Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises offers full- and half-day trips from Cairns City to Green Island, a tropical coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. The island is about 45 minutes from Cairns and combines rainforest, sandy beaches, coral reefs and marine life, giving visitors the choice to spend time on shore or add reef-focused activities to their cruise.

The Green Island Full Day Tour allows up to 5.5 hours on the island, while the half-day option is positioned as a practical choice for families with babies, infants and young children. Standard full- and half-day tours include a choice of a glass bottom boat experience or snorkelling equipment; these inclusions do not apply to transfer-only bookings. Snorkelling from the beach is also described as suitable for children and first-time snorkellers. Other activities listed by Big Cat include a semi-submarine experience, diving adventures and the newer Two Island Explorer, which visits both Green Island and Fitzroy Island in one day.

There is flexibility in how visitors spend their time, with boardwalks and pathways across the island and beach areas for swimming and shore-based activities. Big Cat’s vessels are pram-friendly, and the company says Big Cat has a chair lift to help passengers move between levels. Accessibility can depend on tides, mobility and assistance from a carer, while the vessel toilets are not wheelchair accessible. Electric wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on the vessels or coaches, so access requirements should be discussed when booking.

Big Cat has operated on the Great Barrier Reef for more than 30 years and says it is Australian owned and operated, established in 1990 and Advanced Ecotourism certified. Optional return coach transfers are available from Cairns city hotels and some Northern Beaches locations. Lunch is not included as standard, although a buffet lunch can be added during booking. Visitors are advised to bring swimwear, a towel, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, with cash or a card for purchases on Green Island. With daily departures, family pricing on the Two Island Explorer and activities for different ages, it suits families and visitors wanting either a relaxed island outing or a more activity-based reef day.