6 hours. This duration allows ample time for activities like snorkeling, diving, exploring the rainforest boardwalk, relaxing on the beach or taking a glass-bottom boat tour.
Are there facilities available on the island?
Yes, Green Island offers facilities like restrooms, changing rooms, cafes, and equipment rental for water sports. Some cruises also include complimentary tea, coffee and light snacks onboard.
Are there any age restrictions for the cruise or activities?
Generally, there are no age restrictions for the cruise itself. However, certain activities like scuba diving may require participants to meet minimum age requirements, usually 12 years or older.
Are there guided tours available on Green Island?
While most activities are self-guided, you can join organized snorkeling tours or nature walks. Some cruises also include marine biologist guides to enhance your experience.
Are there accessible facilities on the island and cruise?
Yes, Green Island is generally accessible, and many cruise vessels are equipped with wheelchair ramps or lifts. Contact your cruise operator to confirm specific accommodations
Can I cancel or reschedule my cruise?
Most cruises offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. To reschedule your cruise, you may need to contact the cruise operator.
What wildlife can I expect to see around Green Island?
The area is home to colorful coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and over 50 water and migratory bird species. Snorkeling and glass-bottom boat tours provide excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting.
Are there restaurants or cafes on Green Island?
Yes, Green Island has cafes, restaurants and snack bars offering meals, snacks and drinks. Some tours also include meal options as part of their packages.
What happens in case of bad weather?
Cruises may be canceled due to heavy winds and adverse weather conditions. Under such circumstances, your cruise operator will tell you about whether you can reschedule your cruise or receive a refund.
Are Green Island cruises suitable for families with young children?
Anyone can be a part of these cruises, from young toddlers to the elderly. Glass-bottom boat and semi submarine tours and safe beach areas are available for children to explore. However, they will need to be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Can I rent equipment like underwater cameras?
Yes, many cruise operators offer equipment rentals, including underwater cameras and wetsuits, for an additional fee.
Are there souvenir shops on Green Island?
Yes, you can shop for gifts, clothing, and local crafts at the island’s souvenir stores.