Full-Day Cruise Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef

Best day out !

We had the most amazing day with Frankland Island Reef Cruises. Pick up from Cairns accommodation in a comfortable bus and taken to boarding point just south of Cairns. As we cruised down the river, we were fitted out with all our snorkelling gear and wetsuits. As soon as we got to Normanby Island, everything was ready to go. Options to go on a guided snorkel tour or you can just snorkel from the beach (plenty of reef to see), glass bottom boat, kayaks, stand up paddle boards and an informative eco walking tour of the island. Fantastic crew who make sure everyone is included (shout out to Callie - she was so thoughtful and considerate when helping an elderly lady go snorkelling in the bay). Delicious lunch served under the shelter. We only had 33 passengers on our cruise (much better than the hundreds that cram on to some of the bigger reef tours). Some croc spotting as we returned back up the river. Highly recommended - Best day out - Thanks to Captain Crabby and the crew. Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef - tick !!

Best day out !

We had the most amazing day with Frankland Island Reef Cruises. Pick up from Cairns accommodation in a comfortable bus and taken to boarding point just south of Cairns. As we cruised down the river, we were fitted out with all our snorkelling gear and wetsuits. As soon as we got to Normanby Island, everything was ready to go. Options to go on a guided snorkel tour or you can just snorkel from the beach (plenty of reef to see), glass bottom boat, kayaks, stand up paddle boards and an informative eco walking tour of the island. Fantastic crew who make sure everyone is included (shout out to Callie - she was so thoughtful and considerate when helping an elderly lady go snorkelling in the bay). Delicious lunch served under the shelter. We only had 33 passengers on our cruise (much better than the hundreds that cram on to some of the bigger reef tours). Some croc spotting as we returned back up the river. Highly recommended - Best day out - Thanks to Captain Crabby and the crew. Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef - tick !!

Paradise

Anna was a great guide! Great way to spend the day in paradise. The boat had all the essentials and the staff was great!

Frankland Islands chill day

Great experience snorkeling around the Frankland Islands including the guided snorkel safari. Water has low visibility when we came. Lots of big hard corals. I like the island tour with information. We spotted a turtle, sting ray, giant clam, chiton, sea cucumbers and other species in the rock pools. On the way back, the boat slowed down to spot some crocodiles in the river on the way back to the jetty. The boat was clean and the food was adequate. We're the only ones in the island so less crowded (prob less than 40 people) The staff were amazing! Friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable! Kelly is funny and Anna and Nana were great reef guides.

Not a thing to do but enjoy yourself

This was a wonderful day out. We had Normanby Island all to ourselves. The only structure on the island is a permanent cabana providing shelter, shade and picnic tables and looks out over the water. This was our base for lunch and activities including snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours to view coral, stand up paddle boards, kayaking and a walk around the island. A yummy lunch was included and complimentary tea and coffee on the journey there and back. The boat is beautiful and very comfortable. The trip along the river is smooth (crocodiles may be spotted if you look closely) and the voyage across the sea was a little bumpy. I was impressed by the staff and guides who were always cheerful and well organised and who worked tirelessly to make sure everything down to very last detail was taken care of for passengers. Thank you to crew members Kelly, Panchi, Anna, Nanami, Crabby and Callen for a great day.

Excellent trip!

The crew was fantastic and thought of everything that we could possibly need. The trip to the island was one of our highlights! We got to snorkel, hike the island, ride a boat to see the reef, and the lunch on the beach was fantastic. Highly recommend!

Customers are #1.

Overall the tour was good however i think there are areas to be improved on. Such as better explanation of what is expected on the tour by the staff. This would lead to customers knowing what to do and the staff would not need to scold the customers as much. At times i wondered at times if the staff of the tour were more important compared to the customers. As we entered the last 45 minutes our snorkel equipment was rounded up without us being asked. We were left watching others snorkeling on the beach. Once again it would of been nice to be asked. This was our last chance of another 10 minutes on the reef.

Amazing trip with amazing guides

Overall a great trip with very friendly guides. Picked up by tour bus on time in front of Crystalbrook Riley, which was pre-arranged beforehand. Drove to the dock where we boarded a medium sized boat. While we got underway, the crew provided coffee and tea while they went over safety on the boat, snorkeling techniques (most of our tour group had never snorkeled before), schedule, and other misc things. We got fitted with our snorkeling gear (fins, mask/snorkel, and stinger suits). The boat has reef safe sunscreen provided. Then we all suffered through about half an hour of very choppy ocean crossing. The crew gave us tips to minimize seasickness (take motion sickness meds BEFORE you start feeling sick, stay away from the bathrooms in the front of the boat where the motion is the strongest). All the half dozen seasick people hung out of the back of the boat on the lower level out in the open air, some clutching sea sickness baggies the crew provided. Disembarked, and two lovely ladies (Anna and Maddie) took a dozen of us on a “Snorkel Safari”. We saw several sea turtles, but unfortunately due to the overcast weather and lots of sediment in the water, visibility wasn’t the best. We had other opportunities to snorkel closer to shore in a section of the reef demarcated by buoys. I was one of the only people back in the water quickly, and Maddie essentially took me on a private snorkel tour of this smaller area. The visibility was much better as the sun came out and the water became less choppy. Maddie pointed out lots of great reef spots that I returned to on my own during the remainder of the afternoon. Other activities offered included a “Semi-sub” or glass-bottom boat ride, stand up paddle boards, and an island walk, which my husband enjoyed as he saw several anemone in the tide pools with clownfish inside. Lunch was good. If you like seafood, the shrimp is worth going back for seconds and then thirds. During our trip in late April, stinger suits were not necessary to protect from jellyfish but were very necessary because it was somewhat cold coming out of the water in the late morning as it was overcast. It was such an amazing trip and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream being able to see the Great Barrier Reef. The smaller group made it much more special because our snorkeling site wasn’t crawling with an overwhelming number of other tours and people. As someone who struggles with seasickness, I was very thankful for the ability to come back on land whenever I wanted and not be stuck out on a boat for hours and hours. Things I would recommend bringing: credit card, backpack, towel (we used a pool/reef towel from our hotel), sunglasses, swim suit, reusable water bottle, sandals, motion sickness meds, underwater camera (crew provides water, snorkel equipment, sunscreen).

Beautiful in every way! Lovely tour

The most amazing island tour trip!! The people were fantastic with the hospitality skills and knowledge of the island and marine life. The cruise was lovely and the food provided was great. The snorkelling safari was a total highlight! We got to see manta rays and sharks and so much colourful coral and marine life. The island was truly spectacular. With activities on offer that suit everyone, this island cruise tour is a MUST DO in Cairns. Could not recommend highly enough.

Avoid the masses!

Really enjoyed this day out on the reef. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. It was a smaller group of people so if you don't like crowds, over commercialised and touristy this is for you. We saw a shark, turtles and plenty of fish!

Highly recommend! Everything included & not too busy!

We had a wonderful time on the Frankland Island cruise! The boat ride was very smooth (no sea sickness), crew were all super friendly & knowledgeable, beaches were very clean/untouched, loved that all the equipment & snorkelling gear was included, the lunch was hearty & delish, & it was great for all ages.

GREAT day on Frankland Island!

My husband and I had an absolutely wonderful day with Franklin Islands Reef Cruises!! There were many options available once we got to the island - something for everyone!! The snorkel safari was great! Lunch was really tasty! We chose to snorkel from shore after lunch and took advantage of the guided nature walk around the island. All the crew members were wonderful to deal with and worked really hard!! We would definitely take this tour again if we come back to the Cairns area! We stayed at the Holiday Park in Fishery Falls and it was super quick to meet the tour just past the Deeral Boat Ramp. A very relaxing, FUN day!!!

Absolutely memorable day out

Absolutely fabulous day out with something for everyone. The staff are very attentive, kind, knowledgeable, and hard working. We felt safe and properly looked after at all times The younger members of our party who did the snorkel safari thought it was terrific, and personally I was astonished at how interesting the guided walk turned out to be.. We saw no other groups the whole day and the staff looked after us so well that the atmosphere was almost like an up market picnic. Good value for money and would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a proper island/ snorkelling reef experience.

Great visit - Ana (Louise) was the best

Beautiful island. So much to do - all provided by the cruise. Paddle boarding, snorkeling, sand play equipment for the little ones, guided walk, treasure hunt, a delicious lunch and icy cold water. Friendly crew, especially Ana. Kids loved her. Thanks for a great day out.

An interesting island

We enjoyed our time on this fascinating island. I saw a few coral bombies while snorkelling but unfortunately the visibility wasn't the best but this couldn't be helped. Went for a walk to explore the island. The provided lunch was filling and delicious.

Loved from start to finish, would love to do it again and again!

We had an amazing day, very well organised, a lot of extra activities, picnic lunch with good verity of food. We felt very well looked after in the water and on the boat. See a lot of beautiful corals, fish and turtles. Absolutely stunning island, crystal clear water. All staff were very friendly and professional. Highly recommended, will definitely do it again!

Best Snorkeling Experience

My family had a great time snorkeling due to the incredible staff; we received the individual attention every customer loves. Panchi was phenomenal, providing a great experience for my below average swimmer parents. Jesse was also very helpful. Highly Reccomend, especially because of Panchi and Jesse!

AmazingTrip

That was the most amazing day ever ♥️this island is so amazing!!!! And saw so many turtles 🐢 The staff really looked out for everyone on board. They gave us loads of informations about the reef! Special shout-out to Kirsteen, who did my first ever intro dive with me. I was a lil scared but she made it so easy, I felt safe and I absolutely loved it. Such a lovely person who really took care of me and made sure i had the best time. I highly recommend this!!!!♥️

Another World

This Cruise Tour is ABSOLUTELY brilliant. Went with my son and 2 others - such good value for money and well organised. It felt like Robinson Crusoe where we stopped at an island for lunch - apparently the only company that includes lunch - it was a delicious spread. My son Chris and I went on the "pay for extra" scuba dive with Kirsteen - words cannot describe seeing a turtle, beautiful fish and of course stunning coral.

bliss

loved the whole day! activities,scenery & service was good good way to see some of cairns & area south

Great snorkeling and divinf experience

amazing experience, had a such a great diving experience with kirsteen, im a nervous swimmer especially around marine life and it was my first time diving, she made me feel so safe and i was able to go so close to the coral and fishes without panicking. The entire crew was lovely and we had a wonderful time

A wonderful day on and around a small island.

It was a wonderful day for my wife and I. I believe there were only 39 people on our tour. Most of the river cruise is taken up by briefing and collecting gear, but you'll be able to see it on the way back. Once we got to Normandy Island, we were busy. We did the snorkel safari, which loads you back on a smaller boat and takes you offshore just a short distance. Our guides were great, try to keep up with the front one because she'll be pointing things out. Impossible to hear when underwater though. We saw turtles, giant clams, many kinds of fish, and amazing coral colonies. Almost as soon as we got back on the island, it was time to board the semi sub, which goes back over the same area where you just snorkelers. I saw some different things on the semi sub that I missed during snorkeling. When brought back, it's lunch time. Luckily, you get 1 hour so if you eat fast, you'll have a little time to try the kayaks, paddle boarding, or snorkel off shore. With the help of our guide, Lisa?, I had time to find a blue anemone, hosting a pair of gorgeous clownfish. At 1pm, the walk around the coast and through the center of the small island, starts. It was interesting, with our guide pointing out the many types of shells, and what animals they originated from, plus other interesting information on the habitat. Once the walk was over, it was about time to board the boat back to the bus. This time, we sat upstairs for the better view, after having some of the cheese and crackers and then cake with tea and coffee. The only draw backs are; no bathrooms, showers, or changing rooms on island, and the bus to and from was uncomfortably cold. A small price to pay for a wonderful day overall.

Intro scuba diving on Normanby island!

We have had one of the best days ever! The main standout was doing the intro scuba dive with Kirsteen, I was super anxious about diving before and she has completely changed my outlook on everything. It was super relaxed and felt so personal as it was just me and my partner plus Kirsteen! She made me feel so comfortable and confident. Couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone wanting to try scuba diving!! Thank you so much Kirsteen, Louisa and the rest of the crew for a fantastic day ❤️

Fabulous day out

Great, well run tour. Short cruise to the island which was ideal with children. The staff were lovely, thank you, especially to the marine biologist who took our 8 year old who isn’t a strong swimmer out snorkelling so she could see some clownfish which was a highlight for her. We’ve done other GBR tours to the outer reef which were larger and also great but if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, and to be able to explore a lovely island, this is the perfect tour.

A day to remember

This is the first time I went on a trip this well-organized. The staff were all very friendly and experienced. Briefing and guidance was really good. And lunch and snacks were delicious (and included). And ofcourse we saw a lot of beautiful nature, fish and turtles. For me this was the first time I went snorkeling. But I never felt afraid or not taken care of. It was a great experience and a day to remember.

Choose Frankland Islands Real Live Reef vs Over-populated Ferry service to Green or Fitzroy Island

There are not enough amazing things that I can say about this tour and this island group. Firstly, the cost is well-priced for what you get, when you're comparing them with Sunlover, etc because we are all on budgets thanks to the Reserve Bank and Government: AUD219 gets you being treated like an excited human being not just another fare on a ferry - free pick up and drop off, morning tea and lunch and afternoon tea with coffee and tea, all your snorkelling gear and instruction, wet suits, kayaks, paddle skis, pool noodles for floating, drinking water on the island, an hour island walk with guide, glass-bottom boat ride, so many animals that have not been torturedby himans and have a natural curiosity of us (turtles, so many fish of all kinds, starfish, crabs, giant clams, seas cucumbers, sea eels, sea anenomes with clown fish, epolet sharks, native birds, etc), river cruise down the mangroves, short 30 minute boat trip in open ocean to a live reef which is also a National Park, expert lookouts all day for your safety and a crew who are genuinely engaged in what they do and what they deliver to people. Like I said, I can't say enough amazing things about this Tour but more importantly, how they change the Reef one person at a time. I am so lucky and grateful thatI was recommended to you guys, and I will pay it forward. Thank you for giving more than you get! Wait for the photos....

Unforgettable day, an amazing way to see the reef

This trip was so worth the money we already want to do it again! We couldn’t believe how much healthy Coral and sea life there was is such close proximity to the island, there were free activities included all day, we highly recommend the snorkel safari as the master reef guide takes you along to point out all the amazing marine life, we saw clown fish, sting rays and turtles along with so much beautiful healthy coral, thankyou again to all the crew and the skipper for an amazing day and for waiting for me to return when I stupidly left my phone on board!

Awesome day

We had an awesome trip the crew were super friendly and could not do enough to help. The day was great value for money and a small group made the day even more enjoyable

A magnificent and wonderful snorkeling trip

Fabulous snorkeling day close to the mainland. A wonderful and helpful crew paying attention to safety and comfort of the passengers. The boat trip starts on the river and is only a 30 minutes on the open ocean. Coffee, tea and cookies during the trip. The small island is amazing beautiful. There are activities for all ages But the best is the coral reef close to the beach. We saw sea turtles, nemo fish and many other species. We are 60+ tourists from Belgium and this was our third snorkeling tour on the reef but it was the best with respect of culture and nature. We highly recommend this tour because it's with a small group and you do not have to sit on a boat during 2 hours before reaching the reef. The lunch was fresh and tasteful. We had a magnificent day.

A beautiful day out :)

The weather was extremely good, sunny and cloudless. The boat ride was amazingly smooth. It's nice to get a short trip down the river before crossing over to the group of islands, which are all different and interesting. The view back to the mainland is amazing 'cos all you can see are blue and green hills, with basically no sign of human habitation! There were numerous birds to see along the way, and some friendly ones on the island too! The tour group was fairly small and everyone was lovely and there were no problems. The staff were very helpful and Kelly (I think) was really cheerful and enthusiastic which was great! Food was plentiful, fresh and tasty. Equipment was in good condition. I was particularly glad that a bus transported us to/from Cairns; that made it quite relaxing. Overall a very pleasant day: not too commercial, safe and definitely family friendly (especially for younger ones) and/or good for first timers to try out easy snorkelling/other tropical island activities. Thanks to all the staff for giving us a great day :)

If you are planning a visit to the Great Barrier Reef this absolutely has to be your first choice!!

Let me start by saying that this tour was so amazing that I actually came back 4 days later and did it all over again! So the Frankland Islands are one of the few areas of the Great Barrier Reef which have been virtually untouched by the coral bleaching events meaning you can expect beautiful corals and an abundance of marine life. As it currently stands this is the only tour company that has access to this particular location so unlike the massively touristy spots like Green Islands your boat is quite literally the only boat/people there. Aside from this I’d have to stress that the day is super well planned out and they’ve included options for everyone. One thing which isn’t included in the tour description is a glass bottom boat ride which is included for free in your tour. As such, if you’re not somebody wanting to get in the water you can still get to see a great view of the reef from the comfort of your seat. They provide a snorkel safari with which they provide floatation aids and life jackets for less confident swimmers as well as well as hold on devices should you get part way around and need some assistance. That being said (certainly on the 2 occasions I did this) it was a fairly easy trip around although no doubt under different weather conditions it could be a bit more challenging. After lunch there is also an optional walking tour around the incredibly beautiful island with a marine biologist who is very knowledgeable as you’d expect but also very friendly and communicates the knowledge in any easy to understand manner. As well as having all the see options, you can chose to do as many or as few as you like and there’s the option to snorkel by yourselves (being constantly supervised by staff from the beach to ensure your safety) at anytime during the day. There is a large population of turtles in this area as well as a family of Nemo’s!! The last thing I would add is that all of the staff involved are super friendly and helpful and will go the extra mile to the extra mile to ensure you have a great experience. I would like to add a special mention to 2 of the staff who I was very fortunate to have on both my tours. They would be Kelly & Louisa. Kelly helps to coordinate everything onboard the boat and on the island and aside from being super nice and friendly she is great with kids. On my first trip I witnessed her in action with a young kid who was really nervous about snorkeling but by the time Kelly had finished she was chomping at the bit to get in there. Louise is a marine biologist and on both of the tours I was involved in she did the island walking tours where she is very knowledgeable and passionate about the surroundings and is able to impart the info in an easy to understand way for everyone. She also led the first snorkel safari I did where she was just as great. I’m a nutshell just book it!!!!

Highly recommend above all tours in Cains !

The views, staffs, foods are all amazing! There are sooooo many corals and turtles. The snorkeling experience is the best over all the other in Cains. The staffs are so nice, kind, welcoming and bilingual which makes the whole trip even more fantastic. (English, Japanese, Mandarin...) The onsite staffs really calm our bad booking experience via Tripadvisor previously due to wrong pick up time. The morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea are also excellent! Everything is perfect! We would definitely book again if we visit Cains next time! Thanks to all staffs on 14th.Oct which really made our day!

Little bit of paradise.

Great snorkelling loved the freedom to do things at our own pace. Lunch was delicious and the staff were all friendly and helpful. Having the island to ourselves was great as there was no overcrowding but all the highlights of the reef.

Loved it

Crew on the boat were fantastic during the while full day experience. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to explore the reef. any age any level of fitness there is something for everyone. the crew were unfailingly helpful and friendly. Loved the whole experience, snorkeling, glad bottom boat tour, buffet lunch on the island. Best of all only a 30 min crossing on the open sea, great if you suffer from seasickness.

Amazing reef tour, beautiful sea life and picturesque island location.

Soooo glad we chose this tour. All inclusive, comfortable boat trip out to Normanby Island, a tropical paradise. Optional tours you can do during the day are semi submersible boat trip around the great barrier reef, snorkelling safari, guided Island walk. You can opt not to do any and snorkel to your hearts content just off the beach. Snorkel and gear all provided, lunch also provided. Tour was so well organised, staff were lovely and we were lucky with the most amazing weather. We had maybe 50 people on our tour, which felt in no way over crowded. Plenty of room to do your own thing. The reef in this area is healthy and bright, so glad we got to see it, as well as some turtles! Highly recommend.

The best reef tour!

Very well organized. Staff was amazing!! Something for everyone. You had your choice of snorkeling, glass bottom boat, kayaks, sup, guided nature walk ( totally amazing and interesting!) and there was even a treasure hunt for young kids. Food and snacks were great as well! Highly recommend!

A fantastic experience

We had a fantastic day at Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef. The tour crew provided us an excellent services. All of them are very professional, enthusiastic, friendly and help us with our ability as we are the beginners in snorkeling and non swimmer. Our kids really enjoyed snorkeling and an island treasure hunt.Thank you so much Blaire and Kelly, your guys are the highlight in our memories. We will definitely come back for the tour if we come to Cairns next time and will recommend for people about you.Thank you again.

Fantastic, relaxing day in a gorgeous environment with fun, super helpful staff

We really enjoyed out day out with this group. The staff are fantastic, everyone is so friendly and accommodating that it really made the trip for us. As senior citizens who had basically no snorkeling experience we were a bit concerned, but the structure of the day allows for people to do things (or not) as they wish - which is a very useful way to organize it. The ferry trip to Frankland Island was pretty choppy with lots of "rockin' and rollin", but people seemed to be able to handle it ok. We had no problems with sea sickness etc. The day allowed for "walking around the island", swimming, snorkeling (different options for different levels) and a semi-subboat trip around the corals - which was the only time I actually felt queasy so went upstairs and took photos instea. They laid on a super lunch with lots of different options (including a lot of massive shrimp) and even produced a vegetarian option for me). It's a great day out -even if people don't want to snorkel!

Fabulous day out on reef

Excellent day trip to Frankland islands. Staff were amazing and very helpful. Snorkelling gear and wet suit provided. Wet suit really assisted with buoyancy when snorkelling. Saw lots of fish, sting ray and two turtles. Lunch was delicious, fresh prawns. Island tour with marine biologist very interesting.

Amazing tour ONLY if it has good weather conditions

The staff lead by Kelly was absolutely attentive, funny and extremely professional. Lunch was very nice! This could of easily been a 5 star review but I gave it a 3 because of the weather. Luckily it wasn’t my first time snorkeling in the Barrier Reef otherwise I would have been very disappointed to see mucky brown water and not the crystal beautiful clear water that one expects. I feel that the company should have told us that we were definitely not going to see anything with weather conditions such as these. Instead they took our money and that’s it. Foreigners left the tour very sad and disappointed which is a shame.. I would absolutely recommend this trip on a beautiful sunny day!

Great, relaxed, family, friendly reef island tour

We can throughly recommend this small, relaxed all-inclusive reef tour. The crew were amazing, the snorkel safari the best we've ever been on in clear, calm waters seeing beautiful corals, fish and turtles close up. Semi sub tour of the island, guided walk, use of paddle boards and kayaks and amazing food all included. A really great day out. Thanks to all the crew. You worked so hard all day and were fun, helpful, friendly and very informative. Thank you

Amazing day in the reef

The crew where amazing and accommodating to everyone making the day easy going and the reef was spectacular after the sea calmed and the sand settled was worth the experience would do it angin in a heartbeat.

Good experience

The weather was not that great on the day of our cruise, but the crew was fantastic - from Kirsteen & John on the bus, to the snorkel guides (Andy & Kelly), and all the others - super in making the most of the day!

A nice visit

We practically had the beach to ourselves. We had the flexibility to snorkel anytime. Lunch was good, included chicken, shrimps, etc. Going on the full island walk wasn't that enjoyable for us, so we opted to snorkel instead. The crew members, including Kelli, Anami, and Christine were great.

Kelly and Kristy were the best!

This was an amazing trip. The crew were fabulous. I was travelling with my 11 yo autistic son and Kelly and Kristy were amazingly supportive and understanding of his needs. The food on island was great. The support snorkelling was unparalleled. Definitely recommend this trip for all!

10/10

What an amazing day out in frankland Island. Would highly recommended this trip - one of the best snorkelling I've done and its guided. if your not the best swimmer you can just walk straight into the crystal clear water and still see lots of amazing stuff. The submarine was brilliant, got to see loads. The island walk was very educational and saw some very unique things. Great staff, great food. Overall amazing day out woukd highly recommend 🙂

A great trip.

Great trip. Staff looked after everyone well. One of the staff took us personally on a snorkelling tour of the reef. Great food and company.

Good time in the great barrier reef

Amazing, a great island with fabulous organized tour. We saw many turtles and even a bamboo shark. The crew where amazing. Just the colo of the coral weren't the best, in Eilat the reef is better.

Excellent day out in all respects, recommended.

A bargain for what was included. We were a party of 7, some from Oz, the rest from UK. Friendly crew, good communication and briefing. The first part of the tour is a very pleasant river cruise and then out of the estuary to the island. We had clear skies and almost no wind so the views were perfect and the sailing smooth. The tour included activities and food. We made full use of the wetsuits and snorkeling kits and enjoyed beautiful views of reef fish and turtles, my wife swam above one and made sure we knew about it. The buffet lunch was very good and it included a decent range of foods including sea food, meat and veg, a high quality gluten free option was also provided (let them know in advance). Beach time ended about 2 ish and we enjoyed a splendid cruise back and the added bonus of spotting three crocs on the river banks. Hand on heart this is in amazing value for money day out. My only gripe is the lack of signage if you make your own way to the boat, however, that did not mar the day in any way. This trip was recommended to us by Maryanne at the tourist info at The Pier shopping centre and she was spot on.

Snorkel and Island walk

It starts with a short rainforest river cruise. Occasionally crocs are seen. Then a short water crossing to Normanby Island in the Frankland Island group. The island is surrounded by reefs, but the area to snorkel is on the protected side. The guided tour is really for beginners, but this side of the island had the best fish life and lots of turtles. Being experienced scuba divers and snorkellers, we felt rushed by the guides, as there aim, understandably, is to keep people together and visible. It may be better to have two groups where more experienced people can have more freedom. Being rushed actually made us more stressed and tired, as we had to exert ourselves to get back to the group. You can see many species of marine life, including turtles, octopus and anemone clownfish, Nemo. You have up to 4 hours to explore above and below the water. The guided island walk was great, looking in rock pools we saw an anemone with fish in a very shallow pool, venomous Cone shells, hermit crabs, sea eagles, a kingfisher and other bird life. There was a fresh BBQ lunch. Optional activities included kayak or stand up paddle boarding. The glass bottom boat also went over the best part of the reef, seeing more turtles. A very enjoyable day