3 best islands to visit at the Great Barrier Reef

November 13, 2024 • By Maryanne Jacques

Imagine setting foot on an island where every view captivates and the sea’s colours change with the light. The Great Barrier Reef is home to many such islands, each offering adventure and relaxation. Let’s explore the top islands that will make your visit to the reef a truly unforgettable experience.

Green Island Tours — Cairns Discovery Tours

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Green Island

Just 45 minutes by ferry, Green Island is a tropical coral cay with crystal-clear reef waters, snorkelling, rainforest walks and beautiful beaches.

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Fitzroy Island Tours — Cairns Discovery Tours

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Fitzroy Island

Crystal-clear water, coral reefs right off the beach, and just 45 minutes from Cairns. Fitzroy Island is one of the reef’s best-kept secrets.

See Fitzroy Island tours

Article by:

Maryanne Jacques

Director, Cairns Discovery Tours

Maryanne Jacques is the Director of Cairns Discovery Tours and your local connection to Tropical North Queensland. With more than 40 years of experience in the tourism industry, she brings deep local knowledge and a genuine passion for showcasing the very best the region has to offer.

Explore Cairns & surrounds with our curated tours.

4.9 stars, 363 reviews

29 Jul 2026, Wed

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

7:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

15 Aug 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Adventure

8 Sep 2026, Tue

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

13 Sep 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:00 PM

Carnival Splendor

29 Sep → 30 Sep

Cairns Port

Tue, 9:30 AM

Wed, 6:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

28 Oct 2026, Wed

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

5:30 PM

Carnival Encounter

30 Oct 2026, Fri

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

5:00 PM

Crown Princess

7 Nov 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Costa Serena

8 Nov 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Riviera

14 Nov 2026, Sat

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:30 AM

8:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

15 Nov 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Viking Venus

20 Nov 2026, Fri

Yorkeys Knob Port

7:00 AM

6:00 PM

Royal Princess

23 Nov → 24 Nov

Cairns Port

Mon, 9:00 AM

Tue, 7:00 PM

Noordam

26 Nov 2026, Thu

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Riviera

26 Nov 2026, Thu

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:00 AM

9:00 PM

Celebrity Solstice

27 Nov → 28 Nov

Cairns Port

Fri, 8:00 AM

Sat, 6:00 PM

Azamara Pursuit

28 Nov 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

11:00 PM

Silver Moon

29 Nov 2026, Sun

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:00 AM

7:00 PM

Royal Princess

2 Dec → 3 Dec

Cairns Port

Wed, 12:00 PM

Thu, 6:00 PM

Viking Orion

5 Dec 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

9:00 AM

7:00 PM

Grand Princess

6 Dec → 7 Dec

Yorkeys Knob Port

Sun, 9:00 AM

Mon, 6:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

9 Dec → 10 Dec

Cairns Port

Wed, 7:00 AM

Thu, 3:00 PM

Riviera

10 Dec 2026, Thu

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:30 PM

Carnival Luminosa

12 Dec 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

7:00 PM

Seven Seas Navigator

16 Dec 2026, Wed

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

17 Dec 2026, Thu

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Viking Orion

20 Dec 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

9:30 PM

Riviera

1 Jan 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:30 PM

Carnival Luminosa

12 Jan 2027, Tue

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

10:00 PM

Silver Moon

17 Jan → 18 Jan

Cairns Port

Sun, 8:00 AM

Mon, 6:00 PM

Westerdam

18 Jan 2027, Mon

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:00 PM

Carnival Luminosa

19 Jan 2027, Tue

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:00 AM

6:00 PM

Quantum of the Seas

3 Feb 2027, Wed

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

4 Feb 2027, Thu

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

6:00 PM

Costa Deliziosa

12 Feb → 13 Feb

Yorkeys Knob Port

Fri, 8:00 AM

Sat, 5:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

21 Feb → 22 Feb

Cairns Port

Sun, 8:00 AM

Mon, 9:00 PM

Crown Princess

2 Mar 2027, Tue

Cairns Port

9:00 AM

6:00 PM

Queen Victoria

4 Mar 2027, Thu

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Grand Princess

5 Mar 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:00 PM

Carnival Splendor

6 Mar → 7 Mar

Yorkeys Knob Port

Sat, 9:30 AM

Sun, 5:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

9 Mar 2027, Tue

Yorkeys Knob Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Quantum of the Seas

12 Mar 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

9:30 PM

Riviera

13 Mar 2027, Sat

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Grand Princess

15 Mar → 20 Mar

Cairns Port

Mon, 8:00 AM

Sat, 6:00 PM

Viking Orion

17 Mar 2027, Wed

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:30 PM

Carnival Luminosa

21 Mar 2027, Sun

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Viking Venus

21 Mar → 25 Mar

Cairns Port

Sun, 10:00 AM

Thu, 6:00 PM

Crystal Serenity

5 Apr 2027, Mon

Yorkeys Knob Port

7:00 AM

5:00 PM

Celebrity Solstice

9 Apr 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

11 Apr 2027, Sun

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Seabourn Quest

Adult $167.00 Child 4-14yrs $92.00
Family 2A+2C $499.00

Kuranda Scenic Railway journey, Army Duck rainforest ride and native wildlife encounters in one great value 9 hour Cairns day tour, with electric coach transfer included.

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Kuranda Scenic Train with Army Duck & Coach Transfer

Adult $167.00 | Child $92.00 | Family 2A+2C $449.00 2AD+2CH

8:00 am

5:30 pm

Cairns Museum cultural half day tour experience

Adult $115.00| Child $82.00 from Cairns
Cairns Hotel pick ups commence from 12.30pm

Enjoy a small group Cairns afternoon guided tour, one of the most popular half-day tours in Cairns, showcasing the best of Australia’s most famous tropical city.. Explore the cities rich history which provides glimpses of natural beauty, cultural heritage and some of Cairns most iconic landmarks.

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Cairns City Sights Tour & Surrounds

Adult $115.00 | Child $82.00

12:30 pm

6:00 pm

Special Deal

2 Daintree Rainforest overnight tour from Cairns

2 Day Daintree Rainforest tour from Cairns. Visit Mossman Gorge, Welcome to Country ceremony, Daintree River Wildlife cruise, overnight in Cape Tribulation. Please note this is a limited – exclusive experience, please reach out if it shows no availability online, we can request

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2 Day Daintree Rainforest Tour

$331.00 Single shared bathroom | $507.00 Single with bathroom | $373.00 Twin/Double with bathroom

7:00 am

7:00 pm

Mossman River rainforest scenery on Daintree tour from Cairns

Adult $269|Aust Pensioner $259
Child $209 (4-14yrs only)
not suitable for children under 4yrs
Departs Daily 7.00am

Discover the Daintree Rainforest in Comfort – Small Group Touring (Max 14 Guests)
Travel along the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef Drive to explore Mossman Gorge, enjoy a restaurant lunch at the Daintree Tea House, 1 hour cruise on the Daintree River and visit Cape Tribulation Beach—where the rainforest meets the sea. With scenic stops at Rex Lookout, Flagstaff Hill Port Douglas, and a sweet treat option at the Daintree Ice Cream Company, this full-day tour offers an immersive nature experience in air-conditioned comfort. A full day exploring our spectacular natural backyard.

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1 Day Daintree – Cape Tribulation Rainforest Tour

Adult $269.00 | Aust Pensioner $259.00 | Child $209.00 (4-14yrs only)

7:00 am

6:00 pm

Waterfall and Rainforest Tour Cairns, Australia

Adult $189|Child 2-11yrs $149|Family 2A+2C $527
Departs daily 7.30am – 5.30pm

On the Waterfalls and Wanderer tour you will travel south as you discover nature and the beauty of north Queensland’s most iconic waterfalls. This is a MUST-SEE for anyone wanting to experience pristine rainforest, cascading waterfalls, stunning panoramas of Queensland’s highest peaks and maybe a glimpse of rare and unique native wildlife. This fun tour is ideal for the young and the young at heart, looking to see the best of the Atherton Tablelands and waterfalls.

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Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour

Adult $189.00 | Child 2-11yrs $149.00 | Family 2A+2C $527.00

7:30 am

5:30 pm

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns with Pure Snorkelling

Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tour
Adult $209 |Child 6-14yrs $159
Family 2A+2C $670
Depart Cairns Daily 12 noon – 5.00pm

Cairns newest & fastest purpose built vessel to the Outer Barrier Reef. Only 40 snorkelers per trip. Join our expert snorkel team, made up of Master Reef Guides and Marine naturalists, on a crowd-free adventure with over 2 hours of snorkelling time. Get ready to discover the Great Barrier Reef.

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Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tour

Adult $209.00 | Child 6-14yrs $159.00 | Family 2A+2C $670.00

12:00 pm

5:00 pm

Special Deal

Ferry leaving Green Island Great Barrier Reef

Departs daily 8.30am – 5.30pm
Fuel Levy $10.00 Adult $5.00 Child payable day of travel

2 iconic destinations in 1 day. Fast catamaran to Green Island for a 2-hour coral cay stopover, then out to Great Adventures’ Moore Reef platform for 3 hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel gear, semi-sub, underwater observatory and buffet lunch all included.

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Green Island & Moore Reef Tour from Cairns

Adult $312.00 | Child $172.00 (4-14yrs) | Family 2A+2C $805.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child. Fuel Levy payable at check-in on the day of travel.

8:30 am

5:30 pm

River tubing adventure in rainforest near Cairns

2 Departure times, 7am or 1.15pm – Your Cairns Tubing Rainforest tour will take you along some of Cairns’ most beautiful rainforest rivers. You’ll glide over gentle white-water rapids, cool off in fresh rainforest water, and soak up the stunning natural surroundings at every turn. So much fun, especially during our summer months October- March

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Cairns Rainforest Tubing Tour

Adult $119.00 includes River Levy | Child $95.00 5-11yrs | Family 2A+2C $353.00 | Shoe Hire $5.00

7:00 am

12:00 pm

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Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.

🗓️ Flexible Cancellations

Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.

💳 Book Now, Pay Later

Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure. Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.

🌴 Local Since 1995

For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.

👩‍🏫 Expert Local Guides

Our passionate Cairns tour guides are storytellers, historians, and nature enthusiasts. With deep local knowledge, they bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, ensuring an unforgettable and educational experience.

I booked the two day Rainforest trip on the 23rd & 24th June. The scenery was breathtaking and we were treated to a river cruise where we spotted some famous local crocodiles :D Throughout the journey to the lookouts and the Daintree Rainforest, we were treated to some fascinating commentary by our guides on the history of the area. I would like to give special thanks and appreciation to John and Clinton who were very knowledgeable, humorous and looked after us all very well :) I opted to spend a night in the Rainforest and it was truly an unforgettable experience :)

The tour is fantastic, with great views and unique experience. The staffs are friendly and helpful.

Very good support from Marianne to organize our Cairns visits, both for diving and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and for Kuranda and Rainforest Cape tribulation tours ! You can trust she will arrange every modification needed at her best ! Loved the trip in Cairns also thanks to Marianne, who listens and adapts to your interests and time ! Big Thank you, Marianne!

Great tour. We covered a lot of ground without feeling rushed. The day was well organised & seamless with a very knowledgeable tour guide/ driver.

I’m not often impressed enough to comment I certainly am with Maryanne Nothing was too much effort, even to ringing me at 9pm on Friday night to change a trip Refunded was processed within ten minutes of cancellation, new options provided All the five star reviews are true!

Cairns Discovery Tours is such a wonderful company. They all were essential in giving us an unforgettable experience on our first trip to Cairns. Maryanne is so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful in finding perfect excursions for us. Her Daintree Rainforest tour with the awesome Jeremey as our guide was truly amazing ! On top of all of this, everyone was so kind and helpful to recover and return to my wife a lost sentimental bracelet. I can not thank them all enough for making our vacation so special and memorable. You are all the best !