Queensland, Australia
Fitzroy Island is a mountainous island on the Great Barrier Reef. It sits 29 kilometres (18 miles) southeast of Cairns.
4.2 from 712 traveller reviews on Viator
Tickets & tours
Prices vary by operator and season.
Most bookedDiscover 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...
Best valueEnjoy the picturesque surrounds of Fitzroy Island and kick back in paradise! Book a transfer only, or opt for a package building your day by selecting from options of...
From$78per person
Best for: flexible travel and independent exploration
Top ratedThe ultimate 1-day adventure combining Sunlover Cruises 2 top selling tours. Moore Reef pontoon + Fitzroy Island stop over in a day! Moore Reef has all of our standard...
From$241per person
Best for: an ultimate great barrier reef experience
Explore
Discover the main areas of the national park.
Nudey Beach was voted the #1 Best Beach in Australia in 2018.
Swimwear is strictly required.
Plan your visit
Plan for a full day. The ferry takes 45 minutes each way.
The dry season runs from May to October. Water conditions are calmer.
Take the Fitzroy Flyer fast catamaran from the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.
Ferry tickets start from A$88 to A$105. Prices change based on the platform.
Fitzroy Island offers a mix of rainforest trails and coral beaches. The island covers 339 hectares (838 acres). The Fitzroy Island National Park protects 97% of the landmass. Visitors arrive at Welcome Bay after a 45-minute ferry ride.
You can snorkel directly off the beach or hike the Summit Track. The island's highest peak reaches 269 metres (882 feet) above sea level. You can also visit the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
Read our guide on Walking Tracks Guide for details on the trails. If you want to see marine life, check our Snorkeling spots advice.
We show the exact ferry departure times.
We highlight what is included in each ticket.
We list the main complaints from previous travelers.
From Viator
712 reviews of the full day trip on Viator
A lovely day on Fitzroy Island. Crew friendly and attentive. Island is beautiful and there were so many fish near the shore when snorkelling. Walks around Island are great and well signposted. The only thing that could have been better was the snorkel equipment, it is obviously well used and leaked quite a bit. I would recommend the trip but suggest you use your own snorkel equipment.
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.
Beautiful place - just make sure you bring sturdy reef shoes or some such as the coral makes the beach there and it’s a bit like walking on nature’s Lego !
Great day out. Boat ride was enjoyable and crew was friendly and welcoming. We did the lunch and snorkelling. The lunch was delicious and plenty of it. The snorkeling was amazing we saw so many fish and turtles and even a shark. Would definitely recommend.
We enjoyed ourself the ferry departed on time and Also arrived on time.The sight-seeing was magnificent .
We had the most relaxing time on the Island. We got to see a turtle under the water and the island was stunning with such a chilled vibe.
Great way to see the reef and the islands in one day. Perfect experience for those who only have a few days in Cairns and surrounding areas. Bring some reef/water shoes for comfort walking on the sand. Highly recommend the glass bottom boat tours, especially if snorkelling conditions are not ideal.
Perfect trip combining both islands for those who are time poor and can’t fit trips to both on seperate days. More than enough time at both islands, we didn’t feel rushed. Stinger suits were provided and the box lunch was perfect. Bit of confusion in the morning regarding which boat to get on as you don’t leave on a Big Cat Boat but other than that couldn’t fault the day.
Cafe on Island extortionatly expensive Great anorkling saw lots of fish, a turtle, longish and barracudas
Travel tips
Compare IslandsCompare Fitzroy and Green Island to find the best fit for your trip.Read Ferry Tickets & TimesCheck ferry times, costs, and ticket options for Fitzroy Island.Read Snorkeling spotsFind the best spots for seeing turtles and coral on Fitzroy Island.Read Walking Tracks GuidePlan your Fitzroy Island hike, from the Summit to the Secret Garden.Read Packing ListEverything you need to pack for a day trip to Fitzroy Island.Read Family GuidePlan a family trip with snorkeling, turtles, and easy trails.Read Yes. The fast catamaran ferry takes 45 minutes each way. Multiple operators offer day trips departing in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. Read our Ferry Tickets & Times guide for schedules.
The journey takes approximately 45 minutes on the fast catamaran from the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.
Adult return tickets on the Fitzroy Flyer start from A$88 to A$105. Prices change depending on the operator and the season. You can compare options on our Tickets page.
They offer different experiences. Fitzroy Island is mountainous with rainforest trails and coral beaches. Green Island is a flat coral cay. Check our Compare Islands guide to decide which suits you.
Yes. You can snorkel directly off the beach at Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach. The fringing coral reef is just offshore. Read more in our Snorkeling spots article.
Yes, if you visit between November and May. This is the marine stinger season. Wearing a lycra stinger suit is essential for protection.
Book your ferry early during the peak dry season.
