• Green Island is a nesting island for turtles so you may very well come across a few whilst snorkelling in the islands lagoon. 
• Take a selfie with the World's Largest Captive Crocodile "Cassius" in the background at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island.
• Take a half day reef tour away from Cairns and snorkel with the vibrant fish on the Great Barrier Reef on Green Island.
• There is so much to see and do on Green Island, scenic helicopter flights, Seawalker helmet diving, scuba diving, boat snorkel tours, parasailing, Marineland Melanesia, restaurants, bars, swimming pool, showers, lockers and shops.
• Family Deal -  Save $58 based on 2 adults 2 children

Short 45 minute boat ride from Cairns to Green island, best value half day reef tour from Cairns. Choose from Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat tour or upgrade to do both.

What To Expect

When on Green Island you can spend a half day morning or half day afternoon snorkelling, cruising in a glass bottom boat, upgrading to scuba diving, enjoying a scenic helicopter flight or trying Seawalker helmet diving to see Gavin the famous Parrot fish. Green Island has so many attractions to suit every single member of the family. Families just love Green Island which is only 12 hectares (or 30 acres in size) as there is so much to see and do for absolutely everyone from the novice swimmer to the certified scuba diver and the adventurous teenager who loves everything in water sports action.

Features and Highlights

Choose from 3 ferry departure times daily for your Green Island, Great Barrier Reef half day tour.

Green Island Packages

Green Island DISCOVERY includes:

• Morning tea/coffee on boarding, snorkelling equipment AND glass bottom boat tour, use of island swimming pool, self-guided eco island walk, use of day visitor facilities, beach bag.

Green Island ECO ADVENTURE includes:

• Morning tea/coffee on boarding, choice of snorkelling equipment OR glass bottom boat tour, use of island swimming pool, self-guided eco island walk, use of day visitor facilities.

Cairns Green Island Half Day Ferry Boat Reef Tour

• Green Island is located 45 minutes boat ride from the City of Cairns and is a 6000 year old Coral Cay.  This half day Green Island tour is also a great option for cruise ship passengers berthing in Yorkeys Knob and Cairns. 
• Declared a National Park in 1936 because of the unique plant and animal life on the island and the abundant marine life all around it.  Green Island is a favourite nesting place for giant Green sea turtles, a fun marine environment for migrating whales and home to a vast array of exotic tropical fish.
• Green island itself is located amidst one of the Seven Wonders of the World; The Great Barrier Reef, and is approximately 37 acres of protected coastal rainforest in size.
• Green Islands proximity to the Australian coastline offers you a reef experience for a half day reef tour and activities although there is plenty to do if you choose to book the full day tour where you get to spend up to 7 hours on the island.  
• Snorkelling and scuba diving are the obvious activities to undertake while on Green Island but there are plenty of other activities for you to do too.
• While on the island, take the self- guided rainforest walk to learn about the Green Islands ecology, laze in the white sandy beaches or sip on a cocktail at the islands resort style swimming pool.
• Bring your wallets as there are several restaurants and shops on the island that host some unique tropical inspired collections.

Green Island Ferry Boat Departure Times and Packages

• The ferry boat departs to Green Island three times daily with coach pick-ups from all Cairns and Cairns beaches holiday accommodation.
• Reef boats depart from Cairns at 10:30 and then the ferries leave from Green Island and return back to Cairns at 3:20pm.
• You may visit Green Island for a full day or just a half day reef trip.
• The Green Island ferry half day tour is the best budget reef trip option that includes your boat transfers as well as snorkelling gear or a glass bottom boat coral viewing tour and the exclusive use of the islands swimming pool.
• Each ferry transfer boat offers the fastest cruising time to the island of only 45 minutes which means more relaxation and fun time on the island instead of sitting on a boat!
• The Green Island half day tour includes your boat transfers as well as a choice of snorkelling gear or a glass bottom boat coral viewing tour.

Green Island Optional Extra Activities

• Green Island Scenic Helicopter Flights - ***Infant age 3 must pay child price***
• A great way to admire this charming little tropical island is by a scenic helicopter flight which gives you a unique perspective of the island and the coral and marine life all around it.
• You can do a 10 minute scenichelicopter flight, a 15 minute scenic flight or you can fly either to or from the island instead of travelling by ferry boat.

Exclusive Snorkel Adventure Up To 10 Guests

Differing from the “optional” guided snorkelling tours, this is a dedicated tour tailored specifically to the guest’s needs.

• Conducted by one of our knowledgeable Reef Biosearch Marine Biologists/Master Reef Guides.
• Guests will gain expert insights and a deeper understanding of the reef’s biodiversity and ecological importance.
• They will share conservation efforts and challenges, and inspire guests to be advocates for its protection.
• Included in this exclusive tour will be a pre and post briefing along with the 40-minute (approx.) snorkelling adventure.

Exclusive Dive Adventure

• This Exclusive Adventure is designed to cater for 1 – 4 guests.
• Incudes dive briefing, all dive equipment and a 30-minute (approx.) dive with one of our experienced dive instructors.
• Available for certified and introductory divers.

For non-certified divers due to Diving Regulations regarding diving safety in the event of unexpected sea conditions the maximum number of guests may be reduced depending on the conditions of the day of travel.

Green Island and Seawalker

• Adventure seekers can view the oceans floor from a different perspective so why not try ‘Seawalker’ where you don’t even need to be able to swim or even get your hair wet.
• You are able to  submerge into the oceans depth to view all  the colourful fish and coral.
• Just put on your wetsuit and weight belt and the helmet sits weightlessly on your shoulders as you submerge to the azure depths below to be greeted by the very famous local celebrity Parrot fish Gavin.
• Gavin is world famous and you will get to know him personally as he and his friends are permanent residents of this dive location and just love to engage with guests and photo bomb at every opportunity whilst visitors are undertaking a Seawalker adventure.

Green Island Glass Bottom Boat Coral Viewing Tours

• Glass bottom boat rides are another fantastic way of viewing the Great Barrier Reef without getting your hair wet.
• Kids will love spotting Nemo’s, clams and coral from the comfort and safety of a glass bottom boat; suitable for all ages.
• The underwater observatory on the jetty is another family favourite and is an aquarium style observatory where you can view marine life in their natural environments.

Green Island Scuba Diving

• No experience necessary so why not take the plunge into the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef for an introductory Scuba Dive.
• All scuba dives are supervised by highly qualified dive instructors so don't miss out on this amazing underwater adventure to see the reef and marine life in all of its wonder.
• For the certified scuba divers you can be taken on two dive adventures to see some of the better parts of this reef away from Green Island.

Green Island Boat Snorkel Trip

• We urge you to take a short boat trip to one of the best snorkelling sites off of Green Island for a guided tour to explore colourful marine life and coral gardens in the deeper waters.
• The further you are away from the island and the deeper the water, you will find the colourful hard and soft corals and more abundant marine life, so we really do recommend you book on one of these extra snorkelling boat reef tours.

Green Island Marineland Melanesia

• Green Island holds a small native wildlife sanctuary Marineland Melanesia, filled with excitement such as crocodile attack shows, opportunities to hold baby crocodiles and get your photo taken, tropical fish aquariums, marine artefacts and primitive art on display.
• At times you can even see rescued sea turtles and the star of the show is that they have the largest crocodile in captivity called Cassius who is over 102 years old.  Let's hope he does not escape anytime soon in the islands surrounding waters!

Green Island Beach Hire

• Enjoy all the activities ranging from volleyball, windsurfing, guided glass bottom boat tours, semi-submersible submarine tours, kayak tours, canoeing or relax in the sun under an umbrella! (charges apply).

View all Green Island tours from Cairns.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Check in 10.00am – Departs 10.30am – Arrives Green Island 11.15am - Departs Green Island 2.30pm – Arrives back at Cairns Marina 3.20pm

Departure Instructions

Departure from Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns. Check in 45 minutes prior to departure. Coach transfers are not available

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Green Island

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

Half Day Tour

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Introductory scuba diving Available on 10.30am departure only
• Seawalker helmet diving – Available on 1.30pm departure only
• Scenic helicopter flights – Available on 10.30am departure only
• Infants age 3 will be charged the child price for any helicopter component booked, this charge will be added to your booking total
• Boat snorkel trip – Available on 10.30am departure only
• Exclusive Dive Adventure - Up To 4 Guests - needs to be pre-booked
• Exclusive Snorkel Adventure Up To 10 Guests - needs to be pre-booked
• Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat entry
• Green Island Resort Club Spa Massage and Beauty
• Dine at the Resorts award winning Emeralds Restaurant
• Lycra sun suits and wetsuits
• Optical masks from the Green Island Dive Shop

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

Restrictions

Scuba Diving – minimum age 12

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Doo and Helmet Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from helmet diving and scuba doo.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for helmet diving/scuba doo is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

• Camera (charged)
• Cash or credit card
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Swimming costume
• Towel

• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children (not applicable with other discounts)
• Child Fare 4-14 years inclusive
• Infants age 3 will be charged the child price for any helicopter component booked, this charge will be added to your booking total