Home > Cairns > Green Island Half Day Trip from Cairns
USD $71.00
Green Island Half Day Trip from Cairns
Cairns, Australia
Explore the tropical paradise of Green Island on a half day trip from Cairns. Enjoy around two hours exploring the Great Barrier Reef island with time to snorkel and take a glass-bottom boat. You can even take an optional semi-submersible submarine tour to get close to the reef without getting wet.
The beautiful coral cay of Green Island is a protected Marine National Park, topped with emerald rainforest and surrounded by white sandy beaches and magnificent coral reefs. The marine life includes endless varieties of colorful fish, turtles, giant clams, shells, starfish and sea anemones.
Green Island is 15 nautical miles (27 kilometers) from Cairns, and you'll cruise there aboard an air-conditioned catamaran with spacious, luxurious cabins and decks to enjoy Queensland's warm, tropical climate.
En route to Green Island you'll see a snorkeling demonstration and an informative presentation on how you can make the most of your two hours at Green Island. You can take a glass-bottom boat tour and use of snorkeling equipment to get closer to the marine life. There is also an optional semi-submarine coral viewing tour, scuba diving and supervised snorkeling trips. A licensed bar onboard the catamaran offers refreshments throughout the day.
You can also visit Green Island Resort to browse through the shops and use the facilities, including showers, change rooms and restrooms. Canoes, surf skis, sailboards, shade umbrellas and beach lounge chairs are available for hire. The island also has short walking tracks through the national park.
There are package options to select from. You have the flexibility to mix and match the inclusions to make this Green Island experience suit your needs. From the cruise only option that includes a glass-bottom boat tour and use of snorkeling equipment to the ultimate Green Island experience inclusive with transfers and semi-submarine tour, the choice is yours.
The members of the team were friendly, pleasant and efficient. Waves were up and a bi rough close to Green Island, however, the members were organized and helpful. The excursion was exactly what it was describe to be. We had a great time and I would recommend it .
Review by: GBR, April 2018
I would not recommend this tour. We wanted a final half day to snorkel and this beach is not very clean and also snorkeling is basically under a pier._br/_ The tour employees were great, there are just many other beautiful places to go.
Review by: e.ratcliffe, March 2018
We booked the morning slot to the green island because we were on a cruise that left late afternoon and this was one of the trips to the barrier reef that came back at lunch time 1pm. When we arrived at the cruise terminal we were told they were extending our time to 2pm at no extra cost which was a nice surprise. The island was fantastic and the extra for the suit I hired to protect me again jelly fish was well worth it as it added protection from the sun which we hadn't factored in. Overall excellent trip, definitely a booklist trip for us.
Review by: David C, March 2018
Green Island was beautiful but the glass bottom boat was disappointing. Only covered a very small are and we expected a lot more colour
Review by: Betty J. D, March 2018
Wonderful. Everyone was so nice and accommodating. Everything was organized and on time. Love it! Betty Davidson, Ph.D.
Review by: barbaratore1, January 2018
Not enough time for anything really. The boat ride out was good the semi submersible sub was too short and the fish came because they were fed. Then we had 40 minutes to snorkel off the beach which was ridiculous and to top it off there were hardly any fish in the beach area. this trip requires more time and a better place to snorkel
Review by: Shirley B, December 2017
the staff was very nice and informative. we enjoyed our trip to green island.
Review by: I-Hua S, November 2017
Too many tourist on the Green Island. It's not as beautiful as I thought. It's better to have less tourist and keep it more original. The glass boat and semi-submarine are so so. The views are not very clear from the windows.
Review by: Lorraine B, November 2017
This was absolutely amazing. The ride to the island was peaceful with beautiful surroundings to look at. On the island watched a crocodile feeding and saw the animals up close. The glass bottom boat was great, they feed the fish from the boat at the end so you just get swarmed by them. It was a fantastic time. Half day tour seemed rushed but for time sake it got the job done!
Review by: Wendy H, October 2017
The company the boat the crew terrific _br/_ We didn’t have lunch but still filled in our half day_br/_ Did both glass bottom boat and sub however I would suggest just doing the glass bottom boat_br/_ We were a little disappointed as you forget being so close to the sun the reef doesn’t have the colour of the bro
Review by: millar_rick, August 2017
Great way to spend some time on the reef...We were lucky enough to see some whales on the trip out to Green Island. Good snorkeling ....
Review by: Arnie S, May 2017
The trip is extremely well organized, but too much so. And a lot of people many of them load and pushy. That said, it was perfect for what I wanted--my wife does not dive or snorkel but wanted a Barrier Reef experience. And the crew, who also managed the activities, were absolutely splendid.
Review by: Max S, April 2017
Very good
Review by: clydeosaur, March 2017
Overall, we were disappointed with the water clarity and visibility provided by the glass bottom boat and submarine.
Review by: Robert F, March 2017
The reef received a bad dose of coral bleaching this year, small island plus lots of people ... not fun.. book an outer reef live aboard trip to really see the reef
Review by: Anne C, January 2017
Great trip, especially if you don't want a very long boat trip but still enjoy snorkelling.
Review by: Dean P, December 2016
We had an awesome time out on the reef with this tour, I cannot sing its praises loud enough-simply a must do whilst in Cairns.
Review by: DAVID D, November 2016
Really good experience to snorkle in that area and finding a big turtle just diving in the beach. Good service and time confirmation. great time there.
Review by: Rosemary S, September 2016
Excellent day ,well organised and great value for money .
Review by: Ricardo D, August 2016
Very Good
Review by: Ein C, June 2016
I signed up for the Half day trip to Green Island with Big Cat Reef Tours. There was enough time for a trek around the island, a semi-submersible ride and a bit of snorkeling. The half day was a perfect amount of time to try everything, but it was tight. We only snorkeled for a short amount of time. I would recommend this activity to others.
Review by: alan c, May 2016
The trip was ok, but found the opportunity to go snorkelling very limited. It isnt clear in all the descriptions but any snorkelling takes place on your own off one of the beaches in Green Island. To get to see anything at all means you have to go some way out to see any of the reefs, which can be a bit worrying if you are not a strong swimmer. Snorkel gear is handed out from the boat taking you out to green island, but you have to pay extra for life vests and no one from the boat goes with you. The glass bottom boat trip was included and that was good seeing some fish. Overall ok, but really didnt see hardly anything of the barrier reef.
Review by: Sally J, May 2016
great staff on the boat, very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was wonderful.
Review by: Sally J, May 2016
Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable. Great food also!
Review by: Gary H, April 2016
Would be better if you could hire snorkel gear on island to save dragging around, otherwise a wonderful day
Review by: Anamika D, April 2016
Not very organised experience._br/_ Though the Island was impeccably beautiful, the package wasn't designed in achievable target hidden costs were involved. _br/_ Hated Big Cat.
Review by: Judith M, February 2016
We took a ferry to Green Island, then took a glass bottom boat to the Great Barrier Reef, and then a submarine. They're similar, but the sub gives a closer look at the amazing fish and plant life. The island doesn't have much on it, but many people went snorkeling, which looked like fun. There's time to do all 3 activities, but the snorkeling will be short. I recommend doing this half day tour, then in the afternoon, adding the gondola ride to Daintree Rain Forest and returning by train.
Review by: DONALD R, December 2015
We had a limited amount of time so we did two half day tours on the same day without problem. Enough time to go on glass bottom boat better then we expected, snorkel, and walk around the vey small island.
Review by: shirley e w, November 2015
it was great had the best time every loved all off it meet some wonderfully poeple on the trip xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Review by: F A L, October 2015
Staff very helpful and friendly, saw lots of fish but only because they get fed so of course they come up to the boats. Saw two sea turtles and small stingrays. Perhaps if this had been the outer reef there would have been more variety, but this was a half day tour and only 45 minutes to Green Island whereas the outer reef is 90 minutes away
Review by: Angela S, October 2015
Great tour!
Review by: Lynn A Smith S, September 2015
we took the half day trepanned had the semisub and glass bottom boat booked which were great. There is little time to relax if you choose this option but it was perfect for us as not swimmers. Fantastic experience.
Review by: Jackson Jerome D, August 2015
Even though we did not book the sea walker tour, big cat tours helped us with the booking on board the cruise. they also refunded our tours which we did not attend._br/_
Overall the trip was amazing and helpful staff which made the trip worthwhile._br/_
A full day trip is recommended for people who want more of the island.
Review by: R.M L, July 2015
Fast boat to the island and back to Cairns, good value, friendly helpful crew, great inclusions._br/_
R Lotric
Review by: Lorraine J, June 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Janice R, May 2015
DON'T TAKE THIS TOUR!!! Winds were high sea was VERY rough they shouldn't have even taken us out - that was very irresponsible of the company. I threw up the whole time on the semi-submarine and the glass bottom boat. I'd taken dramamine for motion sickness over an hour before we departed from Cairns. The tiny barf bags they supplied weren't nearly big enough. I used THREE!!! Employee put us on the semi-sub, then had to immediately return for FOURTEEN people that she said she had forgotten at the pier! By the time we got back to the viewing area, I was throwing up as were several other people. The operator had to keep gunning the engine to keep us in the same place because the water was so rough which made things worse! The water was completely murky and the colors were brown, black, and a dirty gold, nothing like the beautiful colors you expect to see. We saw only one small bunch of coral - also a dirty gold color. In addition the area that was designated for snorkeling was GROSS - filthy and very shallow less than 18. I wouldn't have stuck my little toe in it - it was that filthy! It was an absolutely MISERABLE TRIP!!! Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!
Review by: Janice R, May 2015
DON'T DO THIS TOUR! Winds were high sea was VERY rough they shouldn't have gone out that day - very irresponsible of the Green Island Cat company. Ten minutes out on the boat I started feeling sick and took a pill that they supplied for motion sickness. I managed to keep from throwing up but three other people were throwing up the whole time on the semi-sub. The sub operator was gunning it to keep us in the same place because the water was so rough, but that made things worse! The water was completely murky with no color at all, nothing like the postcards. We saw only a few fish and one small bunch of coral. I decided not to snorkel because that area was really filthy. No one snorkeled there! It was an absolutely MISERABLE TRIP!!! The only thing good about it was that I had only booked a half day trip! Don't do this trip!!! You'll be just washing your good money down a dirty, filthy drain!!!
Review by: rnlchin88, April 2015
Reef Rocket was great ride to Green Island in 50 minutes from Cairns. Semi Submarine was also good. Glass bottom boat can be skipped. Get there early - these fill up quick and they jam you in like sardines. 25 minutes each. Try for the full day tour. 1/2 day is a little rushed.
Review by: Mary W, February 2015
Beautiful but wouldnt go here for diving or snorkeling alone there are probably better spots. The island is super touristy and busy but the food on the island is yummy I still think about the potato wedges. You can go around the island in like 30 min. Didnt do the crocodile thing seemed pricey and I got to hold one at the zoo doing the animal encounter. They have a small spa and photographer on the island which was neat. I brought my own snorkel gear so I could save money and didnt feel like I needed the protection garb. We spent the day here but if we had managed our time better we could have done a half day. However if you have a day to spare its a beautiful place to spend it.
Review by: PAMELA B, February 2015
This tour was very rushed. More time on the island and at the reef would have been better.
Review by: gooner, January 2015
If this is your only chance to see the Great Barrier Reef - take it. But if you can afford to go further out - do that.
Review by: Tahli P, January 2015
Didn't realise so many people would be out there we did the half day would highly recommend the full day to explore it all
Review by: Lee W, December 2014
Great trip - should have booked the full day, but loved it
Review by: Barbara H, December 2014
We thoroughly enjoyed our half day tour to Green Island. Staff were friendly and very organised.
Review by: beverley t, November 2014
a well organized trip.had a great experience .thank you
Review by: JarDil12, August 2014
We flew into Cairns at 10:30am, and had time to get to the hotel, have lunch, and walk to the main fleet terminal (where all the boats are docked) for our 1:00pm trip to Green Island. _br/_
The crew was very nice and friendly._br/_
Nice beach, clear water, and lots of tropical fish._br/_
IMPORTANT: If you suffer from motion sickness, take Dramamine or something before boarding. The ocean was only mildly choppy, but 10 people got sick, and several threw up.
Review by: Barbara R, August 2014
Generally a disappointing experience. Very rough crossing and extremely poor visibility re the coral, fish, and reef in general. I had been to Heron Island back in October of 1967 and remember experiencing fantastic, vibrant colors which, as a result, I have always associated with the Great Barrier Reef. I see now how important it is to be careful when choosing specific locations for these tours.
Review by: John M, May 2014
A nice trip to see a barrier island with a chance to snorkel. Glass bottom boat trip enhanced the experience. High winds created muddy water so that we did not see the colors and variety of fish that we would have liked.
Review by: Jill A B, January 2014
Great day with a great company, we really loved northern Queenland/ Cairns , great trip
Review by: Alexander L, January 2014
Good value for the money. You get to see a lot in a short time. Lovely place too!
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