Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. You'll spend either four or five hours at Green Island, with plenty of time to snorkel, tour the reef on a glass-bottom boat or view coral from a semi-submersible submarine.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Wheelchair accessibility is available but limited. Passengers must have some mobility and/or the presence of a carer who can assist them.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Green Island Cruise - Day Tour (Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruise)
Explore the Great Barrier Reef island either with a glass bottom boat tour or snorkelling equipment.
Green Island National Park
Walk through the rainforest or enjoy exploring the coral gardens the the beach.
What‘s Included
Cruise transfers to and from Green Island by modern air-conditioned catamaran
Buffet lunch (if option selected)
Semi-submersible tour (if option is selected)
Choose a glass-bottom boat tour or use of snorkeling gear for the day (selected in options)
Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax)
Morning tea / coffee (served on 9am full day only)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Optional activities. (Can be booked locally, subject to availability. Payable locally. Introductory Scuba Dive AU$152, Seawalker Helmut Dive AU$165, Semi-submersible Coral Viewing Tour AU$20)
Food and drinks (available to purchase)
Flotation vests and lycra suits are available for hire
Options
11am Transfer + Lunch + GBB
Buffet Lunch: Enjoy a buffet lunch served on board the Big Cat vessel
Includes Glass Bottom Boat
11am +Lunch + Semi Sub + GBB
Semi Sub + GBB: Stay dry and view coral and marine life from a semi-submarine and glass bottom boat
Buffet Lunch: Enjoy a buffet lunch served on board the Big Cat vessel
9am Transfer + Lunch + Snorkel
Buffet Lunch: Enjoy a buffet lunch served on board the Big Cat vessel
Includes Snorkel Equipment
11am Transfer + Semi + Snorkel
Semi-submarine tour: View coral and marine life staying dry in our semi-submarine
Includes Snorkel Equipment
9am Transfer + GBB
Includes Glass Bottom Boat
11am Transfer + GBB
Includes Glass Bottom Boat
11am Transfer + Snorkel Gear
Use of Snorkel Equipment
9am Transfer + Snorkel Gear
Includes Snorkel Equipment
9am + Lunch + Semi + Snorkel
Semi-Submarine Tour: View coral and marine life from below the waters surface while keeping dry on this 30 minute tour
Buffet Lunch: Enjoy a buffet lunch served on board the Big Cat vessel
Included Snorkel Equipment
9am Transfer + Snorkel + Semi
Semi-Submarine Tour: View coral and marine life from below the waters surface while keeping dry on this 30 minute tour
Includes Snorkel Equipment
Reviews
941 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Magical experience with friendly and helpful crew, delicious lunch and bucket list experience of snorkelling.
ewao506,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Didn’t think we’d get to see as much as we did given the fact we were snorkling just off the beach but OMG 4 sting rays, 3 turtles, 2 sharks, 1 moray eel and hundreds of fish, sea cucumbers and star fish a vibrant royal blue. All this made possible by the lovely crew. Also lunch was pretty good too :)
its amazing, green island...
siven c,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00its amazing, green island is cool!!!!!!! therea a crocodile park too, yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!
Green Island Paradise
simonrY3960PB,,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We had terrible weather, terrible coffee, but a magical experience observing Green Sea Turtles from the Jetty! Thank you Green Island, I will be back!
Such a fantastic day!...
Ashley D,,Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Such a fantastic day! Most relaxed I have been in a long time. Thanks to the crew for being so accommodating and informative.
Great intro to snorkelling on Green Island by Big Cat
barbp679,,Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Big Cat Green Island Tour was fantastic. We were looking for a cruise on the Great Barrier Reef, but a more intimate, day-long experience with the option to snorkel from the beach. This tour really delivered and made my day memorable. A special shout out to the Marine Biologist on the tour on Oct 23rd, Aaron ( I think). He was thoughtful, patient and knowledgeable and offered a comfortable introduction to guided snorkelling. The cruise was very well organized, emphasized safety, and the staff were very available and friendly. Highly recommended!
Good tour of Green Island and the Reef
noyals90,,Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a good experience for first timers up in Cairns. The tour company staff are really friendly people and look out for you if you get like sea sick etc. It was also really nice exploring green island, going in the water etc
Great tour highly recommend
Timothy S,,Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour! Got to see everything listed and the service was good! The snorkeling was safe and the glass bottom boat tour was fun
Fantastic day out
Resort36400133651,,Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a fantastic outer reef snorkel with Aly. Learnt so much. We had an amazing time. It was a shame other tourists lacked basic manners and respect as that was the most disappointing thing about the trip, especially on the boat.
Warm tropical water - good day out for relaxing.
Iwashere2,,Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fun day on the waters of Green Island. Warm water swimming with the turtles. Snorkel equipment available to hire. Glass bottom boat was interesting & informative. Very busy boat trip with tourists. Worth a look.
Amazing place for your bucket list , I would definitely come back if I could
Sonia M,,Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing place, the tour staff was excellent and very caring, I highly recommend to stay in the most controlled area near the life guards and also recommend to listen and to follow the instructions suggested by the tour guide. The reef can be deceiving because the current can be very strong at times
Related Experiences
Operated by Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises