Frankland Islands Reef Tour
Experience the Best of Cairns: The only River, Rainforest, and Reef Tour
Embark on a unique adventure to the stunning Frankland Islands, a tropical paradise located near Cairns. Our all-inclusive day tour offers the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration, making it the ideal choice for travellers seeking an unforgettable Cairns island getaway.
Your day with Frankland Islands Reef Tour starts as you board our air-conditioned coach from Cairns and travel south through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest, fields of sugar cane and past the iconic Walsh’s Pyramid – the highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world!
Enjoy a calm water river cruise down the Mulgrave River, followed by the shortest open water crossing of any of the Cairns day tours to Normanby Island, the most pristine island off Cairns and a gateway to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Frankland Islands Group offers the best snorkelling experience of all the islands near Cairns, Australia, thanks to its unique geographical location.
Frankland Islands Reef Cruises is the only commercial operator licensed to land on beautiful Normanby Island, so you can relax and explore with plenty of space and time. Plus, once you’re on the island, you can customise your day trip to suit your interests – our all-inclusive day tour has a fabulous range of optional activities to choose from.
Set off on an adventure snorkel safari guided by our marine biologist, explore the sea floor while staying dry on our semi-submarine tour with commentary, join our marine biologist for an informative guided island walk, go for a paddle with our kayaks or stand-up paddleboards and tuck into a delicious beachside buffet lunch – do as much or as little as you like, you’re on island time!
Once you’ve had enough vitamin-sea, reboard the Turtle Islander and enjoy your relaxing return to Cairns, arriving in the late afternoon.
Departure Information
- Tours depart daily
- Complimentary coach transfers from Cairns CBD hotels commence at 6:55 a.m.
- If you prefer to self-drive, please allow time for the drive and check in at Deeral by 8.15 a.m.
- The Turtle Islander departs Deeral at 8.30 a.m. and returns approximately 4.00 p.m.
Please note that tours may depart and return later than scheduled on certain dates due to tides. Customers travelling on these affected dates will be notified by our reservations team.
Frankland Islands Reef Cruises
All-Inclusive Day Tour Prices
Adult (17+)
$229
Child (16 and under)
$129
Family Pass (2AD and 2CH)
second child travels free!
$587
Includes a delicious island lunch and complimentary coach transfers from Cairns CBD hotels
River, Rainforest and Reef Activities
Six amazing adventures included in one perfect day
River Cruise
Step on board our luxurious boat the Turtle Islander at Deeral, just 45 minutes south of Cairns, for a spectacular calm water cruise down the Mulgrave River. Keep an eye out for crocodiles from the panoramic windows as you sit inside in air-conditioned comfort or step out onto the shaded outdoor decks for a closer look. From the mouth of the river, it’s only 10km to the Frankland Islands.
Semi-Submarine Tour
Discover the pristine coral reefs without getting your feet wet from the comfort of our semi-submarine. Take a guided tour of the reefs that surround the islands and learn about the Great Barrier Reef’s incredible ecosystem. Get up close and personal with fish, turtles and a diverse range of hard and soft corals.
Guided Island Walk
Join our marine biologist and Master Reef Guide for an informative and fascinating exploration of the island. Learn about the plants and animals that thrive within the shaded green rainforest interior, white sandy beaches and rock pools that surround the island. Our Guided Island Walk is carefully crafted to inspire curiosity and provide a hands-on learning experience for all ages.
Snorkelling
We have multiple snorkelling styles you can enjoy while on the island. Snorkel straight off the beach in our supervised area, or take part in either of our guided snorkel experiences.
Jump off the boat and snorkel back to Normanby Island, guided by our marine biologist as part of our Adventure Snorkel Safari. Or join our Guided Snorkel Tour where your marine guide will show you the best marine life and vibrant coral gardens.
Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Have a SUP-er day out on Frankland Islands – whether you’re a novice or an experienced paddleboarder, Frankland Islands is the perfect place to paddle the Great Barrier Reef.
We also have two-seater kayaks available for use during the day. Glide through the clear tropical waters and enjoy amazing views of the corals, fish and marine life below.
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 👌