Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Day Adventure

Experience two sides of the Great Barrier Reef in one unforgettable day from Cairns. The Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Day Adventure, operated by Great Adventures, combines time on a tropical coral cay with an afternoon exploring the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

Your day begins with a fast catamaran journey from Cairns to Green Island, where you have around two hours to explore. Snorkel from the island, relax on the beach or wander through the tropical rainforest before continuing further offshore.

From Green Island, travel to Great Adventures’ spacious Outer Great Barrier Reef activity platform, where approximately three hours are dedicated to discovering the reef.

For snorkellers, this combination is particularly appealing. You can snorkel from Green Island and then experience a second reef environment at the Outer Reef, with snorkelling equipment included at both locations.

Prefer to stay dry? The Outer Reef platform also includes a semi-submersible reef tour and underwater observatory, making this a good choice for groups and families with different swimming abilities.

Two Great Barrier Reef Experiences in One Day

Green Island and the Outer Great Barrier Reef offer very different ways to experience this remarkable marine environment.

Green Island

Green Island is a coral cay surrounded by reef and covered by tropical rainforest. After arriving from Cairns, you’ll have approximately two hours to enjoy the island.

Head into the water with your snorkelling gear, spend time on the beach or explore the island on foot. It is an easy introduction to the Great Barrier Reef before your journey continues offshore.

Outer Great Barrier Reef

After departing Green Island, continue aboard Great Adventures to the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

The activity platform provides a stable base for exploring above and below the water. Grab your snorkel and discover the reef, or experience the underwater world without getting wet from the semi-submersible or underwater observatory.

A hot and cold buffet lunch is served during your time at the Outer Reef.

Snorkelling

If snorkelling is one of the main reasons you’re visiting Cairns, this tour packs plenty into a single day.

Snorkelling equipment is included at both Green Island and the Outer Reef, allowing you to experience two contrasting reef locations.

At Green Island, snorkelling is accessible from the island, while the Outer Reef platform puts you further offshore among the coral reef environment.

A Lycra/stinger suit and buoyancy vests are also included for use at the Outer Reef platform.

Conditions on the Great Barrier Reef change from day to day, and marine-life encounters can never be guaranteed. That’s part of exploring a natural ecosystem.

Great for Swimmers and Non-Swimmers

You don’t have to snorkel to enjoy the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

Included experiences at the reef platform allow non-swimmers to see beneath the surface too. Visit the underwater observatory or join the semi-submersible reef tour for another perspective on the coral and marine environment.

This makes the Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Adventure particularly useful for couples, families and groups where not everyone wants to spend the day in the water.

Why Choose This Tour?

Choose this tour if you don’t want to decide between Green Island or the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

You get both.

Spend the morning exploring a tropical coral cay, then travel further offshore for an afternoon at an Outer Reef platform. Snorkellers have opportunities to get into the water at both locations, while non-swimmers still have excellent ways to see the reef.

For visitors with one full day in Cairns who want to experience as much of the Great Barrier Reef as possible, the Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Day Adventure brings two distinctly different reef experiences together in one day.