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 Transfer + GBB
Includes Glass Bottom Boat
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 + 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
9am Transfer + GBB
Includes Glass Bottom Boat
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
11am Transfer + Snorkel Gear
Use of Snorkel Equipment
9am Transfer + Snorkel Gear
Includes Snorkel Equipment
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
Reviews
948 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Relaxed and beautiful day
Alexis O,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The Big Cat tour is smooth and pretty organized. The marine biologist explained and shared about the reef and reef creatures well and we saw the cute sea turtles and other fishes like Trevally readily. It is a relaxed and beautiful time in Green Island, no wonder it is a popular spot for tourists and locals.
Highly recommended
Adarsha P,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the services provided by BiG CAT and I am thoroughly impressed. From start to finish, their team demonstrated professionalism, friendliness, and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction. The itinerary was well-organized, informative, and tailored to our interests, making the entire trip seamless and enjoyable. The guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and attentive to our needs. Overall, their exceptional service exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend BIG CAT to anyone looking for a memorable travel experience. I look forward to booking with them again in the future.
Great Barrier Reef
Lawrence F,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The lunch location is very crowded. Better announcement about Green island as a place to go after lunch.
Green island snorkeling and semi submarine trip
Paul F,Feb 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fabulous day ..staff were excellent food was great .. Throughly enjoyed it would highly recommend this to everyone
Green Island Feb 17, 2026
David Z,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Day long cruise to a beautiful island. Well staffed. Friendly and helpful staff. Many options once you reach the island. We saw many fish and marine life. Walk around the island is very beautiful.
Great Service
bullc990,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The trip from cairns to green island and back was fantastic you get a coffee or tea when you bored the cruise over to green island it takes about 50 minutes and back again they have two sailing 8:30am or 10:30 from cairns and coming back to cairns 2:30pm or 4:30pm but the trip was great the staff was amazing
Great Family Day Out
Andrew H,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great and professional service. Friendly staff. Green island is amazing. Well worth it. This is a ‘self guided’ product, but with plenty of options to personalize and get more assistance to enjoy the reef.
Great day on the Green Island trip
floydr44,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed our trip to Green Island. We loved the glass bottom boat and semi-submersible trip around the reef. The staff was engaging and pleasant.
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!!!!!!!!!!!
Related Experiences
Operated by Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises