Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island Day Trip
Fitzroy Island—known to the Gunggandji people as Gulnyjarubay, meaning “the fist”—was once part of the mainland until ancient rising seas created the island we see today. For thousands of years it has been a sacred place for hunting, fishing, and totemic ceremonies, with Dreamtime stories preserving its spiritual and cultural importance.
More recently, Fitzroy Island played varied roles in Queensland’s history as a quarantine station, mission outpost, wartime radar base, and lighthouse site. These layers of past and present highlight the island’s enduring significance.
Today, protected as Fitzroy Island National Park within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it offers visitors the chance to enjoy its natural beauty while respecting the rich cultural heritage that continues to shape this remarkable land and sea country.
FITZROY ISLAND DAY TRIP
Adult $185 $152.00 | Child $126 | Family $496
Best of Island Package for Value Price Extended till March 2026!
Fitzroy Island, part of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is one of Cairns’ most accessible tropical getaways. Just a short 45-minute boat ride from Cairns, this lush rainforest island is celebrated for its white-sand and coral beaches, fringing reefs, and vibrant marine life. Unlike typical sand islands, many of Fitzroy’s beaches are formed from crushed coral, built up over thousands of years. These remnants of ancient reefs were gradually reshaped and displaced by hundreds of tropical storms, creating the island’s uniquely textured shores that embody its deep connection to the Great Barrier Reef’s natural history.
With Sunlover’s Best of Island Package, you’ll enjoy a seamless and memorable day trip that showcases the very best of Fitzroy Island:
- Return Boat Transfers – Relax with a comfortable ferry transfer from Cairns to Fitzroy Island and back.
- Tropical Picnic Lunch – A fresh lunch box inspired by local island flavours, perfect to enjoy by the beach or rainforest.
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour – Discover the Great Barrier Reef’s colourful corals and fish without getting wet.
- Snorkel Equipment Included – Masks, fins, snorkels, buoyancy vests, and protective Lycra suits are all provided, so you can swim safely among the reef’s marine life.
Cultural & Educational Insight
Fitzroy Island is known by the Traditional Owners, the Gunggandji people, as a place of deep cultural significance. The surrounding reefs and rainforest hold stories passed down through generations, connecting people to the sea and land. Visitors are encouraged to explore respectfully, appreciating both the island’s natural beauty and its cultural heritage.
Why Choose Sunlover?
Whether you want to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, relax on Nudey Beach (regularly voted one of Australia’s best beaches), or wander rainforest walking tracks, Sunlover’s Best of Island package makes your Fitzroy Island adventure easy, immersive, and unforgettable.
Awesome optional extras (Turtle Talk, Nature Walk, Rainforest Walk and Kayak Tours) are available to add on at an additional cost.
Included in your package
- Return ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island
- Snorkel equipment hire including fins, mask, lycra suit
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour
- Tropical Lunch Box
Extra
- Guided Snorkel Tour
- Turtle Talk Presentation
- Guided Nature Walk
- Guided Kayak Tour
- Guided Rainforest Tour
- On-board Go-Pro Hire
Itinerary
- 8:45am -9:45am Check in
- 9:30am Commence boarding
- 10:00am Boarding closes
- 10:15am Depart Cairns Marina
- 11:00am Arrive Fitzroy Island
- 3:30pm Depart Fitzroy Island
- 4:30pm Arrive Cairns Marina
Island Value Package
Adult $152 | Child $101 | Family $405
Free upgrade to ‘Best Of Island” package till March 2026!
Sunlover’s Island Value Package offers the best value for a Fitzroy Island day trip, combining return ferry transfers from Cairns with extras to enhance your experience. With your choice of two inclusions, you’ll enjoy more flexibility and fun while exploring this tropical paradise. Choose two inclusions for extra flexibility, great savings, and a memorable Fitzroy Island adventure.
Plus your choice of 2 of the following:
😋Picnic Lunch Box
🚤 Glass bottom boat tour
🤿 Snorkelling equipment hire (mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy vest, lycra suit).
Awesome optional extras (Turtle Talk, Nature Walk, Rainforest Walk and Kayak Tours) are available to add on at an additional cost.
Island Essentials Package
Make it easy and enjoyable with a day on world-famous Fitzroy Island, where relaxation meets adventure. Sunlover’s Island Essentials Package combines return ferry transfers from Cairns with your choice of a fun on-island activity.
This simple, great-value package is designed for travellers wanting both flexibility and convenience. With Island Essentials, you can choose between snorkel equipment hire or a glass-bottom boat tour to complete your tropical day.
Plus your choice of 1 of the following:
🚤 Glass bottom boat tour
🤿 Snorkelling equipment hire (mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy vest, lycra suit).
Awesome optional extras (Turtle Talk, Nature Walk, Rainforest Walk and Kayak Tours) are available to add on at an additional cost.
Transfers Only
Return: Adult $105 | Child $60 | Family $270
One Way: Adult $52.50 | Child $30
Sunlover offers convenient one-way and return ferry transfers between Cairns and Fitzroy Island, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Discover stunning beaches, rainforest walks, and fringing reef right off the shore, or simply relax and soak up island time.
This ferry-only option is perfect for travellers who want flexibility to create their own Fitzroy Island adventure. A variety of optional extras can also be added to enhance your experience and make the most of your day in paradise.
Awesome optional extras (Glass Bottom Boat, Snorkelling equipment hire, Turtle Talk, Nature Walk, Rainforest Walk and Kayak Tours, and Guided Snorkel Tours) are available to add on at an additional cost.
Picnic Lunch Box
Savour a freshly prepared Picnic Lunch Box, crafted by the Fitzroy Island Resort chefs and designed for a relaxed island-style lunch. Each box features a fresh baguette, seasonal salads, a sweet treat, fruit and a light snack — perfect for enjoying under the palms or at Foxy’s Café.
Collect your lunch box from Foxy’s between 11:00am and 2:00pm, giving you the freedom to plan your lunch break whenever it suits you within this window.Take a moment to unwind, find your favourite spot on the island, and make the most of your tropical day in paradise.
A Picnic Lunch Box is included with the Best of Fitzroy Island package, and can be added to Value Package booking at checkout.
Dietary variations available (GF, DF, Vegan, Vegetarian, Nut-free, Egg-free, Halal). Minimum 24 hours’ notice required.
Island & Reef – 2 Days
All-inclusive – $443 Adults | $271 Kids | $1,178 Family
Maximise your Great Barrier Reef snorkelling by booking a two-day package that combines Fitzroy Island with a trip to our Moore Reef pontoon. These distinctly different reef adventures can be booked within seven days, giving you time to rest in between. Contact our reservations team to book.
Fitzroy Island Map
Fitness Level: High
3 Hrs Return
Fitness Level: High
2 Hrs Return
Fitness Level: Moderate
45 Mins Return
Fitness Level: Moderate
45 Mins Return
Walking trails are as marked on all the maps. The rest of the Island is off-limits as it is a national park.
Do’s and Don’ts on the island
- Resort and resort pool is off limits unless you are a guest of the resort.
- Do not touch any wildlife, on the island or in the water.
- No standing on live coral.
- No swimming/ kayaking/ paddle boarding past the boat channel markers.
- Pick up your litter.
- Bring plenty of water for the day, or purchase at Foxy’s.
- Reef shoes are suggested or durable footwear are highly recommeneded.
How to secure your belongings
- Bring a waterproof bag.
- Take waterproof bag with essentials on the kayak or paddleboard.
- Cover your items on the beach with a towel to protect from sun.
- Only bring what you need, leave jewellery and expensive items at home/hotel.
Safety issues
- Every ocean has currents, if you are not a strong swimmer, stay near the beach in shallow water, request a buoyancy vest, let our staff know.
- Stingers can be around all year, please wear a stinger suit, available on board for hire.
- The island has high tide and low tide, please confirm best snorkelling times with crew before departing the vessel.
Rather an adventure to the Great Barrier Reef?
With clear water, abundant fish life and friendly resident turtles, the Moore Reef pontoon is the ultimate destination to experience all that the outer reef has to offer. Included in your full day tour is snorkelling equipment, semi-submersible and glass bottom boat tours (subject to weather conditions), underwater observatory, touch tank presentations, tropical buffet lunch and 30-metre spiral waterslide.
More to see and do…
Frequently Asked Questions
Pontoon Activities
