What Is Green Island Known For?
Green Island is a magnificent tropical coral cay just 28km from Cairns. It is part of the Great Barrier Reef and makes a fun alternative to visiting a pontoon on the Outer Reef. When you visit Green Island, you get to combine all the snorkelling and underwater exploring of the Great Barrier Reef with the above-ground treasures of a tropical island. Stroll through the rainforest, grab some delicious food at Green Island Resort, sunbathe on the beaches, or just snorkel your heart out and admire the surrounding reefs and sea turtles.
We're going to answer some common questions that travellers in Cairns may ask about Green Island. Hopefully, we can open your eyes to how magical this destination really is!
What Is Green Island Known For?
Green Island is known for being one of the most stunning day trip destinations on the Great Barrier Reef. Located just 28km offshore from Cairns, it's very accessible considering how remote this tropical island is. Ferries run daily from Cairns, as do sailing day trips and even scenic flights! Whether you're snorkelling in the sea, bushwalking across the land, or admiring the island from the sky, Green Island is a beautiful location that constantly amazes travellers in Cairns.
In addition to its proximity to Cairns, Green Island is known for its epic snorkelling and natural beauty. Filled with lush rainforest that offers excellent walking trails and even an upscale resort for those looking to extend their stay, Green Island has much to offer. The coral reefs surrounding the island are also filled with marine life so you can have an incredible snorkelling experience. Green Island is one of the best reef sites near Cairns to spot sea turtles, as they love to munch on the sea grass surrounding the island.
Visit Green Island on one of these day trips from Cairns!
What is special about Green Island?
Green Island is special because it is the only coral cay in this part of the Great Barrier Reef that is large enough to have its own rainforest! Coral cays, or sand cays, are deposits of coral, sand, seabird droppings, and other debris that accumulate on top of a coral reef over time. This process forms little islands and sand bars, such as Michaelmas Cay or Vlasoff Cay.
There are around 300 coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef, but Green Island is the only one that has rainforest on its surface. At about 12 hectares in size and an estimated 6,000 years old, Green Island is a protected area that showcases the pristine natural beauty and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns.
How do you spend a day on Green Island?
A day on Green Island can include swimming, snorkelling, beach-hopping, cruising around on a glass-bottom boat tour, sea walking, and more. The coral reefs and gorgeous beaches are undoubtedly the top attractions on Green Island. Snorkelling in the colourful reefs and soaking in the sun on the white sand beaches will be a priority for more people, but there are other cool things to do as well.
Sea walking allows you to walk on the ocean floor with a helmet! Or you can try some good old fashioned scuba diving which is often available as an add-on for most Green Island tours. A glass bottom boat tour is another fun way to observe the underwater world without having to go below the surface. You can also make use of the facilities on land at Green Island Resort such as the swimming pool and shops and cafes. Or go for a self-guided bushwalk around the island or join a cultural walking tour. The itinerary is up to you!
This list of Green Island add-ons shows some of the top activities that you can add to your standard tour!
What is the difference between Green Island and Fitzroy Island?
The main difference between Green Island and Fitzroy Island is the size and shape of the islands. Green Island is small and flat, measuring only 12 hectares. The beaches surrounding Green Island are patrolled by lifeguards and have shallow water that is perfect for small kids and families.
Fitzroy Island, on the other hand, is much larger at 339 hectares. This island is much more mountainous, the beaches are unpatrolled, and the water tends to be a bit deeper. Because of its large size and dense rainforest, Fitzroy Island offers more hiking trails that suit adventurous travellers and nature lovers.
Besides these differences, Green Island and Fitzroy Island are quite similar. Both offer fun and easily accessible day trips from Cairns. Both have beautiful rainforests, exquisite beaches, opportunities for snorkelling and seeing marine life, and even luxury resorts. In a perfect world, you would have time to visit both during your trip to Cairns!
Is Green Island worth visiting?
Given all the fun activities and breathtaking natural beauty you can find on Green Island, this gorgeous coral cay is definitely worth visiting. Not only is it a truly beautiful place full of wildlife and natural wonders, but it's also so easy to get there from Cairns! Book a day tour or just get the ferry and spend a few days at the Green Island Resort. You only need a few days here as Green Island is quite small, but even if you can only spare one day you will not regret a visit to Green Island!
