Fitzroy Island: How to spend a day in North Queensland paradise
Fitzroy Island is one of the best day trips from Cairns, North Queensland.
A combination of white paradise beaches and lush green rainforest makes this remote, unspoiled island a perfect oasis from the bustling town of Cairns. It is without a doubt worth a visit if in the Cairns region.
What to expect:
Fitzroy Island provides both an energetic and relaxing experience, or one or the other depending on what you would like to make of it.
Walking trails offer the opportunity to explore, including climbing to the summit of the island, while the calm waters of Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach present ideal snorkelling conditions.
This is the beauty of Fitzroy Island when in this area of North Queensland. Notorious for crocodiles, the beaches of (mainland) North Queensland are better off avoided. Fitzroy Island, however, allows the bliss of beach chilling alongside sea swimming. The best part being, the ocean around Fitzroy Island is home to the Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkel equipment available for hire on the island means there is no excuse to miss out on one of the (if not the) most relaxing ways to experience the reef, and on your own time-scale. Explore this world wonder, coming up close to the incredible reef and the wildlife it attracts.
I had already been on a Great Barrier Reef trip but this did not make my excitement levels of snorkelling the reef again any less! This time round actually overrode the first in terms of an amazing wildlife snorkelling experience, a highlight was being lucky enough to swim alongside green sea turtles.
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Flights ✈️: For the most extensive, cheapest flight options to Cairns, check out Skyscanner, or for flights with cashback, WayAway.
Accommodation 🛌: Booking.com and Agoda have a range of accommodation options in Cairns to suit every traveller. If you’re on a budget, head over to Hostelworld.
Activities: For activities and tours in Australia, including visiting Fitzroy Island, GetYourGuide and Viator have a good selection.
eSIM: Avoid roaming fees in Australia with an eSIM – check out Airlo, Yesim or Drimsim to see which suits your needs. Set up your eSIM before your trip and stay connected from arrival.
Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance through SafetyWing will leave you with peace of mind on your trip, whether travelling long-term or on a short trip.
How to get to Fitzroy Island?
Fitzroy Island is easily reached from Cairns. There is plenty of accommodation in Cairns to suit every budget, and central to the ferry terminal.
Ferries leave from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal. In around 45 minutes you are transported to the paradise that is Fitzroy Island.
There are various ferry companies that operate to and fro the island. You can go for the full day or there is also the option for a half day tour with certain companies. Definitely go for the full day if you can.
Depending on what you are looking for – simply the transfer or if you want to include a glass bottom boat, and/or snorkeling equipment in your booking (note that you can easily hire this on the island), or just based on the times the ferry operates, the company you book with may vary.
Ferries can be booked directly from the ferry terminal in Cairns (do book in advance, even just the day before is fine).
Alternatively, you can of course book online. This is especially good if you’re like me and decide super last minute (late at night the night before) that you want to go the next day! You can take a look at a couple of options here if you wish to book online in advance:
From Cairns: Fitzroy Island Round Trip Boat Transfers
From Cairns: Fitzroy Island Full-Day Adventure Tour
Be aware that you do need to check in with the ferry company before boarding, meaning you must arrive a certain amount of time before the ferry leaves. Read the information carefully when booking.
If you want to really make the most of your day, you can even opt to take a 9 hour trip incorporating going further out to sea to the Great Barrier Reef for 2 hours, with lunch included and a 2 hour visit to Fitzroy Island in the afternoon –
Cairns: Great Barrier Reef and Fitzroy Island Boat Tour
Best time to visit?
North Queensland is blessed with warm temperatures all year round, however it is tropical therefore is split into dry and wet season. Dry season is from May to October, whereas wet season spans from November through to April.
My trip took place in November, so the beginning of wet season. The weather was favourable for the most part while I was in the Cairns region, but there sure was some nice tropical rainfall during my trip to Fitzroy Island. The beauty of the tropics, however, is that this soon turned to shining sunshine. So, don’t discount a trip just because it might happen to be wet season while you are there. Just be prepared.
What to take?
Comfortable walking shoes, rain jacket (if there in wet season anyway!), sunscreen, beach gear, packed lunch, cash for snorkel equipment (or your own snorkel equipment should you have it).
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Fitzroy Island Itinerary Guide
– Fitzroy Island Summit Track
Hike to the summit of Fitzroy Island. A great way to start the day – explore, then relax later.
The Fitzroy Island Summit Track is a 3.6km walk, so although not particularly long, there is a fair bit of steepness. It takes an average time of 90 mins return to do this track.
There are two different routes you can take, I chose to take the path by the campsite, so that is where to head for when departing the ferry. It is an ascending rocky path through bushland, and at the top you are rewarded with amazing panoramic views of the expanse of ocean (if you are lucky that is, I wasn’t), and the lush rainforest covering Fitzroy Island itself.
This was how my time went:
Upon arrival at the island I pretty much smashed out the Fitzroy Island Summit hike, keen to see the pretty 360 views and have plenty of time to chill at the beaches after. However, in true tropical North Queensland style the weather had other plans, as far as seeing the views was concerned.
As I reached the summit the rain pelted down, and continued to do so. So many clouds and so much rain, which, of course, obscured the view. I tried to wait it out, shelter a little (which was impossible), trying to find little areas of rocks which hadn’t already been taken up by others hiding out. I was well and truly soaked! In the end I admitted defeat, not wanting to waste any more time in hopes the view would clear, and headed back down. And of course, when I reached the bottom the sun came out and it was a glorious day. Still, I didn’t regret doing the hike! It’s all part of the fun when things like this happen, right? Can’t always be perfect.
– Welcome Bay
Welcome Bay is the ferry docking point, so you will already be familiar with this area.
Welcome Bay is a predominantly coral beach, Nudey Bay on the other-hand provides more white sand. It is therefore nice to leave the relaxing, sunbathing part of the trip for there.
So, following the hike, return here for an awesome Great Barrier Reef snorkel experience. Hire snorkel equipment from the hire beach hut, located towards the southern end of the beach (unless you have your own already). It was stinger season when I was there, so wet suits were also provided.
I met up with a couple of girls from my hostel who had arrived on an earlier boat than me, and we set off snorkelling. Starting in the middle area of the beach, before moving further to the northern end of Welcome Bay. Here, we found was the best snorkelling (on this occasion at least). This is where I swam in the calm waters alongside a sea turtle.
– Nudey Beach
Be sure not to miss out on a visit to Nudey Beach. This beautiful beach was crowned Australia’s number 2 best beach in 2018.
To get there, take the Nudey Beach track from Welcome Bay. At 1.2km return this is a short, and relatively easy walk.
This is a great spot to spend the last part of the afternoon. You can also snorkel at this spot, but once you are all snorkelled out, this gorgeous beach which is a mix of coral and white sand is the perfect blissful spot to relax. Which is how I spent my time here.
After Nudey Beach it is time to make your way back to Welcome Bay, hand in the snorkel gear and wait for the ferry back to the mainland. Head back a little early to enjoy Welcome Bay for the last time.
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That sums up a pretty successful day trip to Fitzroy Island!
Other things you can do at Fitzroy Island:
- Spend a night or two by staying at the resort on the island or the campsite.
- Visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
- Walk to the lighthouse (alternative route to the summit).
- Hire stand up paddle boards or paddle skis to take to the water this way.
- Have fun on the water trampoline.
- Dive at the reef.
It really is gorgeous and I do highly recommend visiting this North Queensland island paradise!
