11 Reasons Green Island Is Worth adding to your Bucket List?
If you’re asking yourself, “Is Green Island worth visiting?”, you’re not alone. This tropical island just off the coast of Cairns is one of the most accessible gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. This makes it a tempting choice for first-time visitors and day-trippers alike.
The tricky part is deciding whether it’s the right island for your trip. Some travellers worry it might feel too touristy, too crowded, or not as spectacular as other reef destinations further out.
After a few visits to the island myself, its why I’ve put together this guide. I’ll share the reasons why I think Green Island is worth visiting, and why it might just be the perfect choice for your next Great Barrier Reef adventure.
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Is Green Island Worth Visiting?
Without a doubt, I think Green Island is worth visiting for its beginner snorkelling sites, pristine beaches with calm waters, and thrilling water sports. But also for its rainforest, crocodile habitat, and convenient hotel facilities available on the island.
But what sets it apart from other Islands off the Queensland Coast is how easy it is to get to. With a 45-minute boat ride from Cairns, it’s convenient for a full or a half-day option, but also for romantic weekend getaways or week-long stays.
➡ Find Green Island Tours HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.
In the end, if you are limited on time in Cairns and want to go snorkelling, this would be my first option.
And, with all the amazing activities, I can say that Green Island is a dream destination where you can relax and be with nature while having the option to enjoy several thrill-seeking activities!
✅ Pros: Reasons Why You Should Visit!
Green Island sits on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is easily accessible from the tourist hub of Cairns, and an international gateway. Overall, with its great accessibility and heaps of facilities, are what I think make Green Island a no-brainer must-visit island paradise!
➡ Find Green Island Tours HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.
1. You can swim in the Great Barrier Reef.
Visiting Green Island provides ample opportunities for visitors to swim within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. From here, you can snorkel and explore the underwater world of the reef (directly from the beach) and enjoy other various water activities.
This also means that some of the areas will be shallow enough to stand in depending on the tide height. But you can also see stingrays, swim right beside turtles or see thousands of other fish species among the coral bommies and pier.
And we all know that the beach directly off Cairns is obviously known to be a not-so-good spot for beach swimming.
2. One of the closets islands to Cairns
The Island is only 30 kilometres off the coast of Cairns, making it one of the closest islands to the city. A ferry ride can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on the weather conditions. So, pack a few items to keep you entertained on board, such as a book or a board game.
Since it’s very close to the city, many tourists or locals include Green Island on their one-day itinerary from Cairns. Usually, this is to enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef.
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3. It has its own resort and facilities for staying there.
Unlike other islands in the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island has its own eco-friendly resort. That means that visitors can stay overnight on the island with all their needs provided to them, such as safe and comfortable accommodation.
➡ Compare prices for Resort accommodation HERE with Booking.com
The resort is a four-star, solar-powered hotel with a swimming pool, a restaurant, shops, cafés, and a bar for cocktails. Most of these facilities, including the resort pool, are also open for the use of day-trip guests. It’s even better that you’ll be hanging around the shores after all the other tourists have gone back to Cairns.
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4. A perfect spot for a day trip
Green Island is a relatively small island, so with its easy accessibility, you can tour its entire area and try several activities on a day trip. Plus, lockers are available at the resort to provide secure storage while you’re snorkelling.
➡ Find Island Tours HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.
You can choose a half-day or full-day trip, depending on your budget and how much time you have available.
But if you’re anything like me, the full-day trip will be the ideal option for a taste tester. Although, I really think next time, I might try staying and taking advantage of the low crowd numbers at sunset.
5. You can snorkel straight from the beach.
The island itself is surrounded by 710 hectares of living reef. So, you can snorkel straight from the beach, which is also dubbed as one of the best snorkelling sites in Queensland. This differs from other areas where they have pontoons, or you’re jumping straight off the boat into the water.
Most of the time, the snorkelling equipment is provided when you join a snorkelling tour. And depending on the tides, you may see several marine life, such as clams, stingrays, sea cucumbers, hard and soft corals, and porcupine fish. Or, if you’re lucky like me, you may also encounter a few friendly green turtles swimming underwater!
Note: Summer (November to March) is stinger season. So, wear a protective Lyrca stinger suit when snorkelling during this time.
6. The beaches are magnificent.
I have to admit, I was completely in awe when I saw the beaches on Green Island, with white sands and clear blue waters. Obviously, this made for the perfect backdrop for my travel photos. Some parts of it are lifeguarded, so visitors can swim on its calm waters with their kids with peace of mind.
If you’re not in the mood for swimming, you can lay towels on the sand and have a wonderful beachside picnic with your family or friends. Or you can also hire umbrellas or chairs from Beach Hut Services and just laze on the beach.
7. It once had the biggest Crocodile in Australia.
Another thing that makes Green Island different from other islands is that it has its own crocodile habitat called Marineland Melanesia. This crocodile habitat was home to Cassius, which is the oldest and largest crocodile in captivity.
Cassius is 5.5 metres long and is believed to be about 110 years old. But, unfortunately, he passed away on November 2, 2024.
This facility can be a good place for visitors to learn about crocodiles. It does need to be booked in advance (preferably before you get to the island), and you can also see one of the world’s largest collections of primitive art and marine artefacts in this facility.
Note: Personally, I prefer seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, and you can do this as part of your Port Douglas Itinerary further north in the Daintree.
8. It’s a National Park Rainforest
The Island was declared a national park in 1937, thanks to its lush rainforest, which attracts a range of local wildlife. The rainforest area is home to hundreds of bird species, including doves, egrets, silvereyes, sea eagles, ospreys, and wood swallows.
You can explore this rainforest by walking through the 2-kilometre rainforest boardwalk around the island. It took us about 40 minutes to walk the path all the way around (some of which are boardwalk), and we were left in awe seeing the diverse flora and fauna species in the area.
➡ Book Island Tours HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.
9. Lots of different Water Activities
Trying different water activities is probably one of the main reasons why tourists visit. Here, you can enjoy several fun and exciting water sports that will push your boundaries, which include:
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Parasailing
- Snorkelling
- Scuba diving
- Windsurfing
But if there’s one thing I would highly recommend you try, it is the Seawalker helmet diving. Experience walking on the sea floor for approximately 20 minutes, giving you a whole different perspective on experiencing underwater life!
10. They have a glass bottom boat.
If you don’t like getting your feet wet but still want to explore the underwater life, glass-bottom boats are available on the island.
Riding one will allow you to watch sea creatures while you’re sitting on top of the water.
Not only that, but the local guide will provide detailed information that sometimes you may not find out on your own. I recommend joining a tour so you can learn more about the history and geography of the area.
11. It’s small enough to walk around.
As mentioned before, the Island is only 12 hectares in size and has no roads, making it easy to walk around in a short period of time. This includes the beaches, boardwalk, rainforest, resort shops, and crocodile habitat.
Browse the souvenir stores, stop off for a drink in the bar, and go snorkelling. We did it all on our day trip, and you can see what we got up to HERE in my YouTube video.
❌ Cons to visiting Green Island
While Green Island is a popular and easy day trip from Cairns, it’s not for everyone. Here are my cons to consider before visiting:
- Crowds can be overwhelming – As one of the closest reef islands to Cairns, Green Island attracts large tour groups every day, which can make beaches, boardwalks, and snorkelling areas feel busy and less relaxing.
- Limited reef quality – With over tourism, I find the coral and marine life around Green Island aren’t as vibrant as other areas in the Great Barrier Reef, which can be disappointing if this is your main reef experience.
- Snorkelling conditions vary – Visibility and coral health depend heavily on tides and weather (which change daily).
Where to stay
Overnight guests can enjoy the amenities and accommodations at the Resort. Depending on your need and preference, you can book an Island King Suite, Island Twin Suite, or Reef Suite with your own balcony and access to a guest-only resort pool (separate from the Main Pool).
➡ Compare prices for Resort accommodation HERE with Booking.com
However, these types of accommodations are quite limited and pricey, which may not be suitable for budget travellers. Therefore, if you want to save on accommodation costs, I recommend staying in some budget-friendly hotels in Cairns and just a day trip to the island.
Do you need a car?
Obviously, there is no need for a car on the actual island, but you just might need one to get to the Reef Fleet Terminal, where the boats depart. This will depend on where you’re staying and how accessible you are to public transport or other options.
➡Find your favourite brand & compare prices for your Rental Car HERE
Since we were staying close to town, we decided to leave our car at our hotel and caught an Uber into the boat Terminal. This way, we didn’t have to worry about paying for parking.
Apart from that, Cairns does have its own public transport system, but check the time and ensure you can get from your hotel early enough for the boat tours.
Best time to visit & Weather?
Technically, with the tropical year-round warm weather, you can visit Green Island any time of the year. However, I personally prefer visiting anywhere between April to September, when the ocean water is a little bit cooler, and there’s no fear of stingers.
Summer can be ideal for swimming and water activities, but there is also a risk of monsoonal rains and sometimes cyclones. Ultimately, I would always visit out-of-school holidays and try to do boat tours during the week when tourist numbers are less.
Is one day enough?
I think a day trip to Green Island would give you enough time to see most of the highlights and explore the reef. This includes spending a few hours at the resort, chilling on the beach, and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef.
However, if you want to experience the island on a deeper level, I recommend staying on Green Island for at least two days (one night). With that amount of time, you can enjoy the resort’s amenities and appreciate the island on a different level with fewer people around.
Wrap Up & Read more!
So, is Green Island worth visiting? I hope this blog has helped you better appreciate what the island has to offer. However, there’s no better way to know a destination than experiencing it on your own.
After all of that, if you need more travel inspiration or want to check out more island paradises, read my other Islands in Queensland travel guides or find other great ideas HERE in Cairns.
