Palm Cove Sea Kayak to Double Island

Half-Day Kayak & Snorkel · paddle from Palm Cove beach to uninhabited Double Island · Cairns

4.7 / 5 | GuestTours Rating
4 hrs
half-day paddle & snorkel
Paddle to Double Island
uninhabited & guided
Turtles & rays
snorkel the fringing reef
From $77
across three kayak tours
Our Review

Palm Cove Sea Kayak to Double Island Review 2026: The Best Paddle on the Northern Beaches

I'm always happy to point people up to Palm Cove for this one. You launch straight off the beach and paddle out to Double Island, an uninhabited little isle sitting just offshore, then snorkel and poke around before heading back, four hours all up. It's the calmest, most scenic bit of coast north of Cairns, and being on the water yourself beats a big boat.

What I like is how forgiving it is. Beginners are genuinely welcome, all the gear is provided, and a guide stays with you, so you don't need any kayaking history, just the ability to swim. The reward is a stretch of water where turtles and rays turn up regularly. Note the $7 Environmental Management Charge added on the day.

My pick for the best sea kayak tour out of the Cairns beaches.

GuestTours Verdict
A beginner-friendly half-day paddle from Palm Cove beach to uninhabited Double Island, with snorkelling and a good chance of turtles and rays, gear and a guide included. Our pick for "Best Sea Kayak Tour."
📷 Photos coming soon — Palm Cove beach launch, the paddle to Double Island and the snorkelling reef will be added here.
Palm Cove Sea Kayak to Double Island
Half-Day Kayak & Snorkel · Palm Cove
4.7 / 5 GuestTours Rating
Operated by Palm Cove Watersports · booked through GuestTours
Double Island Kayak & Snorkel (4 hrs)
Adult
16+ years
$137
Child
under 16
$107
Other Options
Turtle & Stingray Tour
3 hrs · child $77 · +$3.50 EMC
$97
Sunrise Kayak Tour
~2 hrs · child $67 · +$3.50 EMC
$77

Tell us which option you'd like and we'll confirm it when you book. A $7 Environmental Management Charge (EMC) applies per person on the Double Island tour ($3.50 on the shorter tours), paid on the day. Stinger suit hire $5.

🔒 Secure booking · no payment now
✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour
↩️ Free cancellation 48h+
Inclusions

What's included in your ticket

  • Guided sea kayak from Palm Cove beach
  • Paddle out to uninhabited Double Island
  • Kayak, paddle and safety gear provided
  • Snorkel gear for the reef
  • Guide with you throughout
  • Beginner-friendly, no experience needed
  • Great chance to spot turtles & rays
  • Approximately 4 hours on the water

Not included: the $7 per-person Environmental Management Charge (EMC), added on the day. Stinger suit hire is $5. Other options confirmed when you book. You must be able to swim.

Honest Assessment

Pros and cons

What we love
  • Beginners genuinely welcome, gear provided and a guide stays with you
  • Paddle to your own uninhabited island rather than sitting on a big boat
  • Regular turtle and ray sightings on the snorkel
  • Palm Cove's calm, scenic water is ideal for first-time kayakers
  • Three tour lengths to suit families, early risers and shorter days
Worth knowing
  • You must be able to swim, this is an on-water, self-powered tour
  • A $7 EMC per person is added on the day (not in the ticket price)
  • In stinger season a stinger suit (hire $5) is worth taking
Who It's For

Best for these travellers

Great fit
🚣
First-time kayakers
Beginners are welcome, gear is provided and a guide stays with you the whole way.
Great fit
🐢
Wildlife & snorkel fans
Snorkel off an uninhabited island with a genuine chance of turtles and rays.
Great fit
👨‍👩‍👧
Active families
A half-day paddle with a child price, plus shorter tour options for younger crews.
Not ideal
🏊
Non-swimmers
You must be able to swim. If that's a concern, ask us about a boat-based reef day instead.
Your Day

How the tour runs

Morning
Meet at Palm Cove beach
Meet your guide on the beach, get fitted with kayak, paddle and safety gear, and run through a quick briefing.
Launch
Paddle out to Double Island
Launch straight off the sand and paddle across the calm water to uninhabited Double Island, guided all the way.
On the water
Snorkel & explore
Snorkel the fringing reef and explore around the island, with a good chance of turtles and rays.
~4 hrs
Paddle back to Palm Cove
Return paddle to the beach. About four hours all up. Times approximate and weather-dependent.
The Options

Three kayak tours to choose from

Double Island Kayak & Snorkel
4 hrs · $137 adult / $107 child
The hero tour: paddle from Palm Cove to uninhabited Double Island, snorkel and explore. +$7 EMC per person on the day.
Turtle & Stingray Tour
3 hrs · $97 adult / $77 child
A shorter paddle focused on spotting turtles and rays in the calm water off Palm Cove. +$3.50 EMC per person.
Sunrise Kayak Tour
~2 hrs · $77 adult / $67 child
An early-morning paddle on glassy water as the sun comes up. The shortest option. +$3.50 EMC per person.
Double Island
off Palm Cove
A small uninhabited island just offshore, with fringing reef and calm water, the destination for the flagship paddle.
Practical Information

Before you go

🕘
Timing
The Double Island tour runs about 4 hours, departing in the morning. Shorter options run 2–3 hours.
📍
Where it departs
From Palm Cove beach, on the Northern Beaches about 25 minutes from Cairns.
🏊
Swimming
You must be able to swim. Beginners are welcome, no kayaking experience needed.
🤿
Gear
Kayak, paddle, safety gear and snorkel gear are all provided. Just bring yourself.
💲
EMC & extras
$7 Environmental Management Charge per person on the day ($3.50 on the shorter tours). Stinger suit hire $5.
🎒
What to Bring
Swimmers, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle. A rash top helps in stinger season.
Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions

Three: the Double Island Half-Day Kayak & Snorkel (4 hours, $137 adult / $107 child), the Turtle & Stingray Tour (3 hours, $97 adult / $77 child) and the Sunrise Kayak Tour (about 2 hours, $77 adult / $67 child). Tell us which you'd like and we'll confirm it when you book.
No. Beginners are genuinely welcome, all the gear is provided and a guide stays with you throughout. Palm Cove's calm water makes it an easy first paddle.
Turtles and rays are seen regularly in this stretch of water, and the Turtle & Stingray tour is built around spotting them. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is guaranteed, but sightings are common.
Yes. This is an on-water, self-powered tour with snorkelling, so you must be a confident swimmer. If that's a concern, ask us and we'll suggest a boat-based reef option instead.
The Environmental Management Charge is a per-person fee for the marine park, added on the day of the tour. It's $7 per person on the Double Island tour and $3.50 on the shorter Turtle & Stingray and Sunrise tours. It's not included in the ticket price.
Wear or bring swimmers, and pack a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a water bottle. A rash top or light shirt is handy for sun and stinger-season protection.
Yes. Kayak, paddle, safety gear and snorkel gear are all provided. You just need to bring yourself and the personal items above.
Marine stingers can be present in the warmer months (roughly November–May). A stinger suit is available to hire for $5 and is worth taking in season. Let us know and we'll add it when you book.
There's an adult (16+) and a child (under 16) price, so children are welcome on the paddle. If you're travelling with young children, let us know their ages and we'll confirm what's suitable when you book.
The tour is weather-dependent. If conditions aren't safe to paddle, we'll offer you an alternative date or a refund. We'll confirm the outlook with you before you head out.
From Palm Cove beach, on the Northern Beaches roughly 25 minutes north of Cairns. We'll send you the exact meeting point and time when your booking is confirmed.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure. Within 48 hours the booking is non-refundable, except where the tour can't run for weather, in which case we'll reschedule or refund.
Palm Cove Sea Kayak to Double Island
Half-Day Kayak & Snorkel · Palm Cove
4.7 / 5 GuestTours Rating
Operated by Palm Cove Watersports · booked through GuestTours
Double Island Kayak & Snorkel (4 hrs)
Adult
16+ years
$137
Child
under 16
$107
Other Options
Turtle & Stingray Tour
3 hrs · child $77 · +$3.50 EMC
$97
Sunrise Kayak Tour
~2 hrs · child $67 · +$3.50 EMC
$77

Tell us which option you'd like and we'll confirm it when you book. A $7 Environmental Management Charge (EMC) applies per person on the Double Island tour ($3.50 on the shorter tours), paid on the day. Stinger suit hire $5.

🔒 Secure booking · no payment now
✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour
↩️ Free cancellation 48h+

We confirm availability and send a secure payment link by email. No charge until confirmed.

Ready to paddle out to Double Island?

Reserve your Palm Cove sea kayak tour. Pick a date, confirmation within 1 hour, payment link by email.

🔒 Secure booking✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour↩️ Free cancellation 48h+
Before you book

Planning guides from our team in Cairns

We live in Cairns and we book these tours every week. These are the guides we send guests before they choose.

BeachesPalm Cove & the Beaches

Which beach, which nets, and where to stay.

Read the guide → JellyfishStinger Season in Cairns

November to May, and what it changes.

Read the guide → SafetyIs Cairns Safe?

The honest risk list, ordered by likelihood.

Read the guide → PlanningThe Best Day Trips from Cairns

Every day trip compared, and the order to do them in.

Read the guide →