National park · Australia
Green IslandGreen Island (Wunyami)
Go only as a half-day from Cairns: take the 08:30 ferry, walk the 45-minute island circuit and snorkel off the beach before the 10:30 and 13:00 boats land; skip it if you want intact coral — book a Fitzroy Island or outer-reef trip instead.Go only as a half-day from Cairns: take the 8:30 AM ferry, walk the 45-minute island circuit and snorkel off the beach before the 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM boats land; skip it if you want intact coral — book a Fitzroy Island or outer-reef trip instead.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
approximate
Established
1937
Best months
May–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
- Queensland ↗Marine stinger season runs November to May in tropical waters; swim inside stinger nets or in a protective suit.
- Queensland ↗Queensland keeps UTC+10 all year — no daylight saving. Clocks go back an hour crossing from New South Wales in summer.
- Great Barrier Reef ↗The reef is a marine park: no touching coral, no collecting, no anchoring outside zones; fines apply.
- Great Barrier Reef ↗Most operators add an environmental management charge to reef trips; it is usually included in the quoted price.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
- About 15 hectares of cay on an inshore patch reef; the surrounding reef flat is far larger (check).
- Established
- 1937
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Cairns
Green Island is a 15-hectare coral cay 27 km off Cairns, the only cay on the Great Barrier Reef carrying its own rainforest, and it has been a national park since 1937. It is also the most heavily visited cay in the marine park: three fast catamaran sailings a day land hundreds of day-trippers, and the coral immediately off the main beach has been worn down by decades of wading. Treat it as a half-day beach and rainforest stop with easy logistics and turtle sightings on the seagrass, not as a coral destination — for intact reef, the outer reef pontoons or Fitzroy Island are the better spend. Everything on the cay is flat and walkable in under an hour, so the decision is really about which sailing you take and whether you sleep over after the last ferry leaves.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1937Declared a national park in 1937; managed as part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (1981).
Size and age
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²) · national park since 1937
About 15 hectares of cay on an inshore patch reef; the surrounding reef flat is far larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Cairns.
Why go
- The only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef with its own rainforest — 120-plus native plant species on 15 hectares.
- A beach you can snorkel straight off, with seagrass beds that green turtles graze, no boat required.
- A 45-minute boardwalk circuit through vine thicket, beach rock and sand, all flat.
- Easy logistics: a 45-minute catamaran from Cairns, three departures a day, no liveaboard needed.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanWet season; stinger nets up, storms, poor visibility
- FebWettest month; jellyfish risk; ferries can be rough
- MarRain easing; stingers still present
- AprDrier, warm water, fewer crowds
- MayClear water, calm crossings, stingers gone
- JunDry, cool nights, reliable visibility
- JulPeak dry season; school holidays, book ahead
- AugDry and breezy; busiest ferries
- SepDry, warm, good snorkelling
- OctWarming up; stingers return late in the month
- NovStinger season; afternoon storms
- DecHot, humid, stinger season, holiday crowds
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green turtles on the seagrassAll year · Often seen from the beach or on snorkel trips; keep 2 m away. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Reef fish and giant clamsApr–Oct · Clearest water in the dry season. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Birdlife (about 55 species recorded)Mar–May, Sep–Oct · Rainforest and beach edge; the cay is a stopover for migrants. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji)Nov–May · In the warmer months; swim inside the net or wear a stinger suit. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Cairns
Fast catamaran from the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St; departures around 08:30, 10:30 and 13:00.Fast catamaran from the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St; departures around 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM.
45 min
Open the page →
From Cairns airport
Taxi or rideshare to the Reef Fleet Terminal, then the ferry.
15 min + 45 min
Open the page →
From Fitzroy Island
Separate ferry from the same terminal; no direct island-to-island service.
45 min
From Reef and island planning
Compare cay, island and outer-reef trips before booking.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Day visitor area | Jetty, pool, Canopy Grill, beach hire hut and the main beach. | Open to all arrivals. |
| Rainforest boardwalk | Vine thicket and the interpretive centre inland from the resort. | Open; stay on the boardwalk. |
| Beach and reef flat | White coral sand and the inshore patch reef you snorkel from shore. | Open; stinger nets in the wet season. |
| Resort precinct | Green Island Resort suites, Emeralds Restaurant, day spa. | House guests; day visitors by booking. |
| Marineland Melanesia | Crocodile and marine-life exhibits on the island. | Ticketed. |
Sketch map
- 1Green Island jetty · Gate≈-16.759, 145.972Ferry landing on the western side.Map ↗
- 2Day visitor area and pool · Headquarters≈-16.759, 145.973Canopy Grill, beach hire, lifeguard tower.Map ↗
- 3Rainforest boardwalk · Trail≈-16.760, 145.975Interpretive centre and vine thicket.Map ↗
- 4Main beach snorkel entry · Beach≈-16.758, 145.974Seagrass and turtle sightings.Map ↗
- 5Underwater Observatory · Viewpoint≈-16.759, 145.971Opened 1954.Map ↗
- 6Green Island Resort · Sleep≈-16.759, 145.97246 suites, north of the day area.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across a 15-hectare cay, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island access | Free | person | No gate fee; the cay is a national park and access is free. You pay the ferry operator, not the park. |
| Return ferry from Cairns (Great Adventures) | AUD 100–260 (≈ US$70–180) | person | 2026 estimate; half-day and full-day packages with glass-bottom boat or lunch cost more. |
| Glass-bottom boat tour | AUD 20–45 (≈ US$14–30) | person | 2026 estimate; often bundled into ferry packages. |
| Introductory scuba dive | AUD 130–200 (≈ US$90–140) | person | 2026 estimate; booked on the island or with the cruise. |
| Seawalker helmet dive | AUD 130–180 (≈ US$90–120) | person | 2026 estimate; no swimming required. |
| Marineland Melanesia entry | AUD 25–40 (≈ US$17–30) | person | 2026 estimate; crocodile and aquarium exhibits. |
| Green Island Resort suite | AUD 500–900 (≈ US$350–600) | night | 2026 estimate; 46 suites, ferry transfers included. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park access no permit
Ferry booking permit or guide
Commercial filming or drone use permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- A$100–260≈ US$70–180
- A$20–45≈ US$14–30
- A$130–200≈ US$90–140
- A$130–180≈ US$90–120
- A$25–40≈ US$17–30
- A$500–900≈ US$350–600
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — zoning and permits before you go.
Park rules
- No collecting
- Coral, shells and sand must stay on the reef; the cay and surrounding reef are protected.
- Stay on the boardwalk
- The rainforest is fragile; walking off the track damages the only cay rainforest on the reef.
- Wildlife distance
- Do not touch or chase turtles; keep 2 m and let them surface.
- Fishing
- Not allowed from the island or the surrounding green zone (check current zoning).
- Drones
- Not permitted without approval from the marine park and national park authorities (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Green Island Resort
46 suites on the island, ferry transfers included; the cay empties after the last ferry.
Near the park
Cairns
Hostels, motels and apartments 45 minutes away by ferry; the practical base for a day trip.
Safety
Marine stingers high
Sun and heat medium
Crocodiles low
Rough crossings medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The jetty, day visitor area, pool and main beach are step-free and reachable by wheelchair.
- The island circuit is flat boardwalk and firm sand; some beach sections are soft.
- Glass-bottom boats and the underwater observatory suit visitors who cannot snorkel.
Visiting lightly
- Do not buy or join 'turtle feeding' or handling activities; they change animal behaviour.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and a rash shirt instead of reapplying in the water.
- Take your rubbish back to Cairns; the cay has limited waste capacity.
- Choose a half-day trip over a full day if you only want a swim — fewer ferry runs, less fuel.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Green Island?
Nothing. The cay is a national park with no gate fee. Your cost is the ferry — roughly A$100–260 return from Cairns in 2026, depending on half-day or full-day package and extras like the glass-bottom boat or lunch.
What are the best hikes in Green Island?
There are no real hikes. The island circuit is a flat 45-minute walk around the cay, and the self-guided rainforest eco walk takes 20–30 minutes on boardwalk. Both are easy; the island is only about 15 hectares.
When is the best time to visit Green Island?
May to September: dry season, calm crossings, clear water and no marine stingers. July and August are the busiest, so take the 08:30 ferry. November to May is stinger season — swim inside the net or wear a stinger suit.
Is Green Island worth it compared with the outer reef?
It is worth it for a cheap, easy half-day with a beach, rainforest and a swim, and for non-swimmers. The coral close to the beach is damaged from decades of day-trippers, so if coral is your priority, book an outer-reef pontoon or a Fitzroy Island trip instead.
Can you stay overnight on Green Island?
Yes. Green Island Resort has 46 suites and ferry transfers are included in the rate. Day-trippers leave on the last afternoon ferry, so evenings on the cay are quiet.
How do you get to Green Island from Cairns?
Fast catamaran from the Reef Fleet Terminal at 1 Spence St, about 45 minutes, with departures around 08:30, 10:30 and 13:00. Book ahead in the July–August school holidays.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialQueensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Green Island National Park
- officialGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — zoning and permits
- officialGreat Adventures — Green Island ferry and tours
- officialGreen Island Resort
- secondaryWikipedia — Green Island (Queensland)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Green Island (Queensland), revision 5330692 (CC BY-SA 4.0)