Green Island Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Green Island. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Ocean Free 25 Guest Great Barrier Reef & Visit Green Island Tour

• Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight

• Great Barrier Reef 40 Minute Scenic Flight from Cairns—Reef Hopper

• Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-Minute Helicopter Tour

• Cairns: Tandem Skydive Experience Over Reef & Rainforest

To visit Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef, you need to pay a small Environmental Management Charge (EMC), but this is built into the cost of excursions to the island. There are no other specific fees to visit, though it’s important to budget for travel expenses, because you’ll need to take a boat from the mainland. Expect to pay at least US$75 for a group day trip to Green Island, with activities such as snorkeling.

The ferry from Cairns to Green Island takes about 45 minutes on a high-speed catamaran. There are two morning departures from Cairns, and two afternoon departures from Green Island, so independent travelers have flexibility to stay on the island for a half- or full-day trip. Guided trips on private tour vessels are typically for 4–5 or 7–8 hours.

Yes, Green Island is an ideal destination for kids of all ages, with lots of family-friendly options. Snorkeling, glass-bottom boat rides, easy nature walks, and kayaking are some activities kids will enjoy, as well as swimming and playing on the beach. The Marineland Melanesia aquarium and crocodile park is also a main attraction on the island.

Yes, Green Island is a great place to go snorkeling, especially for kids and beginners. You can snorkel directly from the beach, so once you’re arrived there, you don’t need to go out on another boat to find a spot. A fringing reef encircles the island, which contains different kinds of coral, tropical fish, giant clams, and even turtles.

When visiting Green Island for the day, make sure to bring your bathing suit and a change of clothes, a towel, sunscreen, a sunhat, and sunglasses, plus slip-on beach shoes or waterproof shoes for water sports. You’ll also want to pack drinking water, and possibly a picnic, though there are a few eateries on the island. If you’re visiting independently you could bring your own snorkeling gear, but some guided tours include this—check the details before your trip.