Fitzroy Island
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Fitzroy Island is a small forest-covered island fringed by white-sand beaches that lies in the sheltered Great Barrier Reef. Easily accessible from Cairns, it’s a popular day-trip destination and you can also stay there overnight at the resort or campground. Most of the island is protected as part of the Fitzroy Island National Park.
With sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, off-shore reefs, and hiking trails through the forest, Fitzroy Island is a popular destination for both relaxation and more active pursuits. It’s small, at just 1.5 square miles (4 square kilometers), and unlike many other islands in the Great Barrier Reef, it’s not a coral cay or sandy island. Long ago, it was connected to the mainland, so it’s covered with dense forest, and the offshore reef is part of the larger Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Many travelers visit Fitzroy independently as it’s easy to reach by ferry from Cairns, while others take tours, which typically include time at Fitzroy Island and other parts of the Great Barrier Reef.
- One beach on Fitzroy Island is called Nudey Beach. Despite its name, it is not a nudist beach, so keep that bathing suit on. There are no legal nudist beaches in Queensland.
- Ferries to Fitzroy Island tend to be timed to allow you to spend a full or a half-day there. They don’t run regularly throughout the day, so plan ahead.
- If you join a tour that includes snorkeling, equipment will normally be provided. Otherwise, buy or rent gear in Cairns.
Ferries run between Cairns and Fitzroy Island, taking around 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a guided tour, which usually includes activities such as snorkeling, or you can charter a boat just for you and your party.
Fitzroy Island is in tropical Northern Queensland, so temperatures are warm year-round. If you’d like to spend time on the beach and in the sea, it’s better to visit during the dry season (June-October), when the skies are clearer and the sea calmer. November-May is stinger season—as well as wet season—meaning deadly jellyfish are present in the sea. While stingers aren’t generally found at Fitzroy Island, you might not want to take the risk.
For a different kind of Great Barrier Reef snorkeling experience—or even the chance to go diving—join a tour from Cairns to the Agincourt Reefs. These “ribbon” reefs run parallel to the Continental Shelf and the Coral Sea Trench, meaning they’re among the most pristine ecosystems in the area. Snorkelers and divers will love the colorful fish and corals.
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