Lyla Lindsey
Green Island is a tropical coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef, off the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its white sandy beaches, sapphire blue waters, and coral reefs. The island is easily accessible from Cairns, making it a great choice for visitors wishing to stay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef or explore other islands on day tours. Green Island is also the only coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef with a rainforest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 27 km (17 mi) offshore from Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Population | 20 people (as of 2021 census) |
| Area | 32 acres (13 hectares) |
| Vegetation | 126 native plant species, dry coastal/beach plants, and a vine thicket rainforest |
| Birdlife | A myriad of bird species |
| Coral | Coral reefs, coral gardens, coral cay |
| Beaches | White sandy beaches |
| Water | Sapphire blue waters |
| Resort | Green Island Resort, with 46 rooms |
| Activities | Snorkelling, swimming, beach-hopping, glass-bottom boat tours, sea walking, bushwalking, island hopping, stargazing, fish feeding, night island walks |
| Accessibility | 45-minute catamaran or ferry ride from Cairns, or a helicopter ride |
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What You'll Learn
Green Island is a popular tourist destination
One of the main attractions of Green Island is its natural beauty and pristine marine life. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and sapphire blue waters. It is one of the best sites near Cairns for snorkelling and spotting sea turtles. The island is also home to a rainforest, dry coastal plants, and over 120 native plant species. Visitors can enjoy various activities such as swimming, beach-hopping, glass-bottom boat tours, sea walking, and scuba diving.
Green Island has a rich history, with connections to local Aboriginal culture and mythology. Originally known as Dabuukji, the island was believed to be a larger landmass with a freshwater marsh or 'hole' in the centre, as described in Aboriginal stories. The Queensland Government officially named it Green Island, after Lieutenant James Cook's naming in 1770, possibly inspired by the vegetation or Charles Green, an astronomer aboard the Endeavour.
The island has been a popular tourist destination for nearly fifty years, with a guest house established in the 1930s and an underwater observatory installed in 1954. Today, it offers a unique resort experience, with comfortable and stylish rooms nestled within the rainforest. The resort provides various dining options and arranges excursions to explore the outer Great Barrier Reef. Green Island continues to be a sought-after destination for its impressive beauty, accessibility, and the array of activities it offers to visitors of all ages.
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It is a coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef
Green Island is a coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef, located 27 kilometres (17 miles) off the coast of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. A cay is a small, low island that is usually sandy and situated on a coral reef platform. Green Island is one of the most famous cays near Cairns and is unique in that it is the only coral cay island with a rainforest on it. The island is surrounded by coral reef and protected in the Green Island National Park, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park World Heritage Area.
The cay is easily accessible from Cairns by boat, making it a popular destination for day trips. The island is small but boasts white sandy beaches, sapphire blue waters, a rainforest, and fringing coral reefs. It is a great holiday option for families with young children, offering a variety of activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, and romantic beach walks.
The Queensland Government has gazetted Green Island as the cay's official name, given by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, either because of the appearance of the coral cay's vegetation or after Charles Green, an astronomer aboard the Endeavour at the time. The local Aboriginal language group, Gungganyji, has a different name for the island: Dabuukji. To them, the island is a place to be generally avoided, as it is believed to be "a place haunted by spirits".
The island has a population of 20 people and offers comfortable and stylish island suite rooms nestled in the rainforest setting. The resort provides a range of amenities, including three restaurants and an activities desk that can arrange outer Great Barrier Reef excursions. Green Island is a great choice for visitors wishing to stay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef or explore other nearby islands on day tours.
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The island is surrounded by coral reefs
Green Island is a tropical coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef, off the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia. It is surrounded by coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and sapphire blue waters. The island is a popular tourist destination, known for its impressive beauty and accessibility from the mainland.
The coral reefs surrounding Green Island are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reefs provide an opportunity to observe a diverse range of coral life, including colourful fish, turtles, giant clams, starfish, shells, anemones, eels, sponges, and sea urchins. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, glass-bottom boat tours, and underwater observatories.
The island is located about 17 miles (27 km) offshore from Cairns, Queensland, and can be easily accessed by launch or catamaran. It is a small island, with a surface area of 32 acres (13 hectares), and is known for its emerald rainforest and abundant bird life. The local Aboriginal language group, the Gungganyji, refer to the island as Dabuukji, which may be related to a story about a turtle or young male initiation rituals.
Green Island is a popular day trip for tourists, and there is a resort on the island for those who wish to stay longer. The resort offers comfortable and stylish accommodation, with spacious and private rooms nestled in the rainforest setting. Visitors to the island can enjoy activities such as sunset drinks, stargazing, fish feeding, and night island walks.
The island is protected as part of the Green Island National Park, and all commercial activities are regulated by permits. This ensures that the natural environment, including the surrounding coral reefs, is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
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It is accessible by boat or helicopter from Cairns
Green Island is a popular tourist destination in Australia, known for its natural beauty and accessibility from Cairns. The island is located within the Great Barrier Reef, about 27 kilometres (17 miles) or a 45-minute boat ride from Cairns. It is a coral cay with white sandy beaches, sapphire blue waters, a rainforest, and an abundance of marine life, including sea turtles and colourful fish.
There are several options for accessing Green Island from Cairns, either by boat or helicopter. Boat transfers are a popular choice, with a 45-minute ferry or catamaran ride offering a convenient and scenic journey to the island. The Green Island Ferry, operated by Great Adventures, departs Cairns at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and returns from Green Island at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This option includes access to the island swimming pool and either a glass-bottom boat or snorkelling equipment.
Another boat option is the Big Cat Full Day Green Island Tour, which departs Cairns at 9 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m., offering a full day of exploration on the island. Snorkelling gear, a glass-bottom boat tour, a buffet lunch, and a semi-submarine tour are available as add-ons to this tour. Additionally, the Ocean Free, a 63-foot schooner, sails daily to Green Island from Cairns, providing another unique boat experience.
For those seeking a more adventurous arrival, helicopter tours are also available. A helicopter ride to Green Island can be combined with a return trip on the Great Adventures Cruise, providing a thrilling perspective of the island and its surrounding waters. The Reef and Rainforest Duo is another helicopter tour option, offering a 60-minute flight covering 180 kilometres of reef sites.
The accessibility of Green Island from Cairns makes it a convenient and popular choice for day trips and holidays. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including snorkelling, diving, glass-bottom boat tours, nature walks, and relaxation on the pristine beaches. With its unique location within the Great Barrier Reef and its array of attractions, Green Island is an ideal destination for those seeking a tropical island experience.
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Green Island is the only cay in the area with a rainforest
Green Island is a small coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef, 27 kilometres (17 miles) off the coast of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It is one of around 300 coral cays in the Great Barrier Reef, and the only one with a rainforest.
The island is a popular tourist destination, easily accessible by a 45-minute catamaran ride from Cairns. It is known for its white sandy beaches, sapphire blue waters, coral reefs, and unique rainforest environment. The interior of the island is predominantly rainforest, with the resort taking up only 12% of the island.
The rainforest on Green Island is a vine thicket rainforest, supporting a range of vegetation, including dry coastal and beach plants. The island is home to over 120 native plant species and an abundance of birdlife. The coral reefs surrounding the island are also home to a diverse range of marine life, including colourful fish, turtles, giant clams, starfish, shells, anemones, eels, sponges, and sea urchins.
The Green Island Resort is a luxury resort with 46 rooms nestled into the rainforest island setting. The resort offers comfortable and stylish island suite rooms, with views of the pool or the rainforest. The resort is widely regarded as one of the world's most eco-sensitive tourism developments, with all buildings and infrastructure constructed with minimal vegetation clearing.
Green Island is a magical place where the rainforest meets the reef, providing a unique and memorable holiday experience for visitors.
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Frequently asked questions
Green Island is located in the Coral Sea, 27km off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
You can get to Green Island by ferry, catamaran, helicopter, or boat. The fast catamaran ferry service departs Cairns three times a day at 8:30 am, 10:30 am, and 1 pm.
Green Island is known for its snorkelling and natural beauty. The island is filled with lush rainforest that offers excellent walking trails. The coral reefs surrounding the island are filled with marine life, including sea turtles. Other activities include swimming, beach-hopping, cruising on a glass-bottom boat tour, and sea walking.
Yes, there is a luxury resort with 46 rooms on the island. The Green Island Resort offers comfortable and stylish island suite rooms nestled in the rainforest setting.
Green Island, originally called Dabuukji, holds cultural significance for local Aboriginal people. It was renamed by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, and the first known non-Aboriginal resident was fisherman James Seton Veitch Mein, who established a beche-de-mer smoking station in 1857.
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