Green Island ferry from Cairns: Timetable and fare prices
The Green Island ferry from Cairns, Queensland, runs twice a day. Fare prices start at $92 return.
The Green Island ferry is one of the easiest ways to get to the Great Barrier Reef from the Australian mainland.
To skip the explanation and book a Green Island day tour from Cairns, click here.
Green Island in Queensland is one of the most popular Reef islands for visitors. There’s much better snorkelling on the Outer Reef, but this small coral cay’s trump card is its proximity to Cairns.
Far north Queensland’s main holiday hub is a key launch spot for many reef trips, but if time is of the essence, Green Island is a solid choice.
Find your ideal Great Barrier Reef tours by location
Great Barrier Reef tours run from numerous destinations along the Queensland coast. Different tours cater to different tastes – some make sure they go to the best snorkelling spots, others build in beach time and some throw in extra such as underwater observatories and glass bottom boat tours.
Use the following links to start picking the best Great Barrier Reef tour options where you’re going on holiday.
- The best Great Barrier Reef tours in… 1770 | Airlie Beach | Bundaberg | Cairns | Cape Tribulation | Mackay | Magnetic Island | Mission Beach | Palm Cove | Port Douglas | Townsville.
Green Island ferry journey time and fare prices
The Green Island ferry takes around 50 minutes, and departs from the Reef Fleet Terminal on Spence Street, Cairns. The catamaran is operated by Great Adventures. The stop-off at Green Island is usually part of a longer Great Barrier Reef trip. It just stops at Green Island on the way to the Outer Reef.
As such, the Green Island ferry is really run as a tour service rather than a basic Cairns to Green Island ferry transfer. The fare prices reflect this, with the cheapest adult ticket option being a rather steep $92. You can pay more if you want to add on snorkel hire and glass-bottomed boat tours while at the island. Day trips should be booked in advance online.
Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance
- From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
- At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
- For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
- For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
- For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.
Green Island ferry timetable
The Green Island ferry timetable is pretty limited, too. There are two departures from Cairns to Green Island every day, leaving at 08.30 and 10.30. The return journeys from Green Island need booking at the same time. According to the timetable, they depart for Cairns at 14.30 and 16.40.
Aside from snorkelling, things to do at Green Island include a self-guided eco-walk and visiting the biggest crocodile in Australia at Marineland Melanesia.
Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday
- Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
- Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
- Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
- Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
- Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
- Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.
More Far North Queensland travel
Is it worth visiting Birdworld Kuranda?
Are there crocodiles on the Great Barrier Reef?
Is it safe to swim in Lake Barrine?
Where are the Chillagoe Caves?
Why you should visit the Cairns Botanic Gardens.