Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns
Overview
Available languages
8 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Escape to Fitzroy Island, a tropical island on the Great Barrier Reef located only 45 minutes by high-speed ferry from Cairns. Spend your day doing as much or as little as you please; relax on the beach, swim and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, take a glass-bottom boat tour – the choice is yours. You have the option to include only the round-trip ferry from Cairns, or to make the most of your day on Fitzroy Island, select the Activity Pass option which includes snorkeling gear, stinger suit and a glass-bottom boat tour. Select the Activity Pass Plus Lunch and lunch will also be included! Note: this option must be selected to have lunch included.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please bring sandals/reef shoes as beach is covered in old coral
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Glass-bottom boat tour (if option selected)
Use of stinger suit (if option selected)
Use of snorkel gear (if option selected)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
All Fees and Taxes
Picnic lunch - 20 USD
What To Expect
Fitzroy Island is one of the most unspoiled islands on the Great Barrier Reef, located only 18.5 miles (30 km) from Cairns. The ocean and reef surrounding the island are protected as Marine National Park and are teeming with turtles, clown fish, hard and soft corals allowing a great snorkeling experience right off the beach. Your day begins with check-in at the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns from 8:15am for the Fitzroy Island high-speed ferry departing at 9am. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life during the 45-minute crossing or simply relax inside the cabin. On Fitzroy Island, you can enjoy the day swimming and relaxing on the beach. If you like to explore on foot, the island features excellent hiking trails that wind through the rain forest and along the coast. The underwater world offers plenty of wonders as well, with multitudes of colorful fish and coral that can be spotted when snorkeling. Admire the rainbow colors of the parrotfish, watch clown fish darting in and out of anemones and see how many types of other marine critters you can spot in the wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef. Upgrade to the Activity Pass that includes a glass-bottom boat tour, snorkel gear, the use of stand-up paddle boards, paddle skis and a floating ocean trampoline. A delicious picnic lunch is also included as part of the Activity Pass. You may be able to check out water floats and other gear for children depending on availability, making this a family-friendly way to enjoy your island experience.
Options
Island Transfer Half Day (FH)
Island Transfer Half Day: Return transfers + 2 hours exploring Fitzroy Island. No lunch included.
Island Transfer Full Day (FF)
Island Transfer Full Day: Return transfers + up to 6 hours exploring Fitzroy Island. No lunch included.
Ferry + Snorkel Tour full day
* For comfortable snorkellers
Inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers to Fitzroy Island and a guided snorkel safari.
Ferry + Snorkel hire
No lunch included
Inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers and snorkelling gear hire. Full day or half day option
Ferry + Glass Bottom Boat
Glass bottom boat tour
No lunch included
Transfers + Glass Bottom boat: Return ferry transfers to Fitzroy Island and glass bottom boat included. Full day or half day option.
Ferry + GBB + Snorkel hire
Glass bottom boat tour
Transfers + GBB + Snorkelling : Return ferry transfers to Fitzroy Island for a full day, snorkelling gear hire & glass bottom boat tour included.
Reviews
657 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Giving 4 stars mainly...
Kate D,
Jul 10, 2025
- Viator
4.00Giving 4 stars mainly because the departure time was not specified in the listing. And neither in the ticket auto-sent upon confirmation of payment. So I was assuming (wrongly) it's around 5pm-ish same as the Fitzroy Flyer. But turned out it's 4pm, and so I lost an hour of island time. Only learned about it on the day and it wasn't a pleasant surprise. Also did not get the boarding pass in time. They explained that's because I booked via Viator, which doesn't provide email to them. But I haven't had that problem with other bookings, where operators reached out in advance if they needed a confirmation or email. To be absolutely fair, they did attempt to call me, but it was already on the day, after I sailed away and was out of reception. But very nice people in the office, and on the whole the experience was smooth, my name was on the list so I didn't miss out. Everything else positive - boat was nice, clean and comfortable, sitting "on the roof" is fun (especially when the sea is rough!), crew professional and attentive. And the island itself, very nice! Only thing (not related to this operator but rather to the island), the mountain climb is very steep and exhausting, especially the last part of it, so if you are only visiting for a day, and are a so-so climber, don't waste time. Snorkeling is far better, great variety of fish straight from the shore.
Crew were all very...
Nancy C,
Jul 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00Crew were all very professional and friendly. Was a great experience and the weather was great, meaning that there was a lot to see in the wayers
Bad time
thomas d,
May 23, 2025
- Viator
1.00Boat broke down and the had 100s of school kids on board. Awful. Took over an hour to get back, no water or anything offered.
Fitzroy Island Full Day Tour
Tom M,
Mar 15, 2025
- Viator
3.00We were a little disappointed with this trip in that there was very little information given out. There was no commentary on the boat trip as to where we were going and what places we were passing. On arrival at Fitzroy Island there was no information regarding any glass bottom boat tours. No information was given about having to pay extra for changing room lockers, when we could in fact have left our belongings with the tour lifeguard at their gazebo tent for free. However, the highlight of the trip was the actual snorkeling tour over the reefs with the accompaniment of Georgie (the Marine Biologist)
Beautiful island. Lots...
Sherrie K,
Feb 25, 2025
- Viator
4.00Beautiful island. Lots of walking on rough terrain. Be sure to bring walking shoes if you want to see the sights. Beaches are nice, no sand so you’re walking on shells and broken coral pieces
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Operated by Fitzroy Island Adventures