Quick Answers
What is Visit Green Island?
A travel guide to Green Island, part of the Hot Getaways network of guides to Queensland’s natural destinations. We help you plan your day and choose the experiences that suit you.
What is Green Island?
A coral cay about 27 kilometres off Cairns, inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with a rainforest at its centre and a fringing reef right at the shore.
Where should I start planning?
Decide between a day trip or an overnight stay, choose a tour that matches what you want to do, and check what it includes.
“Green Island is one of those rare destinations that is exactly as good as everyone says — and then a little better.”
About Visit Green Island
Visit Green Island is a travel guide created for people who want to make the most of their time on one of Australia’s most beautiful coral cay islands — Green Island, on the Great Barrier Reef, 27 kilometres from Cairns.
Whether you are planning your first reef experience, deciding between a glass bottom boat and snorkelling, looking for the best time to visit, or wanting to know what to pack and where to eat — we are here to help you plan a day that leaves you wanting to come back.
What We Believe
We believe that travel matters. That the reef is one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. That every visitor who experiences it with genuine care and curiosity becomes, in their own small way, part of its protection.
Green Island is a special place — one of the few destinations in the world where you step off a ferry and find yourself surrounded by a World Heritage-listed reef, tropical fish, a coral beach, and a forest that has been growing quietly on this sandbar for thousands of years.
We are part of the Hot Getaways network — a family of travel guides for Queensland’s greatest natural destinations. Our mission is simple: help people find experiences that are genuinely right for them, and care enough about those places to encourage responsible, respectful visits that contribute to their long-term protection.
A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Green Island?
Green Island is a coral cay off the coast of Cairns in North Queensland, sitting within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Unusually, it has its own rainforest at its centre and a fringing reef right at the shore, combining rainforest, reef and beach in one small, accessible island.
How far is Green Island from Cairns?
Green Island lies a short distance offshore from Cairns, reachable by a boat trip that generally takes under an hour depending on the vessel. This proximity makes it one of the easiest parts of the Great Barrier Reef to visit on a day trip.
What can I do on Green Island?
Popular activities include snorkelling straight off the beach, glass bottom boat and semi-submersible reef tours, walking the rainforest trail, relaxing on the beach, and visiting attractions such as Marineland Melanesia. There are also watersports, diving, and scenic flights depending on operators.
Is Green Island suitable for a family visit?
Yes. The calm shallow beach, short flat walking tracks and range of gentle activities make it very family-friendly. It suits everyone from young children to older visitors, though supervision near the water is always important.
What is the best way to plan a visit to Green Island?
Decide whether you want a day trip or an overnight stay, choose a tour or ferry that matches your interests, and check what’s included such as activities and gear. It’s also worth noting the season for weather and stinger advice. Our other pages cover getting there, what to pack and what to do in more detail.
Travel Kindly
At Hot Getaways, care is our compass — and a little kindness makes every journey better. When you visit Green Island, we gently ask you to:
- Protect the reef — wear reef-safe sunscreen and never touch or stand on the coral.
- Respect the wildlife — admire the turtles, seabirds and marine life from a distance, and take your rubbish home with you.
- Support local — choosing local operators, cafés and guides helps this beautiful place thrive.
- Honour Country — we travel on the traditional lands and sea Country of Australia’s First Peoples, with gratitude and respect to the Traditional Custodians past and present.
- Be kind to each other — a smile, a little patience and a helping hand make the day lovelier for everyone.
Small acts of care add up to something wonderful. Thank you for travelling kindly.
