Lizard Island, Cairns and Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

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Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Islands

The ultimate Great Barrier Reef escape

From remote coral cays to rainforest-wrapped retreats, the islands off Cairns offer everything from adrenaline to hammock time. Sometimes within the same hour. This is where reef meets rainforest, where barefoot luxury mingles with wild adventure, and where every beach tells a different story.

Snorkel with turtles before breakfast, toast the sunset with your toes in the sand, or go full Robinson Crusoe on an island all to yourself. Whether you’re craving a low-key recharge or the kind of bucket-list brag you’ll talk about forever, paradise is well within reach.

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Warm clear waters

September - November

Average temperatures

September - November

Min

Max

Get to know the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region

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Great Barrier Reef

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Cairns

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Mission Beach

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Cape Tribulation and Daintree

Things to do on Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Islands

Want the local lowdown on these incredible tropical islands? Swing by the Visitor Information Centre and have a yarn with someone who knows it best.

Ready to live out your island dreams? You're spoiled for choice from Cairns. Each island has its own vibe, from luxurious to laidback and everything in between.

Green Island keeps things family-friendly and reef-ready, where glass-bottom boats, boardwalks and coral gardens make the Reef super easy to explore. Just a short hop away, Fitzroy Island dials it up with rainforest hikes, snorkelling, award-winning Nudey Beach, and the chance to help care for injured sea turtles at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

Bedarra Island is where barefoot luxury gets serious: think beach villas hidden in rainforest, cocktail in hand, and not a worry in sight. Further north, Lizard Island is remote and ridiculously good-looking, home to 24 private beaches and unforgettable diving (Cod Hole, anyone?).

Want a full nature escape? The Frankland Islands are perfect for off-grid adventurers: day trips or overnight camping only, surrounded by untouched coral and abundant marine life.

And for the ultimate castaway fantasy, there’s Haggerstone Island. Think private island meets expedition basecamp, with deep sea fishing, remote diving and wild luxury at the edge of the map.

Whether you’re floating over the Reef, hiking into the jungle, or sipping something icy on a sunlounger, these islands are a choose-your-own-paradise experience. You’ll arrive for the beaches, but stay for the magic.