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!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Instagram for stunning pics, updates and special offers – and tag #franklandislands to be featured!
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 👌
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