Welcome to Green Island
Green Island is located twenty-seven kilometres south-east of Cairns, with transfers from Cairns taking between 40-60 minutes. Half and full day tours leave from the Cairns Reef Fleet terminal daily, returning in the afternoon.
Commercial helicopter and seaplane services are also available to and from the island.
There are no camping facilities on Green Island, but overnight visitors can stay at the luxury Green Island Resort, the only five star property in Tropical North Queensland located on a rainforest covered Coral Cay.
Being so easily accessible, Green Island is one of the most popular destinations on the Great Barrier Reef for visitors coming to Cairns and Far North Queensland. Green Island and the surrounding coral reef are a protected World Heritage Site, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
There are so many activities on offer at Green Island. These include snorkelling, swimming, and scuba diving, parasailing or exploring the island further at your own pace by the self-guided island walk. If you are unable to swim or have small children, you can view the reef by glass bottom boat, semi submarine or underwater observatory at the jetty. Another option is taking a scenic sea plane or reef helicopter ride. 
If you want a less active day, perhaps visit the Marineland Melanesia which is home to Cassius the largest Crocodile ever captured. Shopping is also an option at the island resort shop and boutiques, or spoil yourself at the Green Island Resort Spa.
Visiting Green Island
Green Island is accessible by private boat or commercial ferry that departs daily from the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.
Travel time to the island varies between 40 and 60 minutes depending if you are sailing or travelling by high speed ferry. Booking in advance is recommended and can be made online. Confirming your reservation 24 hours prior to departure is advised.
History of Green Island
Green Island is actually a 12 hectare coral cay that is over 6000 years old. A coral cay is a sandy island formed on the surface of the coral reef over thousands of years. Green Island was the result of the ocean currents build-up of sand and coral rubble deposited on the calm side of the platform reef. 
Green Island became a national park in 1937, a marine park in 1974 and protected as part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in 1981.
The Great Barrier Reef has over 400 types of corals and 1,500 species of fish. It is common for visitors to Green Island to swim only metres away from Green and Hawksbill turtles just off the beach, which are endangered species.
The island also has a wide diversity of bird and insect life which live inside the tropical vine forest that covers the island.
The only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef that is covered in rainforest!
The Aboriginal people, the Gungandi people know the island as Wunyami. They still maintain a close connection to the island and reef which were used as an initiation ground for young men in the past.
Day Tours Options to Green Island
There are a number of different day tour options for visiting Green Island. These include half or full day tours, travelling by high speed ferry, sailing on a 63 foot schooner and even flying by seaplane or helicopter to Green Island and cruising back to Cairns in the afternoon.
Other options not included in tours can still be organised once at Green Island. These include lunch, snorkel hire, glass bottom boat or semi-submarine tours, Sea walker, introductory or certified dives, parasailing, underwater observatory, entry to Marine Melanesia, canoe, windsurf and ski hire.
Great Adventures Green Island Eco Adventure - Choice of three departure and return times daily by high speed ferry with the option of a full or half day tour.
Tour includes tea & coffee, glass bottom boat tour or snorkelling equipment, use of visitor facilities which includes entry into the Green Island Resort swimming pool. Prices start from $73 per Adult.
Great Adventures Green Island Discovery – Full day tour at Green Island travelling by fast catamaran, allowing 5 hours on the Island. Tour includes tea & coffee, glass bottom boat tour, snorkelling equipment, use of visitor facilities including Green Island Resort swimming pool. Prices start from $90 per Adult.
Great Adventures Green Island and Outer Barrier Reef tour – Two hours at Green Island and then 3 hours at Norman Reef Pontoon on the Outer Barrier Reef.
Tour includes tea & coffee, semi-submersible tour, snorkelling equipment, underwater observatory at Norman Reef Pontoon and a buffet lunch.
Prices start from $149 per Adult.
Big Cat – Green Island half and full day tours from $73 per Adult travelling by high speed ferry. Combo tours combining Skyrail, Rafting, Hot Air Ballooning and a half day tour at Green Island are available.
Ocean Free – Sailing option to Green Island onboard a 63 foot schooner from $119 per Adult. Ocean Free takes a maximum 35 passengers with a private mooring 1km off of Green Island. Spend your day snorkelling, swimming or diving directly off the boat and/or Green Island. Tour includes morning tea, snorkelling equipment and tour, wetsuit use, fish feeding, tropical fruit & cheese platter with a glass of wine on your journey home.
Sea Planes and Helicopter – Fly one or both ways to Green Island and cruise back to Cairns by high speed ferry. The 10-15 minute sea plane or helicopter flight to Green Island includes 2 or 4 hours on the island, BBQ lunch and semi-submarine tour. Prices start at $238 per Adult.
Things to do at Green Island
Green Island Boardwalk
The Green Island Boardwalk is a leisurely 1.3km return taking less than an hour. The boardwalk access takes you through the national park forest to the south-east beach. A self-guided island walk brochure is available from the information centre for visitors to explore Green Island at their own pace.
Green Island Self-Guided Eco Walk
A map available from the information centre will point you in the right direction to start your self-guided Eco Walk. This trail guides you to numbered locations that explore the history of the island and informative facts about some of the 126 native species of plant life on Green Island.
The walk has been voted one of Queensland’s top bushwalks in the state giving people the opportunity to spot some of the 28 species of forest birds and 35 species of seabirds that live on the Island. The Eco walk takes less than one hour and the map is available in six different languages.
Swimming and Snorkelling
A patrolled swimming area is provided on the northern side of the island near the beach hire hut. Snorkelling equipment is recommended to fully experience the beauty of the coral reef only metres off the beach.
Entering the water is at your own risk and having a snorkelling buddy is recommended.
Sea Walker
For a unique experience, you can walk on the bottom of the ocean without even getting your hair wet! It is the perfect opportunity for people who cannot swim to be amongst the coral and fish life of the Great Barrier Reef.
The easy to use equipment is a safe and natural experience walking on the sea floor that takes about 45-55 minutes and is fully guided. Adult price is $140.
Beach Hire
Hire of water sports equipment such as canoes and windsurfers, lockers, towels and umbrellas are available through the resort and beach hire hut.
Underwater Observatory
Located at the Green Island jetty is the world’s first underwater observatory. Converted from a diving chamber used during World War 1, the observatory provides a unique reef experience.
Adult admission is $10, children free with an accompanying adult.
Marineland Melanesia
Built in the 1960’s, Marineland Melanesia is the home to over 50 crocodiles, marine aquariums with saltwater coral, fish, and giant marine turtles.
The main attraction is Cassius, the largest crocodile ever caught in Australia, who is over 100 years old.
You also have the option to get your picture taken holding a baby crocodile, view over 100 species of marine life in the aquariums, or see the large collection of primitive art and marine artifacts.
Marineland Melanesia is located just a short walk from the jetty with admission $16.50 for Adults and $7.50 for Children (5-14).
Resort Shops and Cafes
Green Island offers a wide range of shops that sell souvenirs, gifts, clothing and swimwear.
Some of the shops and cafes on Green Island include a dive shop, Island Boutique, Resort Spa, Sandwich bar, Canopy Grill, Ice-cream shop, poolside bar and award-winning Emeralds restaurant.
Boating and fishing
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide safe anchorage on Green Island for private vessels up to 25m by public mooring near the island. Anchoring within 50m of a mooring is not allowed in Locality 3 of the Cairns Area Plan of Management.
Motorised water sports are not allowed around Green Island.
Green Island Resort
Green Island luxury Resort is the only five star Resort in North Queensland located on a tropical rainforest coral cay. The Eco-friendly Resort only a short ferry ride from Cairns, is set amongst lush tropical rainforest and beautiful coral beaches metres from the Great Barrier Reef.
The Resort has 46 luxury suites built amongst the trees with minimal vegetation clearing. Green Island Resort has been awarded Advanced Ecotourism Certification for preservation and their commitment to the island’s surrounding rainforest and reef, and the management of this eco-sensitive resort.
The Green Island Resort is secluded from the day visitor facilities on the Island. The resort minimises energy and water use and conversation practices that include an extensive recycling program.
The 45 minute walk around Green Island is a popular choice for resort guests. The Eco-walk and walking around the Island are the best way to experience the magic that lives amongst Green Island including the native plant life, the diversity of birds, insects and other wildlife that make Green Island home.
Click here for more info on Green island Resort
Camping
Camping is not allowed on Green Island. camping is available on nearby Fitzroy Island
Other Info on Green Island
Climate and Weather
Green Island National Park in Far North Queensland is in a tropical climate. During the wet season in Cairns, the daytime temperatures from October to March averages 30°C with high humidity and rainfall. The most popular time to visit the region is in the dry season from April to September, when days are cooler and less humid.
What to bring for a day at Green Island
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
For more info on other tropical islands on the Great Barrier Reef visit:
Great Barrier Reef Info.com
Wheelchair Accessibility
Boardwalks and tracks throughout the Green Island National Park and Green Island Resort area are wheelchair and stroller accessible.