Best of Fitzroy Island Day Tour
Description
Fitzroy Island awaits, just 55 minutes away. There's no better way to spend the day, than relaxing in paradise. "Best of Island" includes return boat transfers + picnic lunch box, glass bottom boat tour & snorkelling equipment hire.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A Day in Paradise + all the Essential Inclusions. Snorkel directly from one of the beaches or experience the impressive underwater world from a different perspective on the glass-bottom boat. Take a break in the middle of the day and relax at your favourite spot to enjoy your picnic lunch box. There's plenty of time for a self-guided walk along the diverse National Park trails. Optional activities to enhance your experience include a kayak tour, a visit to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, or guided nature walks.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(13)
Fitzroy Island is so beautiful! I had the best time snorkelling here but I could not find any turtles by myself. I approached this crew, I think his name is Joelle, and he pointed out the likeliest spot where I could find them. I took his advise and bam. saw 3 turtles, a reef shark and two stingrays. Joelle if you're seeing this, you are an absolute legend. The downside though, the lunch box is a disappointment. Anyway, I would recommend coming here for snorkelling and bringing your own lunch.
Hi Ethan, thanks for the great review — sounds like an epic day in the water. We’re stoked you loved snorkelling at Fitzroy Island, and what a result spotting turtles, a reef shark and stingrays. Huge shout-out to Joelle — knowing where to look and when to be patient can make all the difference, and he’ll absolutely love being called a legend. We appreciate the honest feedback on the lunch box as well. Fitzroy has some great spots to relax, and bringing your own lunch is always a solid option for guests who want more flexibility. Thanks again for travelling with the Sunlover crew and for the recommendation.
We did the snorkelling, lunch, glass bottom boat and turtle visit. The water was rather choppy so be careful when snorkelling as there are no lifeguards present, as we are not brilliant swimmers this made us cut our snorkelling time much shorter. The glass bottom boat was disappointing as we are over the reef for just a few minutes. By the time you travel to and from the reef in your 30min slot, the time there is very limited. Plus it started to rain, this immediately caused the staff to return straight back to the main boat. Lunch was very nice and plentiful. Turtle rehabilitation visit was nice, only one turtle there during our visit. It all was a bit rushed to fit all 3 options in. Enjoyed the day.
Hi Helen, Thanks for taking the time to share your experience — glad to hear you still enjoyed the day overall, even with the choppy conditions and the quick rain change. Just to clarify the snorkelling side of things: Fitzroy Island doesn’t have lifeguards on the beach at any time. The area is far too large to set up a dedicated lookout patrol, and the shoreline is shared by multiple operators and the resort, which means no single organisation can take responsibility for beach-based supervision. This is why we strongly recommend adding a guided snorkel tour, especially for guests who aren’t totally confident in the water. It gives you extra support and lets the crew keep a much closer eye on you in open-water conditions. With the glass bottom boat, the 30-minute session does include the travel time to and from the reef site. When the rain rolled in, the skipper made the call to head back early for safety — understandable but it does make the experience feel shorter. Great to hear lunch hit the spot, and that you enjoyed the visit to the Turtle Rehab Centre. The number of turtles varies depending on recent rescues and releases, so sometimes there's only one in care. It can feel a little rushed when trying to fit all three activities in one day, so if you return, you might enjoy taking things at a slower pace. Thanks again for the feedback — and for spending a day with us on Fitzroy.
Our family trip to Fitzroy Island with Sunlover Reef Cruises turned into a distressing experience. After a minor safety concern with our child (which we addressed immediately), the captain continued to make unnecessary remarks and later denied us boarding for the return trip—leaving us stranded on the island with no phone service or transport. Despite our efforts to resolve the situation calmly, we were treated with hostility. The company later responded with a dismissive email blaming us and offering no apology or resolution. I do not recommend this company to families or anyone expecting respectful service.
Thank you for your review. We would like to clarify the circumstances for future travellers. At Sunlover Reef Cruises, the safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority. Our vessels operate under strict maritime regulations and our Conditions of Passage, which empower the Master (Captain) to make final decisions if behaviour or circumstances compromise safety. In this case, boarding for the return transfer was refused after repeated conduct that placed both a child and other passengers at risk. This decision was not taken lightly. The wellbeing of all guests must come first, and our crew have a responsibility to uphold safety standards for everyone onboard. It is important to note that guests are never “stranded.” When boarding is refused, alternative arrangements are facilitated to ensure a safe return to Cairns. Crew remain in contact until those arrangements are in place. We appreciate that this situation has been described as unfriendly, but we must emphasise that our team come to work each day with passion and professionalism. Their first responsibility is to provide a safe and enjoyable Great Barrier Reef experience, and they are not permitted to allow unsafe behaviour or abuse of crew to go unchecked. We regret that your experience was not the one you hoped for, but for the vast majority of families and visitors who travel with Sunlover Reef Cruises, the day is a positive, memorable introduction to Fitzroy Island and the Great Barrier Reef.
Fitzroy island is absolutely worth visiting, but I do NOT recommend this excursion if you are interested in also exploring the island (hiking to the summit and walking to prettiest beach). I’ve done many similar experiences here in Australia and this is the only one I found lacking. The two stars come from providing transportation and snorkeling equipment. The negative review was earned by poor communication, shortened hours on the island, and a poor lunch. -One month prior to the booking date, the company sent out a notification that the trip was shortened by two hours (with no reduced cost to compensate for the loss). Initially we didn’t think this would be a problem, but we only had time to hike to the summit, have a snack and drink at the bar, and spend a few minutes putting toes on the water at Nudey Beach (the pretty beach). We did not have time to do the glass bottom boat, snorkel in the water, or even swim at the beach). -<24 hours prior to the booking date, the company sent out a notification that there would no longer be a sit down buffet but a large boxed lunch given when you get off the boat (with no reduced cost to compensate for the loss). The box lunch included a ham and lettuce wrap with mayonnaise. This particular condiment is not meant to be left out in the sun, so we ended up eating earlier than we would have liked to avoid food poisoning. Additionally there were chicken wings, cup of melons, cup of something that looked like a potato salad, and a muffin. (We ended up paying to eat on the island.) Something to note: For those requiring prescription goggles, this was the only boat in my experience that charged for them. Additionally you are in charge of carrying EVERYTHING the whole time: snorkels, fins, life jackets, wetsuits, and lunch. After hiking we discovered the island has lockers you can pay for between the general store and restaurant, which wasn’t advertised.
Do not use this tour company. They are not organized at all. Our tour was canceled, rescheduled, canceled again and then rescheduled for the original day we booked, and an hour later they canceled our buffet lunch on Fitzroy Island. We were welcome to arrange our on lunch, they said. We were given three different boarding times, none were correct. All the snorkel mouthpieces had a brown ring around it. Yuk! There was a snorkel mouthpiece on the deck, that was stepped on several times and when I commented that was probably why there was a brown ring around the mouthpiece, she thought that was funny and laughed. They obviously don’t sanitize them. The swim fins looked like they got caught up in the boats propeller. There are a dozen other tour companies to choose from, use any one but this one…
Check that your wet suit will fit before leaving the dock! You can snorkel straight off the beach 🐟🪸
Fitzroy Island was well worth a visit. Our tour included a return boat ride to the island. Glass bottom bottom ride, use of snorkeling equipment and buffet lunch. My highlight was snorkeling as it was something I had wanted to try. My wife and I made sure to walk through to Nudey beach which was one of my favourite beaches from our time in Australia. The beach is made up of the coral and the sea beautiful. The buffet lunch was very nice. We saw a monitor lizard and many beautiful fish on the island. I gave the tour 4 stars because the boat over and back was very busy because it also includes those that are going on a diving tour to the reef so we didn't feel too comfortable in the busy seating area - we found a quieter spot on the return ride.
Good trip over to Fitzroy Island with friendly staff who ensure you know all the ins and outs before you arrive. Opted to try out snorkelling (first time), unfortunately was stung by a blue bottle on my face, even though I had the full stinger suit on. The staff were quick to ensure I received first aid but it certainly put a damper on the day. We were then stuck lugging our snorkel gear around (flippers, suit, life jacket, goggles and snorkel) which stopped us from going on a walk to one of the rated beaches around. I definitely wasn’t going back into the water. The lunch at the resort was fantastic! Buffet style with plenty of fresh options. Fabulous views as well. Had a couple of drinks at the bar nearby and enjoyed the short glass bottom boat tour. It was a good day overall.
I booked based on the timeframe of the tour but immediately received a message the tour was pushed by an hour. Instructions were to bring confirmation email, however, at check-in they required photo ID at the request of Viator. I had not brought my passport so with less than 15min for check-in I was required to go back to my hotel and get additional documents. That should have been provided in the initial instructions. Barely made it. And then on the return we were delayed waiting on other boats to load passengers so we were even later getting back causing additional scheduling conflicts. Not much to do overall at the island, was too long.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We regret that your day did not meet expectations and would like to clarify a few points for future travellers. Photo ID is required for check-in when booking through certain third-party agents such as Viator. This condition comes from the agent, not Sunlover Reef Cruises directly. We recommend all guests bring ID to the Reef Fleet Terminal to avoid delays. Your feedback will be passed on so that booking instructions are made clearer at the time of purchase. With respect to scheduling: our Fitzroy Island tours occasionally experience minor adjustments to departure or return times. This can happen if vessels are waiting on safe berthing clearance at the Reef Fleet Terminal, where multiple reef operators share the wharf. While we aim to run to schedule, passenger safety and smooth harbour operations must come first. The Best of Fitzroy Island Day Tour provides several hours to explore the island at your own pace, with inclusions such as snorkel equipment, lunch, and access to walking tracks and beaches. We understand that this flexible format may feel lengthy to some travellers, while others enjoy the time to swim, hike to the summit, or relax on the beach. We are sorry that your day felt more stressful than anticipated, and we thank you for highlighting areas where we can improve communication around ID requirements and timing expectations.
It was a great experience. Absolutely beautiful location and good organization. Definitely recommend snorkelling on the island.
Thanks for the great feedback — we’re really glad you enjoyed your day. Fitzroy Island really is a special spot, and it’s great to hear the organisation and snorkelling experience hit the mark. Appreciate the recommendation and thanks for choosing Sunlover Reef Cruises. We’d love to welcome you back anytime.
