6 Hours, Snorkel Or Glass Bottom

The Quicksilver Group sells this six hour Great Adventures option at Green Island with a choice of snorkel gear or the glass-bottom boat. It rates 4.1 across 335 reviews. Free cancellation applies.

Overview

This is a six hour day trip from Cairns to Green Island, run by The Quicksilver Group, with a fast catamaran transfer each way from the Reef Fleet Terminal. The core of the ticket is a choice: snorkelling gear, or a glass bottom boat tour over the reef. Beyond the water activity, the day is largely self directed. You can take a self guided island walk, use the island swimming pool that is exclusive to Great Adventures guests, and make use of the island day visitor facilities.

Check in happens at the Great Adventures counter inside the terminal at 1 Spence Street, and travellers need to collect a boarding pass there well before departure. Morning tea or coffee is served on the catamaran until it leaves Cairns. Hotel pickup and drop off are not part of the ticket, and optional activities are excluded.

The trip suits families, with reviewers who travelled with children describing good snorkelling and marine life, and others calling the boat crew friendly and attentive. Reviewers mention turtles, tropical fish, blue starfish and even reef sharks in the snorkelling area, though several note the coral near the island is not the bright reef of brochures. It is a relaxed day rather than a hardcore reef expedition, and the operator caps numbers at 300 travellers.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at CairnsCollect your boarding pass at the Great Adventures counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, 45 minutes before departure.
2. Fast catamaran to Green IslandReturn fast catamaran transfers from Cairns are included, with morning tea or coffee served onboard until departure.
3. Green Island National ParkYou spend 6 hours across the island and reef, with free admission. Use your included snorkelling equipment or take the glass bottom boat tour.
4. Great Barrier Reef activitySnorkel from the island or view the reef through the glass bottom boat. Optional activities are excluded from the ticket.
5. Island time and facilitiesTake a self guided island walk, use the swimming pool exclusive to Great Adventures guests, and the island day visitor facilities. Reviewers mention restaurants and food options on the island, plus showers and bathrooms.
6. Return to CairnsThe catamaran brings you back to the same meeting point at the Reef Fleet Terminal.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in traveller reviews and in the listing details.

• One activity included. The ticket covers either snorkelling gear or the glass bottom boat. Some reviewers suggest choosing the glass bottom boat option on the ticket and taking your own snorkel gear so you can do both.
• Manage reef expectations. Reviewers consistently report good marine life, including turtles, sharks and blue starfish, but many say the coral close to the island is poor or absent, with some finding little bright coral, and some found the water murky in poor weather. Expect a reef experience based around the island rather than the bright coral of brochures.
• Check in early. You must visit the Great Adventures counter inside the terminal to collect boarding passes before sailing, and one reviewer pointed out you have to go to the tour office to get the actual tickets ahead of the boat time. Arriving early avoids a rush before the boat leaves.
• Prepare for weather. Several travellers visited on wet or windy days and still enjoyed the glass bottom boat and island walks, with one choosing the glass bottom boat because of the wind. The operator notes the experience requires good weather, so conditions shape what the day is like.
• Food and extras. The island has restaurants and food outlets, and reviews are mixed on both price and service at one restaurant in particular. Optional activities are excluded from the ticket and cost extra.
• Pace and fitness. Snorkelling can be strenuous, and the operator recommends telling crew about any medical conditions.

Common issues. Several reviewers felt the coral visible from the island and the glass bottom boat fell short of expectations, with murky water on rough days, and some considered the island itself tired and in need of refurbishment. One reviewer put the glass bottom boat ride at around 15 minutes, and another wished they had booked an outer reef day trip instead. One reviewer also felt the cost of the island's crocodile exhibit was extreme. Weather matters too, since the experience requires good conditions, though you get a different date or a full refund if it is cancelled for weather. Hotel pickup is not included.

Choosing A Tour