wotif
An aerial view of a lush green island surrounded by clear blue waters. 1
A beach with clear water, a sandy shore, and palm trees. 2
A boat on turquoise waters surrounded by rocks and dense green foliage. 3
An underwater scene with coral formations and a diver. 4
A person standing on a rock by a calm sea with clear skies. 5
By Sunlover Reef Cruises

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
Free cancellation available
Price is AU$113 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 6h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Sunlover Reef Cruises runs two return ferries a day from Cairns to Fitzroy Island, about 45 minutes each way by fast catamaran. The 8:45am departure arrives at 9:30am and the 10:15am departure at 11:00am. Both leave the island at 3:30pm, back at Cairns Marina about 4:30pm.

    Fitzroy Island is a rainforest-covered national park on the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel the fringing reef straight off the beach at Welcome Bay, walk 15 minutes to Nudey Beach, or take a national park walk, from the 700 m Secret Garden to the 4.2 km Summit Circuit and its granite lookout over the Coral Sea.

    Book the ferry only, or upgrade to Island Essentials (snorkel hire or a glass bottom boat tour), Island Value (adds a lunch box) or Best of Island (full-day snorkel hire, glass bottom boat and lunch box). No fuel surcharge applies.

    Sunlover Reef Cruises has operated from Cairns since 1991. In 2025 it was one of 11 Australian operators inducted into the Ecotourism Australia ECO Certification Hall of Fame.

Activity location

  • Reef Fleet Terminal
    • 4870, Cairns City, Queensland, Australia

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Sunlover Reef Cruises
    • 1 Spence Street
    • 4870, Cairns City, Queensland, Australia

Check availability

8.45am, Return Ferry Only

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

6 hrs On Island
Duration: 7 hours 45 minutes: 7.30-8.15am check in for a 8.45am departure. Arrive back to Cairns 4.30pm.
Includes return ferry transfer

Language options: English
Starting time: 8:30 AM
Price details
AU$109.00 x 2 AdultsAU$218.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$226.00

10.15am, Return Ferry Only

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

4.5 hrs on Island
Duration: 6 hours 15 minutes: 8.45-9.30am Check In for 10.15am departure. Return to Cairns 4.30pm.
Includes return ferry transfer

Language options: English
Starting time: 10:15 AM
Price details
AU$109.00 x 2 AdultsAU$218.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$226.00

8.45am Ferry+Lunch+Boat Tour

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

6 hrs on island
Duration: 7 hours 45 minutes: 7.30-8.15am check in for a 8.45am departure. Arrive back to Cairns 4.30pm.
Package inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers, a glass bottom boat tour & a picnic lunch

Language options: English
Starting time: 8:45 AM
Price details
AU$166.00 x 2 AdultsAU$332.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$340.00

8.45am Ferry+Lunch+Snorkel

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

6 hrs on island
Duration: 7 hours 45 minutes: 7.30-8.15am check in for a 8.45am departure. Arrive back to Cairns 4.30pm.
Package inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers, snorkelling equipment and a picnic lunch

Language options: English
Starting time: 8:45 AM
Price details
AU$166.00 x 2 AdultsAU$332.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$340.00

8.45am Ferry+Snorkel+Boat Tour

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

6 hrs on island
Duration: 7 hours 45 minutes: 7.15am-8.30am check in for a 8.45am departure. Arrive back to Cairns 4.30pm.
Package inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers, snorkelling equipment and a glass bottom boat tour

Language options: English
Starting time: 8:45 AM
Price details
AU$166.00 x 2 AdultsAU$332.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$340.00

10.15am Ferry+Lunch+Boat Tour

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

4.5 hrs on island
Duration: 6 hours 15 minutes: 8.45-9.30am check in for 10.15am departure. Arrive back in Cairns 4.30pm.
Package inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers, a glass bottom boat & a picnic lunch

Language options: English
Starting time: 10:15 AM
Price details
AU$166.00 x 2 AdultsAU$332.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$340.00

10.15am Ferry+Lunch+Snorkel

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

4.5 hrs pn island
Duration: 6 hours 15 minutes: 8.45am check in, 10.15am departure from Cairns. Arrive back in Cairns 4.30pm.
Package inclusions: Includes return ferry transfer, snorkelling equipment and a picnic lunch

Language options: English
Starting time: 10:15 AM
Price details
AU$166.00 x 2 AdultsAU$332.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$340.00

10.15am Ferry+Snorkel+BoatTour

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

4.5 hrs on island
Duration: 6 hours 15 minutes: 8.45-9.30am check in for 10.15am departure. Arrive back in Cairns 4.30pm.
Package inclusions: Includes return ferry transfers, snorkelling equipment and a glass bottom boat tour

Language options: English
Starting time: 10:15 AM
Price details
AU$166.00 x 2 AdultsAU$332.00
Paid at activityAU$8.00
Total
Price is AU$340.00

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Self-guided access to Fitzroy Island National Park walks and beaches
  • Inclusions
    (Dependant on option booked) Picnic Lunch Box OR Snorkel equipment OR glass bottom boat tour
  • Inclusions
    Free downloadable island map and Nudey Beach self-guided walk
  • Inclusions
    Return fast catamaran between Cairns and Fitzroy Island (about 45 minutes each way)
  • Exclusions
    All island purchases (beach hire, food and drink, general store)
  • Exclusions
    Fuel Surcharge payable on the day - $4 per Adult and $2 per Child

Know before you book

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • The return ferry leaves Fitzroy Island at 3:30pm. Guests who miss it must make their own way back at their own expense.
    • Fitzroy Island's beaches are white coral fragments and granite boulders, not sand. Bring water shoes or reef booties.
    • Bring swimwear, a towel, hat, sun cream, a water bottle, and cash or card for Foxy's Bar and the island kiosk.
    • Lockers are available on the island.
    • Snorkelling conditions change with wind, tide and season. Ask the crew on arrival for the best spot on the day.
    • Nudey Beach is not a nude beach.
    • Smoking and vaping are not allowed on the vessel

Activity itinerary

Reef Fleet Terminal

  • 10m
Check in at the Sunlover Reef Cruises desk inside the terminal, 1 Spence Street. Early departure: check-in 7:45am to 8:30am, depart 8:45am. Standard departure: check-in opens 8:45am, boarding closes 10:00am, depart 10:15am.

Great Barrier Reef (Pass by)

Travel out accross the Great Barrier Reef on you way to Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island

  • 3h
Sunlover Reef Cruises provides transfers to the idyllic Fitzroy Island, which is only a 55 minute cruise from Cairns.

Fitzroy Island National Park

  • 1h
Take one of the many Self-guided walks into the National Park: Secret Garden (700 m, about 45 minutes return), Nudey Beach (1.2 km, about 45 minutes return), Lighthouse Track (3.6 km, about 2 hours return), Summit Circuit (4.2 km, about 3 hours return).

Nudey Beach

  • 15m
A 15-minute rainforest walk from the jetty to view and walk accross white coral fragments and granite boulders.

Great Barrier Reef (Pass by)

View the expansive Great Barrier Reef from the Fast Catamaran on your way home to Cairns,

Cairns

  • 45m
Check in on the Fitzroy Island jetty 3:00pm to 3:15pm for a promt departure at 3:30pm, arriving back into Cairns at about 4:30pm.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Reef Fleet Terminal
    • 4870, Cairns City, Queensland, Australia

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Sunlover Reef Cruises
    • 1 Spence Street
    • 4870, Cairns City, Queensland, Australia

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