What Is The Cheapest Way To Get To Green Island?
Green Island is an idyllic oasis of natural beauty nestled in the midst of the Great Barrier Reef. Picture soft white sands, lush greenery, and vibrant coral reefs filled with sea turtles and exotic fish. And this stunning paradise is only a 45-minute boat ride from Cairns!
As one of the best and most popular day trips from Cairns, Green Island is a hotspot for travellers in Tropical North Queensland. You can easily visit on a cheap, customisable day tour, or even stay overnight at the lovely Green Island Resort.
Here is your guide to visiting Green Island on a budget from Cairns!
What Is The Cheapest Way To Get To Green Island?
The cheapest way to get to Green Island from Cairns is by booking a return ferry transfer with no add-ons. Return ferry transfers to Green Island are around $100 - $110 per person, and you can book these online through Great Adventures or Big Cat Big Island Reef Cruises.
- Great Adventures Return Ferry $107 per adult
- Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises Half Day Return Ferry $109 per adult
- Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises Full Day Return Ferry $109 per adult
If you just want to get to Green Island and explore on your own for the cheapest price, those are the most affordable options!
Cost of Activities on Green Island
Once you arrive on Green Island, you may want to add on some activities to enhance your experience. The island itself is absolutely beautiful, so if you're on a very tight budget and you just want to walk around, explore, swim, and sunbathe, you'll be fine with just the ferry transfers.
But exploring the offshore reefs is a highlight of visiting Green Island! So activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, and glass bottom boat tours are great additions to your day. You can even add on more unique activities like scenic flights or a Seawalker Helmet Dive. Sometimes it's cheaper to book these things in advance, or to choose a Green Island tour that includes some of them.
Try one of these Green Island tours!
Snorkelling
- Cost: Around $30 - $35 to add-on, or cheaper if you pre-book
Snorkelling is a fun, easy, and accessible way to admire the Great Barrier Reef around Green Island. Don a mask, snorkel, and fins and you can swim with the marine life (including sea turtles if you're lucky)!
When you add on snorkel gear hire, it usually costs around $30 - $35. You can also book a full day or half day combo that includes ferry transfers and snorkel gear, in which case the total cost is $120 (cheaper than booking snorkel gear and ferry separately).
Glass Bottom Boat Tours
- Cost: Around $30 - $35 to add-on, or cheaper if you pre-book
For those who want to observe the reef without getting wet, a glass bottom boat tour is the perfect activity. Cruise around Green Island and admire the underwater world through the transparent bottom of the boat. Look for turtles and fish while gliding over pristine coral reefs in a safe and relaxing environment.
Glass bottom boat tours on Green Island also cost around $30 - $35 per adult. You can book a half day or full day combo that includes ferries and a glass bottom boat tour for only $120.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving allows visitors to explore further and deeper in the reefs around Green Island. Most ferry transfers and tour prices don't include scuba diving, so you'll always have to pay extra for this. But if you're an avid diver, any money spent diving on the Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef will be worth it!
Introductory dives are the most expensive at around $198 per dive. Certified dives are around $148, unless you book two dives for $228 (which works out to be $114 per dive).
Scenic Flights
- Cost: $205
Scenic flights are an absolute treat! Fly over the Great Barrier Reef and gain a new appreciation for the sprawling coral networks of the world's largest coral reef system.
When you visit Green Island with Great Adventures, you can add on a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight for $205, which is pretty cheap as far as scenic flights go. You can also try a longer scenic flight from Cairns in a seaplane or helicopter. These travel further around the coastline and generally cost $229 - $500 depending on the duration and inclusions.
Seawalker Helmet Dive
- Cost: $198
Try something different with a helmet dive! An underwater helmet dive on Green Island is basically wearing an air-filled helmet and walking on the sea floor. It's like scuba diving combined with good old-fashioned sightseeing. You can add this onto your Great Adventures Green Island tour for $198.
Combine Green Island with the Great Barrier Reef
- Cost: $279 - $329
See two incredible natural attractions near Cairns with a combo tour of Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Tours like Ocean Free or Great Adventures offer action-packed day tours that include snorkelling on the Outer Reef with a stop on Green Island.
Perfect for those who are short on time but want to experience the reefs AND islands around Cairns, these day trips offer amazing value for money. Though the cost is higher than a day trip to Green Island, these tours include snorkel gear, lunch, and either sailing on the Outer Reef or a visit to an Outer Reef Pontoon. Plus, you'll get a few hours of free time on Green Island.
Overview of Green Island Costs
To summarise, a cheap day on Green Island usually costs around $107 - $120. The no-frills approach is cheapest, but you can choose a snorkelling or glass-bottom boat combo deal for only $120.
A mid-range day on Green Island might cost $120 - $200. That includes $107 or $109 for your ferry transfers, plus one or two water activities. You can also buy lunch or souvenirs at Green Island Resort. The mid-range approach is still super affordable, so consider spending a little more to enjoy some snorkelling or boat tours around Green Island!
A more expensive day on Green Island might cost $279 - $400. This is for those who want to treat themselves to costly but incredible activities like scuba diving or scenic flights. Or you can book a tour that includes both the Outer Great Barrier Reef and Green Island.
Whatever option you choose, Green Island is such an accessible and fun day trip option from Cairns!
