Looking for islands near Cairns? Try this hidden gem
One of the top things to do in Cairns is spending the day on an island. Snorkelling, swimming and relaxing on a white sand beach – what could be better? There are several islands near Cairns that offer various resort amenities and tourist experiences. Here’s why we (and our customers!) recommend the Frankland Islands for your Cairns day trip.
They’re off the beaten track
The Frankland Islands are something of a hidden gem, sitting about 45 minutes southeast of Cairns.
Some other islands near Cairns, like Green Island and Fitzroy Island, are a little closer to the city. However, they’re also much more heavily advertised and can receive thousands of visitors per day. If you want to get off the ‘tourist trail’ and enjoy a unique Cairns island experience, consider the Frankland Islands.
No crowds
Frankland Islands Reef Cruises has the only commercial permit to visit Normanby Island, giving you exclusive access. We cap numbers at just 80 people per day, so you’ll have the island practically to yourself! No queues, no crowds… just you and a handful of other adventurers, enjoying your secluded island paradise.
Pristine national park
The five islands in the Frankland Islands Group are a national park. They are home to a diverse and flourishing range of wildlife, both in the water and on the land. Because of their national park status, there are no resort facilities on the island. But don’t worry, you’ll still be taken care of with a delicious lunch and all the gear you need to enjoy your day.
If you’re looking for a less commercialised Cairns island day trip, where you can get back to basics and enjoy nature, then this is the island for you.
The best snorkelling of all the islands near Cairns
Stunning, healthy coral reefs surround Normanby Island and the other islands in the group. The snorkelling experience here has been compared by experts to the top outer Great Barrier Reef dive sites.
The water quality around the Frankland Islands is excellent, offering great visibility and calm, sheltered snorkelling. You can snorkel right off the beach and find beautiful hard and soft corals, a huge variety of fish (including everyone’s favourite, the clownfish aka Nemo), turtles and more.
The day tour also includes an adventure snorkel safari. Hop into the tender and zip around to the western side of the island for even more impressive coral gardens. You could spend all day on a boat to find reefs like these, or you could come and discover the Frankland Islands.
Because of the calm conditions and easy entry to the water, the Frankland Islands are a family-friendly island tour from Cairns. Certified divers can also explore the coral gardens further out.
A day trip with a difference
The location of the Frankland Islands gives you a unique experience compared to other Cairns island cruises, before you even arrive at your destination.
The trip starts with a coach ride through sugarcane plantations, past scenic highlights like Walsh’s Pyramid and areas of coastal rainforest. Board the boat at Deeral and cruise down the Mulgrave River, keeping an eye out for crocs as you go. And from the mouth of the river you venture out to sea and over to the islands. It’s the shortest crossing of any Great Barrier Reef day trip.
As well as our guided snorkel tour and adventure snorkel safari, we also offer a guided walk around the island, led by our expert team. From the tide pools to the tropical rainforest, from sea hares to rare migratory birds, you’ll learn so much about this fascinating jewel of an island.
River, rainforest and reef – it’s the ultimate way to see the best of Cairns and Tropical North Queensland all in one day!
Friendly, expert staff
The top quality service and enthusiasm of our friendly crew sets Frankland Islands Reef Cruises apart. All of our crew are highly trained and knowledgeable about the islands and their wildlife. However, we’re especially proud of our Master Reef Guides, led by trained marine biologist Alessandra Giannascoli.
Build your perfect day
When choosing to visit the islands near Cairns, everyone has their own ideal way to spend the day. Do you prefer to stay active? With two guided snorkel experiences, kayaks and paddleboards plus our island walk, there’s no shortage of things to do. If you’re wanting to relax and recharge, you can do that too! Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, lie on the beach or float in the water to your heart’s content.
When you book with Frankland Island Reef Cruises, you can choose the all-inclusive day tour option or the transfer-only rate. This lets you bring your own gear and lunch and do your own thing. You can hire snorkel equipment, kayaks and paddleboards and add on extras if you like.
Ready to start your adventure?
Find out more about the Frankland Islands – or better, yet, book a day trip and come see for yourself!
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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!