Frankland Islands: Reef and Wildlife Adventure
4.7
407 Ratings
Deeral

Discover rare Sand Stars and endangered species on a full-day Frankland Islands cruise. Explore vibrant coral reefs and relax on secluded Normanby Island.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Frankland Islands - Discover the untouched beauty of Frankland Group National Park, a part of the Great Barrier Reef, which includes five uninhabited islands: Normanby, High, Russell, Round, and Mabel, all encircled by vibrant fringing reefs. Immerse yourself in a diverse marine ecosystem with 200 coral species around Normanby and Mabel islands….
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What's Included
  • Spacious and comfortable boat
  • Spectacular 30-minute calm water cruise along the Mulgrave River
  • Guided Island Walk
  • Use of Snorkeling Equipment, Kayaks and Stand up Paddle boards
  • Morning & Afternoon Tea and fresh water throughout the day
  • Lunch
  • Return transfers from select Cairns CBD accommodation, subject to availability.
  • Guided Snorkel Safari Tour
  • Lycra Suits (seasonal)
What's Not Included
  • Introductory Diving
  • Varied drinks including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (available to purchase)
Additional Information

Frankland Islands Reef Cruises is the sole commercial operator permitted to land on the breathtaking Normanby Island, providing plenty of space and time for relaxation and exploration. Personalize your day trip with a range of optional activities on our all-inclusive tour.
The islands are also home to several endangered species, including the green…

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Location
169 Ross Rd
Ross Road
If you are making your own way to the boat, please meet us at 8.15am for an 8.30am departure from Deeral Jetty - 169 Ross Rd, Deeral QLD 4871, Australia. Please note the Deeral Jetty is 40 minutes south of Cairns.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.7
(407 Ratings)
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Claire_j
Oct 22, 2025
Franklin Island Day Tour - Great day out, beautiful clear sea and lots of fish and turtles to see from the beach and the semi submersible. Beach shoes will make walking around the island easier as there is a lot of coral. Catered for my dietary requirements amazingly
Review provided by Viator
Maxgz9674ll
Oct 20, 2025
Amazing island, great crew and the happiest I’ve been in a while! - Absolutely loved this. The crew were so nice, food was provided and the island itself was amazing. It didn’t have any man-made structures and that made the whole experience so much better. I highly recommend you snorkel, it was the happiest I have been in a while. Loved this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pat_c
Oct 10, 2025
Private island - Wonderful, private getaway. I was nervous about the snorkeling but they take you out to a certain point and then guide you back. I used a life jacket and was fine. They had a ring if any one got tired but the fish and coral were so amazing that was not likely to happen. Island was a tropical paradise and lunch was plentiful. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Scott_g
Oct 5, 2025
Wonderful Day at Franklin Island - Our experience at Franklin island snorkeling event was great. We were kept busy the full day with glass bottom boat ride, snorkeling and nature walk. The lunch was more than we expected. Delicious. We were given a lot of information on barrier reef, coral and other nature on this beautiful little island.
Review provided by Viator
Theoa369
Oct 2, 2025
Ideal way to experience the spectacular coral reef - A perfect way to experience the beautiful reef. There is a maximum of 20 people which we really prefer to the big crowded boats. The staff were friendly and professional, eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the area. We basically hung at the gorgeous beach swimming, snorkelling and ducking into the shaded tables area to drink, eat or just rest. Absolutely stunning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kati_r
Sep 28, 2025
This experience was very... - This experience was very eco-friendly, no shops, no paths, no buildings just an amazing natural environment with fantastic staff and fun activities to do as well as just taking in the gorgeous surrounds.
Review provided by Viator
Manas_r
Sep 24, 2025
A memory you will always have with you and that includes everyone in the family. - Best and memorable time with the team and Frankland island.. the crew was amazing and very very helpful… I cannot recommend them enough… if you are looking for a true snorkelling experience and have not done ever or are even scared of water believe me these guys are champs… my wife and a 6 year old who has not set foot in water as they are scared.. these guys made it like a cake walk… my daughter was taken in the deep waters for coral and fish views with very experienced staff and they just loved it.. imagine a 6 year old who is just learning to swim going in deep waters with instructor for viewing corals what a sight it was for me… they are simply amazing… 100%. I was on green island before but this is another level.. if you are looking for true experience this is where you go. Not very fancy but I guess it’s the value in what activities and care they offer… can’t express thanks to the staff enough…
Review provided by Viator
8jacquil
Sep 22, 2025
Beautiful, secluded island. Great staff - Deserted island, small intimate group , personal attention and great snorkel guide. Beautiful scenery and setting, fast comfortable sustainable boat. We took our own lunch and found a quiet picnic sport away from the "crowd" which was perfect. The Express tour with just over 2 hours on the island also suited our plans - enough time to do everything. A very different experience to other reef/island offerings. We are Cairns locals and another time, we might then drive south for an overnight stay and take guests to Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls etc
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hugo
Nov 6, 2025
It doesn’t worth - Compared to other attractions, this is the most expensive and least appealing island in the region. It lacks proper infrastructure and organization to accommodate visitors. The area offers limited activities, and essential facilities such as clean restrooms, proper signage, and shaded areas are missing, which makes the experience less enjoyable. Overall, it’s worth visiting only if you’ve already explored the other, better-rated islands and are simply looking for something different, but it’s definitely not a must-see spot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Umme_a
Oct 22, 2025
Disclaimer: Cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, Customers need to adjust schedule to fulfill tour profits - Disclaimer: don't book Frankland Island tour if you, the paying customer, have no schedule flexibility and are ok with a potential cancellation due to low numbers on your booked date. Within an hour of landing at Cairns airport for a 2 night stay specifically to see the Frankland Island tour the next morning, I received an email that this tour was canceled. No explanation given. The email said I could rebook to a few specific days mentioned, or cancel. No refund was offered until I reached out to Viator. Thankfully Viator confirmed a full refund shortly afterwards. I later had to go out of my way to contact the tour team to ask why the tour was cancelled. The tour team said they had low bookings. While I appreciate the honesty, I would appreciate more their actions and clear disclaimer. It's not a weather related or emergency related cancellation, so this is highly discourteous to my time, and the team clearly focused on profit and not the customer. As someone visiting Australia for the first time, and as a paid customer for this tour (refund pending), I leave Cairns and Australia with a sense of being disrespected. I will never recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Check Availability
From $162
From $162
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).