A CAIRNS DAY TRIP WORTH YOUR TIME: EXPLORING FITZROY ISLAND
If you are wanting to stretch your legs and visit one of the surrounding islands then make sure you consider heading out to Fitzroy Island. Just an hour ferry ride off the coast of Cairns you are treated to one of the most beautiful Australian islands.
How to get to Fitzroy Island
There are three ferries that head out to Fitzroy Island, each with almost exact times and return schedules. If you are planning a full day out on Fitzroy Island you can expect to leave Cairns marina at 9:30am and leave Fitzroy Island at 4:30 and arriving back at around 5:30. All up you get around 6 hours to enjoy the beautiful scenery and that Australian sun.
We decided to go with Raging Thunder Adventures (don't worry as intense as the name sounds you can expect a very comfortable ride over) and booked through Experience Oz.
Things to do Fitzroy Island
Honestly, when we say this is a day trip worth your time we mean it. This beautiful island close to Cairns has water sports, snorkelling, pristine beaches and even a resort if you want to stay the night.
Visit Nude Beach: One of the most beautiful beaches on the island doesn't make you take your bathers off and actually highly suggests you keep them on. This family friendly beach is a short walk to the right of the pier and worth a visit.
Turtle Rehabilitation Centre: A centre was generously donated as a way to care for and educate visitors about sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. Book a tour for $7.70 and you may have the opportunity to feed a turtle.
Visit the Lighthouse: If you are in the for the day you may want to plan accordingly as this 3.6km return hike will require some time but well worth it for the views at the end.
Go for a Snorkel: You came all the way to the Great Barrier Reef, you need to get some snorkels and see the area. Just make sure that if you are swimming in stinger season that you cover up.
Glass Bottom Boat: Want to see the reef but too chicken to get a stinger suit on? Go on a guided tour around the front of the island. During our time we managed to see a sea turtle swimming by.
Kayak: Kayaks are always great fun, always recommend them.
Giant Ocean Trampoline: How cool is this?
Experience Oz
Experience Oz is a very easy and well designed website that will help you choose from tours, attractions and things to do around Australia and New Zealand. When I plan trips I always go straight to photographs then videos and then finally text on the location so having a website that favours big beautiful photographs made it so easy for us to plan our Cairns getaway.
Worried about price? Don't worry at all, just because they are a middle man doesn't mean you aren't getting the best prices - you can expect to pay on par with that of booking straight through the tour operator.
Video of our day at Fitzroy Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9VmUdgZYnI
You can book a Fitzroy Island full day trip with snorkelling and glass bottom boat for AUD$90 per person.
Flying The Nest was welcomed as a guest of Experience Oz and Raging Thunder Adventures, however as always all opinions are our own.
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