Cairns, QLD
4.0 km (2 hrs )
★★★☆☆

Green Island offers the chance to experience a tiny (12 hectare), tropical island on the Great Barrier Reef. It is the only coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef that is covered in rainforest. Located just 27 km from Cairns in northern Queensland, the island is reached by one of the many ferries that operate from Cairns. Travel time to the island is approximately 45 minutes, and most ferry operators offer packages that include either snorkelling or a glass-bottom boat ride.

My friends and I spent a half day on Green Island. This was ample time to walk around the circumference of the island as well as the rainforest interior, to snorkel off the beach (glass-bottom boat ride for my friends) and enjoy a few hours relaxing.