Cairns: Great Barrier Reef & Green Island Small Group Sail

Summary

Sail from cairns to a quiet reef then green island with just 25 on board

You’ll sail from Cairns with just 25 others, snorkel an exclusive Great Barrier Reef site, enjoy lunch on deck, then take a tender to explore Green Island’s beaches or rainforest at your own pace. Crew are relaxed but attentive, making it feel personal without fuss. If you want space and real moments instead of crowds, this is your kind of day.

What’s the experience like?

I almost missed the boat — literally. My coffee lid popped off right as I stepped onto the dock in Cairns, so I started this Great Barrier Reef & Green Island tour smelling like a walking café. The crew didn’t seem to mind; one of them grinned and handed me a mug of tea as we set off. There’s something about being on a schooner with only 20-something others that makes you loosen up. You can hear people’s laughter bounce off the water, not just engine noise.

The reef stop is just a kilometer off Green Island — our guide Sam called it their “secret patch,” though I’m sure every fish in Queensland knows about it. We slid straight off the boat into water that tasted faintly metallic (I always get a mouthful, no matter how hard I try). It’s wild how quiet it gets under there except for your own bubbles. Sam pointed out these coral bommies rising up like knuckles from the sand, and there was this moment when a turtle swam by so close I could see its eyelids moving. I tried waving but realized turtles don’t care about human etiquette.

Lunch back on deck was this big seafood spread — prawns, cold cuts, salads — and everyone ended up swapping stories with wet hair and sun-warmed shoulders. Afterward, we took the tender over to Green Island itself. The sand squeaked under my feet (never noticed that before) and I wandered into the rainforest bit where it smelled like wet leaves and sunscreen. You can pay extra to see crocodiles at Marineland Melanesia, but honestly I just sat on the beach watching kids chase crabs for a while.

On the way back to Cairns they poured us each a glass of wine. The sun was already dropping behind rainclouds but nobody seemed in a hurry to go below deck. Someone played music quietly from their phone — not loud enough to annoy anyone — and I remember thinking: this felt less like an excursion and more like borrowing someone’s boat for the day. Still think about that turtle sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Great Barrier Reef and Green Island tour

• Board Ocean Free sailing schooner
• Sail to exclusive Great Barrier Reef site
• Snorkel or dive at reef site
• Enjoy buffet lunch on board
• Take tender to Green Island
• Explore rainforest and beaches
• Optional visit to Marineland Melanesia
• Return to vessel or continue snorkeling

Top questions

How many people are on the Ocean Free Great Barrier Reef & Green Island tour?

The tour has a maximum of 25 guests on board.

Is snorkeling equipment included on this day trip from Cairns?

Yes, snorkeling equipment including masks, flippers, snorkels, and buoyancy vests is provided.

How far is the reef site from Green Island?

The exclusive reef site is moored about 1 km off Green Island.

Can you visit both the reef and Green Island in one day?

Yes, you split time between snorkeling at the reef site and exploring Green Island during the tour.

Is lunch included on this small group sailing tour?

A large buffet lunch with seafood is served onboard during the trip.

Are transfers between the schooner and Green Island included?

Yes, tender transfers between Ocean Free and Green Island are included in your tour.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The vessel operates in most weather conditions except severe warnings; check forecasts or reschedule if needed.

Is diving available during this Great Barrier Reef day trip?

Diving is available as an optional extra for guests who meet medical requirements.

What’s included

Your day includes morning tea as you board in Cairns, all snorkeling gear plus tuition if you need it, access to an exclusive reef site just off Green Island with attentive crew support in-water if required, transfers by tender between boat and island so you can explore beaches or rainforest at your own pace, a big buffet lunch served onboard (seafood options too), afternoon tea for good measure, plus a complimentary glass of wine as you sail back toward Cairns in late afternoon.