A reef and island day trip from Cairns fits the outer Great Barrier Reef and a tropical island into one day. Sunlover Reef Cruises’ Reef & Island in a Day spends the morning at Moore Reef and the afternoon on Fitzroy Island, leaving the Reef Fleet Terminal at 8am and returning at 4:30pm. It suits a packed schedule or a single free day, with less time in each place than a single-destination trip. Times and days are as of November 2026.
Reef & Island in a Day is run by Sunlover Reef Cruises.
What is Reef & Island in a Day?
It’s a day cruise with two stops. First comes the Moore Reef pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef, where you can snorkel or see the coral from a glass bottom boat, a semi-submersible and an underwater observatory. Then it’s on to Fitzroy Island for lunch and two hours of island time, with calm swimming and short rainforest walks.
As of November 2026, it runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with more days added in peak periods. Check live availability when you book.
What does the day look like, hour by hour?
This is Sunlover’s schedule as of November 2026. Check your booking for your own times.
- 7:00am: check-in opens at the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street.
- 7:15am: boarding starts.
- 7:30am: check-in closes.
- 8:00am: the boat leaves Cairns.
- 9:30am: arrive at Moore Reef, about 1.5 hours later.
- 9:30am to 12:00pm: 2.5 hours at the pontoon.
- 12:00pm: leave the reef.
- 12:45pm: arrive at Fitzroy Island for a buffet lunch at Zephyr’s on Welcome Bay.
- 1:30pm to 3:30pm: island time.
- 3:30pm: leave Fitzroy Island.
- 4:30pm: back in Cairns.
That leaves the evening free for the Esplanade, under 5 minutes from Hides.
What’s included, and what costs extra?
Included in the fare:
- Snorkel gear, a lycra suit and guided snorkelling at Moore Reef.
- The glass bottom boat, semi-submersible and underwater observatory.
- A waterslide and a kids’ snorkel training area.
- Buffet lunch at Zephyr’s on Welcome Bay (wine, beer and soft drinks are available to buy).
- Island time on Fitzroy and the return cruise.
Optional extras can be added when you book: a marine-biologist-guided snorkel tour, a Seawalker helmet dive, an introductory scuba dive, and a guided rainforest walk or Turtle Talk on Fitzroy Island. Scenic helicopter flights are either 10 minutes from the pontoon helipad, or 25 minutes from Cairns to the pontoon with the catamaran back. Flights depend on weather and minimum numbers.
Is it the right trip if you only have one day in Cairns?
If you want the outer reef and an island but only have one free day, this trip does both. The trade-off is time: 2.5 hours at Moore Reef and two hours on Fitzroy after lunch. Sunlover’s single-destination trips give you longer in one place:
- Moore Reef Full Day: about 4 hours at the reef.
- Fitzroy Island early boat: about 6 hours on the island.
If snorkelling is the main reason for your trip, the longer reef day gives you more time in the water. Our guide to Great Barrier Reef day trips from Cairns compares all three kinds of day.
Can non-swimmers and children do it?
Yes, and it suits families and first-time visitors. Non-swimmers and kids can see the reef through the glass bottom boat, semi-submersible and underwater observatory, and young snorkellers can start in the kids’ snorkel training area. On Fitzroy, Welcome Bay is sheltered water by the jetty. Child fares apply to ages 4 to 15.
What should you bring?
- Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes.
- Sunscreen and a hat.
- Water shoes. Fitzroy’s beaches are coral rubble and granite.
- Any medication you need, and your booking confirmation.
Seasickness can happen on any boat trip, so Sunlover suggests talking to a doctor or pharmacist before you go. Marine stingers can be present in the warmer months, and lycra suits are included at Moore Reef. Sunlover’s health and safety checklist covers what to know before you go.
How do you get to the boat from Hides Hotel?
Walk. Hides is at 87 Lake Street, on the corner of Shields Street, and the Reef Fleet Terminal is under 10 minutes away on foot, so a 7am check-in is easy.
Breakfast before the boat is tight. Our continental breakfast starts at 6:30am (paid; pre-book or arrange at check-in), and terminal check-in closes at 7:30am. There’s time for something quick if you’re down at 6:30. Lunch isn’t until 12:45pm, so don’t skip it.
If it’s your check-out day, check-out is 10am, while you’re at sea. Leave your bags in a storage locker and collect them when you’re back after 4:30pm.
Reception can help you book reef trips and day tours, or you can book with Sunlover yourself. Our guide to staying near the Reef Fleet Terminal covers the walk, and Cairns on a budget has ideas for the rest of your stay.
Only got one free day? Check live dates for Reef & Island in a Day on Sunlover’s site, then book direct with us or email res@hideshotel.com.au. Browse our rooms, and walk to your boat in the morning.
Featured image: Sunlover Reef Cruises.
Where can you check the details before you book?
Sunlover Reef Cruises’ own pages have the latest times, inclusions and conditions:
- Reef & Island in a Day: Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island in one trip.
- Moore Reef day trip: times, inclusions and booking.
- Fitzroy Island day trip: ferry packages and booking.
- Pontoon and island activities: everything at Moore Reef and on Fitzroy Island.
- Snorkelling tours: Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island snorkelling.
- Seawalker helmet dive: walk underwater with no swimming needed.
- Scenic helicopter flights: see the reef from the air.
- Fitzroy Island activities: walks, snorkelling, the glass bottom boat and Turtle Talk.
- Great Barrier Reef weather: live conditions and a 7-day forecast.
- Getting to the Reef Fleet Terminal: check-in times and directions.
- Health and safety checklist: what to know before your reef or island day.
- Sunlover FAQs: check-in, weather, snorkelling and bookings.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Great Barrier Reef and Fitzroy Island in one day?
Yes. As of November 2026, Sunlover’s Reef & Island in a Day spends the morning at Moore Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef and the afternoon on Fitzroy Island, departing Cairns at 8am and returning at 4:30pm.
What days does Reef & Island in a Day run?
As of November 2026, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with more days added in peak periods. Check live availability when you book.
How long do you get at Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island?
About 2.5 hours at the Moore Reef pontoon, then lunch on Fitzroy Island from 12:45pm and island time until the boat leaves at 3:30pm.
How far is the Reef Fleet Terminal from Hides Hotel?
Under 10 minutes’ walk. As of November 2026, check-in at the terminal, 1 Spence Street, is 7am to 7:30am.
