Overview

  • Features: Great Barrier Reef island close to mainland
  • Opening Times: Any time
  • Best Time to Visit: June to November
  • Duration: Any
  • Transport Options: Ferry
  • Budget: Moderate
  • Address: Fitzroy Island, Queensland, Australia
  • Type: Island

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Summary

You might be wondering ‘What’s so good about Fitzroy Island?’ and about all the other questions that go with it. In this post, we tell you exactly what’s so good about Fitzroy Island as well as provide you with all the important information you will need to plan your trip to this Queensland island.

What’s So Good About Fitzroy Island?

 

You might be wondering ‘What’s so good about Fitzroy Island?’ and about all the other questions that go with it. In this post, we tell you exactly what’s so good about Fitzroy Island as well as provide you with all the important information you will need to plan your trip to this Queensland island.

 

 

What’s So Good about Fitzroy Island?

  • Scenic landscape – A steep mountaintop rising from the sea, Fitzroy Island is a national rainforest with coral-strewn beaches, woodlands and walking tracks
  • Accessibility – It’s a short 45-minutes ferry ride from Cairns
  • Day trip option – You can make your holiday as short or as long as you wish
  • Activities – There are a few activities on the island to keep you and your family entertained
  • Snorkelling & diving – The island offers good diving and snorkelling opportunities
  • Accommodation options – You can choose to stay at the resort or pitch a tent on the camping grounds
  • Budget – With its close proximity to the mainland and choice of accommodation options, you can choose how much you want to spend

 

 

Where is Fitzroy Island Located?

Fitzroy Island is located in the Coral Sea off the eastern coast of Queensland in Australia. In terms of distance, it is 24 km from the mainland city of Cairns. It takes about 45 minutes to get from Cairns to Fitzroy Island by ferry.

 

Fitzroy Island Map

 

 

Fitzroy Island Day Trip

Due to its close proximity to the mainland, Fitzroy Island can be accessed on a day trip from Cairns. There are daily ferry trips from Cairns to the island so you can leave in the morning and return in the evening. Fitzroy Island is a small island to explore with a few worthwhile activities which make it a perfect island for a day trip. Day trippers can also avail of the restaurant, bar and kiosk facilities belonging to the Fitzroy Island Resort which makes a day trip more pleasant. The best thing though is that a day trip can cost as little as the round-trip ferry fare.

 

 

Fitzroy Island Activities

 

What to do on Fitzroy Island? Not a lot. Being a small island, there are only a few activities on offer here including bushwalking, snorkelling & diving, lazing on the beach and visiting the Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

 

1. Fitzroy Island Snorkelling

Located close to the Great Barrier Reef, Fitzroy Island offers its visitors good diving and snorkelling options. The most popular snorkelling spot is around the rocks at Nudey Beach, which, despite its name, is not officially clothing-optional. Unlike the rest of the island, Nudey Beach actually has some sand on it.

 

2. Bushwalking around Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island has a few woodlands and walking tracks that allow you to explore the island at your own pace. The best walking track takes visitors to a spectacular viewing spot at the top of the island with a now-inactive lighthouse. The two-hour round trip is well worth the climb to the top for its panoramic views.

 

3. Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

The Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre looks after sick and injured sea turtles before releasing them back into the wild. Daily educational tours which begin at 2pm visit the new turtle hospital. Book through the Fitzroy Island Resort; maximum 15 guests per tour.

 

 

Fitzroy Island Accommodation

 

One of the good things about Fitzroy Island is its multi-choice accommodation options. In addition to the Fitzroy Island Resort, there is also the Fitzroy Island Camping Grounds.

 

1. Fitzroy Island Resort

Fitzroy Island Resort is the main accommodation option on the island. Don’t expect anything fancy here as the facilities are pretty basic. Options include sleek studios, beachfront cabins as well as self-contained apartments. The resort has a restaurant, bar and kiosk.

 

2. Fitzroy Island Camping

Run by the Fitzroy Island Resort, the Fitzroy Island Camping Ground allows visitors to pitch a tent and camp overnight. The camping ground has decent facilities including showers, toilets and barbecues. Advance bookings are essential as it is quite a popular accommodation option on Fitzroy Island.

 

 

Fitzroy Island Transfers

 

How to get to Fitzroy Island? The only transport option is a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns. There are no flights to Fitzroy Island.

 

Fitzroy Island Ferry

Raging Thunder Fitzroy Island offers day trips from Cairns. Departure from Cairns is at 8:30am, returning at 4:30pm daily.

Raging Thunder also runs daily guided sea-kayak expeditions around Fitzroy Island. These include 3 hours of kayaking, snorkelling gear, a snack, and stinger suits (Nov–May), and then you can stay on the island for the rest of the day. Tours cost includes the ferry from Cairns. Kids must be over 8 years old and accompanied by an adult.

For the Fitzroy Island ferry timetable, see Raging Thunder.

 

 

Tell us what you think. Are you taking a trip to Fitzroy Island? What are you most looking forward to? If you’ve already been to Fitzroy Island, please share any tips or ideas that will help make a holiday here more memorable.

We love to hear from you so please leave your comments below.

 

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