A half-day return ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island, the quickest way to get to the island, with up to 2 hours ashore.
Days
- Half day, about 3 hours
Group size
- Shared ferry
Start / finish
- Cairns Marina / Cairns
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- Return ferry from Cairns Marina, about 45 minutes each way
Meals
- No meals are listed as included
Route
Included experiences
- Cairns to Fitzroy Island — ferry across reef waters
- Fitzroy Island — rainforest walks
- Fitzroy Island — up to 2 hours ashore
- Optional glass bottom boat or guided snorkel tour, pre-booked
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
4.9
Based on 11 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 11 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the reliable and efficient ferry service, with crossings described as punctual and typically taking 45 to 50 minutes, alongside friendly and professional staff who provide helpful guidance on snorkelling spots and marine wildlife. The most striking feature across reviews is the exceptional marine life encountered, including sea turtles, manta rays, colourful reef fish and abundant coral visible from both the boat and whilst snorkelling in clear water. The primary caveat is that conditions can be rough depending on weather, with some travellers recommending seasickness medication on windier days, and reviewers suggest bringing swim shoes to protect against the rocky seabed and sharp coral around the island.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
With a flight that afternoon we chose the half-day trip to Fitzroy Island, and the boat ride was punctual and calm. We walked the Nudey Beach trail through tropical forest to a beautiful beach of bleached coral, and found coral right near the shore. The highlight was swimming for ages beside a relaxed sea turtle, a perfect farewell to Australia.
It's a ferry from the mainland to Fitzroy Island, about 50 minutes, and nobody got seasick.
I booked the half-day tour to Fitzroy Island and really enjoyed it. The crew pointed out manta rays and we saw three from the boat, and the snorkelling was wonderful in clear water with colourful reef and lots of sea life.
A great time on Fitzroy Island, and pick a sunny day for snorkelling. The boat crew were very friendly and it left and returned on time.
Only 45 minutes each way to Fitzroy Island. The staff were very friendly, and one of the crew sat with each group to show us a map of the island with the best snorkelling spots and sights. Drinks and ice cream are sold on board.
An excellent ferry service with a captain who had a great sense of humour and gave us the best snorkelling tips. The ride over was very pleasant and the staff friendly.
