Discover Green Island: Rainforest Island and Reef

Coral Island Between Rainforest and Reef

Green Island is a small coral island covered in rainforest and surrounded by coral reefs. Nature, cultural significance and a range of ways to experience the underwater world shape a visit. You can choose between a helmet dive, snorkelling, boat tours and a walk around the island. When planning your trip, consider whether you would like to see corals and fish underwater, observe them from a boat or explore Green Island on foot.

Underwater and From the Boat

Seawalker Green Island offers an underwater helmet dive, where you walk along the seabed among tropical fish and corals. You do not need to operate any equipment, and non-swimmers are also welcome. Those considering this way of exploring underwater will find it a different experience from snorkelling or looking out from a boat.

At Green Island’s beach, you can snorkel in the clear, cool waters of the Great Barrier Reef. The day-use area also has a supervised section of beach for swimming. A hand-restored coral reef at Green Island is also used for snorkelling and diving. This gives you different ways to focus on viewing fish and corals in the water.

The 30-minute Glass Bottom Boat Tour takes you through Green Island’s underwater world and coral gardens. The tour includes fish feeding and commentary from the driver about the Great Barrier Reef’s corals and fish. The Semi-Submarine Tour lets you explore the underwater world without getting wet. These boat tours add a ride, rather than time in the water, to the ways of discovering the reef.

Wildlife and Coral Knowledge

Marineland Melanesia features up to 15 crocodiles, including freshwater and saltwater species, as well as two interactive animal shows. The number and variety of species give visitors a specific sense of what they can see there. The Coral Nursery offers another perspective: it provides information about coral biology and coral propagation and is available as an optional extra.

Walks and Cultural Significance

A 45-minute island walk takes you around Green Island, the only coral island in the Great Barrier Reef covered in rainforest. The island is home to 120 plant species and numerous birds. The walk offers a different perspective from viewing corals and fish in the water or from a boat.

Interpretive signs along the Green Island Boardwalk provide information about the island’s history and its significance to the Gunggandji people. Green Island and its reef have traditional and contemporary cultural significance for the Guru-Gulu Gungandji. These aspects are as much a part of the island as its rainforest and reef. In the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’s site-specific management arrangements, Green Island is designated a “Sensitive Location.”

Getting to Green Island

Regular ferry services run from the Reef Fleet Terminal on Spence Street in Cairns to Green Island; the crossing takes about 50 minutes. If Green Island is your destination, you can take this service into account when planning your accommodation and travel. The approximate journey time gives you an indication of the crossing without specifying a particular timetable.

Discover More Destinations

More destinations: Elliott Heads, Beenleigh, Dinmore, Ravenswood, Mackay, Tarong, Jimboomba and Childers.

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