Quick Answers
Half day or full day?
A full day gives about six to seven hours on the island, enough for snorkelling, a meal and the rainforest walk. A half day gives about three to four hours and suits a shorter visit or a day combined with another Cairns activity.
What can I add on at the island?
Glass bottom boat tours, introductory or certified scuba diving, the Seawalker helmet walk, scenic helicopter flights and kayak hire. These can be booked with your tour package or at the island’s activity desk.
Do I need to book ahead?
Yes in peak season, around June to October and the January school holidays, when tours can fill weeks ahead.
“Every visit to Green Island is a tour — it just happens to be one you remember for years.”
Green Island Tours: Day Trips, Activities, and Add-Ons
Green Island tours offer one of the most varied and accessible reef experiences in Australia. From the standard day tour package to specialist activities like Seawalker, scuba diving, helicopter flights, and glass bottom boat rides, the range of options means that visitors with different interests, abilities, and budgets all find something that suits them. This page provides an overview of what is available and how to put together the perfect Green Island visit.
Day Tour Packages
The standard Green Island day tour includes return ferry from Cairns and island access. Some tours also include snorkel gear, lunch or a glass bottom boat tour, so check each tour’s inclusions before you book. Most visitors find this the ideal starting point, with the option to add further activities on arrival. Full-day packages provide the most time on the island; half-day options suit visitors who want a shorter reef experience or are combining Green Island with another Cairns activity on the same day.
Activity Add-Ons
Available activities at Green Island include glass bottom boat tours, introductory scuba diving, certified diving, Seawalker underwater helmet walks, scenic helicopter flights, and kayak hire. Each of these can be booked as part of a tour package or added on arrival at the island’s activity desk. Glass bottom boat and scuba are the most popular add-ons; helicopter flights provide the most dramatic additional experience for guests who want something extraordinary.
Overnight Tours
Green Island Resort accommodates overnight guests in resort rooms and suites. Staying overnight transforms the visit entirely, the afternoon departure of day visitors leaves the island in a remarkable silence, and the morning reef before the day crowd arrives is among the most peaceful and memorable experiences the island offers. Resort packages typically include ferry transfers, accommodation, and meals, with reef activities bookable separately.
Green Island Day Tours from Cairns: Departure Times
Boats to Green Island depart from the Marlin Marina in central Cairns, with check-in and travel desks for some operators inside the nearby Reef Fleet Terminal. Morning departures typically leave between 8:30 and 9:30am, a midday service is also available, and an afternoon service suits guests doing a half-day visit. Half-day tours give you roughly three to four hours on the island; full-day tours depart in the morning and return late afternoon, allowing six to seven hours ashore — enough time for several reef activities, a meal and an unhurried walk through the rainforest trail.
See full Green Island ferry times and how to get there from Cairns →
Booking Your Green Island Day Tour
Booking in advance is recommended during peak season, roughly June to October, plus the January school holidays, when day tours can fill weeks ahead. Most operators offer flexible cancellation policies, so check the terms when you book online. Booking ahead also lets you lock in your preferred departure time and secure activities with limited daily capacity, such as scuba diving and helicopter flights.
Compare Green Island day trip departures and book online →
Getting the Most from Your Day Tour
Arriving at the terminal early gives you time to collect equipment, board comfortably and get a head start on the reef before the bulk of day visitors arrive. Mornings are generally best for snorkelling, with calmer water and better visibility. Deciding which add-ons you want before you arrive — and knowing the glass bottom boat departure times, lets you use the day efficiently and makes sure you do not miss anything you had been looking forward to.
A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of Green Island tours are available?
Options range from half-day and full-day trips to overnight stays, plus activity add-ons such as snorkelling, glass bottom boat, diving and the Seawalker helmet walk. Different operators package these in different ways, so you can choose a trip that matches your time and interests.
Where do Green Island tours depart from?
All boats depart from the Marlin Marina in Cairns. Some operators run a check-in or travel desk inside the nearby Reef Fleet Terminal, where you collect boarding passes before walking to the marina. Check your operator’s specific check-in point and time on your ticket.
What is usually included in a Green Island day tour?
Most day tours include return boat transfers and access to the island, and many bundle in some island activities or facilities. Exact inclusions such as snorkel gear, lunch or glass bottom boat tours vary by operator and package, so confirm what’s covered when you book.
How long does it take to get to Green Island by boat?
The boat trip from Cairns to Green Island is short, generally under an hour depending on the vessel. Fast catamarans are quicker, while some tours take a more leisurely pace. The exact crossing time depends on your chosen operator and conditions.
Can I do a Green Island tour as a day trip, or should I stay overnight?
A day trip is plenty to enjoy the beach, reef and rainforest, and it’s the most popular choice. An overnight stay at the island resort suits those who want a quieter, more relaxed experience with early mornings and late afternoons on the island. Both are readily available.
What time do Green Island day tours depart from Cairns?
Boats depart from the Marlin Marina in Cairns, with morning departures typically leaving between 8:30 and 9:30am, plus a midday service and an afternoon service for half-day visits. Some operators check you in at the nearby Reef Fleet Terminal, so confirm your check-in point and time with your operator.
Do I need to book a Green Island day tour in advance?
Booking in advance is recommended, especially in peak season from around June to October and during the January school holidays, when tours can fill weeks ahead. Booking early secures your preferred departure time and lets you compare inclusions across packages.
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.
