Day Trip, Extras Selectable

Fitzroy Island Adventures runs this day tour out of Cairns for 7 hours 30 minutes in total, from A$108 per person, ferry ride and island time included. It rates 4.2 across 711 reviews, with free cancellation.

Overview

This is a full-day outing to Fitzroy Island run by Fitzroy Island Adventures, starting with an 8:00 am check-in at the vessel at Marlin Wharf on Spence Street in Cairns. The boat leaves at 8:30 am sharp. Total duration is 7 hours 30 minutes, and the day ends back at the same wharf. One reviewer cites a 4 pm departure from the island, though the listing itself does not state a return time.

The base product is essentially the boat transfer, and the extras are chosen when booking: snorkel gear, a stinger suit, and a glass-bottom boat tour are each listed as included only if that option is selected. Lunch is not part of the package, though a picnic lunch can be arranged for an extra charge, and one reviewer notes the island has a couple of places to order food, drinks and ice cream. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so travellers make their own way to the wharf.

It suits people who want a self-directed island day with the option to add water activities. Reviewers who enjoyed it most walked the Secret Garden rainforest track, snorkelled near the shore, and praised the crew. Those expecting a heavily guided reef trip were less satisfied, with some saying free snorkelling off the beach matched what the guided option offered. Families should note children must be accompanied by an adult, and the boat carries a maximum of 100 travellers.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check-in at Marlin WharfMeet at the vessel at Marlin Wharf, 1 Spence Street, Cairns, by 8:00 am. The boat departs at 8:30 am sharp.
2. Boat crossing to Fitzroy IslandThe ferry carries you from Cairns to the island, with reviewers mentioning views of the mountains along the way.
3. Time on Fitzroy IslandThe day is largely self-directed. Optional extras chosen at booking, such as snorkel gear, a stinger suit or a glass-bottom boat tour, apply here. Food and drinks are at your own cost.
4. Return boat to CairnsOne reviewer cites a 4 pm departure from the island. The tour ends back at Marlin Wharf, for a total duration of 7 hours 30 minutes.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from the coral underfoot to how the gear handover works.

• Footwear. The listing and multiple reviewers stress reef shoes or sandals. The beach is covered in old coral rather than sand, and one reviewer found the pebble beaches a bit tricky to navigate.
• Carrying gear. One reviewer notes that hired fins, masks and stinger suits have to be carried around with you during the day, and found that annoying. Bringing your own snorkel gear is an alternative several reviewers recommend, since free snorkelling off the beach is rewarding.
• Food and drink. No meals are included, though a picnic lunch can be added for an extra charge. The island has a couple of places to order food, drinks and ice cream, according to one reviewer.
• Boarding pass. The operator asks you to contact them if your boarding pass has not arrived by 5 pm the day before travel.
• Fitness and pace. The island day is what you make it. Some reviewers walked rainforest tracks and beaches while others simply relaxed and swam. Pushchairs are accepted and most travellers can participate, though the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
• Seas and weather. The crossing can be rough, and one reviewer reported seasickness on the way out while praising the staff's help. The experience requires good weather, and it can be cancelled if a minimum number of travellers is not met, with a different date or a full refund offered in those cases.

Common issues. The most frequent complaints concern logistics rather than the island itself. Two travellers had boarding passes arrive late or not at all, and one reviewer found the check-in information conflicting and unclear about where to go. Gear may need to be carried around the island. None of this is hidden, but it is worth arriving early with expectations set accordingly.

Choosing A Trip