Green Island Day Trip from Cairns: Tropical Paradise on the Great Barrier Reef

Embark on a journey from Cairns to Green Island, a haven of tropical bliss situated on the Great Barrier Reef. Choose between a four or five-hour stay at Green Island, allowing ample opportunity for snorkeling, exploring the reef via a glass-bottom boat, or observing the coral through a semi-submersible submarine.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Green Island Cruise - Day Tour (Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruise) - Explore the Great Barrier Reef island either with a glass bottom boat tour or snorkelling equipment.
  • Green Island - Walk through the rainforest or enjoy exploring the coral gardens the the beach.
  • Great Barrier Reef - View some of the amazing marine life at Green…
What's Included
  • Glass-bottom boat tour or snorkeling gear (if option selected)
  • Cruise transfers to and from Green Island by catamaran
  • Buffet lunch (if option selected)
  • Semi-submersible tour (if option selected)
  • Environmental Management Charge included
  • Morning tea / coffee (on 9am full day only)
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Optional activities. (Can be booked locally, subject to availability. Payable locally. Introductory Scuba Dive AU$152, Seawalker Helmut Dive AU$165, Semi-submersible Coral Viewing Tour AU$20)
  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)
  • Flotation vests and lycra suits are available for hire
Additional Information
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessibility is available but limited. Passengers must have some mobility and/or the presence of a carer who can assist them.
Location
1 Spence St
Spence Street
Please call to reconfirm your booking prior to travel to receive your boarding pass. If you have not received your boarding pass, please meet directly at the Reef Fleet Terminal, 30 minutes prior to your departure time
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.1
(897 Ratings)
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Bernadette_g
Feb 12, 2025
Great day at Green Island - Had a great day. The trip to the island was fine- no sea sickness for us. We booked the submarine which was amazing. The glass bottom boat was ok. Enjoyed the fish feeding. Buffet lunch was enjoyable. Overall, a great time was had.
Review provided by Viator
Abhaya
Jan 18, 2025
Marvellous Green Island trip - Itinerary was well planned. We had a great time under the green island canopy. Went on glass bottom boat and semi submarine. With the bright sun light and clear water the underwater experience was amazing. Food was great at the buffet in big cat vessel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kazzab1979
Jan 16, 2025
Amazing trip we will be back - We loved it all, family of 5 with two teens and a four year old. The staff on the island are all so lovely and helpful. Facilities are great, plenty of toilets and drinks/ snacks. Snorkeling from the beach we saw loads of fish, sting rays and a baby shark. Some coral was also seen. Water is so clear and warm, suits are provided in case of jelly fish but we didn’t see any the whole time we were there. Glass bottom boat tour was fantastic for our youngest daughter who could quite get the snorkeling thing. We saw turtles and so many fish. The boat guide was super friendly. We also took the plunge and did scuba dive (first timers) it was absolutely stunning, our instructors Eason and Emma are so professional and attentive I couldn’t recommend them more highly they are so passionate and we all felt so safe in their hands. We even spotted a turtle and their photographer got photos of us with the turtle. Memories to last a lifetime. Could easily spend more than a day here would love to come back and stay on the island next time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annwoodward
Jan 12, 2025
Lovely day trip to the reef great to have the island as a base for the day - We travelled in January with 2 teenagers and snorkelled on the reef while not as good as quicksilver from port Douglas it was priced accordingly. Having a nice stable base on the island was great, toilets, showers, cafes and even a swimming pool. Stinger suits were a must as in Jan as lots of stingers around we snorkelled out as far as you could but had most rewards int he shallows with 3 separate turtles. Even saw turtles from the jetty. All up a great day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Violyel
Jan 11, 2025
Full day tour.Good experience. - Good visit to Green Island. We booked the bus pick up and drop service from Palm Cove which was air-conditioned, on time, with barely any passengers and a lovely driver. Drop off in the morning was right at the jetty that had a cafe conveniently located. The boat is air-conditioned with an upper deck.Seating with tables is across both levels and there is complimentary tea/coffee at the start.Please don't forget to have Travacalm for motion sickness. There is fish feeding around 3.30 from the boat.We saw many Trevally and a shark then. Lunch was a buffet which can definitely improve in taste.Desserts and drinks can be purchased on the boat. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and lovely on tour as well as on the boat. We did the glass boat which was so good, saw a manta ray, turtle and many other fishes and coral.The smaller tour boat was breezy with lovely staff.The submersible on the other hand was a dreadful experience which made us feel sick to an extent.Cramped up with very little ventilation.Staff were good. Both tours last for half hour each. Green Island very little to do except take a walk around the scenic beach or the rainforest but beautiful nonetheless.Of course you can snorkel on your own with stinger suits and hire equipment at the boat. There is a good museum there with tribal art, where we saw a crocodile and turtle show at 1.20 pm for 28 dollars each.You can buy merch there too. We never ate at the island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Terese_w
Jan 25, 2025
It was magical. Very off... - It was magical. Very off the beaten track. The half submarine was amazing.cool hotel on island. I'd like to visit again.
Review provided by Viator
Zarina_a
Jan 13, 2025
Beautiful view of the... - Beautiful view of the beach. Lots to dol like glass bottom tour, semi submarine and Snorkelling. Lunch was served on the cruise. Being a vegetarian the food options were less. Overall a good trip.
Review provided by Viator
Flyerda40
Jan 30, 2025
Underwhelming snorkeling and reef - The tour company is fine. Nice boat and so on. The problem is the reef conditions are very poor due to coral bleaching which is a worldwide issue. See the reef while you can because it will only get worse. Thought the underwater safari option would provide better quality reef since it is in deeper water with no foot stomping tourists, but it was the same. But I did see a turtle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan
Dec 26, 2024
Not worth it - Catamaran ride fine. Visibly of coral reef through glass/plexiglass bottom boat was poor. Tour guide was great. No tour guide included in cost of excursion. Etc.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John
Feb 18, 2025
Not a great experience. Look elsewhere. - Big Dissapointment No Fish. The ferry ride was 50 minutes.I snorkled off the coast of the island but did not see but 1 fish. Very dissappointing. The glass bottom boat was not that good eithher. Spend your money on something else.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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