Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns
Description
Green Island offers the unique opportunity for a combined reef and rainforest experience, just 45 minutes from Cairns by fast catamaran. Home to over 120 native plant species and colourful bird life, surrounded by abundant marine life. Full and half day options available. Your day can be as active or as relaxing as you choose. As a Great Adventures guest, you’ll also be able to enjoy many exclusive inclusions such as the use of the island swimming pool and a self guided eco island walk to discover some of the island’s unique rainforest flora. The island’s well appointed day visitor facilities include a pool bar, plus restaurant and retail outlets. A delicious range of lunch and snacks can be purchased from the island’s food and refreshment outlets.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Green Island is a beautiful 6000 year old coral cay. It's the only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef with a rainforest! Snorkel from the white sandy beaches, see the island's reef from the glass bottom boat and walk through the lush rainforest.
Explore Green Island
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Snorkelling can be a strenuous activity. We recommend informing crew of any medical conditions.
Reviews(398)
Nice one day adventure. Great location for safe and beginner snorkeling. Even with a lot of people coming it doesn't get too crowded. If you have your own gear carry them and getting a ticket directly from the counter. That would save you a lot of money.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. Visiting Green Island is one of the most affordable ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. We’re pleased to read that you enjoyed the safe, beginner-friendly snorkelling environment. We really appreciate your comments and hope to welcome you back again soon for another memorable day on the reef.
We had a fantastic day at Green Island. The snorkeling, the glass bottom boat, the convenience and all was excellent. Really was an easy and extremely enjoyable and memorable day.
Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review of your day with us at Green Island. We hope the memories last a lifetime!
This was such a fun experience with the girls, and we really enjoyed it. While the reef has definitely changed a lot since our last visit — with very limited sea life and almost no coral, which was quite a shock — the overall outing was still memorable. The boat ride offered a full guided experience with loads of information, and we took time to feed the local fish before cruising further out. The highlight for me was spotting turtles — there were so many, and as a sea‑turtle lover, it absolutely made my day. This was such a fun experience with the girls, and we really enjoyed it. While the reef has definitely changed a lot since our last visit — with very limited sea life and almost no coral, which was quite a shock — the overall outing was still memorable. The boat ride offered a full guided experience with loads of information, and we had a full ride but everyone had a seat, and it never felt overcrowded. The staff and guides were genuinely lovely — friendly, patient, and happy to help, which made the whole experience feel relaxed and easy. We took time to feed the local fish before cruising further out, and the highlight for me was spotting turtles — there were so many, and as a sea‑turtle lover, it absolutely made my day. The pace was perfect for my daughter, who has a disability, and she managed the experience far better than we expected. It ended up being a gentle, enjoyable adventure for all of us. If you’re visiting Cairns, this is still a worthwhile experience for the guided elements and the chance to see turtles up close, even though the reef itself has changed dramatically over the years. The pace was perfect for my daughter, who has a disability, and she managed the experience far better than we expected. It ended up being a lovely, relaxed adventure for all of us. If you’re visiting Cairns, this is still a worthwhile experience for the guided elements and the chance to see turtles up close, even though the reef itself has changed dramatically over the years.
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review. We’re delighted to hear you and the girls had a fun, relaxed day and that the experience suited your daughter so well, that means a lot to us. It’s wonderful to know our crew helped make the day easy and enjoyable, and that you were able to enjoy the guided commentary and see so many turtles in particular, they are always a highlight on the reef! We also appreciate your reflections on the reef itself. Conditions can vary over time and with the environment, and we understand it can feel different compared to previous visits. We’re glad that despite this, the day was still memorable for your family. Thank you again for choosing to spend your time with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Cairns and the reef again in the future.
Wonderful day out, staff were super friendly and helpful, catered for all age groups, highly recommended!
Thank you for your lovely review and recommendation to future travellers!
The snorkelling was poor due to weather conditions. The pool area is very small with limited sunbeds The beds and parasols for hire are very expensive and you have to pay extra for a life jacket or sting suit, it is literally the mask and fins that are included
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that snorkelling conditions were affected by the weather on the day, as this can unfortunately vary and is outside of our control. We appreciate your comments regarding the facilities and hire items on Green Island, and will ensure this is shared with the relevant management team for review. We do hope you still had some enjoyable moments during your visit and thank you again for taking the time to share your experience.
Was a great boat ride out to island. Only about 45 minutes. The glass bottom boat was nice with a guide who gave great commentary. Island walk was just ok.
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the smooth boat ride and found the glass bottom boat experience and commentary informative. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Green Island is a fun place to go! Glass bottom gave us an amazing glimpses of the awesome life in Barrier Reef! They offer lots of activities, most are to pay! I just wish lunch is included! Adventure Team indeed gave us adventure we are looking for at Barrier Reef! Including the sudden amazing storm that wet us just before getting on to our Ferry back to Cairns! Surprisingly the return trip was not rock and rolling despite of the storm! Will recommend it!
Thank you for your lovely review and recommendation for future travellers!
Beautiful lifetime experience! Fabulous service throughout to make it so enjoyable. Recommend glass bottom boat experience to ensure a view of all Beautiful colours of the coral and a view of the multitude of fish turtles etc Like a kaleidoscope!
Thank you for your lovely review of your adventure with us to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef!
Rethink this tour if you are going in March with kids/family. We booked for both snorkelling & glass bottom boat, we checked in at 9.30am (for 10.30am), but they didn't tell us that the first bottom boat tour was cancelled due to weather...they should have given us the option to do something else, but unfortunately, did not. We only realised when we were on the island already, that the bottom boat tour was cancelled for the whole day. Although a pass for the park was provided, it wasn't what we paid and expected to experience. Lack of communication and transparency on the day really let this tour group down. My recommendation is to try Reef Adventure, as we spoke to them while on the island, the staff seemed more approachable than this tour group, and sounds like Reef Adventure had a lot more to offer.
Thank you for your review. While it’s unfortunate to hear you would recommend future travellers reconsider visiting in March, this time of year can also offer some beautiful weather. As always, conditions can be unpredictable. We apologise if the options were not clearly communicated but on occasions where we need to cancel the glass bottom boat tour due to weather and safety concerns, we provide our guests with the option of complimentary entry to Marineland Park on Green Island or a refund for the glass bottom boat portion of their booking. We hope that you are able to consider Green Island another chance in your future travels.
Nice island with all the facilities. Snorkeling was the highlight of the day. We were able to see turtles on glass bottom boat tour. Overall nice experience.
Thank you for your lovely review of Green Island with us. We're glad snorkeling was the highlight of the day, its easily one of the best moments to have at Green Island. Safe travels!
