Green Island Cairns – Is this Turtle Heaven??

Oct 17

All day at Green Island my son was tallying up his underwater critter list “That’s 6 Mum!! 6 turtles, 1 groper, 2 giant clams, 1 stingray….. But I STILL haven’t seen a Shark yet!!”

So of course, on cue, a little black tip reef shark swims past. “COOL!! That’s 6 turtles, 1 shark, 1 groper….” You get my drift?? It seemed we had discovered some sort of haven for underwater sea creatures….It’s easy to see why Green Island Cairns has been on the tourist map for over 100 years – first as a basic lodge (grass huts) for passing fishermen and then as an opportunity for day-trippers to experience the reef first-hand.In fact Green Island has a long list of firsts:

1st tourist destination on the Great Barrier Reef - 1880s
1st protected coral cay - 1937
1st glass bottom boat experience - 1948
1st underwater observatory - 1954
1st island movie theatre (featuring underwater footage) - 1961
1st crocodile exhibit on a sand cay - 1964

PLUS it has had a regular ferry service operating from Cairns to Green Island since 1924.

BUT does all this mean that Green Island is ‘touristed’ out and not worthy of a true ‘nature-based’ family adventure?? NOT AT ALLl!!!

Here’s my LIST of reasons why Green Island rocks as a Great Barrier Reef experience:

1. Doing it for over 100 Years!!!

Just the fact this island has been operating as a tourism destination for so long means that this is one ‘well-oiled’ experience. The facilities, the choices on offer, the staff and ultimately the actual destination itself, seriously rocks big time.

For a little island it packs quite a punch (you can walk around Green Island in under 40-minutes), and it really is impressive to see how many options are available to visitors.

You can even take in some shopping on Green Island

The other side of Green Island

It's a small island but you can still find space to escape

As you enter the island’s inner sanctum you’ll be confronted by boutique shops, diving facilities, a resort, a swimming pool (plus the resort has it’s own separate one), several restaurants and cafes, a licensed bar AND an icecream shop (which proved very popular at the end of the day).

Follow the boardwalk straight through the main hub and you’ll discover Marineland Melanesia, a crocodile farm, museum and aquarium all rolled into one. If you continue walking, it won’t be long before you pop out on the other side of the island, a virtual wilderness compared with your first impressions.

2. Fast Trip

**The kids loved the boat trip on Great Adventures**

Not everybody is into boat journeys and not everyone travels well. Take the Great Adventures catamaran and you will be on Green Island in no time (45 minutes). The beauty of on an island destination is that if you are inclined to travel sickness the feeling leaves you as soon as you plant your feet on dry land.

3. Heaps of Transfers.

**Great Adventures arriving at Green Island**

Not only do Great Adventures offer a fast catamaran they also offer plenty of departure times to go to Green Island and to leave Green Island. You don’t have to be up at dawn to jump on the boat and you don’t have to stay out there all day. This is fantastic if you have little ones that are starting to wane from their island experience. It allows for a fast exit if you need to avoid a major meltdown.

4. Critters, Critters Everywhere!!

When you have lots of people visiting a nature habitat on a regular basis you end up with a whole lot of animals growing up amongst humans. In other words, critters do not run a mile when they see you! In fact, some of them are mighty cheeky when face to face with a human, in particular the buff banded rail SO be wary if you have any food on you.

Green Island Cairns has been declared a sanctuary for many years and it’s almost as if the animals know that nobody is out to hurt them. If you’re seeking out the opportunity to see as much as possible in one day then I would thoroughly recommend a trip to Green Island. Our list included turtles, sharks, rays, clams, clownfish, huge schools of fish, seastars, sea cucumbers, a big grouper and a heap of reef fish cruising the coral bommies (coral outcrops).Please NOTE though, not everyone got to see a turtle – Josh’s tally was 6, Rob’s was zero – often it’s the luck of the draw ;) .

5. Extra Family Friendly.

**Green Island also offers a Lifeguard Patrolled beach**

Green Island Cairns has got it pretty much worked out when it comes to accommodating the reef experience for all age groups and types. There’s a range of activities and facilities to suit pretty much anyone.On one side of the island lays the controlled swimming area (lifeguard on duty) complete with beach lounges and umbrellas. It’s an excellent area to plonk yourself if you want the added security of an extra set of eyes when you and your tribe are in the water.

In the main hub there is also a swimming pool – a great option for those that have had enough of the sun, sand and the sea and want a dose of freshwater instead (plus there’s even a pool bar....... just saying ;) )

6. The largest Crocodile on Display!!

**Cassius, the Grandaddy of Crocodiles!!**

Cassius, the BIGGEST crocodile in captivity (YES – a world record holder) is definitely worth a visit. Marineland Melanesia has been operating on the island for over 30 years and has been in the Craig family’s hands since 1972. In fact it would be a rare day on Green Island NOT to bump into a member of the Craig family – they work all over the Island in many different activities.

Marineland Melanesia is a mish-mash of aquariums, museum artifacts from the south-pacific, black & white photographs of the island’s history and of course, the crocodile pens. Basically, it’s a child’s wonderland and I think my children half expected to run into a pirate hiding in one of the nooks and crannies. My son particularly liked the exhibits of croc skulls and shark jaws and my daughter fell in love with the baby crocodile hatchlings.

The crocodile feeding show is the most up close and personal tour I have ever took (and I’ve been to a few over the years). We had Jemma (@islandjems), who had grown up on the island (and grown up with the crocodiles), and she managed to inject lots of fun into the jaw-snapping feeding display.

The pens are an old design (although very safe) so when the feeding takes place you start to realize how close, how very close, you are to the snapping crocodiles. At times it really did feel like we were in the pen with Jemma (in fact I was at one stage BUT that’s another story ;) ).

7. Budget Friendly.

**Family friendly snorkelling at Green Island**

The ferry transfers to Green Island are some of the cheapest options for families that want a reef experience but don’t want to buy into all those additional options (semi-sub tours, diving, snorkel tours, etc etc). It’s one of those few reef trips that you will still find quite a lot of locals amongst the passenger list – particularly on weekends.

**So much to see underwater at Green Island**

And YES there are a lot of options over at Green Island to spend your $$$ on BUT you can easily do the trip on the cheap. It’s very simple to take an esky over with drinks and food and plonk yourself on the island where there is the least activity. You may find however that you have to circumnavigate the kids around the icecream shop on the way back to the boat – don’t worry our kids didn’t miss out – they had the icecreams pinpointed as soon as we arrived on the island.

Good Things to Know:

If you book with Great Adventures there is an option of snorkelling equipment OR a glass bottom boat tour. PLUS you get entry to the island pool.
Buoyancy vests, lycra suits and optical masks are available to hire.
The snorkelling area around the jetty area is NOT patrolled BUT it seems to be the best area to spot a range of underwater critters.
It’s possible to walk along the jetty to the stairwell (on the right-hand side before the boats) and start snorkelling from this point (rather than swim for ages over all the seagrass in the shallows). Just make sure you avoid the section where the boats dock regularly.
There seems to be more chance of spotting a turtle on a rising tide and also in areas where there is a lot of seagrass.
It’s possible to spot turtles from the jetty. Just look for round shadows moving slowly across the seabed.
There are plenty of additional activities available – Intro Scuba Diving, Cert Diving, Guided Snorkel tours, Seawalker and scenic Helicopter flights – Click HERE for more details.

**Green Island jetty seemed to be the best spot for sea life**

Have you been to Green Island Cairns yet? Did you spot a turtle? Any activities you recommend when visiting Green Island?

PLEASE NOTE: It is NOT recommended that you Touch any of the Wildlife. Before kids I worked as a marine guide on the Great Barrier Reef and have a very good knowledge of the reef and have guided many snorkel tours. This is why you see my children holding some of the underwater creatures. If you want a similar experience for your children I recommend you go on a guided snorkel tour.

We received our tours complimentary BUT all views, opinions and photos in this article are my own.

If you would like more Info regarding our Great Adventures Trip click HERE – Great Adventures Green Island.

If you would like more Info regarding Marineland Melanesia click HERE – Marineland Melanesia.