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Fitzroy Island is the perfect tropical island getaway for all sorts of travellers, whether you are someone who likes to kick back and relax your entire trip, mix relaxation with some activities, or spend your full trip chasing epic adventures! Located just off the coast of Cairns in beautiful Tropical Far North Queensland, you shall find the stunning tropical island paradise that is Fitzroy Island.
97% covered by stunning National Park (rainforest and coastal woodland vegetation) and located amongst the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, Fitzroy Island is an adventure lover’s paradise. The island has a lovely laidback, welcoming vibe and thanks to its amazing northern location, warm, tropical weather year-round.
With its very own Fast Cat, ferrying passengers to and from the island a number of times a day, Fitzroy Island is an amazing place to visit regardless of whether you have just the day up your sleeve, or are looking to stay a little longer by taking advantage of the wide array of accommodation options available at Fitzroy Island Resort.
In this article, we shall introduce to you four awesome adventure activities to enjoy on Fitzroy Island. Let’s get started!
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is the perfect option for exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef in terms of ease, relaxation and keeping costs to a minimum. Did you know that you can snorkel straight from either of Fitzroy Island’s two main beaches (Nudey Beach, awarded the number one spot in Australia’s Top 101 Beaches Awards in 2018, and Welcome Bay) out onto the magical Great Barrier Reef? Pretty incredible, huh! All you need is a snorkel, mask and fins and you’re ready for your snorkelling adventure.
If you own your own snorkelling gear, bring it along with you to the island, or if you prefer to hire it, you can do so by visiting the friendly team at the Fitzroy Island Sports Hub. Snorkelling the warm tropical waters that surround Fitzroy Island means you will have the chance to spot numerous beautiful tropical fish (including Nemo!), majestic sea turtles, as well as numerous different types of coral.
Walking Tracks
Thanks to its stunning mix of tropical rainforest vegetation and coastal woodlands, as well as being home to a number of unique Australian wildlife, Fitzroy Island is teeming with a variety of amazing walking tracks, perfect for the adventurous traveller. Not to mention the incredible views of the area along the way!
With tracks to suit all ages and fitness levels, from simple 5-minute walking tracks, to 30-minute walks, all the way up to a 3-hour hike to the summit, there is something for everyone. Two of the island’s most popular walks are the Secret Garden Track and the Nudey Beach Track, both of which are 1km return and only 45 minutes duration, meaning you have plenty of time left in the day to enjoy other fun activities!
The Secret Garden Track shall have you exploring the western edge of the island’s jetty, with stunning views of the island’s ancient, giant granite boulders, backed by beautiful, lush tropical rainforest.
The Nudey Beach Track on the otherhand, meanders its way through both coastal woodlands and lush tropical rainforest, with your pathway opening up onto the jaw-droppingly beautiful Nudey Beach, a stunning white coral beach, framed with giant granite boulders, lush rainforest vegetation and warm, gentle turquoise ocean water. Nudey Beach is the perfect location for kicking back and relaxing on the beach, swimming and easy exploring of the nearby reef via snorkelling.
Sea Kayaking
If you are mad on adventure, then you can’t miss participating in Fitzroy Island’s very own 3-hour Sea Kayaking Tours, led by an experienced and enthusiastic local guide. This sea kayaking tour shall have you exploring a number of incredible private beaches and unique snorkelling locations dotted around the island, that cannot be accessed by foot nor boat.
Your tour includes the use of amazing glass bottom sea kayaks (meaning perfect viewing of the Great Barrier Reef below, straight through the floor of your kayak!), snorkelling gear hire, as well as a yummy picnic lunch.
If a tour is not quite your thing and you prefer to explore the waters surrounding the island on your own, you can elect to hire a sea kayak and relevant gear from the Activities Centre. This option is perfect for travellers looking to explore at their own pace.
Scuba Diving
This list just wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of scuba diving, an incredible must-do experience for adventure lovers and lovers of the ocean. Exploring one of the seven natural wonders of the world (the infamous Great Barrier Reef) via scuba diving is an experience like no other, with hundreds upon thousands of different species of stunning tropical fish, hard and soft corals, jellyfish, rays and marine turtles (just to name a few!) calling this marvellous natural structure home.
The Fitzroy Island Sports Hub is PADI-accredited, and if you are brand new to this activity, don’t worry, you can undertake a training dive in the island’s training pool, under the guidance and encouragement of our qualified and experienced diving instructors. This way, you can get accustomed to your diving gear before exploring the sheltered reefs that surround Fitzroy Island.
If you are an experienced diver, you can choose to head out and explore a number of different reefs close to the island’s shore or choose to do a boat drop. Guided/buddy certified dives are also available.
Bonus: Stand Up Paddle Boarding
For something a little different, and that you might not have had a chance to try before, a great activity you can do at Fitzroy Island is Stand Up Paddle Boarding.
Able to be done in pretty much any body of water, stand up paddle boarding is a bit of a workout and a whole lot of fun. You’ll find yourself paddling and floating above the Great Barrier Reef, which is right below you and only metres from the shores of the island.
Explore the marine life that surrounds the island at your own pace – and if you prefer, you can take part in a guided stand up paddle boarding tour. You can hire gear and find out more information about tours from the Fitzroy Island Activities Centre.
