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Fitzroy Island is just 25km offshore from Cairns but is a world away from the city. Unlike Green Island, which is relatively flat, Fitzroy Island has mountain peaks and summits, which you can explore on walking tracks, and a diverse array of vegetation from mangrove and woodlands to rainforest. The island is surrounded by fringing reef which you can explore snorkelling, on a glass bottom boat tour, or kayak tour. Most of the beaches here are made of coral rubble, which tumble gently with the coming and going of the tides, with the exception of the sandy Nudey Beach – which was named Australia’s best beach (in 2018). Fitzroy Island has a resort, separate bar and bistro and the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
Sunlover provides Cairns Fitzroy Island tours with a few different packages, enabling you to customise your day to suit your budget. Their boat departs Cairns at 8.45am and returns to Cairns at 4.45pm, giving you 6.5 hours to enjoy and explore the island.
Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tours have a 4 tier pricing structure, with differing inclusions. The cheapest rate covers return transfers on their air conditioned catamaran, to and from Cairns to Fitzroy Island. The Island Essentials rate includes return transfers, plus a glass bottom bot tour or snorkelling equipment hire. The Island Value package includes return transfers and a choice of 2 from the following: buffet lunch at Zephyrs Restaurant at Fitzroy Island Resort, glass bottom boat tour or snorkelling equipment hire. Or the Best of Island package covers it all, return transfers, snorkelling equipment hire, glass bottom boat tour and a buffet lunch at the resort’s Zephyrs Restaurant.
What We Love About This Tour. There is so much you can do on Fitzroy Island. Ethan loves jumping off the jetty! We all love walking up to the lighthouse and summit, for epic views over the rainforest and Coral Sea, and then chilling out at Foxy’s Bar with beers and burgers. Snorkelling and kayaking off the beach is so much fun. The vibe is relaxed and the island is just 45-minutes by boat from Cairns. Plus, you can make it budget friendly by taking your own food and drinks.
We’ve been on all the tours we book. As a couple, as a family with a baby, then with a young child and now pre-teen. We’ve taken non-swimming friends and older relatives to the reef. So, we have first-hand experience and can help you make the right choice for your Cairns Reef Tour. Chat with us or send us an enquiry and we’ll get back to you.
Get In Touch Chat With UsThere is so much you can do on the Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour! For free activities you can explore the walking tracks and trails, relax on the beach and swim in the Coral Sea. If you have your own snorkelling equipment, then you can snorkel straight off the beach for free. Optional extras include snorkel equipment hire, glass bottom boat tours, kayak tours, guided walks, turtle talks and a buffet lunch. When you choose the Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour, you have up to 6.5 hours at the island, which gives you plenty of time to do it all, or as little you like.
Snorkeling on Fitzroy Island is right off the beach, and you can go in and out of the water as often as you please during the day. For the best snorkelling, head to the headlands at either end of the main beach (which you walk towards as you disembark the boat on arrival). There are hard and soft corals here and an abundance of Great Barrier Reef fish. If you are lucky, you might even see a sea turtle. The water depth varies with the tides, but as you are walking into the water from the beach, you can swim to depths and conditions you are comfortable with. You can bring your own snorkelling equipment, or choose the Sunlover Cairns’ Fitzroy Island day tour package that includes snorkel equipment rental. Please note, you can also snorkel from Nudey Beach but for corals and reef, it’s best from the main beach.
You can also book a 1 hour Snorkel Safari, which is in addition to the tour price. You board a boat, which takes you to offshore reef locations, where you’ll enjoy up to 35 minutes of snorkel time.
Glass bottom boat tours are a great way to see and learn more about the reef, all while staying dry. As well as being ideal for non-swimmers and families with infants and young children, the guided glass bottom boat tours provide you with the opportunity to ask questions about the corals and fish you are seeing, which will enhance your understanding of the reef.
The Fitzroy Island glass bottom boat tours are included in some of the Sunlover day tour rates – see the pricing structure on this page – and can also be purchased in addition to your tour price (if you are choosing the transfers only package). They operate at set times, which will be advised on the boat, on the way to the island.
Fitzroy Island has 4 walking tracks and trails, which you can enjoy at your own pace. The 2 shortest walks are to Nudey Beach (1.2km around 45 minute return) and Secret Garden (700m around 45 minute return). Please note there are no amenities at either of these locations, so please ensure you take water, snacks and sun protection with you. For those wanting views, there is the Lighthouse Track (3.6km around 2 hours return) and Summit Circuit (4.2km around 3 hours return). Again, there are no amenities on these walks, so take water, snacks and sun protection. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended for the Lighthouse Track and Summit Circuit. All these walks are on uneven tracks and do include hills and rises of varying elevation.
Sunlover also offers guests the option of a few guided walks, which are in addition to the tour price. Numbers are limited for these, so you should book early to avoid disappointment. There is the 35 minute Turtle Talk at 2.30pm ($20 per person), a 20 minute Nature Walk at 1.30pm ($20 per person) and a 45 minute Guided Rainforest Walk to the Secret Garden at 1.30pm and 2.30pm ($40 per person).
Guided kayak tours are a great way to enjoy some awesome island views, whilst gliding over the corals below. These 45 minute tours operate twice daily – at 1.30pm and 2.30pm – with numbers limited to just 6 people. There are double and single kayaks, which will be allocated by the tour leader. The $60 kayak tour price includes your kayak hire and instruction, tour guide and buoyancy vest. Please note these tours are not suitable for non-swimmers and it’s recommended that you have moderate fitness capabilities. The guided kayak tour price is in addition to the Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour price.
The Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour provides you with up to 6.5 hours at the island. Their air conditioned catamaran departs Cairns at 8.45am and arrives at Fitzroy Island at 9.30am. It departs the island at 4pm and returns to Cairns around 4.45pm. There’s a 4 tier pricing structure for the tour. The Best of Island package includes transfers, a buffet lunch, glass bottom boat tour and snorkelling equipment hire. The Island Value package includes transfers and a choice of 2 items from the buffet lunch, glass bottom boat and snorkelling equipment hire, while the Island Essentials is transfers and a choice of glass bottom boat or snorkelling equipment hire. Or you can pay for return transfers and make your own day of it, with the option to self-cater drinks and snacks, or purchase these on the island as you go. You should take a towel, sunglasses, hat, change of clothes and sunblock for the day, as well as cash or credit cards to make any additional tour or food and beverage purchases.
Check in at the Sunlover Cruises Desk, inside the Reef Fleet Terminal.
Boarding commences at the Sunlover Cruises catamaran, which is moored at the Cairns Marlin Marina. Tea and coffee is available and provided for your enjoyment.
Depart Cairns for Fitzroy Island. During the 45 minute transfer, you will be advised of the timing of any pre-booked activities, including the glass bottom boat tour and buffet lunch.
Arrive at Fitzroy Island.
Island Time – During your time on Fitzroy Island, you are free to participate in unlimited swimming and relaxing on the beach, as well as exploring the island’s many walking tracks and trails. You may also choose to participate in the optional extra activities, including guided walks and talks, glass bottom boat tour, guided snorkel tour or kayak tour. You can also visit Foxy’s Bar & Bistro for refreshments, snacks and meals (in addition to your tour price). Please note you cannot use the resort swimming pool, this is exclusively for the use of resort guests.
Board the Sunlover Cruises catamaran on the Fitzroy Island jetty for your return trip to Cairns. The travel time is 45-minutes. You can sit in the air conditioned interior or on the exterior sun decks.
Arrive back into Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
The Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour has a 4 tier pricing structure. The cheapest option is the return transfers package, from Cairns to Fitzroy Island. This is perfect for those who want to self-cater and have all their own snorkelling and reef equipment. The second option includes transfers and a choice between a glass bottom boat or snorkelling equipment hire. The third option includes transfers and a choice of 2 items from the buffet lunch, glass bottom boat and snorkelling equipment hire. Or the top tier Best of Island package includes transfers, a buffet lunch, glass bottom boat tour and snorkelling equipment hire. Return transfers are included in all packages. As visitors to Fitzroy Island, you are welcome to swim from the beaches and explore the walking tracks and trails at your leisure. You can also visit and enjoy Foxy’s Bar & Bistro. The island’s resort swimming pool is for the exclusive use of resort guests only.
Yes – Fitzroy Island is an excellent day tour destination from Cairns. It’s 25km offshore from Cairns, which is around a 45 minute boat ride when you choose Sunlover Cruises. The island is home to a resort and camp ground, but a large percentage of it is national park. For epic views, take the Lighthouse Track and/or Summit Circuit (pack walking shoes for this), and make sure you visit Nudey Beach, which was named best beach in Australia (in 2018). Nudey Beach is also the only beach on Fitzroy Island to have sand. The ‘main’ beach, which is where the jetty is, is comprised of coral rubble which can be difficult to walk on – reef shoes and/or thongs or sandals are recommended. There’s lots of activities you can enjoy on a Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour; download their Fitzroy Island map for destinations and more information.
Thers are lots of things you can do on a visit to Fitzroy Island. Free activities include relaxing on the beach, swimming and snorkelling (if you have your own equipment), and exploring the island’s many walking tracks and trails. Optional extras include guided snorkel tours, glass bottom boat tours, kayak tours, lunch and drinks and a visit to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
Sunlover Cruises provide a quick and easy 45-minute transfer from Cairns to Fitzroy Island.
Yes, you can snorkel at Fitzroy Island. The free snorkelling is right off the beach – and we recommend heading to either of the headlands (at opposite ends of the beach from the jetty) – here you will find corals and fish. Top tip – you can snorkel at Nudey Beach, but there is not too much to see. Nudey Beach is the place for sunbathing and swimming.
No, Sunlover Cruises do not offer any dive options (certified or introductory) at Fitzroy Island. However, you can dive with Sunlover Cruises at their outer Moore Reef pontoon. This is a separate day tour option and does not include Fitzroy Island.
The Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour gives you up to 6.5 hours to enjoy and explore Fitzroy Island. This provides time for walking, exploring, relaxing, snorkelling and swimming.
Yes, the Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour is suitable for non-swimmers. You can explore the island’s tracks and trails, relax on the beach and sit in the shallows. Upgrade your ticket to include a glass bottom boat tour, so you can see and learn more about the fringing reef surrounding Fitzroy Island. You are also welcome to enjoy the drinks, snacks and meals at Foxy’s Bar & Bistro (purchased at own cost – in addition to the tour price) – download the menu here.
Yes, we have taken our family on the Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour, many times. Young children can enjoy exploring the island’s beaches with families, as well as a glass bottom boat tour (optional extra), older children can snorkel and swim from the beach. There are always lots of families on Fitzroy Island. Please note that most of the pathways at Fitzroy Island are not suitable for prams; Green Island is a better day tour destination for those wishing to take a pram.
A couple of big differences between Fitzroy Island and Green Island. Firstly, Fitzroy Island is a continental island that once used to be connected to mainland Australia. It became ‘separated’ with rising sea levels. Fitzroy Island has a mountain, peaks and valleys. Also, most of the beaches at Fitzroy Island are comprised of coral rubble, which can be uncomfortable to walk on, but beautiful to look at. Green Island is a sand cay – so its beaches are sandy – and it’s relatively flat. Both islands have walking tracks and trails and swimming and snorkelling from the beach. Both islands have resorts and bar and restaurant facilities. Both islands offer guided snorkel tours and glass bottom boat tours. You can scuba dive at Green Island, you can’t from Fitzroy Island. Both islands are around a 45 minute boat transfer, each way, from Cairns.
Fitzroy Island offers a few different options for lunch. Firstly, there is BYO which is obviously super affordable and you can pack what you want, with the option to get extra drinks and ice creams from Foxy’s Bar & Bistro, or the island’s small convenience shop (if you want). Secondly, you can choose to purchase lunch at Foxy’s Bar & Bistro – download their menu here – which has burgers and salads – or you can opt for the premium buffet lunch at Fitzroy Island Resort’s Zephyrs Restaurant, which can be an optional extra in your Sunlover Cairns Fitzroy Island day tour price. This buffet includes hot and cold dishes, salads, prawns and more – with amazing views over Welcome Bay.
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