Two Islands, 8.5 Hours, Snorkel

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises pairs two Barrier Reef islands in a single 8.5 hour day from Cairns, Fitzroy Island in the morning and Green Island after, from A$196 per person. Snorkelling is on the agenda at both stops. The tour rates 3.8 across 17 reviews, and free cancellation applies.

Overview

This day trip from Cairns squeezes two iconic reef islands into a single outing. Run by Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises, it starts at 08:30 with check in at Cairns Marlin Marina, then the vessel heads to Fitzroy Island first, followed by Green Island, before returning to the same marina. The whole thing runs 8 hours 30 minutes, with over 6 hours of that spent across the two islands.

Fitzroy Island gets 2 hours 30 minutes and Green Island gets 3 hours 30 minutes. Island admission is free at both stops. Snorkelling equipment is available for use at both islands if that option is selected, and a glass bottom boat tour at Fitzroy is included on some options. One traveller described the two islands as super different, so the day works well for people who want a taste of each rather than a deep dive into one.

It suits visitors with only a few days in Cairns who want to tick off the reef and two islands at once, as one reviewer put it. It is a large operation, with up to 120 travellers. Meals are not included, though boxed lunches at Fitzroy and buffet lunches at Green Island can be added. Anyone happy to plan their own time on land and keep an ear on boarding announcements will get the most from it.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Cairns Marlin MarinaArrive at 1 Spence St, Cairns City and check in directly at the vessel shown on the digital boarding pass. Start time is 08:30, and there is no hotel pickup.
2. Sail to Fitzroy IslandThe vessel goes to Fitzroy Island first. Several travellers noted the transfer logistics take some attention, since not everyone on board is doing both islands.
3. Fitzroy Island, 2 hours 30 minutesAdmission is free. Time can be spent snorkelling, and a glass bottom boat tour is included here if that option was selected. A boxed lunch is an optional extra.
4. Transfer to Green IslandSwitch vessels for the second leg. Some reviewers found the instructions about which boat to board confusing, so it pays to confirm times and the berth.
5. Green Island, 3 hours 30 minutesAdmission is free, with snorkelling gear usable here too if selected. A buffet lunch is an optional extra.
6. Return to Cairns Marlin MarinaThe day ends back at the same meeting point on Spence Street, around 8 hours 30 minutes after departure.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape how this day goes, based on the listing and on repeated comments from past travellers.

• Bring water shoes. Reviewers recommend reef or water shoes for walking on the sand and in the shallows. Footwear that can handle wet, uneven ground makes both islands easier to enjoy.
• Plan Fitzroy time. There is greater distance to cover on Fitzroy, as one traveller warned, so decide what to do before landing. Another said they wasted time snorkelling in the wrong spots and would have liked a map. Knowing where to swim, hike or buy snacks in advance helps.
• Listen to briefings. Multiple reviewers mentioned confusion over which boat to board at Fitzroy, because passengers on the vessel are doing different tour variations. Paying close attention at each briefing matters.
• Sort lunch early. Meals are not in the base price. One reviewer who left it late was told it was too late to get food. Pre-book or buy a boxed lunch at Fitzroy or the buffet at Green Island. One traveller ate their picnic lunch on the ferry crossing to save beach time at Green Island.
• Pack for conditions. Feedback on the glass bottom boat is mixed: one traveller highly recommended it as an option when snorkelling conditions are not ideal, while another was disappointed. One reviewer suggested taking a wetsuit, since the water can be cold at times of year.
• Group feel. Capacity runs to 120 travellers, so this is a big-boat day rather than a guided small group.

Common issues. The recurring complaints are about communication rather than the islands themselves. Several travellers described confusion over the boat switching timetable or which vessel to board at Fitzroy, and one said the day felt stressful as a result. One reviewer reported being told the glass bottom boat was not included despite the listing saying otherwise, though the crew accommodated them. Others found snorkelling at Green Island thin, with seagrass and exposed flats at low tide, and one had no lifeguards at Fitzroy. The listing also states the tour is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and no hotel pickup or meals are included.

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