Sail on a 2-masted schooner from Cairns to Green Island for a full day of snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Have a choice of options for exploring Green Island, spending time in the water around the magnificent coral reefs, walking in the rain forest, or lazing on the white sandy beaches. Enjoy the expertise of the superb crew, in addition to buffet lunch, morning and afternoon tea and a glass of wine as you cruise back to Cairns.

Full-day cruise by 2-masted sailing schooner to Green Island, from Cairns
Enjoy the only engines-off sailing cruise from Cairns (winds permitting)
Spend time at an exclusive Green Island mooring in the Great Barrier Reef
Swim, snorkel, and dive (additional cost) in pristine waters
See the colorful fish and other marine life that inhabits the reef
Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, plus morning and afternoon tea aboard the schooner
Have free-time to relax on the sandy beach or explore Green Island

What's Included

Sailing cruise to Green Island & the Great Barrier Reef
Environment Management Charge and port fees
Coffee and/or Tea
Lunch
Morning and Afternoon tea
Complimentary glass of wine on the return sail to Cairns
Snorkeling tuition, tours and in-water crew assistance if required
Snorkeling equipment (snorkel, marks, flippers, buoyancy vests)
Transfers to/from the schooner to Green Island
Reef talk by a marine interpreter
Fish Feed

Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Pre-book only if have no past or present medical issues nor taking any medication. Enquire if unsure
Optional diving - x 1-2 Certified / x 1-2 Intro dives possible on day .10-12m depth .

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

1 Spence St
1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Enter the Reef Fleet Terminal and look for Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom desk. From the side entrance enter and look right. If entering from the entrance facing the sea look straight ahead on the right . Check-in is from 7.15 am at this desk .

Start time

07:15 am

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your own way to the marina in Cairns where you board your spacious 54-foot (16.5-meter) 2–masted schooner for the sailing excursion to Green Island, located on the Great Barrier Reef.

Sip a cup of complimentary tea or coffee and snack on fresh muffins and fruit as your vessel prepares for departure. Receive a safety briefing then perhaps assist the crew with hoisting the sails before relaxing and soaking up the scenery as you motor-sail to Green Island.

Green Island is a protected Marine National Park, topped with emerald rain forest and surrounded by white sandy beaches and magnificent coral reefs, the perfect place for snorkeling and scuba diving. If you plan to scuba dive (additional cost), complete your paperwork and site briefing during the journey over to the island so that you can hop in the water upon arrival.

Your captain moors the boat at Pinnacle Reef just offshore from Green Island. Hit the water and snorkel or dive among schools of tropical fish, turtles, giant clams, shells, starfish and sea anemones in this underwater paradise.

After a morning of snorkeling and scuba diving, a delicious buffet lunch is served onboard your boat before transferring by dinghy to Green Island. Relax on the beach or explore the island. Visit Marineland Melanesia to watch the crocodile feeding and see a variety of marine life up close.

After ample time on the Great Barrier Reef, sail back to Cairns (wind permitting). Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine with your tropical afternoon tea, a perfect way to end your day out on the reef.

This tour is perfect for all levels of water experience with instruction and in-water assistance provided.

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours

These are the two most personal Great Barrier Reef tours in Cairns. Sail on Ocean Free - our 16M classical sailing schooner for this extremely personal Great Barrier Reef & Green Island Tour. Sail, snorkel , dive (optional extra) - reef and beach all in one day with only a small group of up to 25 guests - pure bliss!

9 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Great Barrier Reef

Admire the beauty of the Great Barrier reef on this very personal day tour to Green Island.Ocean Free sails to its exclusive Great Barrier Reef mooring just 1 km off Green Island. Step straight off the boat and see a coral garden teeming with colourful reef-fish and marine life on this highly protected Marine Park zone. Only our guests snorkel this site making it a very personal experience! Turtles and large schools of fish a common site amongst the coral "bommies" (outcrops) that rise form about 10-12M up to just under 1M under the surface making it an ideal area for great snorkelling Spend the morning snorkelling & / or SCUBA diving (optional extra) over an incredible reef system and view the most unique and colourful marine life under the guidance of our very attentive crew. Afterwards hop back on board your vessel for a scrumptious large smorgasbord lunch after which you can hop into the tender as the skipper takes you to Green Island beach - your 2nd site to explore!

9 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
A maximum of 25 people ensures a unique and personalized experience
Please note: All divers will be required to complete a medical questionnaire on board prior to diving. Please only book the diving options if you have no medical conditions nor taking medication as some conditions/medication preclude you from diving
Tour requires you to be stable and mobile enough to move around a moving vessel and to transfer from main vessel onto tender and back

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Covid Procedures: Sanitisation stations will be available on board as well as high-touch areas being sanitised regularly, contract tracing will be followed with all details required at the time of booking, upon arrival questions will be asked regarding travel in the last 14 days, contact with any Covid-19 positive individuals and potential symptoms – answers to these questions may impact your ability to travel and will be at the discretion of the crew on the day.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

If you get sea sick, you can bring your own pills or purchase them on board.

I wouldn't recommend this cruise for small children, which is why I chose it.

Reviews

5.0

336 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 336 reviews

Mike, Blair & Dara were...

Deborah_B, Mar 2023

Mike, Blair & Dara were excellent. Fresh fruit & pastries to welcome you aboard. Great lunch, fresh tropical fruit, cheese & cracked j easy for a snack & dessert. Oh yeah, there was the Great Barrierreef for snorkeling & diving. Great day, done with a great team-

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you Debora for your wonderful feedback! We will be sure to pass on your kind words to Mike, Blair and Dara, they will be so pleased that their hospitality made a lasting impression on you :) Its great that our catering team managed to deliver a yummy feed while on tour, as well as the Reef providing the fun. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, we hope to see you on the reef exploring once more!

Outstanding experience

Mary_P, Mar 2023

If snorkeling or scuba diving is your passion, would highly recommend this excursion and crew. There were about 25 passengers on the sailboat. About half went scuba diving, the other half snorkeled. I snorkeled. We had to length opportunities to either snorkel or dive. Their choice of spots was great. An excellent vantage point for both reef and sea life. There equipment was very good as was the instruction given. I was most impressed with the care the crew gave to all passengers, especially those that needed a bit more assistance. Other details, we visited Green island, food and refreshments on board were great. Our crew included Pascal, Data, Tom and a fourth gentleman.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you Mary for your lovely 5-star review! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience onboard Ocean Free Sail with us :) Its great to hear that you enjoyed the crew and the excursion, they will be so happy with your feedback! It was our pleasure having you onboard, we look forward to seeing you back out there in the future!

This was the best tour...

Richard_S, Jan 2023

This was the best tour for us! We were given special attention and the crew and captain accommodated our needs and desires which we greatly appreciated! Cat was particularly fabulous and patient in fitting a mask! Captain and crew were helpful and humorous! We asked numerous questions which were responded to by our informative crew. All in all, we had a very memorable experience! The food was awesome and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! Highly recommend. Richard and Nancy

Response from Host, Jan 2023

We are over the moon to hear that you both had an awesome time travelling with us! Thank you so much Richard and Nancy for giving us a lovely review, our Ocean Free family really appreciates it :) Its absolutely incredible to hear that our catering team delivered a yummy feed! We will ensure that we pass on your positive feedback to our cheeky crew and captain, with a special mention of Cat being "fabulous and patient", she will be so happy that her hospitality made a lasting impression on you all. Our crew are passionate about what they do because of wonderful passengers like you! It was a pleasure having you and your family onboard with us, we look forward to having you again in the future to try out our Ocean Freedom vessel! Thank you again for sharing your experience, we are honoured :)

Perfect day

Stuart_R, Jan 2023

A enjoyable cruise out to Green Island and back. Excellent friendly and professional staff.Thank you Ben, Ryan and Natty. The small group made it a super friendly option for a solo traveller like myself. A great snorkel experience for a late beginner like myself. I was really excited to swim within a few metres of a turtle. I felt completely safe when in the water because the staff were always close by in the water with us and kept checking in that we were alright. Got the bug now! Want to come back and do more exploring on the sister boat Ocean Freedom. Food was regular, plentiful and fresh - particularly enjoyed the fresh fruit. Appreciated the glass of wine on the day back. All in all - just a perfect day!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

We thank you Stuart for giving us a great review! So happy to hear that our crew were "excellent, friendly and professional", with a special mention of Ben, Matty and Ryan! We will be sure to pass on your lovely compliments to them, they will be over the moon that you enjoyed your experience travelling with us! Our catering team will also appreciate the positive feedback. Being able to swim so close to a turtle must've been a magnificent sighting! Definitely a lucky sign thats for sure :) Our passengers safety is our #1 priority, we are glad that our efforts reassured you that you are safe! We look forward to having you experience our other vessel, Ocean Freedom. Hopefully we will deliver another "perfect day" for you to enjoy! On behalf of the Ocean Free family, thank you for travelling with us!

Simply the best!

Harriet_J, Jan 2023

Incredible team!! From start to finish the day was amazing. Felt at ease when swimming and had multiple times to snorkel. Saw sharks and a turtle!! Green island was a great stop and the food on board was fab!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

We are really happy to hear that you had an amazing time travelling onboard with the help of our "incredible" crew! We will pass on these lovely comments back to them. So lucky that you saw a turtle and some sharks that day, mustve been a special experience for you! Thank you for taking the time to give us a wonderful 5-star rating.

Had a great time sailing...

Lyn_P, Dec 2022

Had a great time sailing in rather rough weather. It was really good fun. The crew were great and full of fun. Snorkeling was excellent even though the conditions were a little rough. Lunch was amazing and I had a great time.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are delighted that you didn't let the weather ruin the day, hopefully next time you book with us the weather will behave! It was a pleasure having you onboard.

Excellent!!!

Harry_C, Dec 2022

Skipper Mike was excellent as well as rest of the crew. Pickup point was easy to find and pickup and dropoff times were promptly stuck to. I would say this is an excellent value for money trip. Got to swim with sea turtles and see lots of other brightly coloured fish and coral, as well as spend some time on Green Island. Lunch was great and lots of snacks provided throughout the day. Nothing could've been better. Book now if you want a great day out!

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Thank you for your excellent review Harry! We will ensure this is passed onto Mike and our crew. Thank you for joining us on Ocean Free and for your recommendation!

Amazing day with amazing crew

Darlene_M, Nov 2022

Had a great day on Ocean Free. Crew were fantastic. Provided information and made sure everyone had a memorable snorkelling experience. Food on board was great as well. Would highly recommend this tour

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you Darlene for your review and high recommendation. We are very delighted to hear our crew ensured all had a memorable snorkel experience - nature truly performs on the reef !

Pick this one!!

Shelby_F, Nov 2022

We had the best time! We met some amazing people as well! Went scuba diving for the first time and it was unreal! The crew was amazing and Great with all levels of swimmers! Great lunch and wine at the end! Book this trip!!! It’s the best one!

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you Shelby!! Wonderful to hear that you did your first dive with us - it truly is an amazing experience - we agree!! You do get to meet like minded people on the smaller reef tours - so alway a bonus !! Thank you also for your exuberant recommendation of our tour - much appreciated!

Great day on the Great Barrier Reef

Adam_C, Nov 2022

Last time I was on a boat I was super sea sick but after talking to the crew they were super reassuring and calmed my nervous. We got to the reef and we couldn’t have asked for a better day weather wise and then once in the water Ambrose and Jaz we’re super knowledgeable and showed us all the cool spots. Green Island was also super beautiful and a great place to stop. The food and drinks on board were delicious and hit the spot.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

So glad our crew were able to put your mind at ease & you enjoyed your day onboard. Of course great weather does help too :) We are so glad you enjoyed your overall experience! Thank you for your review Adam.

Spectacular sail experience

Gemma_C, Oct 2022

This day was absolutely amazing. The crew and guests were all so lovely, and as a solo traveller, being in an intimate setting and having such a lovely crew really made the day so enjoyable. There was so much time to explore the reef and green island after lunch. It is value for money, and the lunch was delicious! I would recommend this to anyone who wants a peaceful day out on the reef without the crowds

Loved it!!

bfcwv2cg26, Oct 2022

Such a wonderful thing to do! We were a party of 9 and we all had a ball. Great crew, boat and experience. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Great to hear your whole group had a great time onboard! Our crew work hard to make sure each of our guests have a wonderful time at the reef. Thank you very much for your review and your recommendation - both are greatly appreciated.

Friendly crew, amazing...

Kim_C, Oct 2022

Friendly crew, amazing food, incredible wildlife viewing !! Thanks for allowing me to see the great barrier reef

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Glad to hear you enjoyed your day onboard with our friendly crew. Great you got to see lots of the wonderful marine life who call the reef home. Thank you for joining us Kim!

Great

Megan_G, Sept 2022

It was a great experience, crew were great. Very welcoming. Good value for money. Great experience. Glad we did it

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Thank you for your review Megan. We are so glad you had a great time onboard with our friendly & welcoming crew. We strive to make each day the best possible for our guests and are happy you had a great experience!

Fantastic experience

Chris_A, Sept 2022

Boarded the Ocean Free not knowing what to expect as it was our first sailing boat experience - first impressions were great as the crew were so friendly and welcoming. We got underway and spent the next couple of hours enjoying the scenery whilst journeying to our snorkelling spot. The crew were helpful and made sure that you got to see everything you’d hoped to by pointing you in the right direction. The trip onto green island was informative as our captain Mike filled us in in some of the history. When back in the boat there was time for another snorkel before heading back to Cairns under sail. An amazing experience and truly the way to get to and from the reef. An amazing adventure that everyone should experience.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Great to hear you had a fantastic experience for your 1st sailing adventure! While not the fastest boat on the water, sailing on Ocean Free provides such a relaxing journey to take in the sights. With the small group numbers and high crew ratio, there is always someone around to assist both onboard and in the water. Thank you for your review and recommendation - both are greatly appreciated!

Fantastic experience

Martina_S, Sept 2022

This was simply amazing. The crew were fantastic given I had a small fear of snorkelling but they helped me get over that. The trip to Green Island was really lovely in Ocean Free the sailing boat. I would highly recommend these guys if you are in Cairns looking for a snorkelling trip.

Response from Host, Sept 2022

Congratulations on overcoming your fear Martina! Our crew love looking after our guests onboard and are always there to give a bit of extra encouragement when needed :) We are so glad to hear you enjoyed snorkeling our wonderful reef site. Thank you for your review and recommendation - both are greatly appreciated!

If you are going to do a cruise, do this one!

Sarah_D, Aug 2022

Amazing cruise from Cairns out to the reef. Saw a variety of coral, fish, sharks and turtles. Stopped off at the stunning Green Island. Crew was absolutely brilliant. Plentiful variety of food for lunch and wetsuits and snorkelling gear provided including prescription goggles for my 11 year old. Highly recommend this company who offer a personal touch to their trips with a less touristy feel.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you for your review Sarah. It sounds like all of the marine life came out to see you! We are so happy to hear that you had a brilliant day with us on Ocean Free and we strive to give personalised service to all of our guests. We hope to see you again sometime!

Snorkel, food and brisk...

Elizabeth_S, July 2022

Snorkel, food and brisk sail home....great!. Would recommend this trip to anyone....crew were lovely.

Response from Host, July 2022

Thank you for joining us for a fun day of sailing Elizabeth! Your recommendation and review are both greatly appreciated. We hope to see you onboard again in the future.

Great trip. The crew were...

Emily_H, July 2022

Great trip. The crew were great. Lovely snorkel and visit to the island. The sailing was also brilliant. Would recommend

Response from Host, July 2022

Hi Emily. Great to hear you enjoyed your sailing, snorkelling, and island experience. Thank you for your review and recommendation - both are greatly appreciated.

Amazing Sail Experience

Adam_C, July 2022

Staff amazing, beautiful long day out with lots of food keeping you full all day. Couldn't ask for anything more. We would love to come see you guys again hopefully soon.

Response from Host, July 2022

Thank you for your review Adam. We are so glad you had an amazing sailing experience with our friendly crew! We hope to see you again in the future too :)

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