Cairns Green Island Cruises
Green Island is a rare and beautiful coral cay, located just 27 kilometres from Cairns, in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. What makes the island unique is its vibrant combination of lush tropical rainforest thriving on a coral cay and splendid living coral gardens accessible straight from the beach.
Our Green Island cruises are the best way to experience this protected national park and marine paradise. Cruises departing from Cairns serve as your transfer to the island, dropping you there and collecting you for the return trip. Once you arrive, you can choose how to spend your day. You can take up activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, exploring the rainforest, relaxing on the beach, or adding optional reef experiences.
‘Big Cat’ Green Island Tours
These Green Island day tours focus on the Island itself, giving you up to 6 hours to enjoy it however you like. You can stroll along rainforest boardwalks, swim from the beach, visit Marineland Melanesia to see crocs, or do other water activities. There are two departure options for more flexibility. The 9am departure is on a large catamaran that takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to reach the island, while the 11am departure is on a faster speedboat that gets you there in approximately 45 minutes.
These are some of the paid activity-oriented upgrades you can add with the Green Island Tours:
Instead of focusing mainly on the island, this small-group sailing adventure on a schooner takes you to Pinnacle Reef, an exclusive reef site where no other vessel holds a permanent mooring. This is also an all-inclusive package with snorkelling, fish-feeding, marine commentary and a deluxe Swedish lunch included.
You’ll also visit Green Island for an hour, giving you the chance to enjoy both the reef and the island in a single experience. Scuba dives are also available as upgrades for those wanting a more in-depth exploration of the reef.
Which Green Island Cruise Should You Choose?
If your priority is exploring Green Island, enjoying its beaches and rainforest, and choosing your own activities, the Big Cat Green Island Tours offer the greatest flexibility. It has a lower base price with the option to add activities. The tour is perfect for families, first-time visitors and travellers who prefer to customise their day.
If you’re seeking a quieter and exclusive reef experience with more time in the water and access to an exclusive snorkelling and diving location, the Green Island & Pinnacle Reef Tour is the better choice. It offers a more immersive Great Barrier Reef adventure while still allowing time to experience Green Island itself.
All Green Island reef cruises depart from Marlin Marina in Cairns and return to the same point.
So whether you’re snorkelling vibrant coral gardens, spotting marine life, or simply soaking up the beauty of this unique coral cay, Green Island Cairns tours deliver one of the most accessible and magical Great Barrier Reef day trips in Queensland. Book your preferred departure now!
FAQs
What is special about Green Island?
Green Island is one of the few coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef where a tropical rainforest grows alongside a thriving coral reef. Visitors can enjoy white sandy beaches, rainforest walking trails and easy access to colourful coral gardens, all on a single day trip from Cairns.
What types of Green Island tours are available?
Some focus on giving you plenty of free time to explore Green Island, with the option to add more water activities. Others combine a visit to Green Island with snorkelling or diving at nearby reef sites, like Pinnacle Reef, for a more immersive Great Barrier Reef experience.
Are reef activities included in all Green Island cruises?
Not always. While your cruise includes transport to Green Island or the reef destination, activities such as glass-bottom boat tours, guided snorkelling, scuba diving and other reef experiences are included in some tours or offered as optional upgrades on others.
Can beginners snorkel at Green Island?
Yes. Green Island is one of the best Great Barrier Reef destinations for beginners, because of its clear, shallow waters and coral gardens that can be accessed directly from the beach. Several cruises also offer snorkelling equipment hire, guided snorkelling safaris and in-water assistance.
Can I snorkel if I don't know how to swim?
Absolutely. Buoyancy vests are available for both adults and children, while crew members provide snorkelling guidance and in-water assistance if required. Throughout the experience, trained staff closely supervise all snorkellers and swimmers to help ensure a safe and enjoyable time in the water.
Can I scuba dive at Green Island?
Yes, at Pinnacle Reef – a little away from Green Island. Both introductory dives for first-timers and certified dives for experienced divers are available as upgrades on Green Island tours. Introductory dives include all training and equipment. Certified divers should bring their dive certification.
How long do Green Island tours usually take?
Most Green Island cruises are full-day experiences departing from Cairns. Depending on the tour you choose, you'll spend 5–9 hours exploring Green Island, visiting nearby reef sites or enjoying a combination of both before returning in the evening.
Do Green Island cruises include transfers from Cairns?
Yes. The cruise itself provides your return transfer between Cairns and the destination. Depending on the experience you choose, your transfer may be aboard a large catamaran, a fast speedboat or a small sailing vessel.
Should I choose an island tour or a reef tour?
If you'd like to spend more time relaxing on beaches, walking through rainforests, and exploring Green Island at your own pace, an island-focused tour is the better option. If your priority is snorkelling, diving and experiencing more of the Great Barrier Reef, a tour that includes an offshore reef site offers a more immersive marine adventure.
Are meals included in Green Island tours?
This depends on the tour. Some tours include a full smorgasbord lunch and afternoon tea as part of the package, while others offer meals as optional upgrades or make food available for purchase on the island. Check the inclusions for the specific tour before booking.
Our Green Island cruises are the best way to experience this protected national park and marine paradise. Cruises departing from Cairns serve as your transfer to the island, dropping you there and collecting you for the return trip. Once you arrive, you can choose how to spend your day. You can take up activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, exploring the rainforest, relaxing on the beach, or adding optional reef experiences.
‘Big Cat’ Green Island Tours
These Green Island day tours focus on the Island itself, giving you up to 6 hours to enjoy it however you like. You can stroll along rainforest boardwalks, swim from the beach, visit Marineland Melanesia to see crocs, or do other water activities. There are two departure options for more flexibility. The 9am departure is on a large catamaran that takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to reach the island, while the 11am departure is on a faster speedboat that gets you there in approximately 45 minutes.
These are some of the paid activity-oriented upgrades you can add with the Green Island Tours:
- Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Tour
- Snorkelling (equipment hire or guided)
- Scuba diving (introductory or certified)
- Semi-Submarine Tour
Instead of focusing mainly on the island, this small-group sailing adventure on a schooner takes you to Pinnacle Reef, an exclusive reef site where no other vessel holds a permanent mooring. This is also an all-inclusive package with snorkelling, fish-feeding, marine commentary and a deluxe Swedish lunch included.
You’ll also visit Green Island for an hour, giving you the chance to enjoy both the reef and the island in a single experience. Scuba dives are also available as upgrades for those wanting a more in-depth exploration of the reef.
Which Green Island Cruise Should You Choose?
If your priority is exploring Green Island, enjoying its beaches and rainforest, and choosing your own activities, the Big Cat Green Island Tours offer the greatest flexibility. It has a lower base price with the option to add activities. The tour is perfect for families, first-time visitors and travellers who prefer to customise their day.
If you’re seeking a quieter and exclusive reef experience with more time in the water and access to an exclusive snorkelling and diving location, the Green Island & Pinnacle Reef Tour is the better choice. It offers a more immersive Great Barrier Reef adventure while still allowing time to experience Green Island itself.
All Green Island reef cruises depart from Marlin Marina in Cairns and return to the same point.
So whether you’re snorkelling vibrant coral gardens, spotting marine life, or simply soaking up the beauty of this unique coral cay, Green Island Cairns tours deliver one of the most accessible and magical Great Barrier Reef day trips in Queensland. Book your preferred departure now!
FAQs
What is special about Green Island?
Green Island is one of the few coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef where a tropical rainforest grows alongside a thriving coral reef. Visitors can enjoy white sandy beaches, rainforest walking trails and easy access to colourful coral gardens, all on a single day trip from Cairns.
What types of Green Island tours are available?
Some focus on giving you plenty of free time to explore Green Island, with the option to add more water activities. Others combine a visit to Green Island with snorkelling or diving at nearby reef sites, like Pinnacle Reef, for a more immersive Great Barrier Reef experience.
Are reef activities included in all Green Island cruises?
Not always. While your cruise includes transport to Green Island or the reef destination, activities such as glass-bottom boat tours, guided snorkelling, scuba diving and other reef experiences are included in some tours or offered as optional upgrades on others.
Can beginners snorkel at Green Island?
Yes. Green Island is one of the best Great Barrier Reef destinations for beginners, because of its clear, shallow waters and coral gardens that can be accessed directly from the beach. Several cruises also offer snorkelling equipment hire, guided snorkelling safaris and in-water assistance.
Can I snorkel if I don't know how to swim?
Absolutely. Buoyancy vests are available for both adults and children, while crew members provide snorkelling guidance and in-water assistance if required. Throughout the experience, trained staff closely supervise all snorkellers and swimmers to help ensure a safe and enjoyable time in the water.
Can I scuba dive at Green Island?
Yes, at Pinnacle Reef – a little away from Green Island. Both introductory dives for first-timers and certified dives for experienced divers are available as upgrades on Green Island tours. Introductory dives include all training and equipment. Certified divers should bring their dive certification.
How long do Green Island tours usually take?
Most Green Island cruises are full-day experiences departing from Cairns. Depending on the tour you choose, you'll spend 5–9 hours exploring Green Island, visiting nearby reef sites or enjoying a combination of both before returning in the evening.
Do Green Island cruises include transfers from Cairns?
Yes. The cruise itself provides your return transfer between Cairns and the destination. Depending on the experience you choose, your transfer may be aboard a large catamaran, a fast speedboat or a small sailing vessel.
Should I choose an island tour or a reef tour?
If you'd like to spend more time relaxing on beaches, walking through rainforests, and exploring Green Island at your own pace, an island-focused tour is the better option. If your priority is snorkelling, diving and experiencing more of the Great Barrier Reef, a tour that includes an offshore reef site offers a more immersive marine adventure.
Are meals included in Green Island tours?
This depends on the tour. Some tours include a full smorgasbord lunch and afternoon tea as part of the package, while others offer meals as optional upgrades or make food available for purchase on the island. Check the inclusions for the specific tour before booking.
