Afternoon Half Day

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises runs this four hour afternoon half-day, with snorkel gear hire or a glass-bottom boat tour. It rates 4.3 across 473 reviews. Free cancellation applies.

Overview

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises runs this half-day afternoon trip out of Cairns, and the cruise runs about four hours from departure to return. You board a catamaran, cross to a coral cay that has been building itself for some 600 years, and get roughly two hours and 15 minutes on Green Island before the return sailing.

How you spend the island time is up to you. The booking options cover snorkel gear hire, a glass-bottom boat tour, a semi-submersible tour, or combinations of these, and there is a transfers-only option as well. Snorkellers can use the provided gear to view the marine life and reef up close, according to the listing. Dry options work too: the glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible keep you out of the water while still showing you the reef, and a self-guided walk through the island's forest is another way to fill the afternoon.

It is a relaxed format. Reviewers describe the crew as friendly and the commentary as informative, and one reviewer reported spotting a sea turtle while in the water. Hotel pickup in Cairns is not part of the package, so you make your own way to the departure point.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in CairnsMake your own way to the departure point, as hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The exact meeting point can vary depending on the option booked.
2. Catamaran crossingBoard the Big Cat catamaran and sail out to Green Island. Reviewers say the ride can be a little bumpy in windier weather but is manageable.
3. Time on Green IslandSpend around 2 hours and 15 minutes on the island. Choose between beach time, a self-guided rainforest walk, snorkeling off the beach, or your booked boat tour of the reef.
4. Reef viewingDepending on your option, use the snorkel equipment or take the glass-bottom boat or semi-submersible tour. The listing states the activity includes either snorkel gear rental or a glass-bottom boat tour, not both, unless a combined option is selected.
5. Return to CairnsReboard the catamaran for the sailing back to Cairns, completing the four-hour outing.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most from the afternoon, based on the listing and what recent travellers have reported.

• Getting there. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairns are not included, so plan your own transport to the departure point. The meeting point can vary depending on which option you book, so check the live booking page before you head out.
• What to bring. The listing asks you to bring a passport or ID card, swimwear and a towel. Food and drinks are not included either, so pack water and any snacks you want for the island.
• Time on the island. You get around 2 hours and 15 minutes on Green Island. Several reviewers said they would have liked more time there, and one suggested a full-day booking if a slower pace appeals.
• Sea conditions. Pack accordingly if you are prone to seasickness.
• Snorkel expectations. One reviewer found the coral area smaller than expected but still enjoyed the colourful coral and the rainbow fish and other small tropical fish, so set expectations at a pleasant inshore experience rather than an expansive dive site. Another described seeing tropical fish and a sea turtle in the water.
• Kids and families. One reviewer travelling with children reported they loved the glass-bottom boat experience. The listing's mix of boat viewing, beach time and walking options gives families several ways to fill the afternoon.

Common issues. The main complaint in recent reviews is time: several travellers wanted longer on the island, and the half-day format is the reason, not the operator. Weather is the other recurring factor, with wind making the crossing bumpy and one reviewer noting rain during part of the trip. One reviewer felt the glass-bottom boat segment was too brief and that an inexperienced operator slowed things down, a one-off account rather than a pattern. Hotel transfers and food are not included, and the base activity includes either snorkel gear or the glass-bottom boat tour, not both, unless you select a combined option.

Choosing A Tour