The perfect island escape: How to do Green Island

It’s safe to say that there are no wrong decisions when it comes to choosing a Great Barrier Reef island for a tropical getaway. But there’s something extra special about Green Island, just off the coast of Cairns.

Out of the 300 sand cays on the Great Barrier Reef, it’s the only one with a rainforest, and teems with a diverse range of flora and fauna. Plus, you’ll rest soundly sleeping in the island’s beautiful eco-friendly resort.

If you’re dreaming of an island escape, this Green Island guide has everything you need to help make your decision to stay here easy.

What's special about Green Island?

While only 12 hectares in size, Green Island is surrounded by 710 hectares of spectacular reef. Formed around 6,000 years ago, the island is made up of sand sediments, animal and coral deposits.

Green Island is also an island of many firsts. It was the first island national park in Queensland and its surrounding foreshore and reef were the first protected marine area. The world’s first underwater observatory opened on Green Island in 1954 and in 1961, The Barrier Reef Theater became the first movie theatre on an island (it closed down in the early 1990s).

Green Island Resort is also a leader in sustainable practices, going above and beyond to reduce its footprint in its stunning patch of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. 

How to get to Green Island 

Green Island is a popular day trip option from Cairns, not just because of what awaits you 27km off the mainland’s shore, but because it’s so quick and easy to get to with the Green Island ferry. After just 45 minutes aboard one of Great Adventures’ modern catamarans, you’ll be sinking your toes into the pristine white sand beaches of this Great Barrier Reef island. The fast catamaran transfer departs Cairns twice a day at 8:30am and 10:30am. If you’re staying on Green Island, your transfer is included in your room rate.

If you prefer to make a big entrance, then you can splurge on a helicopter transfer from Cairns or Cairns Airport.

Green Island accommodation

There’s only one option for accommodation on Green Island, but it has everything you need for a relaxing island escape.

Affordable yet luxurious, Green Island Resort offers four-and-a-half star service with 46 suites that all have their own private balcony with front-row seats to the surrounding lush rainforest. Families can fit up to four people in the Island Suite Twin Rooms, while couples can choose between the Island Suite King Rooms or the more spacious Reef Suite Rooms.

It’s not just you who will be treated well during your stay: Green Island Resort is one of Australia’s most eco-friendly resorts. Home to some of Australia’s most innovative waste management practices, the resort converts its food waste into a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser and its glass bottle rubbish into sand. The resort has also banned the use of plastic straws and single-use plastic shopping bags. Instead of capturing rainwater for use on the island, it is left to naturally nourish the island’s rainforest.

Solar energy helps generate over one-quarter of all the island’s infrastructure energy needs, helping to power the resort, tertiary sewage treatment plant and desalination plant, the Research Station, Telstra Tower, and Marineland Melanesia. 

Where to eat and drink

For a small island, you’re surprisingly spoilt for choices when it comes to wining and dining on Green Island. The five-star Emeralds Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner - and features a menu based on locally sourced produce. The Canopy Grill keeps things casual with an à la carte lunch menu, while The Cafe will keep you fuelled for activities with snacks and barista coffee from 9.30am to 4pm daily. 

If you want to dine outdoors, pick up a freshly prepared gourmet hamper and find a secluded spot on the beach for a picnic. Those wanting to take advantage of Green Island's romantic setting can arrange a private seafood spread for two on the beach at sunset.

In case you weren’t feeling spoilt enough, once all the day trippers have gone home it’s time to pop the bubbly with complimentary sunset drinks at 5.15pm.

Top things to do on Green Island

A day trip to Green Island will give you a good taste of what makes this island special, but you’re better off staying for at least a few days to really experience all the natural beauty and activities that Green Island has to offer.

Snorkelling and scuba diving

Fringed by the Great Barrier Reef, you don’t need to travel far for great snorkelling on Green Island. There are over 190 different types of hard corals and over 100 types of soft corals surrounding the island. Just take a few steps off the beach to snorkel the coral reef, or stick closer to the jetty to spot turtles and dugongs feeding amongst the seagrass.

First-time scuba divers can learn to dive in the resort’s swimming pool before venturing out into the open sea off the island’s shore. More experienced divers will love exploring the small coral bommie known as the Pinnacle just one kilometre from Green Island.

Unique to Green Island, you can also do a helmet dive with Seawalker Green Island. With no scuba diving experience needed, you can explore the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef and walk amongst the tropical fish and colourful coral - breathing via oxygen supplied by the helmet, no snorkel required.

Water activities

While there's no denying you'll want to dive right into the warm tropical water for a splash and soak, resort guests have access to an array of water activities and non-motorised beach equipment.Rent a canoe or kayak to explore further off-shore, or find your own special spot to bliss out for a few hours. 

If you prefer to stay dry - on land and water

Green Island’s beauty isn’t limited to the water. Head off on a self-guided eco walk through the Green Island National Park. Along the easy 45-minute walking track, keep an eye out for the 134 species of plant life and array of 35 seabird species and 28 species of forest birds that call Green Island home. To learn more about the island’s history and flora and fauna, the resort offers a guided walk along the boardwalk every day. Depending on the time of year, you can also watch sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach during a guided night walk.

Just a short stroll from the jetty is Marineland Melanesia, where you can meet the world’s largest crocodile living in captivity, Cassius, who is more than 110 years old. Marineland also has an aquarium, 50 or so more crocodiles, and one of the world’s largest private collections of primitive art and marine artifacts.

If you want to spend some time on the water without getting wet, the resort offers complimentary glass-bottom tours for its guests. You’ll head out over the fringing reef, where you can get a snorkeller’s view of all the colourful marine life without ever dipping your toe in the water.

Green Island tours

For those who only have time for a day trip, check out these options for Green Island tours:

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises offers half day tours and full day tours to Green Island. On your trip, you can snorkel, dive, see the reef from a semi submarine or glass bottom boat, or spend your day on the white sandy shores of Green Island.

If you want to explore Green Island at your leisure, then jump aboard Great Adventures Reef and Green Island Cruises’ fast catamaran. You’ll get dropped off on the island and left to choose your own adventures for the day, before hopping back on board and travelling from Green Island to Cairns in the afternoon.

Want to tick more Great Barrier Reef islands off your bucket list? These Great Barrier Reef island resorts are worth leaving the mainland for. Or, check out these Queensland islands for a weekend escape.