Frankland Islands: Reef Cruises and Wildlife

Discover rare Sand Stars and endangered species on a full-day Frankland Islands cruise. Explore vibrant coral reefs and relax on secluded Normanby Island.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Frankland Islands - Discover the untouched beauty of Frankland Group National Park, a part of the Great Barrier Reef, which includes five uninhabited islands—Normanby, High, Russell, Round, and Mabel—encircled by lively fringing reefs. Immerse yourself in a rich marine ecosystem with 200 coral species around Normanby and Mabel islands.
    Your…
What's Included
  • Spacious and comfortable boat
  • Spectacular 30-minute calm water cruise along the Mulgrave River
  • Marine Biologist led Island Walk
  • Morning & Afternoon Tea and fresh water throughout the day
  • Guided Adventure Snorkel Safari Tour
  • Lunch
  • Lycra Suits (seasonal)
  • Use of Snorkeling Equipment, Kayaks and Stand up Paddle boards
  • Return transfers to…
What's Not Included
  • Introductory Diving
  • Varied drinks including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (available to purchase)
Additional Information

Frankland Islands Reef Cruises are the only commercial operator allowed to land on stunning Normanby Island, offering ample space and time for relaxation and exploration. Customize your day trip with a variety of optional activities on our all-inclusive tour.
The islands are also home to several endangered species like the green turtle, hawksbill…

Location
169 Ross Rd
Ross Road
If you are making your own way to the boat, please meet us at 8.15am for an 8.30am departure from Deeral Jetty - 169 Ross Rd, Deeral QLD 4871, Australia. Please note the Deeral Jetty is 40 minutes south of Cairns.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(350 Ratings)
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Debbie_m
Oct 22, 2024
Amazing and not to be missed! - This was an absolutely amazing experience! The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, the snorkeling was wonderful and the food was also quite good! I would highly recommend this trip and would happily do it again!
Review provided by Viator
Heatherwp1046vh
Oct 16, 2024
Lovely - The crew were amazing. We wished the weather would have cooperated a bit better, but the crew made up for the poor weather.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lkaddy
Oct 12, 2024
Best snorkeling outside of the outer reef - This tour was the highlight of our holiday and the best snorkeling to be had outside of the outer Great Barrier Reef. We saw clown fish living in bright blue anemones, a reef shark, turtles and a bright yellow box fish. Conditions were very calm and clear on the day we went. It was like swimming my in an aquarium. Staff were professional and helpful and food was great. There were even beach games for young children. We loved our day on a tropical island, admiring the views, snorkeling, swimming and stand up paddle boarding.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M4706nxjudyc
Oct 9, 2024
Fantastic - This was a great way to see the Great Barrier Reef. The snorkelling safari was the highlight, swimming with turtles and seeing Nemo fish. Would highly recommend this tour if you are a family. It’s very kid friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gloc141
Oct 7, 2024
Solid snorkeling trip! - A wonderful first venture into the inner islands of the Great Barrier Reef! The river cruise was stunning and the coffee/tea/snacks they served were a nice a touch. They provided snorkels, wetsuits, and reef safe sunscreen. Staff were all very friendly and organized. We saw a lot of interesting coral and beautiful fish during our snorkel safari. My husband and I also loved the nature walk around the island- we learned a lot of interesting facts about marine life that we had never learned before despite having snorkeled in Hawaii and the Galapagos! The provided buffet lunch was fresh and tasty, including prawns, chicken, pasta salad, fresh fruits, salads, etc. There were 40+ people on our reef cruise which is actually not too big of a group compared to other snorkeling cruises, but my husband and I ultimately decided that we preferred smaller group reef cruises. Sometimes during the snorkel safari, we'd be bumping into other guests in our group. In addition, bus pick-up from our hotel was over 30 minutes late which they attributed to needing to wait for other guests; we had to call to make sure they were still coming to pick us up. A courtesy call to let us know they were late would have been appreciated. However, we still had a great time and would still recommend visiting the Frankland Islands.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathryn_c
Sep 27, 2024
Relaxing, plenty of snorkeling time, beautiful island location - My 11 year old daughter and I had a wonderful day out cruising and snorkelling. We’ve done several outer reef tours, which we love for the variety of sea life, but we really enjoyed doing something a bit different, with fewer people. The cruise along the river and quick trip to reach the Frankland Islands makes for a very relaxing journey. We loved being able to swim back to the beach and sit in the shade for breaks after lovely long snorkeling sessions. The crew were lovely, helpful and knowledgeable, food was great, we had hours and hours of snorkeling time which never feels like enough on other tours.
Review provided by Viator
Nomad22362691146
Sep 20, 2024
Once in a lifetime - Undoubtedly one of the best island trip, if not the best. To begin with, once you are picked up by the bus, the bus ride to the ferry is unbelievably beautiful. With mountains and sugar cane fields. The ferry ride on the river and sea is smooth and not bumpy which keeps sea sickness away. The island itself is a Virgin island. You will have semi submarine tours and snorkeling. Beginners will have guides on water. The underwater coral view is truly amazing. The staff is super friendly and will take good care. Highly recommend 👌
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigator436321
Sep 9, 2024
A Fantastic Experience - A truly fantastic experience. The crew were all really friendly and helpful. They explained exactly how the day was planned and what to expect. They had great knowledge about the barrier reef and the whole environment and answered all questions easily. The star of the show was The Great Barrier Reef. It was a truly memorable experience, and I would highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeggjones
Aug 27, 2024
Good experience overall with some issues. Thanks FIRC - The cruise is one of the best I have experienced with facilities that are perfect for snorkelling. Food excellent and staff mostly good. I have reservations about the audio system and microphone on board and recommended to Kelly to get a better system after she tried to explain to my wife that she had been very explicit in her on board instructions when in fact the audio was so bad it kept cutting out!! Anyway, other than this there were other staff on board who helped out anyone with snorkelling lessons which was great considering there were 85+ people on board that day. Thank you for your service and please give the customers the benefit of the doubt.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leigh_p
Aug 25, 2024
No I wouldn't recommend going - The boat had engine troubles so it took twice as long to travel to and from the island which ment less time on the island. The semi sub glass was slimy which made visibility poor. There was a dozen or so crew members on board that were on the day off, they were able to do more than us paying customers
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
November 2024
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