Mulgrave River Cruise
From the rainforest to the reef
Nestled in the heart of Far North Queensland, the Mulgrave River system stretches 70 kilometres in land and is the departure point for cruises out to the Coral Sea and the pristine Frankland Islands.
Our short, 6km river journey begins and ends at our private jetty located just opposite the small community of Deeral. After the check-in process is complete, you can enjoy morning tea onboard the Turtle Islander with tea, coffee and biscuits. After casting off, enjoy a relaxing journey through the tranquil waterways towards the river mouth and then out to the Frankland Group National Park.
The Mulgrave River’s lush ecosystem supports a diverse range of creatures, both above and below the water’s surface. You are likely to see Kingfisher birds darting around the water’s edge and many other wading birds who feed along the river bank.
Keep your eyes peeled for the more camouflaged and formidable river residents such as the saltwater crocodile. These apex predators blend in perfectly with their dark grey colour making them almost invisible when resting along the river bank. Crocodiles inhabit the waterways throughout Far North Queensland including rivers, creeks, swamps and lagoons.
Enjoy the river view from the Turtle Islander’s panoramic windows as you sit inside in air-conditioned comfort, or step out onto the shaded outdoor decks for a closer look. The Frankland Islands Reef Cruises crew will be on hand to help point out any interesting flora and fauna and share any fun facts about the journey along the way.
During the return journey, an afternoon tea of tea, coffee, and cakes, served with a side of croc-spotting!
Enjoy the river cruise experience as part of our All-Inclusive day tour
Adult (17+)
$229
Child (16 and under)
$129
Family Pass (2AD and 2CH)
second child travels free!
$587
Flora and Fauna of the Mulgrave River
Learn more about the wildlife and plants that you can see from the Turtle Islander
Mangroves
The Mulgrave River is home to both Grey and Red Mangroves, which protect the coral reef by absorbing pollutants and trapping fine sediments. The unique smell of the mangroves comes from hydrogen sulphide, which is created as bacteria in the mud breaks down surrounding leaf litter.
Saltwater Crocodiles
Tropical North Queensland is known as crocodile country – and the Mulgrave River is a great place to spot them from. Saltwater crocodiles can grow up to six metres long and can hold their breath underwater for up to an hour and a half!
Wading Birds
There are a number of rare or threatened birds that reside within the Mulgrave River drainage sub-basin, including the Black-necked Stork (pictured), a large wading bird with a pronounced black bill, and unique white wings with a central black panel underneath.
This was a fantastic day. An easy cruise to the island, enthusiastic crew, good equipment and a pristine island. The lunch was good and the island walk was really interesting. Plenty of coral and fish although it doesn’t compare to the outer reef. We did see turtles 👏🏻 though. One of the best days we have had in FNQ. I would definitely recommend this day when visiting the Cairns area.
Highly recommend this tour. Loved the snorkelling tour and water activities. Food was fresh and plentiful. Staff were friendly and helpful. Such a great day for all of the family.
Best day ever!!! Kelly, Panchi, and the rest of the crew were so fantastic! The boat ride over was lovely and the snorkeling was PERFECT. We saw soooo many fish and felt super safe the whole time! Thank you guys 🐠🐟
Even though the weather wasn’t the best, it still was an enjoyable day. The staff were great and very approachable. Meals included morning tea on the boat travelling along the river, an excellent buffet lunch on the island, and then afternoon tea on the way back. Easy to follow instructions for pick-up if going with the bus transfer. A great way to spend my Birthday.. Thanks to everyone 🌞
Embarking on a Frankland Islands tour is like stepping into a vibrant underwater wonderland, and our recent experience was nothing short of magical. The highlight of our adventure was the exceptional care provided by Kelly, who ensured my 83-year-old mother felt comfortable and safe while snorkeling. Her patience and expertise allowed my mother to explore the aquatic marvels with confidence and ease. Meanwhile, Punchie, our scuba guide, led us on an exhilarating dive around Normanby Island, revealing the hidden treasures of the reef with enthusiasm and knowledge that greatly enriched our experience. Their passion for the marine world and dedication to their guests’ enjoyment shone as brightly as the tropical sun. It’s clear that the Frankland Islands crew doesn’t just offer tours; they create lifelong memories. If you’re seeking an unforgettable aquatic adventure, look no further than this dedicated and professional team.
Glorious day. Coach collected us across from hotel. Painless transfer down the coast to catch the boat. Nice cruise up the river and then over to the island. Biscuts, tea and coffee served onboard and for those snorkelling we were given our snorkeling gear and a wetsuit.
Snorkeling saw 4 sea turtles – coral in some parts certainly impacted by climate change and pollution and hopefully it will return. Saw lots of fish life and better coral as we swam closer to the beach.
Nice lunch including prawns and really interesting walk around the island where Anna(?) pointed out some great marine facts and sea life we wouldn’t have picked up ourselves. Saw a Spider Snail, Clown Fish and an Epaulette Shark.
Cool river cruise on an uncrowded catamaran style ferry. Quick trip out through the heads of the Mulgrave river to Normanby island. We had a great snorkel on the lee side of the island so we were out of the 15kt south Easter which was crucial. Lovely island walk where sandals were very necessary. On return we saw two crocs in the river , one being a massive male croc called Clyde. My son got to sit with the captain with the other kids. Great food and snacks and a totally satisfying day.
We had the most amazing day with Frankland Island Reef Cruises. Pick up from Cairns accommodation in a comfortable bus and taken to boarding point just south of Cairns. As we cruised down the river, we were fitted out with all our snorkelling gear and wetsuits. As soon as we got to Normanby Island, everything was ready to go. Options to go on a guided snorkel tour or you can just snorkel from the beach (plenty of reef to see), glass bottom boat, kayaks, stand up paddle boards and an informative eco walking tour of the island. Fantastic crew who make sure everyone is included (shout out to Callie – she was so thoughtful and considerate when helping an elderly lady go snorkelling in the bay). Delicious lunch served under the shelter. We only had 33 passengers on our cruise (much better than the hundreds that cram on to some of the bigger reef tours). Some croc spotting as we returned back up the river. Highly recommended – Best day out – Thanks to Captain Crabby and the crew. Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef – tick !!
This was a wonderful day out. We had Normanby Island all to ourselves. The only structure on the island is a permanent cabana providing shelter, shade and picnic tables and looks out over the water. This was our base for lunch and activities including snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours to view coral, stand up paddle boards, kayaking and a walk around the island. A yummy lunch was included and complimentary tea and coffee on the journey there and back. The boat is beautiful and very comfortable. The trip along the river is smooth (crocodiles may be spotted if you look closely) and the voyage across the sea was a little bumpy. I was impressed by the staff and guides who were always cheerful and well organised and who worked tirelessly to make sure everything down to very last detail was taken care of for passengers. Thank you to crew members Kelly, Panchi, Anna, Nanami, Crabby and Callen for a great day.
Cally, Luisa and Alisa has been a great staff during our day tour! The whole team seemed to be really happy to help and serve and we had a snorkeling tpur given to just 3 people by Alisa and it was a really great experience! We even saw a turtle which was pointed to us by the staff while we’re snorkeling in the afternoon! We did extra snorkeling after lunch while most of the group went for an island hike and so we felt like we had ample time to do our marine life exploring at our own pace. Lots of food and snacks althoughout the day. Fantastic experience! Highly recommend their service!