Green Island Reef Cruise from Cairns: Half-Day Snorkel Trip

Two hours on the reef, three ways to see it

A half-day cruise from Cairns to Green Island includes catamaran transfers, snorkel gear, and your choice of snorkeling, a glass bottom boat tour, or a semi-submersible submarine ride. The 9am and 1pm departures both run around four hours total, and an English-speaking guide is on board. Infants can travel in a pram, and wheelchair access is available with assistance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day Green Island reef cruise

• Start tour at Reef Fleet Terminal
• Boat ride to Green Island
• Snorkel or glass bottom boat tour
• Explore Green Island coral cay
• Return to Cairns

The Experience

The boat leaves Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns and takes you out on a modern air-conditioned catamaran — about an hour's ride to Green Island, a coral cay that sits alone in the reef. You get roughly two hours on the island itself, which is where the day splits depending on what you've chosen. If you've picked snorkel gear, you're in the water with the reef right there. If you've booked the glass bottom boat, you stay dry and watch the coral and fish move past the windows. The semi-submersible tour works the same way — you descend partway into the water but stay inside, so the reef comes to you without the wetsuit.

The catamaran handles the return trip the same way it came, and the whole thing — terminal to island to terminal — sits inside four hours. An English-speaking guide travels with the group. Food and drinks are available to buy on the island, and snorkel gear is part of most options, though you can also book transfers alone if you'd rather bring your own equipment or skip the water entirely.

What’s included

• Catamaran cruise transfers to and from Green Island.
• snorkel gear (in most options).
• choice of snorkeling, glass bottom boat tour, or semi-submersible submarine ride (depending on your selected option).
• English-speaking guide.
• use of facilities on Green Island.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises

Is this one for you?Book the 9am departure if you want the morning on the reef and the afternoon free; the 1pm cruise suits a later start or a full day split between other Cairns activities. The semi-submersible option lets you see the coral without entering the water — useful if you're not a confident swimmer or prefer to stay dry.

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Top questions

Can I bring my own snorkel gear instead of renting it?

Yes — one of the purchase options includes transfers only, so you can bring your own equipment and skip the rental gear.

What time does the Green Island cruise depart from Cairns?

Two departure times are available: 9am and 1pm. Both options run the same route and duration; you choose which fits your schedule at checkout.

Is the semi-submersible submarine tour included, or do I pay extra?

The semi-submersible tour is included in some options but not others — it's a choice you make when you book. If your option doesn't include it, you can sometimes arrange it locally on the day, subject to availability and payable directly.

How long is the boat ride from Cairns to Green Island?

The catamaran takes about an hour each way. You spend roughly two hours on Green Island itself, and the entire experience — departure to return — takes around four hours.

Can I bring a baby or small child on this cruise?

Yes — infants and small children can travel, and they can ride in a pram or stroller on the island. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the boat ride.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair access is available but limited, and passengers need some mobility or a carer to assist them. Let the operator know about accessibility needs when you book so they can arrange the right support.