Day Trips

Sunlover: Cairns to Fitzroy Island Best of Island – Snorkel, Glass Bottom Boat & Picnic Lunch

4.5/5(36)

Yvette S

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Staff were very friendly. Mae gave great advice about basic snorkeling and I was able to use her tips. The water was beautiful and lots of fish to see. The little snack box we got was tasty and enjoyable. An adjustment to the website to disdisnguish between check in time and the time the boat leaves would be beneficial. It's a bit confusing.

Nicholas F

Family

Verified booking

Oct 2026

Great, but we nearly miss our spot as some of your information said checkin from 8.45 - 9.45, another bit said 8.45 checkin but come 45mins earlier for full experience (does that mean sit on the boat for 45mins till departure?) so it was a bit confusing

Sally A

Group

Verified booking

Oct 2026

We loved everything about this tour. The glass bottom boat trip was excellent and our guides Tim and Zoe were knowledgeable and entertaining, the snorkelling was stunning, the lunch was delicious. Overall it was incredible value for the cost.

Janeen C

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Very well run outfit. every connection was on time with very friendly & helpful staff. The glass bottom boat was excellent and Fitzroy Island was beautiful.

Robert H

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Had a great day enjoying Fitzroy Island with family. Snorkeling, swimming in the warm sea, glass bottom boat were all worthwhile. Even saw a small python!

Amit D

Family

Verified booking

Oct 2026

Great Boat Ride. Lovely island and amazing food at Foxy's Cafe. Secret Garden and the beach and the overall snorkeling experience etc itself is mesmerizing. Would have given 5 stars if the information provided wasn't incorrect. Our email clearly said check-in starts at 8:45 and boat departure 9:45. We were having breakfast hardly 200M away from the venue all ready to rock at 9:00. And they rang us at 8:35 asking us to be on the terminal in 5 mins otherwise we will miss the boat and our tour will be canceled without any refunds (policy). We left the fully paid breakfast order on the table and rushed to the terminal only to realize the boat had left without us. We showed them our email instructions and they realized the mistake had been made either by them or by headout. Finally checked us in next cruise which left at 10:45. We had to explain our situation at all the stations and experience spots because no one had our names on the manifest. The Sunlover team booked us for the boat ride only but they couldn't add us in the manifest of any other experiences. It just made the day stressful without any fault of us and we ended up getting late for the whole day. Other than this debacle the actual tour and the experience was pretty good.

Cruise from Cairns to Fitzroy Island on a high-speed catamaran and spend the day exploring tropical rainforest, one of Australia's best-known tropical island beaches, and coral-filled waters.

Snorkel straight from the shore using the provided gear and flotation vest, or stay dry with a guided glass-bottom boat tour over vibrant reef gardens.

Enjoy a fresh tropical lunch box filled with island-style bites—perfect for a relaxed beachside meal or quick break between swims.

You’ll have up to 4.5 hours (10:15am departure) or 6 hours (8:45am departure) of free time to explore the island at your own pace—swim, sunbathe, hike rainforest trails, or just slow down and soak in the serenity.

With everything taken care of, this day trip is ideal for families, couples, and solo adventurers looking for a no-fuss Great Barrier Reef island experience.

Full-day trip to Fitzroy Island with return catamaran transfers between Cairns and Fitzroy Island

Full-day snorkel equipment hire including mask, fins, Lycra suit, and flotation vest

Guided glass-bottom boat tour

Fresh tropical picnic lunch box with vegan, halal, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available (menu here)

Up to 4.5 (8:45am departure) or 6 hours (10:15am departure) of free time to explore Fitzroy Island and its National Park walking tracks

Timeline
Map
Start point
Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
Get direction
1. Fitzroy Island
2 activities
This all-inclusive experience combines ferry transfers, snorkeling gear, a glass-bottom boat tour, and rainforest walks. Start your day with snorkeling or glass-bottom boat tours before lunch—the water visibility is best earlier in the day.
Things to do
Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
Included in price
Snorkelling
Included in price
End point
Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

36 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Robert H
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Had a great day enjoying Fitzroy Island with family. Snorkeling, swimming in the warm sea, glass bottom boat were all worthwhile. Even saw a small python!
Melinda M
Couple
Verified booking
Oct 2026
Staff were super friendly & informative. Nothing was too much trouble. Glass bottom boat was the highlight seeing lots of fish & a turtle!!🐢
Yvette S
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Staff were very friendly. Mae gave great advice about basic snorkeling and I was able to use her tips. The water was beautiful and lots of fish to see. The little snack box we got was tasty and enjoyable. An adjustment to the website to disdisnguish between check in time and the time the boat leaves would be beneficial. It's a bit confusing.
Janeen C
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Very well run outfit. every connection was on time with very friendly & helpful staff. The glass bottom boat was excellent and Fitzroy Island was beautiful.
Angela B
Solo
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The staff on the boat were fantastic! Especially Tim/Timmy? The staff on the island at the Foxies restaurant and grocery store were rude (one main lady was). They lost power so would not sell any food or drinks at lunch time. I was out of all water and they wouldn't let anyone get any. They had put out a big cooker of water for people but it was empty. I was so thirsty. A man and his child were begging them for food as his child was hungry and they totally refused. He asked to please have food for his son and he'd pay them when they had power again. The lady was so rude telling him no, that she wouldn't know if he would come back again. In the end she turned them away hungry. Even the child. In the end I went up and gave the child my food that I had and I went without. The staff on our boat were very good though

A tropical reef escape just 45 minutes from Cairns

Board your high-speed ferry from Cairns and cruise across the Coral Sea to Fitzroy Island—one of the most accessible and unspoiled destinations on the Great Barrier Reef. This full-day tour blends marine adventure and island downtime, giving you a taste of reef life without venturing too far from shore.

What to expect

On arrival, pick up your snorkel gear (mask, fins, lycra suit, and flotation vest included) and hit the water straight off the beach. Fitzroy’s fringing reef is just steps from the shore, making it perfect for beginners and casual swimmers. Prefer to stay dry? Join a guided glass-bottom boat tour and glide above coral gardens as your guide points out reef fish, clams, and sea turtles. Midday, take a break with a fresh tropical picnic lunch box packed with island-style flavours—easy to enjoy at a picnic spot, shaded table, or even barefoot on the beach. After lunch, the rest of the island is yours to explore. Wander rainforest trails with panoramic lookouts, discover Nudey Beach (regularly ranked among Australia's best beaches), or simply relax with a book beside the water.

Features

Fitzroy Island ferry: Fast, scenic round-trip catamaran transfer from Cairns.

Snorkel gear included: Mask, snorkel, fins, Lycra suit, and flotation vest.

Glass-bottom boat tour: Glide over coral reefs with expert commentary.

Fresh tropical picnic lunch box: Fresh, island-inspired meal included in your ticket.

Free time: 4.5 (10:15am departure) or 6 hours (8:45am departure) to snorkel, hike, swim, or just unwind on your own schedule.

Schedule

8:45 to 9:45am: Check-in at Reef Fleet Terminal at Sunlover's desk

10am: Boarding closes

10:15am: Depart Cairns Marina

4.5 or 6 hours to experience Fitzroy Island

3:30pm: Depart Fitzroy Island

4:30pm: Arrive at Cairns Marina

What to bring

Have your ID ready for a seamless experience.

Bring a beach towel, sunscreen, and hat to beat the heat.

Bring local currency or your preferred payment method for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

Pack your meds – better to be prepared, just in case they’re not available onsite.

Bring a camera to capture the beauty of the island.

What’s not allowed

It is recommended to leave jewelry and expensive items at your accommodation.

Keep in mind that guests are not allowed to stand on live coral, touch any wildlife, on the island or in the water, litter, swim, kayak, or paddle board past the boat channel markers, or bring alcohol to the island.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.

Space is tight, so we recommend packing light or using a baby carrier. Be aware that most paths on the island aren't suitable for prams.

Additional information

Wear comfortable and sturdy shoes, especially for those guests who wish to hike and explore around the island.

Please note that a fresh picnic lunch box is included.

Guests should confirm the best snorkeling times with the crew before going for it as the island has low and high tides.

A Lycra suit is included; stinger risk varies seasonally—follow crew safety advice.

If the trip is deemed unsafe to operate due to sea conditions, passengers will be offered travel on an alternate day or will receive a refund.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.