Frankland Islands: Reef and Wildlife Adventure

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, all encircled by vibrant fringing reefs. Immerse yourself in a diverse marine ecosystem with 200 coral species around Normanby and Mabel islands….
What's Included
  • Spacious and comfortable boat
  • Spectacular 30-minute calm water cruise along the Mulgrave River
  • Guided Island Walk
  • Use of Snorkeling Equipment, Kayaks and Stand up Paddle boards
  • Morning & Afternoon Tea and fresh water throughout the day
  • Lunch
  • Return transfers from select Cairns CBD accommodation, subject to availability.
  • Guided Snorkel Safari Tour
  • Lycra Suits (seasonal)
What's Not Included
  • Introductory Diving
  • Varied drinks including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (available to purchase)
Additional Information

Frankland Islands Reef Cruises is the sole commercial operator permitted to land on the breathtaking Normanby Island, providing plenty of space and time for relaxation and exploration. Personalize your day trip with a range of optional activities on our all-inclusive tour.
The islands are also home to several endangered species, including the green…

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
(421 Ratings)
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Vacations299
Jan 5, 2026
Beautiful trip! - Beautiful trip! Ana, our guide, was well informed, enthusiastic, and ready to share her knowledge and point wildlife. Activities are balanced with multiple options available. The site is beautiful and snorkeling was amazing. We only wished we could stay and enjoy the island longer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michel_i
Dec 29, 2025
As close to nature as you can get - Well organised tour by the team, food was very filling and a great selection, island has been kept absolutely pristine.
Review provided by Viator
Marty_heaps_good
Dec 26, 2025
Family over from the UK. - What a great trip this, a leisurely cruise up the river then a quick zip out to Normanby Island. What a beautiful setting, friendly staff and ample food. We would definitely look at doing this again. Our visitors from the UK absolutely loved it. Thanks
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andynorthampton
Nov 28, 2025
Proper Robinson Cruiso island experience - A superb day out on the reef on a deserted island. All inclusive experience including hotel transfer, lunch and all snorkelling kit etc. first class tour guides offering insight, humour and great organisation. Walk around the island, take in the breath-taking views, snorkel for marine life and befriend some baby black tip reef sharks! They even threw in a croc sunbathing on the way back. Well worth the money!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janette
Nov 26, 2025
Amazing friendly staff that went above and beyond to make our day memorable. Well organised, great set-up on the island, delic - Well organised with choices of activities to suit everyone. Super friendly staff going above and beyond to make our day memorable. Perfect location, great setup on the island. Lunch was delicious and plentiful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps02231046642
Nov 24, 2025
Great day - This was an excellent all day adventure from Cairns. The tour staff is incredibly knowledgeable and made sure we had the best experience possible. Highly recommend this tour to see the reef.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Claire_j
Oct 22, 2025
Franklin Island Day Tour - Great day out, beautiful clear sea and lots of fish and turtles to see from the beach and the semi submersible. Beach shoes will make walking around the island easier as there is a lot of coral. Catered for my dietary requirements amazingly
Review provided by Viator
Maxgz9674ll
Oct 20, 2025
Amazing island, great crew and the happiest I’ve been in a while! - Absolutely loved this. The crew were so nice, food was provided and the island itself was amazing. It didn’t have any man-made structures and that made the whole experience so much better. I highly recommend you snorkel, it was the happiest I have been in a while. Loved this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hugo
Nov 6, 2025
It doesn’t worth - Compared to other attractions, this is the most expensive and least appealing island in the region. It lacks proper infrastructure and organization to accommodate visitors. The area offers limited activities, and essential facilities such as clean restrooms, proper signage, and shaded areas are missing, which makes the experience less enjoyable. Overall, it’s worth visiting only if you’ve already explored the other, better-rated islands and are simply looking for something different, but it’s definitely not a must-see spot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Umme_a
Oct 22, 2025
Disclaimer: Cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, Customers need to adjust schedule to fulfill tour profits - Disclaimer: don't book Frankland Island tour if you, the paying customer, have no schedule flexibility and are ok with a potential cancellation due to low numbers on your booked date. Within an hour of landing at Cairns airport for a 2 night stay specifically to see the Frankland Island tour the next morning, I received an email that this tour was canceled. No explanation given. The email said I could rebook to a few specific days mentioned, or cancel. No refund was offered until I reached out to Viator. Thankfully Viator confirmed a full refund shortly afterwards. I later had to go out of my way to contact the tour team to ask why the tour was cancelled. The tour team said they had low bookings. While I appreciate the honesty, I would appreciate more their actions and clear disclaimer. It's not a weather related or emergency related cancellation, so this is highly discourteous to my time, and the team clearly focused on profit and not the customer. As someone visiting Australia for the first time, and as a paid customer for this tour (refund pending), I leave Cairns and Australia with a sense of being disrespected. I will never recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
From $172
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).