Green Island or Fitzroy Island: Which is Better?
Are you wondering whether Green Island or Fitzroy Island is the best island to visit from Cairns, Australia?
You’re not alone, many travellers compare Green Island vs Fitzroy Island when planning a Great Barrier Reef getaway, and the good news is, you really can’t go wrong. Both islands offer crystal-clear water, coral reefs, and lush rainforest scenery, just a short ferry ride from Cairns.
After visiting Fitzroy Island and Green Island myself, I can honestly say both are stunning, with great opportunities for swimming, snorkelling, and exploring the reef.
Green Island or Fitzroy Island
Honestly, it’s a tough choice, both are spectacular in their own way. I enjoyed visiting both islands, but if I had to pick a favourite, I’d choose Fitzroy Island.
Having said that, I loved the Green Island day trip and especially the reef flight over the island. I was travelling solo in Cairns and Green Island is most popular with couples and families who want to enjoy the resort facilities and the beach.
Fitzroy Island also has resort accommodation, and is ideal for travellers who want more adventure with hiking trails, camping in the National Park, snorkelling straight off the beach, and a more natural, laid-back atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that I absolutely love!
Green Island, is smaller, more developed and more commercial, while Fitzroy Island is larger, wilder and more rugged. Both islands offer pristine beaches, lush rainforest, and vibrant coral reefs. Both are easily accessible and the cost of a day trip is also quite similar.
So, when it comes to Green Island vs Fitzroy Island, which is better really depends on your travel style and what you’re looking for.
In this article I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each and share my personal experiences and opinions to help you decide whether Green Island or Fitzroy Island is the best choice for your tropical island escape.
**NOTE** I paid for my Green Island Fly and Cruise Package and my Fitzroy Island day trip and I’m under no obligation to write this Green Island or Fitzroy comparison. I had a great time and simply want to share that with you.
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Green Island or Fitzroy Island Tours
I booked a Green Island Fly & Cruise package and had an amazing day flying over Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef in a small aeroplane and catching the ferry to Green island from Cairns. I loved this Green Island day trip and you can find out more about my experiences in my Green Island day trip review.
I booked my ferry transfer to Fitzroy Island with Fitzroy Island Adventures
08:30 am – 4:30 pm from Cairns Marlin Wharf
Cost: A$95 + snorkel hire A$15 – $30
Other Tours to Green Island
Other companies that will take you to Green Island include:
Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises – Lunch & snorkelling are included
Cost: A$109
Great Adventure Reef & Island Cruises – Snorkelling or a glass-bottom boat tour is included
Optional activities: scuba diving; offshore boat snorkel trips; seawalker helmet diving; canoe, windsurf, and beach volleyball hire; scenic helicopter flights
Cost: A$122
Other Tours to Fitzroy Island
Sunlover Catamaran transfer departs daily at 9:30 am from Cairns Marlin Marina
Cost: A$105 + snorkel hire $15 – $30 / picnic lunch / glass bottom boat
The Fitzroy Island Flyer: a ferry transfer that departs three times daily from the island for Cairns.
Cost: A$105 + snorkel hire
Green Island or Fitzroy Island: How to get there
The best way to get to Fitzroy or Green Island is to fly to Cairns and catch a ferry. Fitzroy Island or Green Island are both easily accessible from Cairns Marlin Wharf. Different departure times offer flexibility for a full day or a half day on either Green Island or Fitzroy Island.
The ferry transfer takes around 45 minutes to either island from Cairns.
Cairns and the offshore islands are more than 1,700 kilometres (20+ hours by road) from Brisbane and 2,400 kilometres ( 27+ hours) from Sydney.
Fitzroy Island vs Green Island Pros & Cons
| Green Island Pros | Fitzroy Island Pros |
| Stunning tropical island covered by rainforest | Stunning tropical island covered by rainforest |
| Green Island Resort with cafes & restaurants | A larger island that feels less crowded |
| Resort pool available | Fitzroy Island Resort with Foxy’s bar, restaurant & general store |
| Lockers & toilets are available | Lockers & toilets are available |
| Coral Reef with good snorkelling | Coral Reef with good snorkelling |
| Turtles & dugong on the reef | Turtles on the reef |
| Cassius the crocodile lives at the resort zoo | Turtle Rehabilitation Centre |
| Beautiful small sandy beaches | Beautiful beaches |
| Lifeguards patrol the main beach | Nudey Beach: named Australia’s best beach (2018) |
| shallow water on the main beach is good for kids | Water activities like swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, diving |
| Glass bottom boat & reef tours are available | Glass bottom boat & reef tours are available |
| Flat island with accessible paths | Lookouts and panoramic Viewpoints |
| Boardwalk around the island | Hiking trails |
| Helicopter pad | Lighthouse |
| Water activities like swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, diving | The Fitzroy Island resort is less expensive than Green Island |
| Popular with families | Camping is possible at the Fitzroy Island campground |
| Green island Cons | Fitzroy Island Cons |
| A small island that gets crowded with day visitors | Coral beaches that are hard to walk on & uncomfortable for sunbathing or sitting |
| Green Island Resort is expensive | Limited access by ferry |
| A small flat island with less to do | Island facilities are basic |
| Takes only 1 hour to walk around the island | Internet is patchy |
| Very built up – the resort takes up a lot of the island | |
| Limited access by ferry | |
| No campsite | |
| No hiking trails | |
| No viewpoints | |
| A lot of Seagrass in the water around the island | |
Fitzroy Island or Green Island: My experience
I loved visiting both islands and spent a day exploring each island from Cairns.
Green Island Day Trip
My Green Island day trip was absolutely incredible! The adventure started early with a hotel pickup in Cairns and a scenic reef flight over the Great Barrier Reef and Green Island in a small aircraft. The weather couldn’t have been better, clear blue skies and sunshine meant the aerial views of the reef were nothing short of breathtaking.
After the flight, I was dropped at the Cairns wharf in time to catch the late ferry to Green Island. I arrived just in time for a buffet lunch on board the Big Cat, which was moored at the jetty. It was windy when I arrived, so windy, that my sun hat took off across the wharf and I had to chase it!
After lunch, I followed the shaded path down to the beach, which was busy with people relaxing on the sand and cooling off in the shallow water. The sea was calm and crystal clear, and there was even a lifeguard patrolling, though he seemed more interested in chatting with the girls in bikinis behind me than watching the water!
I tried snorkelling straight off the beach. The water was beautifully warm and shallow, though there was quite a bit of seagrass. I spotted a few colourful fish darting around, but not much else. I’ve heard that the best snorkelling on Green Island is around the wharf area, where sea turtles are often seen, but I wasn’t that lucky on this visit.
After drying off, I grabbed a coffee from the resort kiosk and wandered around the island. The Green Island Resort takes up a fair portion of the island, with a pool, restaurant, bar, and plenty of facilities including change rooms, lockers, and activity hire.
It felt a bit resort-heavy for my taste, but I loved escaping into the shaded boardwalk trail through the rainforest. The walk led to quieter beaches on the far side of the island, where it felt peaceful and quiet.
Since Green Island is quite small, half a day was plenty of time to explore. Between the reef flight, ferry cruise, and beach time, the Green Island Fly & Cruise package turned out to be an amazing way to experience both the air and sea views of the Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkel gear, lunch, and transfers were all included in an easy, and truly memorable day trip from Cairns.
Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns
My Fitzroy Island day trip began early with a ferry transfer from Cairns on the 8:30 a.m. service operated by Fitzroy Island Adventures.
The queue at Marlin Wharf was long but well organised, and once on board, I grabbed a seat upstairs on the open deck to enjoy the views. Snorkel gear was available for hire on the boat, with plenty of time to get organised before arriving on the island.
The ferry ride took around 45 minutes, and as we approached Fitzroy Island, I was completely blown away by its beauty. The turquoise water shimmered in the sunlight, the coral beach was lined with palm trees, and the lush green rainforest spilled almost to the shoreline.
It was a true tropical island paradise on the Great Barrier Reef, calm, clear, and absolutely stunning.
We docked at beautiful Welcome Bay, where the Fitzroy Island Resort nestles discreetly among the trees, just steps from the beach. Although there were lots of people on the ferry, most quickly dispersed to explore different parts of the island, so it didn’t feel crowded for long.
I hung out Welcome Bay for a while, soaking up the scenery and grabbing a morning coffee from Foxy’s Bar & Café, a laid-back beachside spot with a relaxed vibe.
Next, I followed the rainforest trail to Nudey Beach. Despite the name, it’s not a nude beach! This secluded cove was named Australia’s Best Beach in 2018, and it’s easy to see why. The 10–15 minute walk through the rainforest opens up to a stunning small bay with white coral sand, turquoise water, and dramatic rocky headlands.
I spent some time there relaxing and taking photos before heading back to Welcome Bay for lunch.
After a sandwich from the kiosk, I decided to tackle the lighthouse trail, one of Fitzroy Island’s best hikes. The track climbs steeply through the rainforest and offers breathtaking views along the way.
It’s a challenging walk at times, but at the lighthouse I was rewarded with sweeping views of the Coral Sea and the trail continues up to the summit lookout for more panoramic views of the island.
After the hike, I grabbed my snorkel gear and cooled off with a swim. There’s a toilet block that doubles as a changeroom, plus lockers nearby. The reef off Welcome Bay near the rocks was full of life, with colourful coral and schools of tropical fish just metres from the shore. The coral here was vibrant, and I spotted schools of fish gliding through the reef.
Personally, I found the snorkelling on Fitzroy Island better than on Green Island with more coral and colourful fish. However, the beach is mostly coral rubble, which makes walking barefoot tricky and a bit painful, and getting into the water with flippers was a hilarious challenge!
It was easy to spend a full day on Fitzroy Island, with plenty to do from hiking, swimming, snorkelling, or simply relaxing by the sea. Between Green Island or Fitzroy Island, I’d say Fitzroy wins for adventure and natural beauty, and I’d go back in a heartbeat.
Green Island or Fitzroy Island Accommodation
If you’re dreaming of spending a few days relaxing in a tropical island paradise you can stay on either Green Island or Fitzroy Island and find what you’re looking for. Both islands offer comfortable resort accommodations in an idyllic setting.
The Green Island Resort is an upmarket luxury retreat and, of the two islands, it’s the more expensive option for an overnight stay. The resort provides comfortable 4.5-star accommodations and gets exceptional reviews.
All rooms have Wi-Fi and are beautifully appointed and house guests have their own area and pool that’s secluded from day visitors.
Green Island is an ideal choice for a romantic getaway and the best time of day is when the day trippers leave, and you have the island to yourself. It’s the perfect place to relax in style and enjoy island sunrises and sunsets on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Fitzroy Island Resort is also very popular and offers 4-star accommodation with a pool but make sure you book ahead. The newer rooms, suites, bungalows and beach cabins offered by the resort often book out months in advance. The atmosphere is idyllic, relaxed and family-friendly.
Near the resort on Fitzroy Island, there’s a campsite that backs onto the forest and you can pitch your tent in the National Park just metres from the beach. The campsite is close to the jetty and has cold showers, toilets and an outdoor kitchen area (campfires are not permitted).
The campground is managed by the Fitzroy Island Resort and you can book online.
Best Time to Go
If you’re planning to visit Fitzroy Island or Green Island, the best time to go is from May to October. During winter the weather is warm enough for swimming and the water is a balmy 25°C.
Visibility is good for snorkelling and diving on the Great Barrier Reef and there’s less rain in the winter months. In the shoulder seasons, April to May and September to October there are fewer tourists and accommodation is less expensive.
Is Green Island or Fitzroy Island better?
So, is Green Island or Fitzroy Island better? Honestly, it’s a hard call. I enjoyed visiting both islands, and both are a great day trip from Cairns. But Fitzroy Island was my favourite.
I loved the sense of adventure there, the walking trails, the rainforest hikes, the viewpoints, and the incredible snorkelling. The Fitzroy Island Resort is more affordable, and there’s even a campsite for budget travellers. I’d go back in a flash.
That said, I absolutely loved the Green Island Fly & Cruise package. Flying over the Great Barrier Reef in a small plane was an unforgettable experience, and seeing Green Island from the air before exploring it on foot made for a truly special day. It’s a fantastic introduction to the reef, and the package includes everything, flights, ferry, lunch, and snorkelling gear.
If you’re after luxury and romance, an overnight stay on Green Island is magical once the day-trippers leave. The resort is elegant and peaceful, and you’ll have the beach almost to yourself at sunrise or sunset.
The reality is, there’s no wrong choice. You’ll have an amazing time swimming, snorkelling, and relaxing on either Green or Fitzroy Island.
For the record, my best cairns island snorkelling was in the Low Isles near Port Douglas. I saw turtles, a reef shark and lots of colour fish and coral. And the outer reef also offers a fantastic Great Barrier Reef experience.
Final Thoughts on Green Island or Fitzroy Island
But, in my comparison Fitzroy Island vs Green Island, Fitzroy Island wins. It’s wilder, quieter, and offers more to explore beyond the main beach, perfect for anyone who loves nature and adventure and ideal to explore on a day trip from Cairns.
Of course, that’s just my take! Whether Fitzroy or Green Island is better depends on your personal travel style. So why not visit both and decide for yourself? Let me know which island you preferred in the comments below !
**NOTE** I paid for my Green Island Fly and Cruise Package and my Fitzroy Island day trip . I’m under no obligation to write this Green Island or Fitzroy comparison. I had a great time visiting both islands and simply want to share that with you.
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