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Offered languages
- English
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.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Check in at the Sunlover Cruises counter inside the Reef Fleet terminal located at Cairns Marlin Marina. *Boarding will be denied without collection of tickets from Sunlover Cruises. Late check-in will result in the tour being missed with no refund.
Itinerary
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1Reef Fleet Terminal
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.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Great Barrier Reef (Pass by)
Travel out accross the Great Barrier Reef on you way to Fitzroy Island
Admission ticket free -
2Fitzroy Island
Sunlover Reef Cruises provides transfers to the idyllic Fitzroy Island, which is only a 55 minute cruise from Cairns.
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
3
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).
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
4Nudey Beach
A 15-minute rainforest walk from the jetty to view and walk accross white coral fragments and granite boulders.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Great Barrier Reef (Pass by)
View the expansive Great Barrier Reef from the Fast Catamaran on your way home to Cairns,
Admission ticket free -
5Cairns
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.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- 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, sunscreen, a water bottle, and cash or card for Foxy's Bar and the island kiosk.
- Lockers are available on the island.
Additional info
- 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, sunscreen, 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
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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