THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Sail from Cairns on a 25-guest schooner to an exclusive Great Barrier Reef mooring just 1 km off Green Island. Enjoy guided snorkeling, optional diving, a buffet lunch and island time on a relaxed, small-group day trip.
Sail from Cairns on a 25-guest schooner to an exclusive Great Barrier Reef mooring just 1 km off Green Island. Enjoy guided snorkeling, optional diving, a buffet lunch and island time on a relaxed, small-group day trip.
Morning light spills over Cairns as a two-mast schooner slips away from the Reef Fleet Terminal, the city shrinking and the ocean widening into a sheet of blue. On Ocean Free, a maximum of 25 guests trade crowded day boats for a quieter passage—the vessel moors just 1 km off Green Island at an exclusive Great Barrier Reef site where coral bommies rise from 10–12 m to within a metre of the surface.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours · Cairns, Queensland
Morning light spills over Cairns as a two-mast schooner slips away from the Reef Fleet Terminal, the city shrinking and the ocean widening into a sheet of blue. On Ocean Free, a maximum of 25 guests trade crowded day boats for a quieter passage—the vessel moors just 1 km off Green Island at an exclusive Great Barrier Reef site where coral bommies rise from 10–12 m to within a metre of the surface.
The reef here is part of a vast living structure that developed as sea levels rose after the last ice age; the waters are also country to the Yirrganydji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples, whose connections to these islands and seas run deep. Geology shows a mix of coral frameworks and sandy cay formation, while Green Island’s compact rainforest and low reef flats carry traces of maritime history and early European visitation.
Expect guided reef talks, in-water assistance for snorkelers, and the option to dive—plus a large smorgasbord lunch and tea, coffee and a return glass of wine. Practicalities matter: transfers to the island are by tender, surfaces are wet and moving, and the day runs about nine hours from check-in. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a stable pair of boat shoes for tender transfers, and a waterproof camera to record turtles and parrotfish that patrol the bommies.
Timing your trip for calmer wind and visibility pays off; if prone to motion sickness, take anti-nausea medication before boarding. Whether you spend an hour on Green Island’s beach and rainforest boardwalk or the afternoon bobbing over coral gardens, the day is built around intimate access to one of the world’s most recognizable marine ecosystems.
moderate.
9 hours.
You should be stable on your feet and able to climb ladder/tender steps; basic swimming ability recommended for snorkeling.
The tour is approximately 9 hours and departs from the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns. Check-in opens at 7:15am with boarding from 7:30am.
Yes — masks, snorkels, fins and buoyancy vests are included, plus snorkeling tuition and in-water assistance if needed.
Scuba diving is available as an optional extra; all divers must complete a medical questionnaire on board and disclose any relevant medical conditions or medications.
The vessel is open-air with moderate motion; take travel sickness tablets before boarding and sit mid-ship where movement is least felt.
The Great Barrier Reef grew as sea levels rose after the last ice age and sits within the traditional waters of the Yirrganydji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples.
Green Island and the surrounding reef sit inside a highly protected Marine Park; avoid touching coral, use reef-safe sunscreen and follow crew guidance to reduce impact.
Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Morning light spills over Cairns as a two-mast schooner slips away from the Reef Fleet Terminal, the city shrinking and the ocean widening into a sheet of blue. On Ocean Free, a maximum of 25 guests trade crowded day boats for a quieter passage—the vessel moors just 1 km off Green Island at an exclusive Great Barrier Reef site where coral bommies rise from 10–12 m to within a metre of the surface.
Morning light spills over Cairns as a two-mast schooner slips away from the Reef Fleet Terminal, the city shrinking and the ocean widening into a sheet of blue. On Ocean Free, a maximum of 25 guests trade crowded day boats for a quieter passage—the vessel moors just 1 km off Green Island at an exclusive Great Barrier Reef site where coral bommies rise from 10–12 m to within a metre of the surface.
The reef here is part of a vast living structure that developed as sea levels rose after the last ice age; the waters are also country to the Yirrganydji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples, whose connections to these islands and seas run deep. Geology shows a mix of coral frameworks and sandy cay formation, while Green Island’s compact rainforest and low reef flats carry traces of maritime history and early European visitation.
Expect guided reef talks, in-water assistance for snorkelers, and the option to dive—plus a large smorgasbord lunch and tea, coffee and a return glass of wine. Practicalities matter: transfers to the island are by tender, surfaces are wet and moving, and the day runs about nine hours from check-in. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a stable pair of boat shoes for tender transfers, and a waterproof camera to record turtles and parrotfish that patrol the bommies.
Timing your trip for calmer wind and visibility pays off; if prone to motion sickness, take anti-nausea medication before boarding. Whether you spend an hour on Green Island’s beach and rainforest boardwalk or the afternoon bobbing over coral gardens, the day is built around intimate access to one of the world’s most recognizable marine ecosystems.