All Inclusive Day Tour To Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef

We had a great time on our day trip to the reef! It was so nice to be able to do all the offered activities - glass bottomed boat, snorkeling, and the island walk - and not have to choose one over another. We were the only group on the island so had so much room for just us! The lunch buffet was so tasty and provided plenty of food for everyone. All of the guides were friendly and informative. The one thing that I would suggest is to provide a short tutorial that takes place in the ocean for those folks that have had zero snorkeling experience. Having just one guide available to assist them would make their reef adventure so much better.

Great experience Food was amazing Captain was outstanding Staff was friendly and explained everything

This was truly an amazing experience. Everyone in the team was extremely knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging. The buffet was delicious, everyone should experience this once in a lifetime. it was truly above and beyond my expectations.

Great crew , every thing was easy, well organised,lunch was fantastic and plenty to eat , the island was clean, easy snorkeling, the gear was in good condition, lots of turtles , thanks guys

We had such a great time exploring the Frankland Islands! The island was absolutely beautiful, with crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery. The crew were fantastic, friendly, well organised and very well prepared throughout the entire trip. Lunch was delicious, and everything was well planned, making the whole experience relaxing and enjoyable. A little tip for anyone visiting: bring reef shoes or water sandals when exploring the island, as some areas can be rocky and uncomfortable to walk on barefoot. Definitely one of the highlights of our Cairns holiday! We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend this tour!

I have wanted to snorkel the great barrier reef since I was 8 years old. I’ve been planning & saving for the last 8 years! This snorkel was amazing and did well with my expectations. The crew was absolutely wonderful! The pick up from our hotel was even early! The bus driver & crew member was so sweet when we got picked up. The bus was a bit outdated but whatever. We picked up more hotels and got to the dock and they were great and efficient. They helped us get gear and showed us where to store it on the boat. Based on other experiences I have done I felt it was high quality gear wasn’t torn or broken or icky which was great. Highly cleaned. We had a nice river cruise although I didn’t know it was the river cruise I thought something was wrong that we were going slow lol. But it was relaxing had coffee, tea and cake. The island was wonderful lovely shaded area, they discussed safety very well. The snorkelling experience was so good!! The guide was great, we had the space to ourselves and the reef was at stunning. Lunch was also wonderful the prawns were so good, lots of options and tons of food. They also had water at all times for us. Then the island walk was relaxing we went on part of it, we got to snorkel alone a lot and saw a sea turtle! We didn’t do the paddle boards but they had them out not very advertised though. But I cared about snorkelling. The island was stunning! So beautiful and looked untouched, there is a camper toilet to use and one on the boat. They also gave us cheese and crackers which was so good on the way back. Overall it was an absolutely amazing experience and well beyond worth the money! They could charge more but I’m happy they don’t because I think it is perfect. Wonderful staff and wonderful time. Thank you for the wonderful 27th birthday and a trip of a lifetime! I would 100% book this again!!! Disclaimer: My camera was set wrong. We went 27 September 2026

Amazing trip which was very well organised. I felt safe and informed. Food was brilliant. The island was beautiful and there were plenty of activities if you wanted that. Plenty of cheese too :-)

It was awesome! Took my 12yr old son and he loved exploring the island and learning everything our guide could teach us. The staff also had activities for the kids and they got to go on a treasure hut. My son got to meet other kids to explore. The crowd wasn't big either so I got to meet other folks and enjoyed the good weather.

We absolutely loved our day with Frankland Islands Tours! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was our third day of snorkelling during our holiday, after visiting a couple of different islands and the reef, and we are SO glad we booked this tour. It was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. The whole vibe of the day was amazing. The crew were so friendly, welcoming and genuinely seemed to love what they do. Everything was so well organised, but still felt relaxed and fun. There was so much included in the day — the glass-bottom boat tour, reef safari, kayaking, stand-up paddleboards and a really lovely, fresh lunch. There was also a treasure hunt around the island for the kids, with a special treat at the end, which our kids absolutely loved. We saw so much marine life, including beautiful coral, loads of fish, giant clams, turtles, a reef shark and so much more. It was incredible to experience the reef and island from so many different perspectives. What we loved most was that it was genuinely enjoyable for both adults and young kids. There was something for everyone, and the crew made the whole experience feel really special for our family. We would highly, highly recommend Frankland Islands Tours to anyone visiting Cairns. If you’re tossing up which snorkelling tour to book, definitely put this one at the top of your list — you won’t regret it! 🐢🐠🌴

Crew members were great Service was great and was informative and fun! The main reason to be there traveling thousands of miles was to see the Corals and the Sea creatures/ fish & turtles Which We missed. Day wasn’t too bad Passing showers and sunny and we were told is not safe to go the Sub submarine. Safety first agree but pretty sure that’s an average day in the ocean, missed the bucket list and coming back again with someone else in few years of time

We had an amazing day , even the early rain didn’t spoil it, we swam, snorkelled, paddle boarded and beach walked. And of course saw the beautiful Barrier Reef. The crew were attentive but respectful of giving us space to do our thing. Andy was a font of knowledge about the island. There was plenty of refreshments and the lunch was delicious. It was great value with the added bonus of seeing crocodiles on the river on the way back. We’d definitely do it again.

Wonderful staff. Very attentive. Made a very wet blustery day enjoyable and we can't thank them enough. Delicious lunch that catered for all. Good for older couples too getting on and off the boat. Thank you!

My cruise out to Normanby Island with Franklin Island Cruises (4th September 2026) was blissful. It is rare in life to be given the opportunity to simply 'be'. I was so relaxed that I fell asleep on the beach after snorkelling! The communication, organisation, exceptional location, crew, catering, flexibility, safety assurances and perfect weather all made this a trip I will remember for a very long time. Thanks guys.

Victor was such a lovely captain. Great playlist and vibes! Fun day out on the island! PS please fix Victor's dinghy

We had a wonderful experience ! From the start our high standard bus picked us up on time. We went on a lovely river cruise and were soon on the island. The staff were very efficient and super nice, the snorkelling was organised very well. We saw lots of fish, beautiful coral, massive clams and turtles. We had a plentiful and yummy lunch with prawns and fresh fruit. We then joined the island walking tour with a student marine biologist who pointed out turtles and small creatures which we would not have noticed otherwise. We will treasure this experience!

Fantastic tour from start to finish. High standard of health and safety. Suitable for all ages. There are plenty of alternatives if you don’t want to do the snorkel safari. The island is beautiful and only our tour was there. The staff were brilliant, all professional and reassuring. Thank you Ana and your crew for the perfect day, you were all fantastic! Special mention to Max who’s knowledge on the island walk was outstanding and engaging, a highlight of the day for us!

This was such a wonderful day! The snorkeling was a perfect introduction to the area’s reef for us, and the island walk was absolutely one of my favorite parts of our visit to Australia. Being on the insane with just a few other folks was an experience I won’t forget! Our guides were some of our favorite on our whole trip- and were super helpful and knowledgeable

It was an entertaining and educational day trip. Considering all the services included, it was actually good value. Lunch was great too. This day trip was definitely one of the highlights of our vacation in Cairns. The only thing that wasn't extraordinary was perhaps the semi-submarine. As I don't snorkel, I still didn't regret doing it, as it gave me an idea of what was out there.

Had a fantastic day Crew were amazing. Victor the boat captain was so friendly and knowledgeable. Max was our safari snorkel guide and he was very interesting and also knowledgeable about the reef. The rest of the crew really made our day. The island was serene and so worth a visit !! Not overcrowded at all . Try it - it’s well worth it!!

Beautiful day for our trip. However semi submersible glass bottom boat did not operate due to operational problems. Very disappointing for those in our group not snorkelling. Staff told us after landing on the island. No credit/ partial refund possible. Also very disappointing.

Beware of booking if you have been attracted by the semisubmarine touted in the advertising. According to the management it is a non-essential part of the trip which can be cancelled by decision of the management (explanation of the management when we asked why we were not informed about the cancellation of this part before departure). Without this, there is no reason to pick this tour, pretty long drive inland to a jetty, islands at the margin of the reef with - to put it politely - pretty average sightings of marine species. Very disapointing.

From start to finish this day tour was fabulous. Picked up at a local hotel, the coach zipped us out to the boat. Along the river cruise the crew spotted and pointed out crocodiles, before cruising out to Franklin Island. The schedule is well practised. On the snorkel safari Andy led us to giant clams, turtles, fish and remarkable coral. For younger children or those who don't feel comfortable spending such a long time in the water, they can snorkel as they think best in a supervised area, with guides in the water and a life guard overseeing the swimmers. Snorkels, goggles, wetsuits and fins were all supplied, as well as noodles and boards. Lunch, a well prepared spread of salad, meat, prawns, and fruit, was followed by a children's treasure hunt and a walking tour of the island. It was led by Andy our reef guide. Sadly the weather turned against us and the glass bottom boat tour had to be cancelled. But a pair of humpback whales breaching close to the island made up for any disappointment. The team of Andy, Abby, Jimmy and Victor were professional, enthusiastic, and friendly. Our whole party enjoyed the trip and were asleep on the bus trip back.

Raining all day, low temps and the guys still made the day amazing!! Andy our guide was brilliant: his depth of knowledge with a relaxed style made for great learning, even our teenager was hooked and loved seeing the marine life. Do everything they have: inc the nature walk….you learn so much! Respectful company on the reef and a nice lunch: fully recommend . They even got the mother and calf to breach just off shore ! Thanks

Fantastic day, saw so much, the weather was fantastic, the guides were awsum, the island really put it on. Saw small sharks and stingrays, a massive crayfish, clown fish, turtles, giant clams and heaps of tropical fish. Had a great time and highly recommend this trip.

This is in no way a criticism of the crew and company who were completely supportive and helpful. I had wanted to try snorkeling and I have to say I failed miserably. Unfortunately entry to the water from the sharp coral beach was very difficult for me with the surf pushing me back but with help from two staff members I did manage to get out into the water but they soon called us back in. So apart from that, we did enjoy the day. The trip out was bumpy but we enjoyed it, have always loved boating and it didn’t worry us at all. The location on the island was wonderful. The weather perfect and the lunch far exceeded my expectations. So many choices and plenty of food provided. Unfortunately conditions didn’t allow for the glass bottom boat to go out so we were disappointed by that but we really enjoyed the walk with Max around the island, it was very informative. We met some lovely people and did enjoy our day. I would recommend the trip to anyone who is fit but if you want to snorkel, really be honest with yourself as to your own capabilities. I consider myself a fairly fit and active 74 year old but the waves and the coral beach were not fun. Dammit, I really wanted to get out into the water and swim! I will try next time we are up that way but will talk to companies that allow entry into the water from a pontoon or similar to see if it would suit me better. In conclusion, we had a lovely day and I sincerely thank the staff for their care of us.

My husband and I went on the Frankland Island River Cruise on June 29. We had a wonderful experience. They had canceled on the prior day due to weather but we easily rescheduled. The transfer from Cairns to the boat was convenient. The river cruise was calm and beautiful. We saw a few crocodiles and the crew was friendly and entertaining. The ocean crossing to the island was quite rough but the crew made it an experience I will not soon forget! We chose to snorkel off the beach but there was an option to snorkel offshore with the crew. We were not very comfortable in the water but we did see fish and coral. The lunch was good and the crew worked very hard to set everything up. We had a relaxing day enjoying a private secluded island on The Great Barrier Reef.

It was fun! I was initially a little nervous about going on the sea safari (Max, a marine biologist, took us around the reef pointing out the beautiful coral, and fish ). Max helped me get comfortable so that I could enjoy the whole snorkeling experience. If you need a little coaxing to snorkel and relax then this is the tour to go on. Max also took us around the island pointing out seed pods, geographical history, and clams in the tide pool….very interesting. The glass bottom boat was a disappointment- maybe if we could’ve gone farther away from the beach? A couple more kayaks would’ve helped those that didn’t want to snorkel but wanted to get out on the water. And, the food was just okay. More spice? More heat? All things considered, I would go with this professional team to snorkel anytime.

It was such a lovely relaxing day. I had so much fun snorkelling, I felt very safe. Loved the equipment they provided to entertain us during the day. The lunch was also yummy and a great assortment of food. The staff was also very accommodating. I also loved the how loved the trip on the way to the island. The music and speed of the boat really brought the vibe and excitement to start our day.

Excellent tour to the proverbial desert island with a very good lunch and snacks. Guides were very knowledgeable about marine life. The island walk was fascinating. The coral reef was great, turtles, manta rays, baby shark, parrot fish, angel fish, butterfly fish, iridescent anemone, some coloured coral. Wetsuits and water provided, (unlike other snorkelling tours!) Recommended.

My husband and I had an absolutely amazing time on this tour. A big shout out and thank you to Riley as she made us feel so comfortable snorkelling and made it such a special experience! Even though we were a little nervous to do the snorkel safari because of the choppy water, we are so happy we did because we got to see so much sea life. Riley went out of her way to make sure I got to see a turtle, which was on my bucket list. We also really enjoyed the island walking tour and learning more about the ecosystem there.

Avoid the crowds and lunatics. Really great day didn't see the elusive Manta Rays but amazing being surrounded by a large school of Trevally. Conditions were a bit windy but still clear enough to see the coral and fish life. Staff were awesome catering for a wide range of snorkeling ability and experience. We will be back on a calmer day! Also saw a croc lazing on the riverbank.

The crew was great, friendly and knowledgeable. But the reason to go on this was to see the Great Barrier Reef. The visibility was terrible, very murky. Between the 2 of us we saw 2 fish and 2 turtles. Where we snorkeled the reef was colorless. The crew explained why this has happened, global warming, regardless we want to alert others if you are expecting to see a beautiful reef with vibrant fish, it will not be on this tour.

Very rough sea getting to island. Once there snorkeling was good. Plenty of colorful fish. Sharks and turtles. Lunch was good. Overall I would do it again

Fabulous experience. Staff had tons of enthusiasm and took great care of us. The person that lead the snorkel tour (I didn’t catch her name but she is from Missouri) was particularly great. Do not hesitate to take this tour. The snorkeling was awesome and we had plenty of time. Even saw a manta ray!

Great tour! Superb team. The whole crew is fantastic and they go out of their way to make your day comfortable, enjoyable and memorable. Food is great too! We had the island to ourselves on the day we went. Kids had a great time going around the island on a treasure hunt with Riley! We snorkelled from the beach all day and saw all kinds of fish and coral. Spotted some turtles and a baby black tip shark too! Pretty fab day! Highly recommended.

Amazing tour from start to finish. All staff really friendly and knowledgeable. Lovely pace to the day. The river and ocean cruise to get the island is beautiful and fun. Normanby Island is an unspoilt piece of heaven. Andy who lead the Snorkel Safari and the island tour knew so much about the reef and the island. We saw so many fish and types of reef, we were also lucky enough to see lots of green sea turtles both from the beach and when snorkelling. Group size was 40 and we had the island to ourselves. I would totally recommend this tour.

Great crew, very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We were fortunate that it didn't rain after arriving on the island, and we had a lovely sunny day. The snorkeling from the beach was good - we saw a lot of different fish. One of us did the snorkel safari. It was well organised and good. Unfortunately the water was a bit cloudy after the recent rain, and it was only a week after cyclone Narelle passed just north of here, making it a bit more difficult to see clearly under water. Cold buffet lunch was tasty and filling. We really enjoyed the walk around the island guided by Max. There was good shelter from the sun and plenty of drinking water available, and soft or alcoholic drinks were available for purchase. Highlights: seeing a couple of small 'nemo' fish, a shy octopus, guide Max's enthusiasm about the island and sealife, the small giant clam closing and squirting water.

Everything is well organized from pick up to drop off. The island is not as commercialized as the other islands in the area, so you got to enjoy the natural beauty more. Special kudos to the marinebiologist (I didnt capture his name unfortuntely). He led the snorkeling safari and the island walk, and I had learnt so much about the corals and the geology on the way. Just be mindful that if you sit at the rear window seats, you would get poured by the splash - they tried to pull some curtains on the side, not too helpful.

Great day out. Pity the weather was poor meaning viewing the reef and fish was almost impossible (cloudy water). Did see a saltie on return up the river though

Absolutely fabulous experience from start to finish. Super proffessional guides highly knowledgeable. I have some health concerns, they could not have been dealt with more proffessionaly or with more consideration. Both the reef safari and the island walk were exceptional.

Truly awesome! Much better and less crowded/touristy than the Outer Reef/Green/Fitzroy tours for a more secluded feel. All inclusive makes it stress free. Tour guides were fun and informative. River entrance adds the croc dimension. Definitely recommend this tour more than the others or at least do both, but don’t miss this.

Amazing day - fantastic staff who were attentive and knowledgeable and couldn’t help us enough to ensure we enjoyed our day We travelled with a year adult son who has an intellectual disability- from the moment we were collected everyone from the coach driver to the crew made sure he was included and made sure his needs were met. I did the safari snorkelling but my partner and his son stayed at on the island and were helped by Max to kayak and snorkel - Riley kept checking in on us and also made sure our dietary needs were sorted. The afternoon island tour with Max was so informative and again inclusive. All in all a wonderful day with experienced and innately kind staff.

Amazing day out at Frankland Islands. The staff were so great with the kids (they especially loved the pirate treasure hunt)! We had a wonderful time on the glass bottom boat, snorkelling with turtles and kayaking. Thanks to the great crew, especially Riley & Jimmy who made our day!

Excellent tour. Frankland Islands are fascinating. River cruise is very interesting way to start a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Short ocean crossing to the islands. The staff are highly qualified, attentive and friendly. Tour is very well organised.

This was amazing. Everything was 5 star. From the crew, to the guides, to the marine biologist, so the skipper driving the boat and the photographer. We are basically non swimmers but the guides took time out to calm us and took us for guided snorkeling tour. We saw nemo, dori, turtles, and even baby shark. It was unbelievable. The buffet lunch was fresh and had chiken seafood and vegetarian items. The island is untouched beauty and these guys are simply the best. Thankyou team. We will come again and book you. Frankland Islands Reef Cruises

Beautiful trip! Ana, our guide, was well informed, enthusiastic, and ready to share her knowledge and point wildlife. Activities are balanced with multiple options available. The site is beautiful and snorkeling was amazing. We only wished we could stay and enjoy the island longer.

Well organised tour by the team, food was very filling and a great selection, island has been kept absolutely pristine.

What a great trip this, a leisurely cruise up the river then a quick zip out to Normanby Island. What a beautiful setting, friendly staff and ample food. We would definitely look at doing this again. Our visitors from the UK absolutely loved it. Thanks

A superb day out on the reef on a deserted island. All inclusive experience including hotel transfer, lunch and all snorkelling kit etc. first class tour guides offering insight, humour and great organisation. Walk around the island, take in the breath-taking views, snorkel for marine life and befriend some baby black tip reef sharks! They even threw in a croc sunbathing on the way back. Well worth the money!