Fitzroy Island is located in Far North Queensland, just a 45 minute ferry ride from Cairns. This island is located on the Great Barrier Reef and makes the perfect day trip from Cairns. Here’s how to have a perfect Fitzroy Island day trip!
Known for its lush rainforest, stunning coral reefs, and white sandy beaches, you’ll love your day trip to Fitzroy Island. It’s a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility.
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Is Fitzroy Island worth visiting on a day trip?
Before we get into anything else, let’s discuss whether you should do a Fitzroy Island day trip. The short answer? Fitzroy Island is definitely worth visiting on a day trip.
It’s a popular destination for snorkeling, hiking, and relaxing, offering the perfect blend of adventure and tranquility. A 45-minute ferry ride takes you from Cairns to the island, making it worth visiting and relatively easy to do.
There’s also plenty to see and do on the island to keep you busy. We were sad we didn’t stay at the resort and turned our day trip into an overnight trip at Fitzroy Island Resort! There’s also camping on the island (with the option to rent camping equipment). Something to consider when visiting, too.
Getting There
To get to Fitzroy Island, you’ll need to book a ferry or a guided tour. Several companies offer Cairns ferries and tours, so you can choose which option you’d like to take. This makes it one of the easiest day trips from Cairns.
Taking the Ferry
The easiest way to get there is to take a ferry. The most popular are the Fitzroy Flyer and Reef Unlimited. They both have large and modern catamaran that departs Cairns 3 – 5 times daily. Usually, this is 2-3 times in the morning and 2-3 times in the afternoon. With so many different times, it’s easy to put together a schedule that works for you, either half-day or full-day.
When booking the ferry, you can add extras such as snorkeling equipment and glass-bottom boat tours during the ride (or beforehand) for added fun on the island!
Taking a Guided Trip
If you’re looking for something more structured, you can book a tour through one of the many companies in Cairns. Each tour includes slightly different activities and offers options depending on what interests you most.
As you scroll through this post and see the things to do on Fitzroy Island, decide which day trip is best for you! Below are a few to research.
One excellent option to consider if you’re not visiting the Great Barrier Reef on a different day is a Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island day trip to see both, but I recommend a liveaboard for the reef!
Taking a Ferry vs. Guided Tour
If you’re considering the pros and cons of either taking the ferry or a guided tour, here’s some suggestions and considerations for you!
- Fitzroy Island is a small island, and once there, you can walk or hike all over the island. You do not need a guided tour to navigate this island. It’s one of the day trips that is easy to do on your own.
- One of the top things to do on Fitzroy Island is snorkeling. Since Fitzroy Island is on the Great Barrier Reef and is known for sea turtle, it is a decent place for it! You can snorkel from the beach, but a tour will be able to take you to more spots.
- Consider your costs and budget. The ferry is the most affordable option for getting to Fitzroy Island. Plus, most of the things to do on Fitzroy Island are low cost or cheap.
- Guided tours will know the places that you are likely to find wildlife and take care of the details for you. While this isn’t a stressful day trip to do on your own, taking a guided tour will take all of the planning out of this for you!
Things to do on Fitzroy Island
Now that we’ve gotten to discuss some of the logistics, let’s talk about the fun things to do while on Fitzroy Island and trust me, there’s plenty. Below are some things to consider doing on a day trip.
- Take a hike: there are several beautiful hikes on Fitzroy Island, including the hike to the famous Nudey Beach, the Lighthouse, the Summit track, and nature walks. I hiked to Nudey Beach on our day trip and loved it.
- Go snorkeling: as mentioned, you can rent snorkel equipment (including stinger suits) on the ferry; the resort also has a rental area, the Sports Hub, where you can rent equipment. They are the same price so it’s really up to you! Snorkeling can be done right off the beaches, and you’ll see corals and fish! We snorkeled under the pier and over to Bird Rock. Both were great.
- Rent a kayak or SUP: Fitzroy Island Resort offers half-day and full-day SUP/kayak rentals in their shop for both day trippers and resort guests.
- Visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre: See the volunteer-run organization that cares for sick and injured turtles.
- Get a day pass to the resort pool: Available on a limited basis for day trippers, you can relax at the resort pool for a break from the beach, and it includes drinks!
- Go for a swim at the beach: The beaches on Fitzroy Island are beautiful. Relax on the beach or go for a swim!
- Take a snorkel trip: Bookable through the ferry, you can take a one hour small group snorkel trip once on Fitzroy Island. This was great for us because it was more affordable than taking a full-day guided tour, but it still let us see some of the reefs too far offshore to swim to.
- Picnic on the beach: Bring your own snacks and food with you on your day trip and enjoy an amazing beach picnic during your day trip! If you forgot something, you can hop into the general store.
- Grab a drink or food at Foxy’s Bar and Grill: This is the only restaurant available to day trippers on Fitzroy Island. Grab something to eat and enjoy the views!
One Day Itinerary Ideas for Fitzroy Island
Now that you have an idea of the best things to do, what should you do on a day trip to Fitzroy Island? Here’s a suggested day trip itinerary for you.
Morning
Catch the first ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island (approx. 45 minutes) which is usually between 8 – 9 am. This means you’ll arrive to the island just around 10 am at the latest and can start off your day trip!
Put your things in a locker, and head to the Resort office to rent either snorkel gear or a SUP. Spend your morning exploring the island either on or in the water! Consider booking the morning snorkel tour through the ferry to see some of the more offshore coral reefs you won’t be able to get to on your own.
Don’t want to get in the water? Do the Lighthouse trail hike instead for amazing views.
Mid-Day
Enjoy your lunch at Foxy’s Bar and Cafe or if you brought a picnic, walk over to Welcome Bay for great views and to enjoy your food! If you want a cold drink with your picnic or an ice cream after, head to the general store to grab something refreshing!
Afternoon
Take a hike to see one of Australia’s most famous and beautiful beaches, Nudey Beach. If you rented snorkel gear, consider bringing it with you.
The hike to Nudey Beach takes about 15-20 minutes through the rainforest along the coast and is beautiful.
Once at the beach, take a dip into the water and relax for your afternoon! You’ve been active today and taking some time to just hand out and enjoy this stunning island is worth it!
Late Afternoon
Head back toward the resort and end your afternoon by grabbing a drink at Foxy’s Bar and Grill before heading back on your ferry which will most likely be between 4-5 pm.
For overnight stays, you could extend the fun with stargazing, enjoying resort facilities, or a moonlit beach walk!
Top Questions and Tips for a Fitzroy Island Day Trip
Before I close out this post, I want to share a few tips and things you should know about visiting Fitzroy Island to plan a perfect day trip! Here are some top questions as you get ready for your trip.
Which is better, Fitzroy Island or Green Island?
Green Island is generally better for swimming and has more tourist amenities, whereas Fitzroy Island is better for hiking and adventure. However, both tropical islands off the coast of Cairns are absolutely stunning and have plenty to offer travelers!
I personally have not been to Green Island, but we chose Fitzroy Island because we wanted something more adventurous.
Is it safe to swim or snorkel on Fitzroy Island?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to swim and snorkel on Fitzroy Island! The waters here are calm year round and the equipment rentals available include equipment like stinger suits and life jackets for extra safety.
It is important to pay attention to any signs and guidance you hear while on the ferry and island. Marine life like saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish call this area of Queensland home.
It’s always important to take precautions and listen to recommendations like wearing a stinger suit during jellyfish season (from November – May each year).
What is the best month to visit Fitzroy Island?
Cairns has two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season, which runs from May to October, is generally considered the best time to visit because of the lower humidity, refreshing breezes, and plenty of sunshine.
We visited in January and still found it to be lovely! Although part of the day was rainy and cloudy, it became sunny and beautiful in the afternoon, and we still had a great time. You also have to wear a stinger suit this time of year to protect yourself.
What can you rent on Fitzroy Island?
You can rent many things on Fitzroy Island during your day trip, or if you want to extend, consider camping and renting that equipment too.
- Snorkeling gear: You can rent masks, snorkels, fins, stinger suits, and floatation vests at the Fitzroy Island Sports Hub. You can also book a snorkel tour.
- Kayaks and SUP: You can rent single or double sea kayaks at the Fitzroy Island Sports Hub or a stand up paddle board. You can rent them by the hour or for the day.
- Camping gear: You can rent camping gear at Fitzroy Island.
Final Thoughts
Fitzroy Island was one of my favorite days of our trip to Cairns and was well worth the effort to visit! It’s definitely one of the best things to do near Cairns. This stunning island is the perfect day trip for all types of travelers. Whether you’re with a family that wants calm waters and beaches or a solo traveler looking for an adventure, a Fitzroy Island day trip has something for everyone.
I love a good day trip… Especially to a less-touristy place from a very touristy place! This looks like a beautiful island to take the kids for a calm beach day, plus the ferry to get there should be exciting for the kids too. 🙂
Yes! We saw several families there while we were visiting. The ferry can be fun all on its own!
Another Australian island to add to my list when I visit Far North Queensland. Thanks for the inspiration – it looks beautiful.
Totally agree! There’s some really beautiful islands in Far North Queensland.
Fitzroy Island seems to rent most everything you need so that you don’t need to pack and carry snorkeling gear, camping gear, etc. I’d want to spend the night, whether camping or at the hotel.
Yes! They make it easy for both locals and those who may have traveled far to get there to have everything you need for a great trip.
What a great place to spend the day! Love the beautiful water and beaches!!
It is beautiful there – definitely worth a visit!
This looks beautiful! We didn’t make it here when we went to the Great Barrier Reef, but I’d love to go back to do that. When we were walking to our boat to go out to snorkel, they mentioned the saltwater crocodiles and I freaked out LOL. Luckily we didn’t see any!! Thanks for sharing this!