Explore stunning islands near Cairns and decide which tropical island to visit on the Great Barrier Reef. Find out how to get there and what to see on each island.
The Coral Coast in Far North Queensland is a place where the rainforest and reef come together. It’s one of the most beautiful and diverse spots in Australia.
Queensland has more than 900 tropical islands, and some of the best ones are just off the coast of Cairns. The most popular islands here are Fitzroy Island and Green Island.
What Are the Top Islands to Visit Close to Cairns?
Cairns offers a range of nearby islands and spots for various activities. Here is a breakdown for you to choose according to your next trip.
Islands Near Cairns: Fitzroy Island, Double Island, Green Island
Best Spots for Snorkelling and Diving: Frankland Islands, Vlasoff Cay
Great Islands for a Road Trip: Dunk Island, Low Isles
Top Places to See Birds: Michaelmas Cay, Green Island
Healthiest Coral Reef: Frankland Islands
| Attractions | Distance from Cairns | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Island | Cairns Northern Beaches | ~23 km | Private resort amenities |
| Green Island | Snorkelling, beaches, rainforest | ~27 km | Green Island Resort |
| Vlasoff Cay | Quiet sand cay, shallow snorkelling | ~27 km | No overnight stay |
| Fitzroy Island | Snorkelling, beaches, and turtles | ~29 km | Fitzroy Island Resort |
| Michaelmas Cay | Bird sanctuary, excellent snorkelling | ~40 km | No overnight stay |
| Frankland Islands | Healthy coral reef, snorkelling | ~45 km | Camping |
| The Low Isles | Snorkelling, historic lighthouse | ~67 km | No overnight stay |
| Dunk Island | Rainforest trails, vibrant reefs | ~150 km | Camping |
| Lizard Island | Luxury retreat, world-class diving | ~240 km | Lizard Island Resort |
1. Fitzroy Island
Reasons to visit:Great for hiking, relaxing on coral beaches, and sea kayaking. You can also visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Center.
Distance from Cairns: About 30 km (18.6 miles) away, usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour by ferry.
Where to stay: Fitzroy Island Resort.
Just a short trip from Cairns, Fitzroy Island is a beautiful tropical getaway. If you don’t have much time and want a quick island visit, Fitzroy is perfect—it’s only a 45-minute boat ride away.
You can spend the day or even stay overnight at the Fitzroy Island Resort if you like.
For those who enjoy hiking, there are several trails, including one that leads to the island’s highest point- The Fitzroy Island Summit, offering stunning views of the Cairns coastline.
Next up is Green Island. Since both are popular spots, check out our comparison guide of Fitzroy Island vs. Green Island to help you decide!
Here’s how to reach the Fitzroy Island
The stunning Fitzroy Island is just a quick 45-minute ferry ride from the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal. This makes it the closest and easiest Great Barrier Reef Island to reach from Cairns.
Some popular ferries to the island are the Fitzroy Flyer, Sunlover, and Fitzroy Island Adventures.
2. Green Island
Reasons to visit: Amazing snorkeling, multiple beaches, and a rainforest in the middle.
Distance from Cairns: Around 27 km (16.7 miles) from Cairns, with a 45-minute ferry ride.
Accommodation: Green Island Resort.
Green Island is a very popular spot near Cairns. It’s close to the coast, and a quick boat ride takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
The main attractions include snorkeling at the beautiful reef and “the pinnacle”. You can also walk around the island to see the tropical plants and relax on the white-sand beaches.
Green Island is special because it has its own rainforest, making it a unique place to visit. However, it can get quite busy, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Here’s how to reach the Green Island
Getting to Green Island is easy because there are several ferry options that leave from Cairns Harbour every day. Each option has different features and prices.
The best value is a fast-catamaran sailing and snorkelling trip. It includes everything you need for a fun day on the island, such as:
- Free access to the glass-bottom boat on Green Island
- Use of the air-conditioned boat and time to explore the island
- Flexible times: The earliest trip starts at 8:30 am, and the latest return is at 4:30 pm.
3. Frankland Islands
Why visit:Amazing snorkelling, very healthy reef, includes a river cruise
Distance from Cairns: About 45 km (28 miles) south of Cairns, with a boat ride that may take up to 2 hours, depending on where you leave from
Accommodation: Camping only available
The Frankland Islandsare a bit farther from Cairns than some other islands, but they are a must-see when visiting Tropical North Queensland!
This group of islands includes High Island, Russel Island, Mabel Island, Round Island, and Normanby Island.
These islands aren’t as busy as others in the area, but trust me, they’re incredible. After snorkelling around all the islands, I found the reef at Normanby Island to be the healthiest of them all!
Here’s how to reach the Frankland Islands
To get to the Frankland Islands, you have two choices: join a guided tour or go on your own.
If you have a boat, you can drive 45 kilometers south-east of Cairns to the town of Deeral. Here, you’ll find boat ramps on the Mulgrave River and Russell River where you can launch your boat. From there, it’s a 30-minute ride to the islands, making it the shortest ocean crossing to the Great Barrier Reef.
The easier option is to join Frankland Island Reef Cruises. They’re the only company with a permit to visit Normanby Island and take small groups of up to 50 people. You can also book a transfer-only if you’d prefer to enjoy some quiet time on the beach.
4. Michaelmas Cay
Reasons to visit: This island is part of the outer reef and is great for snorkeling and diving. It’s also known for its many seabirds.
Distance from Cairns: Around 40 km, and it usually takes 2 hours by boat.
Accommodation: No places to stay overnight, just day trips.
If you’re looking to explore more of the outer Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the perfect spot. It’s one of the top places in Australia to reach the reef, with stunning islands and reef cays nearby.
Michaelmas Cay is one of the best cays on the outer reef. The snorkelling and diving around this island are amazing and, in my opinion, just as impressive as the Frankland Islands.
While there’s not much to do on land at Michaelmas Cay, the real adventure is underwater. Bird lovers will also enjoy watching the sea birds that return to nest here every afternoon.
Here’s how to reach the Michaelmas Cay
Michaelmas Cay isn’t often visited by fast ferries. Instead, it’s mostly popular with private boat owners and some catamaran tours.
However, Ocean Spirit offers a trip that includes island hopping, diving, and snorkeling. This tour costs around $250 for the day, and it takes about 2 hours to reach the cay.
5. The Low Isles
Why visit: The shallow lagoons are great for snorkeling and spotting birds. You can also see an old lighthouse.
Distance from Cairns: Around 67 km (42 miles) north of Cairns, near Port Douglas. You can get there by boat in 1-1.5 hours or take a 15-minute speedboat.
Accommodation: There are no places to stay on the island. It’s best to stay in Port Douglas and visit for the day.
The Low Isles are closer to Port Douglas than Cairns, but they’re still a great island trip from Cairns. Since Port Douglas is only an hour away, it’s worth visiting for a day.
The Low Isles consist of two small islands: Low Island and Woody Island. Woody Island is a bird sanctuary, so only Low Island is open for visitors.
On Low Island, you can see a beautiful lighthouse and explore a large coral reef. While the snorkeling here isn’t as impressive as Green Island, it’s still a fantastic spot on the Great Barrier Reef that you shouldn’t miss!
Here’s how to reach the The Low Isles
You can join a guided snorkelling or sailing trip on a catamaran, or take the Reef Sprinter, a super fast speed boat that gets you to the Low Isles from Port Douglas in just 15 minutes!
6. Vlasoff Cay
Reasons to visit: A quiet, sandy island on the Great Barrier Reef with excellent shallow snorkelling.
Distance from Cairns: Around 27 km from Cairns, reached by boat in 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the weather.
Accommodation: No places to stay.
Vlasoff Cay is one of the most well-known spots on the Great Barrier Reef, near Cairns. It’s often featured in travel ads because it’s such a beautiful and picture-perfect spot with its bright white sand.
It’s about the same size as Michaelmas Cay and offers great snorkeling, but without the large number of seabirds.
Here’s how to reach the Vlasoff Cay
Getting to the outer Great Barrier Reef islands and cays can be a bit tricky because many tours change their plans based on the weather and other boats.
This means visiting places like Vlasoff Cay often depends on luck and where the tour goes that day.
But don’t worry—if you book an outer reef trip, especially with Down Under Cruise & Dive, you’ll still enjoy the beauty of the outer reef, no matter which spot they choose.
7. Double Island
Reason to visit: A quiet, small island near Cairns’ Northern Beaches.
Distance from Cairns: Only 23 km (14.3 miles) from Cairns, with a quick 10-minute boat ride from Palm Cove.
Accommodation: Private resort with all the needed facilities.
Double Island, located just 23 km (14.3 miles) north of Cairns, is a small, exclusive getaway near Palm Cove. Accessible by a short 10-minute boat ride, this private island offers a peaceful retreat with stunning views of the Coral Sea.
Known for its quiet and serene atmosphere, it’s a perfect escape for those seeking relaxation away from the hustle of the mainland. With private resort facilities available, Double Island provides a unique blend of natural beauty and comfort, making it a hidden gem of Cairns’ Northern Beaches.
8. Dunk Island
Reasons to visit: Beautiful rainforest walks, colorful coral reefs for snorkeling, and a special sand spit.
Distance from Cairns: About 150 km (93 miles) south of Cairns, with a 25-minute fast ferry from Mission Beach.
Accommodation: Dunk Island Resort used to be here but is now closed. Camping is still available.
One of my favorite islands near Cairns is Dunk Island, located south of Cairns and accessible from Mission Beach.
On the island, you’ll find an old airstrip, walking trails, great spots for snorkeling, and a long sandbar. There’s also an abandoned resort, left empty since Cyclone Yassi hit in 2011.
If you want to camp overnight, you can get a camping permit online. Make sure to get it before you leave because the internet signal, especially on the far side of the island, can be weak. You can camp near the jetty on Dunk Island Spit.
Here’s how to reach the Dunk Island
Dunk Island is a favorite spot for locals from Innisfail and Mission Beach, as well as backpackers and travelers who visit Tropical North Queensland each year.
Although there aren’t many options to reach Dunk Island from Cairns, you can take the MyRoo Ferry X from Mission Beach. The return trip costs $75 and takes about 25 minutes from Clump Point Boat Ramp to Dunk Island’s main jetty.
