03 Dec
Fitzroy Island Aerial View
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Five Reasons Why You Must Visit Fitzroy Island Near Cairns

Millions of visitors from all over the world make their way to stunning Queensland, Australia, every single year, and with an abundance of outstanding natural attractions, including the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest (both located in Tropical Far North Queensland), it’s not hard to see why!

Witnessing the magic of the Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly the most popular activity undertaken by visitors to Cairns and its beautiful surrounds. It can be somewhat overwhelming when it comes to selecting a day trip/tour operator for your visit to the Reef, with so many options when it comes to location, duration, inclusions and price.

Fitzroy Island, an exquisitely beautiful tropical island located just 45 minutes from Cairns via Fast Cat, is one of the most amazing places in Tropical Far North Queensland from which you can explore the Great Barrier Reef. Fitzroy Island is situated right in the heart of the Reef and is the perfect location for exploring the reef by not only snorkelling and scuba diving, but also by glass bottom boat, kayak or stand-up paddle board.

Its incredible positioning right amongst the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef is not the only feature that makes a visit to Fitzroy Island a must; Fitzroy Island is also a fabulous place to go walking and hiking and is home to a giant ocean trampoline, the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, delicious dining options and the option to stay a little longer and soak up all the island has to offer at Fitzroy Island Resort.

Fitzroy-Island-Cairns-Resort

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef

Whether your preference is to get right amongst the action and don a snorkel, mask and fins or scuba equipment, or explore the Great Barrier Reef from the comfort of the island’s glass bottom boat, kayak or SUP, Fitzroy Island is the ultimate location for exploring the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.

Fitzroy Island is a unique location from which to witness the magic of the Great Barrier Reef, as you can grab your snorkelling gear, wander down to the water’s edge and snorkel straight out onto the Reef, from either of Fitzroy Island’s two main beaches, Welcome Bay and the award-winning Nudey Beach.

The friendly staff at the Fitzroy Island Sports Hub make hiring your snorkelling, scuba and other gear a breeze. If you’re after something a bit more adventurous, you might like to participate in a 3-hour Guided Sea Kayaking Tour, where you shall visit private beaches and snorkelling locations around the island that cannot otherwise be reached.

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Fitzroy Island is the proud home of the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. This fully volunteer-run organisation is dedicated solely to the care and rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles that call the Great Barrier Reef home.

If you are a nature or turtle lover, a tour of the Centre is a must-do activity during your visit to Fitzroy Island. At 1pm each day, the Centre opens its doors for a small group tour, enabling you to see and learn firsthand about the amazing work that is carried out at the facility.

Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Giant Ocean Trampoline

One of Fitzroy Island’s most unique and enjoyable attractions (for kids of all ages, including adults!) is its giant ocean trampoline, located just 25m off the shore of Welcome Bay. Grab an all-day pass for the ocean trampoline and bounce around to your heart’s content!

Walking and Hiking Tracks

An enormous 97% of Fitzroy Island is National Park; a stunning combination of lush, tropical rainforest vegetation as well as coastal woodlands. This makes it the perfect place for a short and gentle stroll through the rainforest, all the way up to a hike to the summit for magnificent views of the island and surrounds.

There is a wide variety of trails on offer at Fitzroy Island, with something to suit all ages and fitness levels. You might like to check out some of the most popular tracks below:

  • Secret Garden Track: A gentle, 1km stroll (45 minutes return) through lush rainforest, the Secret Garden Track immerses you amongst the island’s stunning rainforest vegetation and gives you the chance to spot some of Fitzroy Island’s unique wildlife.
  • Nudey Beach Track: Another fabulous 45-minute return walk you may enjoy is the Nudey Beach Track, which shall see you gently wandering through the rainforest, past giant granite boulders and finishing with stunning views of Fitzroy Island’s most spectacular beach, Nudey Beach.
  • Summit Track: The Summit Track is well suited to people with a very high level of fitness, as it makes it way over very steep terrain from the end of Boulder Trail (which begins east of the island’s jetty). Exploring Summit Track means you shall witness a stunning mix of rainforest and coastal woodland vegetation and finish at the top of Fitzroy Island, where you shall be greeted with outstanding views of both the island and surrounding ocean.

Nudey Beach - Voted #2 Best Beach in Australia

Food and Accommodation

As you can see, Fitzroy Island has loads of amazing activities on offer, and for many visitors to the island, one day is just not enough! If you would like to spend more than just the day on the island, you can choose from the wide array of accommodation options available at Fitzroy Island Resort (from camping to bungalows, studios to suites).

Fitzroy Island’s General Store is a great place to stop by and pick up a drink or snack to enjoy on the beach, and if you are looking for somewhere to sit down and enjoy a tasty, chef-prepared meal, look no further than the laidback Foxy’s Bar (located right on the beach at Welcome Bay), or Zephyr’s restaurant, for alfresco fine dining under the stars.

Fitzroy Island is bursting with amazing activities, accommodation and food options- so, what are you waiting for? Book your visit to Fitzroy Island today; we look forward to welcoming you to paradise very soon!

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