Escape to a hidden tropical island, with Cairns’ only River, Rainforest and Reef Tour
Embark on a unique adventure to the stunning Frankland Islands, a hidden tropical island south of Cairns. Our all-inclusive day tour offers the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration, making it the ideal choice for travellers seeking an unforgettable Cairns island getaway. Your day with Frankland Islands Reef Tour begins as you board our air-conditioned coach from Cairns and travel south through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest, fields of sugar cane, and past the iconic Walsh’s Pyramid – the highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world!
Enjoy a peaceful river cruise down the Mulgrave River, followed by the shortest open-water crossing of any Cairns day tour to Normanby Island, the most pristine island off Cairns and a gateway to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The Frankland Islands Group offers the best snorkelling experience of all the islands near Cairns, Australia, thanks to its unique geographical location.
Frankland Islands Reef Cruises are the only commercial operator licensed to land on beautiful Normanby Island, so you can relax and explore with plenty of space and time. Once on the island, you can customize your day trip to suit your interests, our all-inclusive day tour offers a fantastic range of optional activities. Set off on a snorkel safari, explore the sea floor while staying dry on our semi-submarine tour with commentary, join our knowledgeable crew for an informative guided island walk, paddle with kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, and enjoy a delicious beachside buffet lunch, do as much or as little as you like, you’re on island time!
Once you’ve had your fill of vitamin-sea, enjoy a relaxing return to Cairns, arriving in the late afternoon.
Your Day Trip includes:
Complimentary Bus Transfers:
Complimentary transfers are available from select Cairns CBD accommodation but are subject to availability. If the bus transfers are fully booked, you will need to arrange your own transport to the Deeral Jetty.
Self-Drive Check-In:
We recommend allowing at least 45 minutes of travel time south of Cairns along the Bruce Highway to reach Deeral Jetty, located at 169 Ross Road, Deeral 4871. For those driving themselves, please aim to arrive by 8:15 a.m. for check-in. The Turtle Islander departs Deeral at 8:30 a.m. and returns at approximately 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Point:If you prefer to self-drive, please allow time for the drive and check in at Deeral located at 169 Ross Road, Deeral 4871 by 8:15am, for an 8:30am departure.
I loved every minute of it. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I was travelling on my own but felt I was part of it all. Everything was a wonderful experience. Thank you to the fellow travellers for sharing a bit of your life and travelling to Cairns from across the world. Thank you to all the crew aswell. So well organised. A beautiful lunch too. Many many thanks
Hi Adrianne, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you loved every minute of your experience and especially while traveling on your own. We’re also happy that you enjoyed the beautiful lunch and appreciated the organisation of the day. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future!
The booking enquires went to the crew team directly and they are helpful with providing answers. The on board experience was ease and pleasant. Highly recommended.
Well run, friendly crew and we were fortunate to have good weather.
It was a most enjoyable day! We were a group of “older” participants and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our day. The staff were very attentive. We were told that the 1/2 hour sea crossing was going to be rough, but really it wasn’t. The fringe reef was good to see, and we saw lots of different colourful fish. Kayaks and paddle boards were available to use as well. The crew kept a watchful eye on everyone whilst they were snorkelling. Kelly took us on the island safari, and she pointed out lots of different sea creatures. She was very excited to see and show us cuttlefish! The morning and afternoon tea was more than sufficient and the lunch was great! All in all a great day!
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johnd37 from Australia wrote on 13 September 2024
nice day out
weather could have been better but had a good day anyhow