Your Experience
Green Island lies 27 km offshore from Cairns, it is a National Park within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Areas. It has been a popular tourist destination for over a century. In 1937 it became a National Park, in 1974 a Marine Park and then in 1981, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This island is a true coral cay formed over thousands of years by the buildup of sand and coral rubble deposited on the calm side of a platform reef. When the tide is low you can do a walk along the water around the whole island, look out for turtles, stingrays and sea birds.
If you want to see crocodiles in captivity, or turtles close up with also many interesting facts from the surrounding areas then visit Marine land Melanesia. There is a small cost for this island option. The island is covered in a tropical vine forest which supports a diversity of birds and insects. Have a walk across the island along the Interpretative Boardwalk where you can learn about some of commonly seen flora and their Indigenous uses. Green Island and its surrounds is a highly protected area. The Australian Government recognizes that Green Island is a very special place and has protected it in several ways such as the island is a National Park and all commercial activities are regulated by permits, the reef and underwater habitats are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, both Green Island and its reef are included in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which gives it international protection under UNESCO.
Ocean Free has a private mooring just 1 km off the island with a stunning coral garden on the Great Barrier Reef, where only our guests snorkel and dive. The surrounding coral reef is home to many kinds of corals, clams, fish, stingrays, Green and Hawksbill turtles and other reef life. During our fish feed off Ocean Free, we often get two to three black tipped reef sharks. Ocean Free transfers you across to Green Island in its dinghy.
Tour Highlights
Experience snorkelling or diving into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
Enjoy a real sail, on Ocean Free, the engines really do get switched off
Exclusive reef mooring
Be blown away by the different species and colours of corals
What's Included
Meals: Morning tea and coffee, large smorgasbord lunch, tropical fruit platter, cheese and crackers, selected cake and a glass of wine on the sail home
All transport: Ocean Free vessel
Activities: Snorkeling and its equipment such as mask, snorkel, fins and snorkel vest
Snorkel tuition and tour
Itinerary
Ocean Free is berthed at A Finger, no 4 at the Marlin Marina, Cairns. Check in is at 07:15 at the Reef Fleet Terminal. Boarding after check in from 07:30 am A Finger no 5 Marlin Marina Cairns, we depart at 08:00 and arrive at Pinnacle Reef at Green Island at 10:00. Snorkel and dive Pinnacle Reef, where you can explore a beautiful coral garden home to lots of different colours of staghorn, boulder coral and soft corals, as well as many species of reef fish, sea cucumbers and giant clams. Turtles and black tipped reef sharks are also a common sight. Lunch, a self serve buffet, is available from 12:15 and after this, the Ocean Free tender goes across to Green Island. Stay for an hour or the whole afternoon, the choice is yours.
Ocean Free departs Green Island at 3 pm for an awesome sail home. During the trip you will be treated to platters of fruit, cheese and crackers, and selected cake while sipping on a glass of wine. Expect to be back in Cairns around 17:00 to 17:15, depending on the wind. Please note that you can spend the whole day on the island or the whole day on the boat, just inform the skipper in the morning if you want to go across to the island straight away. Most people prefer the experience of the boat and Island but the choice is yours.
Special Notes
Condition:
Minimum age limit is 12 yrs old. The upper age is only limited by the fitness and medical condition of the individual.
Optional Extras:
Certified and introductory diving, refreshments, semi submersible tour, wine and beer, glass bottom boat tour, underwater cameras, Marine land Melanesia.