Guided Snorkel Safari, Full Day

A 10-hour day run by Fitzroy Island Resort, pairing the return ferry from Cairns with a guided Snorkel Safari and snorkel gear hire. It starts at A$168 per person and rates 4.2 across 43 reviews.

Overview

This full-day package pairs return ferry transfers from Cairns with a guided snorkel safari on Fitzroy Island. The Fitzroy Flyer departs Cairns at 8:00 AM and the crossing takes about 45 minutes, leaving roughly eight hours on the island before the 5:00 PM return. The boat leaves from and returns to the Fitzroy Flyer terminal, and there is no hotel pickup, so travellers make their own way to the dock.

The centrepiece is the guided snorkel safari, which runs at 10:00 AM. Guests meet at FISH at 9:55 AM and follow a guide onto the reef just off the beach. Snorkel gear is included for the whole day until 4:00 PM, so there is plenty of time to swim independently afterwards. Beyond the water, the island's rainforest walking tracks and beaches fill the free time, and the bar and cafe overlooking Welcome Bay serve lunch, though food and drinks are not part of the price.

It works as either a one-day trip or the start of a longer stay, since accommodation is booked separately, and it suits travellers who want a guided reef swim alongside unstructured island time.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the Fitzroy FlyerMake your own way to the Fitzroy Flyer terminal in Cairns. Departure is at 8:00 AM, with no hotel pickup provided.
2. Ferry to Fitzroy IslandThe crossing takes 45 minutes according to the inclusions, listed as one hour in the itinerary breakdown.
3. Free time on arrivalAbout one hour to settle in before the snorkel safari begins.
4. Guided snorkel safariMeet at FISH at 9:55 AM for the 10:00 AM tour. The guided snorkelling lasts 105 minutes, and one reviewer noted you can swim straight off the beach onto the reef.
5. Free time on the islandRoughly five and a quarter hours to hike the rainforest trails, relax on the beach, or keep snorkelling with the hired gear until 4:00 PM. Lunch at the island's bar and cafe is at your own expense.
6. Ferry back to CairnsThe return ferry departs the island at 5:00 PM, an approximately one hour ride back to the Fitzroy Flyer terminal.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this day trip.

• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup. Meet at the Fitzroy Flyer terminal in Cairns in time for the 8:00 AM departure.
• Swimming ability. Gear hire runs until 4:00 PM, letting stronger swimmers keep going on their own after the tour.
• What to bring. The listing names swimwear as the item to bring. Bring cash or a card for lunch and drinks, since food is not included.
• Group size. One reviewer found the safari group large enough that hearing the guide underwater was difficult, and suggested splitting into smaller groups.
• Weather and reef conditions. One reviewer noted the guide adjusted the plan for the weather, and another reported seeing bleached coral in the section visited.
• Marine life. One reviewer reported seeing a giant clam, a spotted ray, a reef shark and a sea turtle on this tour, and described swimming off the beach straight onto the reef. Sightings are never guaranteed.

Common issues. The main criticisms are group size and reef condition. One reviewer could not hear the guide or see what she was pointing out because of the number of people following her, and felt two smaller groups would have worked better. Another reviewer described the snorkel section as heavily bleached with much of the coral appearing dead, which coloured the whole experience for them. A separate reviewer mentioned a rude interaction when asking where to wait for the boat, and another said the ferry could do with some maintenance. There is no hotel pickup, food and drinks cost extra, and the free time is long, so travellers who want constant structure may find the middle of the day slow.

Choosing A Trip