Green Island Day with Snorkelling or Glass-Bottom Boat

About This Experience

This is the Great Adventures Reef & Island Cruises Green Island trip with an activity already included. It rates 4.4 from 139 reviews, and fares start at $109 per person.

Catamarans leave Cairns at 8:30am, arriving at 9:15am, or at 10:30am, arriving at 11:15am. Return boats leave Green Island at 2:30pm, arriving at 3:15pm, or at 4:30pm, arriving at 5:15pm, so you can make it a half day or a full day of up to seven hours on the island. Morning tea and coffee are available before departure. Green Island sits about 27 km from Cairns, so the crossing is short, although guests note it can be bumpy on windy mornings.

The listing's inclusions pair snorkel equipment with a glass-bottom boat coral viewing tour, while its description frames them as a choice between the two. Check the fare you select before paying so you know which activities are covered. Every fare includes the marine biologist reef talk and island walk, use of the swimming pool reserved for Great Adventures guests, the national park walking tracks and the day visitor facilities.

Green Island is a coral cay some 6,000 years old, with rainforest boardwalks and white sand beaches. Turtles, stingrays and reef fish are often seen near the jetty and from the beach. Extras cost more: scuba diving, offshore snorkel trips, Seawalker helmet dives, canoe, windsurf and volleyball hire, and helicopter flights. Lunch can be bought at the island's restaurants and food outlets, or with a drink at the pool bar. You can reach the coral gardens straight from the sand, and the glass-bottom boat guide points out turtles and fish for those who stay dry.

It suits families and mixed groups who want a guided look at the coral plus time to snorkel at their own pace. Guests note that the crossing can be bumpy and that beach snorkelling suffers at low tide, while the supplied snorkel gear is basic. Bring a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a camera. If you plan to snorkel a lot, packing your own mask is a simple upgrade.

Highlights

• Glass-bottom boat coral viewing tour with commentary
• Snorkel straight off Green Island's white sand beaches
• Half-day or full-day timings, with up to seven hours on the island
• Marine biologist reef talk and island walk
• A coral cay around 6,000 years old, with rainforest walking tracks
• Island pool reserved for Great Adventures guests

What's Included

• ✓ Return air-conditioned fast catamaran cruise (about 45 minutes each way)
• ✓ Snorkelling equipment and a glass-bottom boat coral viewing tour, per the fare you select
• ✓ Marine biologist reef talk and island walk
• ✓ Use of the island swimming pool
• ✓ Green Island National Park walking tracks and self-guided eco trails
• ✓ Island day facilities, including showers, toilets and shaded areas

Not Included

• Lunch (available to buy on the island)
• Introductory and certified scuba diving
• Offshore boat snorkel trips and Seawalker helmet diving
• Canoe, windsurf and beach volleyball hire
• Scenic helicopter flights

What to Bring

• Swimwear and a towel
• Hat and sunscreen
• A camera
• Money for lunch and drinks
• Your own mask if you prefer better gear than the basic set supplied

Good to Know & Caveats

• Boats leave Cairns at 8:30am and 10:30am and leave Green Island at 2:30pm and 4:30pm.
• The listing's description and inclusions differ on whether snorkel gear and the glass-bottom boat are both included or a choice; confirm on the option you book.
• Snorkelling off the beach is harder at low tide; plan your swim around high tide where you can.
• Crossings can be rough; take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it.
• Tours run in most weather; if a departure is cancelled for safety you can reschedule or get a full refund, and changes need 24 hours' notice.
• Turtles and reef sharks are sometimes seen but never guaranteed.

Meeting Point

Check in on the Cairns waterfront at the Marlin Marina and Reef Fleet Terminal before your chosen 8:30am or 10:30am departure.