Fitzroy Island is the perfect getaway, located within the calm waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and only a short 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns on the Fitzroy Fast Cat ferry.

Whether you are looking for a holiday for the whole family, or just a calm romantic escape, Fitzroy Island will have something for you.

Fitzroy Island Accommodation

The island is home to the Fitzroy Island Resort, which is situated right on the beautiful coast.  All the rooms in the resort boast either a sea or rainforest view, allowing every visitor to experience the beauty of the island first hand.

The room also all come equipped with plasma televisions, digital channels, a refrigerator, air conditioning, a desk, ironing materials, a hair dryer, and a ceiling fan.

All of these amenities make staying at the resort more than comfortable.

Guest also have access to two on-site restaurants in addition to an abundance of possible picnic locations should you want to enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery while you enjoy your meals.

The arcade/game room is a perfect place for children to burn off some seam while the adults enjoy a more civilized and relaxing experience lounging in the bar and enjoying a drink.

There is also a gift shop, a well stocked grocery store, and an impressive outdoor pool, complete with a swim up bar.

The resort also offers a number of accommodation package deals that give visitors a great deal on a variety of activities along with their room.  The are:

1)   The Activity Package: The Activity Package includes accommodation in an ocean suite for two guests, return transfers to Cairns on the Fitzroy Fast Cat for two guests, daily vouchers for a fully cooked breakfast for the price of a continental breakfast, snorkel and fin hire, one hour kayak hire, a glass bottom boat tour, and complimentary fish feeding and rainforest walks.

2)   The Romance Package: The Romance Package includes one night in an ocean suite for two guests, return transfers on the Fast Cat for two, a three course a la carte dinner for two at either of the two restaurants at the resort, a buffet breakfast for two, and a chilled bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival.

3)   The Indulgence Package: This package includes accommodation in an ocean suite, a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, three course dinner at Zephyrs Restaurant for two guests, buffet breakfast for two guests, and a one hour in-room massage for two guests.

4)   The Self-Contained Package: This package requires a five to seven night stay and offers a discounted rate at one of the self contained apartments at the resort.  The package includes a full service of the room every third day of your stay.

Things to Do

Fitzroy Island offers an abundance of activities.

Arguably the main one is enjoying the calm, warm waters surrounding the island and exploring the nearby Great Barrier Reef.

It is easy to swim, snorkel, or dive right off the beach at Fitzroy Island and investigate the World Heritage Site listed reef.

Visitors can expect to find a number of clown fish, turtles, and even sometimes whales swimming in the waters off the coast of the island.

If swimming isn’t your think, the island offers plenty of opportunities for enjoyment on the water as well as below it.

Kayaks are available for rent and visitors can enjoy tours around the reef from the comfort of a glass-bottomed boat.  There are also plenty of moorings around the island making the area perfect for a day out on a boat or yacht of your own as well.

The rainforest on the island also offers a number of recreational opportunities.  The island has a number of tracks winding around the island that will take visitors to some of its most beautiful locations and some of the most iconic locations in North Queensland.

Back in World War II, the island was used as a military base.  It was during this time that the many pathways weaving through the forests were cut.

It is also for this reason that they lead to some of the best vantage points on the island.

The Lighthouse and Summit walks will take hikers to an ideal viewpoint, where they can look out over the sea and the Great Barrier Reef.

There are also walks to Secret Garden and Nudey Beach, which is one of the area’s most scenic beaches.

One can’t forget the fantastic beaches on Fitzroy Island as well.  It is an island right next to the reef with a tropical climate after all!.

Visitors can step right out of the resort and onto Welcome Bay, which is filled with visitors and energy.  The aforementioned Nudey Beach is a must see as well and is only a short scenic walk.

Whether you want to just sunbathe, swim, play beach volleyball, or fish, the beaches on Fitzroy Island will have something for you.

The island is also home to its very own dive and adventure centre, which offers visitors a variety of rental services and other activities.

Single or double glass bottomed kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel equipment, and wetsuit hire are all available here.

Additionally, the centre is PADI certified and offers introductory SCUBA diving in the training pool or in a safe area on the beach not far away.

If you are already an experience SCUBA diver, equipment is available for rental as well.   

   Fitzroy also offers overnight visitors the chance to dive with the SEABOB Jet, an opportunity that is unique to Fitzroy Island.

The SEABOB is a personal electric machine the essentially pulls its users, propelling them through the water.

They can be used either below or on top of the surface and are ideal for exploring the reef or turtle spotting.

The SEABOB is a truly fantastic way to explore the reef and they make for a great time.

How to Get There

        The island is easily accessed from Cairns.  In forty-five minutes, the Fitzroy Fast Cat Ferry service will transport you from Cairns to the beautiful Fitzroy Island.

The Fast Cat makes multiple trips between the two locations daily making it the perfect mode of transportation whether you will be travelling to the island for a day trip, or for a much longer trip. 

The island can also be easily reached from your own personal boat or yacht.

The city of Cairns can be reached via nearly everywhere in Australia and via a few places in southeast Asia as well.