Frankland Islands National Park
An unspoiled natural paradise on the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef’s Frankland Group National Park is an archipelago located 10km offshore, about 45km south-east of Cairns. The group’s five continental islands (Normanby, High, Russell, Round and Mabel) are part of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
All the islands are uninhabited and surrounded by healthy fringing reefs, full of hard and soft corals, giant clams, schools of fish, turtles, rays and more. Dugongs and whales are often sighted here, and during the months of May and June, manta rays visit the shallow fringing reefs around the islands where you can see them above and below the surface.
High, Normanby, Mabel, and Round Islands were declared a National Park in 1936, to protection the natural environment. The surrounding waters were included in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in 1983, ensuring the conservation of the marine ecosystem. Today the islands are highly regarded as a leading example of marine management.
Normanby Island in the Frankland Islands Group provides some of the best snorkelling of all the islands near Cairns thanks to its unique geographical location. It rises from sea level, peaking at 20 metres high. It’s a continental island, which is home to rainforest vegetation, as well as coastal species. Cool water channels surround the islands, keeping sea temperatures cooler during the hot summer months.
The islands were named by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, in honour of two 18th-century sailors, Lord of the Admiralty and his nephew, both named Sir Thomas Frankland.
A lighthouse was built on Russell Island in 1929. Today, bush camping is available on Russell Island and High Island, which must be booked in advance. Camping on Russell Island can be arranged by getting a permit from the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science with transfers offered by Frankland Island Reef Tours.
Frankland Group National Park
Fun facts about this beautiful national park
The Frankland Islands Group was once part of a coastal mountain range, which was separated from mainland Australia by an increase in sea levels over 6000 years ago.
200 species of coral can be found around Normanby and Mabel islands (out of 600 total species in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park)
The islands are home to sereval species of endangered rare fauna such as the green turtle, hawksbill turtle, spectacled flying-fox, and beach stone-curlews.
There are two rare jewel-blue sea anemones right off the beaches on the north and west sides of Normanby Island, where you'll likely see some resident clownfish hanging out at home!
The crew was so friendly and everything was well organized! Pick up & drop off were timely. They had so much gear and we saw so much wildlife.
A fun day with lots to do and a very friendly and helpful crew. Enjoyed all the activities. The snorkelling was great, all the gear was provided and one crew even swam with us and took us out to see the reef as we weren’t very confident and are not very good swimmers. The semi submarine was beautiful and we saw a turtle and a sting ray. And finally the island walk – very interesting and informative. All in all a great experience and a big thanks to the crew.
Amazing day out on the reef so many turtles and fish to see the staff are amazing they know exactly where to look for things and let you know. Day is well run and organised friendly and helpful staff made the day one to remember.
Absolutely loved my experience with Frankland Island Tours! From start to finish, it was a fantastic day. The staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome right away. Our guides, were amazing! They were so knowledgeable about the reef, the island, and all the marine life. We learned so much and had a great time doing it.
The island itself is stunning, and the snorkeling was out of this world. We saw so many colorful fish and even a few turtles! Everything was well-organized and ran smoothly, which made the whole day relaxing and enjoyable. If you’re looking for a great day trip in the Cairns area, I highly recommend Frankland Island Tours! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Truly Cairns hidden gem… knowledgeable and friendly staff all inclusive .. absolutely pristine..turtles baby sharks so much marine life large fish and variety of coral .. food was lovely .. very good value for money .. not a huge day ..felt relaxing ..even W kids 😉
Our experience with Frankland Islands Cruises was absolutely incredible! The staff were remarkably knowledgeable, helpful, fun, and full of energy, making the entire day a joy from start to finish.
We’re so glad we chose this cruise over the others—it was perfect for families and packed with activities! Snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking—we did it all! Swimming with turtles, countless fish, and seeing the vibrant coral up close was simply unforgettable.
Lunch was delicious and exactly what we needed after such an action-packed day.
This has truly been the highlight of our trip, and we can’t thank the amazing staff enough for making it so special. Highly recommend Frankland Islands Cruises!
Despite some showers and a thunderstorm during lunch, it was an excellent day for my two kids and I. We much prefer this experience over the outer reef because the water was calmer and easier for the kids to handle. Plenty of marine life to see. Staff were great. We did not partake in the glass boat tour or the island walk because my kids wanted to stay on the beach, snorkel, and kayak. You can customize your experience to suit your desires. Thank you Frankland Island Reef Cruises for a memorable day!
Great tour. Worth the money. The crew makes sure that everyone finds the right activity. The equipment is sufficient. The activities are well planned. I would absolutely recommend the tour.
This tour was the highlight of our holiday and the best snorkeling to be had outside of the outer Great Barrier Reef. We saw clown fish living in bright blue anemones, a reef shark, turtles and a bright yellow box fish. Conditions were very calm and clear on the day we went. It was like swimming my in an aquarium.
Staff were professional and helpful and food was great. There were even beach games for young children.
We loved our day on a tropical island, admiring the views, snorkeling, swimming and stand up paddle boarding.
Undoubtedly one of the best island trip, if not the best. To begin with, once you are picked up by the bus, the bus ride to the ferry is unbelievably beautiful. With mountains and sugar cane fields. The ferry ride on the river and sea is smooth and not bumpy which keeps sea sickness away.
The island itself is a Virgin island. You will have semi submarine tours and snorkeling. Beginners will have guides on water. The underwater coral view is truly amazing. The staff is super friendly and will take good care. Highly recommend 👌