The day tour to Fitzroy Island was very fun. We took an Uber taxi to the port of Cairns, where we arrived at 7:45. Check-in went smoothly, so we were well on time. We had a nice spot on the upper deck. It was a beautiful boat trip. After arriving, we will go snorkeling ourselves, after finding out where it is best. We saw beautifully colored coral, many fish, and even a sea turtle. The glass-bottom boat trip was not very special after that. Then we got a nice lunch pack: wrap with chicken, sandwich with cheese and ham, salad and tomato, an apple and another bottle of ice-cold water. After that, we snorkeled for another hour, saw another sea turtle, and I also saw a blacktip reef shark, but the water was a bit less clear than in the morning! Recommended, this trip. We had a very nice day!
Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns
+4 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 7h 30min
- Price from
- $76 / person
- Location
- Cairns and the Tropical North
- Rating
- 4.2 / 5 · 711 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 100
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Fitzroy Island Adventures
- Meeting point
- Please meet us at the vessel at Marlin Wharf as check-in will be there, check in at 8:00am, the boat will depart at 8.30am sharp. Half day customers check in from 10.20am, the boat will depart at 10.45am sharp.Contact operator if boarding pass is not received by 5pm day prior to travel.
Description
Discover Fitzroy Island on a day trip from Cairns. Enjoy a scenic ferry ride and explore the many hiking trails. Admire the marine life native to the coral reef as you snorkel or observe from a glass-bottom boat. Choose from a range of packages, including transfers for you to explore on your own, or a package including snorkel or glass-bottom boat activities. Explore the Island's 339 hectares of lush rainforest that covers 94 percent of the island and is protected and managed as a National Park. Walking trails are suitable for all levels of fitness, allowing you to explore areas of the island at your leisure. The fast catamaran departs from the Marlin Marina, with check-in directly on the vessel. Cruise south along the calm waters of the coastline to reach Fitzroy Island in just 45 minutes, giving you up to 7 hours to explore the tropical island.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:30 AM and 10:45 AM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 11
- Adult (ages 16+)
- $76
- Child (ages 4–15)
- $44
- Infant (ages 0–3)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
What's included
Included
Glass-bottom boat tour (if option selected)
Use of stinger suit (if option selected)
Use of snorkel gear (if option selected)
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
All Fees and Taxes
Picnic lunch - 20 USD
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.2
711 reviews
How it compares in Cairns & the Tropical North
- No. 20 by number of reviews among 241 tours in Cairns & the Tropical North
- Starting price $76 is 59% below the typical $188 for tours of similar length in Cairns & the Tropical North
Excurgo comparison of 241 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please bring sandals/reef shoes as beach is covered in old coral
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns take?
Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns lasts about 7h 30min.
How much does Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns cost?
Prices start at $76 per person for this Cairns and the Tropical North experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM and 10:45 AM.
How much does Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns cost for children?
Children aged 4–15 pay from $44, adults from $76. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please meet us at the vessel at Marlin Wharf as check-in will be there, check in at 8:00am, the boat will depart at 8.30am sharp. Half day customers check in from 10.20am, the boat will depart at 10.45am sharp. Contact operator if boarding pass is not received by 5pm day prior to travel. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 100 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.2 out of 5 across 711 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Fitzroy Island Adventures.
Reviews(711)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
9
Fun day on Fitzroy Island!
D
Great island for snorkeling
Fitzroy island is a dream. If you are a beginner in snorkeling this is the best place. So much too see and great ocean to explore. We saw fishes, rays and turtles! However you are not able to visit the turtle sanctuary as this is only for guests at the fitzroy hotel.
N
Lovely Day
A beautiful way to spend the day. We walked to the lighthouse and my husband continued to the summit. We enjoyed the trek to Nudey Beach and relaxed and swam and ended the day with a cocktail overlooking the ocean. I think half day would not have been enough for us and we didn't even do any excursions.
Y
Perfect island for snorkelling and relaxing
The team at Reef Unlimited is knowledgeable, friendly and flexible. A special thank you to Aly for accepting me on the snorkelling tour just 5 minutes before departure! What a great experience! It was breathtakingly beautiful. Even from the beach, the underwater scenery is fabulous. And thank you, Matilda, for your always friendly and smiley way of handling every situation. Thank you, team, for a wonderful day! If you’re visiting Fitzroy Island, go with Reef Unlimited!
M
Paradise
So our trip was a ferry ride to the island and back. Great service from the boat crew. Takes about 45min each way , a bit bumpy, also beautiful views of the coastline. The island itself is gorgeous!
N
Half day waste of time
Everyone was confused about pier 10 as it wasn’t numbered. There is no seating on the wharf for elderly or impaired persons. The boat was 45 mins or so LATE. On the half day tour this meant we could not explore the island past welcome bay and bistro to purchase lunch. Very disappointed that we didn’t have enough time to see Nudey beach. The general store had stuff all compared to what I’d read. You need footwear for the beach as it is all coral. The water was beautiful shades of green and blues, and clear.the water temp was quite coolish. The meals available were great, and there was a bar. The experience that myself and friends were hoping to have did not eventuate. Operator really needs to pull their socks up especially for the half day tours
N
Not user friendly beach
The tour company wasn't as informative as green island company we went with. Also no one told us that Fitzroy is all coral no sand you need reef shoes, no where to really sit or sunbake. The food place there will not let you sit there unless you buy form them. Sadly we had a horrible weather so not a nice beach day for our group. Nuddy beach, was not a easy walk over, lots of rocks to climb on and over to get there, was pretty and the water was blue. We probably would not recommend going to Fitzroy, there is 1000 reef island.
S
Glorious snorkelling/ hiking day out
We did the transfer only option and hired a snorkel and wet suits from the dive shop when we arrived on Fitzroy island. We swam about 20ms off the beach and saw so many fish I've never seen before and swam with 3 turtles right off the beach. Make sure you check the tides! But amazing!! Nice to see the GBR so alive. Bring your go pro if you have one!
H
Fitzroy Island day trip
Short ferry ride of around 45 minutes to the island from Cairns Marina, the island is beautiful with nice coral beaches, if going to Nudey beach this is quite strenuous if you are elderly or not fit as you need to go up and down some hills and over some boulders, take food and water with you as there are no facilities once at Nudey beach.
S
Lovely island, but the snorkelling is sub par
The boat ride over is short and not too rough. The island is lovely, especially Nudey beach. Our disappointment was with the guided snorkelling tour with a marine biologist. There was absolutely nothing to see on the trip as the water was murky and there was not much coral. Spent nearly $300 on the guided experience but it was very underwhelming. Guided tours on the outer reef are cheaper and so much better. Wish the operators are more honest about what the guided experience offers
Compare similar tours in Cairns and the Tropical North
- Lowest price: Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns — $76
- Best rated: Full Day Premium Tour to Sunlover Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island — 3.9 (49 reviews)
- Shortest: Afternoon Fitzroy Island Escape – Return Ferry Included — 4h 30min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns | 7h 30min | 4.2 (711) | $76 | |
 Fitzroy and Green Island From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef | 8h 30min | 3.8 (17) | $139 | View |
 Half Day Morning Adventure - Fitzroy Island Return Ferry Included | 5 hours | 4.1 (15) | $76 | View |
 Full Day Premium Tour to Sunlover Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island | 9 hours | 3.9 (49) | $239 | View |
 Fitzroy Island Day Trip 11am to 5pm Ferry INC Snorkel Equipment | 7 hours | 4.0 (8) | $98 | View |
 Afternoon Fitzroy Island Escape – Return Ferry Included | 4h 30min | 3.9 (18) | $76 | View |
 Green Island Day Trip from Cairns | 8 hours | 4.1 (966) | $86 | View |
from$76
4.2(711) Free cancellation