Green Island Day Trip from Cairns

The glass bottom boat was a real treat.

We went on Fri 31 May 2024. Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruise - Included Cairns to Green Island on the Big Cat, and we added the Glass Bottomed boat trip at the Island, and we added a meal at the Island Resort into the mix. Pickup was from a location 50m from where we were staying. Pickup and drop-off were on-time. Scenery was fantastic views of the islands, with the captain filling in the history and facts. The glass bottom boat was a real treat - the Captain was local and has deep insight into the reef, the fish, weather influence, and more. There is a long walk on the island, we did this. There is also the Marineland Melanesia - Crocodile Habitat & Gift Shop that should not be misses - be in time for the Croc Feeding. The Guide explains a lot about the turtles and the crocs there. Cassius is the largest croc in captivity. The Emerald Restaurant meal at the Resort was quite acceptable (we were a bit late, they accommodated us, but could only offer the burger on the menu - we accepted graciously and enjoyed it. A great day outing!!! Worth every cent. Memorable. Highly recommended!!!

disappointing

this was my least favourite of all tours I have taken in the past year. snorkeling was very disappointing. all I saw was green grass basically. not many fish and very little coral. also did recent snorkeling tours in Bali and Okinawa which were significantly better.

Green Island Tour

Wow what a tour. Recommend to everyone who comes up here to do this. Was just simply amazing. Did the Snorkel Safari add on with Kayla our lovely guide and was out of this world the views down there. Such a great day. Cheers to Big Cat. Will do again.

Fabulous factual and fun day

Everyone was helpful and polite. The staff were extremely knowledgable- Caitlin was brilliant on the glass bottom boat giving us lots of interesting facts about the coral and marine life. A day never to be forgotten.

GBR Snorkelling Disappointment

The trip was good but not great - the disappointment was the Great Barrier Reef. Green Island is a truly idyllic place and the trip was very well organised however we opted to snorkel to see the reef and wished we'd opted for the glass bottom boat. We waded out 50m or more from the shore but the sea was only approximately 1.0m deep and the reef at this depth looked like bleached shingle. I accept its climate change causing this but I suggest you have to snorkel where the sea is at least 2-3m deep to see the true colours of the reef.

Stunning island

Really cool island- only criticism is that we had a lot of time there- was struggling to find things to do by the end also as a solo traveller snorkelling by yourself can be daunting!

It rained while we were...

It rained while we were on the excursion. We wanted to go back early, but there was not a ferry to go back. Sat in the rain for 90 minutes.

Best snorkelling day ever!!!

Best snorkeling day ever. John, one of the Marine Biologists, took us on a guided snorkelling experience ……took us to the best places to see so many fish & coral and pointed out things we never would have seen. (The extra price was very much worth it). Green Island was lovely too. John….you made our day - thankyou so much.

Great day on Green Island

It was a nice day out on Green Island The weather was shocking Snorkelling and glass bottom boat were really nice The swimming pool and surrounding area was great, the toilets were clean And there was plenty of options for light snacks on the island as well as on the boat

An enjoyable day trip to Green Island

An enjoyable day trip to Green Island, with an average glass-bottom boat experience (to be fair the water was very cloudy after storms), and a surprisingly enjoyable semi-submersible experience (which some people found claustrophobic). The fish feeding is quite spectacular. There was plenty of food for the optional lunch. We would have preferred the return ferry trip to have left a little later to provide more free time.

Enjoyable!

A very good experience and a well run operation. We enjoyed walking across the island. The water was a bit choppy so the semi sub experience was a little wobbly. The glass bottom boat was fine and we saw many fish, two turtles and a black tip shark. We did not snorkel. Lunch was filling and good. Overall a fun day.

Trip was enjoyable with...

Trip was enjoyable with great views and tours. Buffet lunch was not good. Those with dietary limitations and preferences didn't have many options.

Green Island tours not a customer friendly company.

Would have given 0 stars if we could. We booked a tour but we were ONE minute late through no fault of our own. Fellow travellers told us they had been five minutes late for a tour with another company and had still been able to board. The company have less than sympathetic even though it was for. 70th birthday present. We would strongly advise against using this company as there are several others available and we wished we had done this.

Disappointed

The staff was great, ready to help when people were getting sick on the boat. A long boat ride with no good views. We did the glass bottom boat ride which you couldn't see much of anything. We did a semi submersible boat which had no air conditioning, so we had to go top side because it was so hot I almost passed out. The staff said the air conditioner was not working the day before and could not fix it because it was the Easter weekend/holiday. The broadwalk rainforest path was nice. Lots of benches to relax and take pictures of the water.

Well-planned excursion

Everything. The crew really took care of us. We went snorkeling, rode in a glass bottom boat and a semi-submersive submarine. Opt for the submarine if you only choose one. The best videos came from the submarine.

Amazing experience

Absolutely amazing experience highly recommend it for anybody totally loved it we went on the glass bottom boat and semi's immersible absolutely amazing experience thank you

Weather was bad ! Disappointing.

Weather was bad... boat ride to the island took an hour and was very rough- not their fault but people were throwing up. Tides were bad and you could not see anything snorkeling and barely see on the glass bottom boat. We tried and staff was nice but very disappointing.

Nice trip

Nice weather og verry helpfull staff and a beautiful island with great snorkling spots. We saw some very different corals comperred to other spots down the coast.

A great day out

No fault of the operator but the weather was not good. Strong winds with the added tidal surge due to the new moon, made for very murky water conditions. All fully understandable! Credit to Glenn and Caitlin who were brilliant ambassadors for the company especially when getting a load of completely unnecessary grief from customers about how to do their job. They handled the situation calmly and in a professional manner and all credit to them. Overall a great experience under the circumstances. Thank you.

Green island tour

Four stars, the crew where great!! Looking after everyone, the boat out to green island was very choppy so a few people were suffering from motion sickness, almost at every turn, The crew where there with ice cubes and paperbags looking after everyone. Taking the care of there passengers and putting our safty first... Thanks again guys was a great experience...

Disappointing

We were left disappointed. We sat on the top deck of the boat where there were no screens to watch or hear the information videos. The island is beautiful but it is just an island. We saw a few fish but it appears we were snorkeling in he wrong part. A little guidance would have helped.

Great trip! Would definitely recommend!

Small island, easy to walk and see everything. Buffet lunch was good. The semi sub was great as well. The beach was nice and well maintained. Staff were not only very nice but also very helpful. Not overcrowded. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for something to do and see in the area.

Good experience. Could be better with more guidance on where the reef is better to be seen while snorkeling.

Experience was ok. The reef part from the island was very much like a ok ok experience as if you really want to see the reef you would have to go deep inside the water far from the green island and the tides won’t let you. The semi submersible experience was good and worth it and much better than the snorkeling itself. I wouldn’t do the snorkeling again here and instead do the glass bottom boat as you would atleast have someone say things about reef and also escape from the salty sea water in your mouth.

Amazing Day Snorkelling!

It was a fun experience, especially snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef! Also saw the worlds biggest crocodile on the island. The description was not very clear regarding 2 departure times?

Excellent

First time snorkeling. Appreciate our instructor. Was an excellent experience. The catamaran staff too was very helpful.

GBR

The cruise to the island was enjoyable. The glass bottom boat was a little disappointing. The boat kept moving and it was less than 30 minutes of actual viewing. Maybe it was 30 minutes from boarding to de boarding, but that should be stated when you book. we didn’t see a lot of colorful coral or fish. The guide told us what to look for but stated she was not able to see it, so we were sure we were seeing such a crash course. if you aren’t comfortable with snorkeling, it was a long hot afternoon. In retrospect, we would recommend anyone who has not snorkel a lot to book a guide. We would a glass bottom, boat ride and field viewing time should be a stated..

Great Barrier Reef option

I think this is better than the Low Isle trip in Port Douglas which got cancelled for us coz of weather. This has less chance of being cancelled coz there’s more overseas tourists fr cruise ship. Price is reasonable with buffet lunch, options to snorkel or do semisubmarine and/or glassbottomboat if u wanna stay dry. The one we’re booking in Port Douglas we have to pay full price even if not doing other activities.

Suitale for all age...

Suitale for all age people. the snorkel equipment is not high quality . water easy goes in nose e area and no supply of defog liquid to keep snorkel glasses clear

A fun day trip on the Great Barrier Reef

While this isn't the best part of the Great Barrier Reef (you need to go further out to the outer reef for the most spectacular coral and fish), this was a wonderful day trip to a beautiful island. The lunch was delicious, and the half-submersible excursion was the highlight. The snorkeling was a bit disappointing, but that was only compared to the outer reef, which is mind-blowing.

Good tour to the island!

It was a wonderful experience! It was a nice trip out to Green Island. I went with my grandmother and did a few activities. We did the glass bottom boat and the semi submarine - both were enjoyable quick trips through the Reef and saw turtles, a shark and plenty of fish and corral. My grandmother was a little worried about the submarine with her claustrophobia, but she made it through. And when we didn't have those experiences, we got to explore the island's beaches and island at our own pace since we were there for a good amount of time. Only thing I personally wouldn't suggest is adding the buffet to the trip. It wasn't a large selection and you're fighting for table space during busy times. Not worth the amount in my opinion - you could probably find more enjoyable food that you'd specifically like and well worth your money on the islands resort food area. Otherwise, highly suggest this tour!

Great day :)

Extremely friendly staff, great amenities , comfortable seating , good aircons for the travel , access back to the boat the entire day incase you need a break from the sun or some lunch. Excellent bar selection and a great location and snorkeling gear :)

Good trip for the money

Seems touristy while you're on the boat, but people spread out around the island. Snorkeling was absolutely amazing. We saw everything we wanted to see and more.

An enjoyable and successful day trip to an island paradise.

We had a great day trip to Green Island yesterday on the Big Cat. The staff were attentive and approachable at all times. We are locals and went to the island for a specific reason. Jen and Caitlin, two of the marine biologists, went out of their way to help us achieve our aim and without them we'd have gone home disappointed. They are lovely young women and real assets to the company. The return voyage was quite rough and any passenger who felt sick was tended to quickly with care.

An awesome day

A fantastic day at Green Island. Beautiful environment and so relaxing. Thank you for the hospitality and commentary, very educational.

Wonderful experience

We enjoyed a lovely day on the big cat full day tour. The staff were friendly and helpful, the boat was comfortable and cool and we could go back to it whenever we needed. The glass bottom boat and snorkeling ( we did both) were both worth doing and the island itself was a delight. I would highly recommend this company and the day trip allowed us to fit everything in. Such a beautiful place, teaming with marine and bird life as well as the beauty of the reef.

Perfect way to end our trip

We really enjoyed our visit to Green Island. The lunch buffet on the big boat was delicious. We took the glass-bottomed boat tour and had a lot of fun seeing the amazing coral and sea life. We strolled around the island after and enjoyed the rainforest and all the beaches. I highly recommend this trip for anyone who wants a beautiful and relaxing visit to the Great Barrier Reef.

Fun in the sun w fish in water

Super. Just right 1hr 15min ride non bumpy on waves. Good Wi-Fi. Helpful staff. Snorkel beside walkway a ships length before the bend and the reef is there as had to figure out where the fish were. Weather was 70s-80s minor windy later in day. Short walk to the resort w on island bathrooms and food shops. Buffet lunch on ship was curry excellent. Ship left at 3:45p and fish feeding in back for 10min was cool and attracted a shark. Saw a few turtles and manta rays and plenty of fish. Shaded areas to right out of walkway less so to the left. Overall fun and weather was fabulous on day we left. Plenty of families on board

A bucket list tick

A fantastic day Left around 845 and returned by 5 pm Trip out was a little rough but the safety and comfort of guests on board was always out first We did the free glass boat - wow what a view Paid extra for semi submerged boat and again great view and knowledge of area from biologists We tried snorkeling with our own gear, fun but water so salty … Saw little fish, turtles, sea life and coral You can hire a locker for the day to hold your belongings while enjoying the beach activities A great day and a tick off the bucket list

Incredible experience

We paid a little extra when we were on the boat to do the safari snorkel experience. It was 100% worth it! We saw so much more of the reef and learned so much from the guide. Thank you!

Magical snorkelling

We travelled with quicksilver great adventures on a beautiful day. We have been to Green Island before and had an amazing time, so we wanted to go there again. The island did not disappoint, and this time, it was even better than the last. The trip was quicker, so we had more time on the island itself, which was nice. Snorkelling gear was included this time, which we picked up from the dive shop on the island - note unfortunately, flotation vests are not included and have to be hired, but I would recommend little snorkellers use them as snorkelling can be tiring. The reef to snorkel on is just off the beach, which is so wonderful, and we saw some amazing sea life, including colourful fish, small reef sharks, rays and turtles - in a word it was magical. We had time to walk around the entire island and snorkel in a couple of different spots and loved it. We took our own snacks and had an ice cream on the island, so you don't need to spend a lot of money when you get there. The trip itself seems expensive, but it is well and truly worth it. We will make this something we do every time we travel to Cairns.

Fun Day on Green Island

We enjoyed our excursion to Green Island, however we did have some initial difficulties. Three months ago we changed the date of our excursion. Viator forwarded this information to the tour company, Big Cat Green Island Reef Tours, but they neglected to change the booking in their system. We arrived to find we were it booked on the tour. After some investigation, the tour company found our booking, but we had some anxious time waiting. Also the glass-bottom boat tour and the Semi Sub tours are very short- 30-minutes.

Great snorkelling!

The boat trip was great, the semi-submersible & glass bottom boat trips are well worth doing. If you’re already familiar with snorkelling it’s very easy to hire some equipment on the island and spend a couple of hours snorkelling just off the beach or jetty. The highlight was the absolute gorgeous snorkelling location. The marine life was incredibly abundant. The only thing letting this trip down is the island is a little dated. The shops need some TLC and there are very few food options.

Good day trip from Cairns

We booked directly on Green Island Big Cat website. The tour was well organised. Must recommend the semi submersible tour as it was a great experience and we saw plenty of fish. The island itself is not too big, perfect for families. You can easily spend 4-5 hours on the island.

‘Turtley’ Awesome

Turtles! Fabulous day trip. Crew were great and enthusiastic. Onboard Marine biologist was informative and engaging. Our glass bottom boat skipper was cool and fun. We got to snorkel with 2 beautiful turtles. Fish life great. Really great day. Well worth it.

Great time

The crew on the reef rocket were wonderful. Trip over was a bit bumpy due to wind and the weather. The island was good and the glass bottom boat trip was a laugh. The lasy operating the boat was excellent. Trip back was a lot smoother. We had a wonderful day.

Full Day trip

Loved the reef and the island was beautiful! Enjoyed learning about the history, the reef and the island from the marine biologists. The trip over and back was great, staff are very friendly and helpful. Plenty of time to explore and relax. Had a great day

Great day out for the whole family!

Very happy with our trip! The boat ride out was pretty rocky, but that's out of their control. Snorkeling was super fun, and the glass bottom boat tour was great, especially with the tour guide we had. The buffet lunch had a great selection, and we were all very pleased with the whole day. Thanks for a great experience!!

Green Island a surprising find!!

The combination of the glass bottom boat and the semi-submersible tours was incredible. Extremely knowledgeable and highly skilled operators; not only did I learn more than the full day 3 snorkel dives I had done the day before, but the quality and variety of the corals seen was much higher. You need to make it clear the Green Island is not a second-best option. Far and away the best tour of my time in Cairnes.

Absolutely recommend, especially for young families

We wanted a reef experience that was also suitable for an 11 month old baby and we’re so pleased we did the Big Cat Green Island trip! We had a fantastic day out, with elements to please everyone. The glass bottom boat tour was fantastic to get a sense of the reef without getting wet, with an entertaining guide, my husband LOVED the snorkel safari (honestly didn’t stop talking about it for days 😂), my toddler loved the shallow beach at the island (and being able to come back to the air conditioned catamaran for a nap) and I enjoyed a good explore around the island and reef. Oh and we all enjoyed our buffet lunch and the staff were great! We brought a travel pram with us and it was perfect for boardwalks around the island and was manageable on the boat, although we did have to carry it up and down flights of steps due to the changing tide (we were very pleased that our pram is conveniently small!). Would 100% do the trip again and absolutely recommend it to families.

Must do

1. Semi sub and 2. glass bottom Green island lovely Lovely relaxing and have great day for it Love to do again