• Experience the new eco-friendly Wantaim vessel—offering the fastest open water crossing to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns in just 30–45 minutes with Frankland Islands Reef Cruises.
• The coral reefs on the northern side of Frankland Island are spectacular and are home to many sea turtles and the odd Dugong now and again
• Includes guided snorkel tour & snorkel safari, guided island walk, semi-submarine tour, beachside buffet lunch & use of kayaks and paddleboards during your Great Barrier Reef tour experience.
• Smaller groups - With a capped capacity of just 44 passengers, the Frankland Island offers a personal wildlife and reef tour.
• You will be snorkeling and scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia within 30 minutes of leaving the boat harbour
• Family Deal - Save $129 based on 2 adults & 2 children
• Our Frankland Island tour has the best coral gardens on the northern facing side of the island protecting it from any winds or bad weather making it a great year round reef trip choice

A superb Eco Cairns Great Barrier Reef Island tour & River Cruise. Travel with small numbers to snorkel or dive the reef and explore an uninhabited tropical island that is home to many turtles.

What to Expect

Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef Tour from Cairns

This unique Cairns Great Barrier Reef tour offers an unforgettable snorkelling adventure, taking you to an uninhabited tropical island that’s home to thriving marine life, including many sea turtles. As the only boat permitted on the Frankland Islands daily, this reef tour ensures a relaxed, uncrowded experience for up to 44 guests. It’s an ideal family-friendly day trip, offering a blend of reef exploration and island discovery, with guided snorkelling, intro scuba diving, and a chance to unwind on a beautiful island all to yourselves.

Starting with a scenic river cruise followed by a short ocean crossing, this Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns is perfect for those who prefer a shorter boat ride or have concerns about seasickness. Once on Frankland Island, you can enjoy guided marine activities or explore the reef at your own pace.

Features and Highlights

• Exclusive Access to Normanby Island: This Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns is the only one licensed to visit Normanby Island in the Frankland Islands, offering an exclusive experience with no crowds and pristine, untouched surroundings.
• Short Ocean Crossing: Just a 30-minute cruise from the mainland makes this one of the shortest crossings to the Great Barrier Reef, ideal for families with young children or anyone concerned about seasickness. It’s also a great tour option for non-swimmers.
• Snorkelling and Scuba Diving: Whether you’re a snorkeller or would like to try an introductory scuba dive, you’ll find calm, shallow waters perfect for exploring. The island’s northern lagoon is sheltered and teeming with vibrant coral gardens and resident sea turtles.
• Guided Reef and Island Tours: Enjoy guided snorkelling tours, an adventure drift snorkel over the western reef, and informative island walks led by marine biologists. Learn about the island’s ecosystem while discovering its hidden treasures.
• Tropical Buffet Lunch and Beachside Dining: Refuel with a delicious buffet lunch served right on the beach under the shade of trees. Morning and afternoon tea are also included, with most dietary requirements catered for with prior notice.
• Family-Friendly Fun: The Frankland Island tour’s flexibility, guided activities, and shallow beach entry points make it perfect for families. Kids and non-swimmers will feel comfortable and safe exploring the island and snorkelling from the shore.

Activities and Itinerary

• Scenic River Cruise: Your day begins with a tranquil cruise down the Mulgrave River, where you’ll see mangroves, rainforest, and migratory birds before reaching the open ocean.
• Island Exploration and Guided Walks: Take a stroll around Normanby Island or join the guided nature walk to learn about its unique flora and fauna.
• Snorkelling and Diving: Snorkel directly from the beach or join the adventure drift snorkel for a more thrilling experience. First-time divers can enjoy a safe and comfortable introduction to scuba.
• Relaxation and Beach Time: After lunch, unwind on the sandy shores, soak up the sun, or explore the island’s secluded spots at your leisure.

New Eco Friendly Vessel

The journey to the Frankland Islands now feels more exclusive and relaxed aboard our new custom-built 14-metre Naiad RHIB designed with both comfort and sustainability in mind. Travellers can enjoy a smoother, quieter, and greener ride aboard Wantaim carrying a maximum of 44 guests daily.

Engineered specifically for the trip to Normanby Island, Wantaim cuts open-water travel time by up to 45 minutes. This means more time to snorkel vibrant coral gardens, explore rainforest trails, or simply soak up the serenity of this pristine island escape—without the crowds.

This Cairns reef tour is the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, offering a unique opportunity to experience the Great Barrier Reef and a secluded tropical island just a short distance from Cairns. Don’t miss out on this exclusive, family-friendly reef adventure that promises an unforgettable day in paradise!

See all Great Barrier Reef Island island tours from Cairns and Port Douglas.

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef on our Blog.

Cairns Island Tours - Frankland Islands Reef Trip - Cairns

• This Great Barrier Reef tour just out of Cairns is unlike any other- whether you are self-driving or choosing to book the coach transfers, your day will start with a nice scenic drive just South of Cairns to the charming townsville, Deeral.
• That’s where you will board the new Eco friendly boat to enjoy 30 minute river cruise down the beautiful Mulgrave River where rainforest, mangroves and migratory birds can be seen!
• After the river cruise it is only a short 30 minute ocean crossing to the stunning group of Cairns Islands known as Frankland Islands, which makes it a perfect trip for someone who is worried about seasickness, so it's a great non-swimmer reef tour and family tour.

Cairns Island Tours & Activities

• Snorkelling
• Enjoy snorkelling straight from the beach, shallow entry point makes it a perfect reef tour for families with younger children and people who don’t like the idea of snorkelling in the deep water from the back of a boat or pontoon.
• There is also the opportunity for guests to undertake our adventure drift snorkel which is to explore our western reef. This is an optional snorkelling tour which is from our smaller dive tender.
• Frankland Islands are surrounded by colourful healthy coral gardens, giant clams and sea turtles are often spotted.
• You are sure to discover something new and exciting that you have never seen before.  
• Guided Introductory Diving - for Adults only 17+
• Take the plunge and experience scuba diving on Frankland Islands.
• If you want to try diving at the Great Barrier Reef, our friendly and experienced crew will be happy to help you start your underwater adventure! Frankland Islands Reef Cruises is a PADI 5-star Dive Centre with years of experience in diving instruction.
• You don’t need any previous scuba diving experience – if you’re comfortable in the water, and with no medical conditions that preclude you from scuba diving, you can usually do an intro dive. You’ll be given briefings, tuition and all the skills practice you need at the surface to make sure your dive is a safe, amazing experience.
• During your intro dive, under the expert supervision of our instructors, you’ll descend to 12m (40 feet) below the surface and enjoy the amazing marine life that makes Frankland Islands so unique.
• Important Information:
• Only Introductory Diving will be available, we are not currently offering Certified Diving on Frankland Islands.
• The Intro Dive Experience is not included in our all-inclusive tour price, and does have an additional cost.
• Due to the activity timings of the day, if you are taking part in an Intro Dive you may miss one of the other island activities (i.e. the Guided Island Walk). Please speak to our team in the morning if there are any activities you want to take part in, so they can assign you the best Intro Dive time slot for the day.
• Due to the limited number of Intro Dive slots per day (6 total per trip), no refunds will be provided for pre-booked Intro Dive experiences. Failing the medical clearance or change of mind will not be valid reasons for refunds of the Intro Dive cost.
• Exploring the Island – Guided Island Walk
• Tropical buffet lunch is included, served on the beach under a canopy of trees at their picnic area. Once you have restored your energy levels there is plenty of time to explore the Normanby Island at your own leisure or you could join the guided island walk with the Marine Biologist.
• Frankland Islands consist of 5 continental islands- Normanby, Mabel, High, Russell and Round. 

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Coach transfers begin in Cairns: 6.55am - 5.00-5.30pm (Daily)
• Departs and Returns Deeral (self drive): 8.15am - 4.00pm (Daily)

Departure Instructions

Self-drive guests will need to make their own way to Deeral, 45 minutes south of Cairns

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Frankland Islands National Park
• Mulgrave River

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

9 hours (approx)
Approximately 4 - 4.5 hours on island

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Prescription masks
• Wetsuits

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

Restrictions

• Guests must be able to walk up to 100 m on sand / uneven ground
• Not suitable for disabled passengers
• Diving is not refundable

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Additional Information

Diving is non refundable

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit
• Towel and shoes that can get wet for island walk and boat transfers
• Camera
• Cash or Credit Card for additional purchases

• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children (not applicable with other discounts)
• Child rate applies to children age 4 to 16
• Infants 0-3 years travel free of charge
• Proof of age may be required
• All children under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times. Exceptions are school groups, when children are accompanied by a teacher and have filled out a disclaimer form.