Boats from Cairns to Green Island, Fitzroy Island and the Outer Reef
The island ferries and reef boats that leave Cairns for Green Island, Fitzroy Island and the Outer Reef: crossing times as the operators state them, where each boat leaves from, and when we last checked.
Cairns is the main port for day trips to the Great Barrier Reef. The boats to Green Island and Fitzroy Island are short island crossings, while the Outer Reef trips are full-day tours. They leave from two different places on the Cairns waterfront, so check your booking. Each card gives the figures as the operator's own page states them and says when we last checked.
How it works
Green Island boats leave from the Reef Fleet Terminal and Marlin Wharf; the Fitzroy Island ferry leaves from Berth 20 on Marlin Marina Wharf, 1 Spence Street.
Both island crossings take about 45 minutes, as the operators state, and the operators say weather can change the timing.
The Outer Reef trips are tours to a reef platform, not ferries between towns; they return to Cairns the same day.
Fitzroy Island Resort says its Fitzroy Flyer is out for maintenance until Tuesday 24 November, with other operators covering; check the page before you book.
Ferries
Cairns (Marlin Marina Wharf, Berth 20) → Fitzroy Island
Operators: Fitzroy Island Resort (Fitzroy Flyer)
Journey time: The resort says a 45-minute Fitzroy Flyer ride gets you from Cairns to Fitzroy Island.
When it runs: The page lists four departures from Cairns (8:00 am, 11:00 am, 3:30 pm, 6:00 pm), some of them not on every day, and says the Flyer is out for maintenance until Tuesday 24 November with other operators covering.
Fitzroy Island Resort runs the Fitzroy Flyer; check-in is at the boat.
Journey time: The operator says transfers between Cairns and Green Island take approximately 45 minutes, subject to weather.
When it runs: Its island-and-reef itinerary leaves Cairns at 8:30am and arrives at Green Island at 9:15am; check-in is at the Great Adventures counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal.
Journey time: The itinerary leaves Green Island at 11:20am and arrives at the Outer Reef at 12:30pm; the boat leaves the reef at 3:30pm and is back in Cairns at 5:30pm.
When it runs: This is a day tour that combines the Green Island stop and the Outer Reef platform.
Timetables and journey times change by season and operator, and a ticket is not a guaranteed seat. Every card says when we last checked and links the page we read; confirm on the operator's own page before you plan around a departure. We list operators' own pages and do not earn commission on these links.
