Fuel levy: +$4 adult / +$2 child on all packages
A fuel levy applies to every Sunlover Fitzroy ticket on top of the advertised package price. Effective Best of Island prices: $170 adult / $112 child. Fitzroy Island Adventures charges no fuel levy, so factor this in when comparing the two operators directly.
GuestTours Review
Sunlover Fitzroy Island Review 2026: Everything Bundled, One Later Departure
Sunlover's Fitzroy Island tour is the "everything bundled" alternative to Fitzroy Island Adventures. The Best of Island package ($166 adult) includes the ferry, snorkel gear, glass bottom boat and a lunchbox — you arrive and everything is sorted. Compare that to Fitzroy Adventures at $108 with snorkel ($34) and lunch ($24) added and the effective gap is small. The 10:15 AM departure is the only late-morning Fitzroy option from Cairns, suited to guests who want a relaxed start. Until September 2026 the Island Value package automatically upgrades to Best of Island at the same price.
Note the fuel levy: $4 per adult, $2 per child, on top of all packages. Turtle Talk ($23), guided kayak, guided rainforest walk and guided snorkel are available as add-ons; pricing for the last three is not published online. Nudey Beach is crushed coral, not soft sand. If you want everything pre-organised and a later departure, Sunlover is the better choice over Fitzroy Adventures.
GuestTours Verdict
Best for travellers who want everything organised in advance and appreciate a later departure. The glass bottom boat inclusion at $166 is genuine added value over Fitzroy Adventures at this price point. If you don't need the glass bottom boat or the later start, Fitzroy Adventures is cheaper after accounting for the fuel levy.
Honest Assessment
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Snorkel + glass bottom boat + lunchbox bundled (Best of Island)
- Later 10:15 AM departure, good for slow mornings
- Glass bottom boat not available via Fitzroy Adventures
- Turtle Talk add-on with structured reef education
- Family pass available ($442)
- Island Value free upgrade to Best of Island until Sept 2026
Cons
- Fuel levy $4 adult / $2 child on every package
- Only one departure per day, no flexibility
- Fewer hours on island vs the 8:30 AM Fitzroy Adventures ferry
- Guided add-on prices not published, must call
- Nudey Beach is crushed coral, not sand
Pricing
Packages and Prices
| Package | Adult | Child | Family | Key inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best of Island Recommended | $166 | $110 | $442 | Ferry + snorkel gear + glass bottom boat + lunchbox |
| Island Value | $166 | $110 | $442 | Free upgrade to Best of Island inclusions until Sept 2026 |
| Island Essentials | $134 | $85 | $353 | Ferry + choice of glass bottom boat or snorkel gear (not both) |
| Ferry Only | $109 | $63 | $281 | Return ferry only, no activities included |
+$4 adult / +$2 child fuel levy applies to all packages above.
What's Included
Best of Island, Inclusions and Exclusions
- Return ferry to Fitzroy Island
- Snorkel gear
- Glass bottom boat tour
- Lunchbox
- Island access
- Rainforest walking tracks (self-guided)
- Beach access including Nudey Beach
Not included: Fuel levy $4 adult / $2 child (payable at check-in) · Turtle Talk ($23 add-on) · Guided kayak tour (price TBC) · Guided rainforest walk (price TBC) · Guided snorkel (price TBC)
Day Schedule
What Happens on the Day
8:45 AM
Check-in opens, Reef Fleet Terminal
Check-in window 8:45 to 9:45 AM at Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St, Cairns. Pay fuel levy at this point.
10:15 AM
Depart Cairns
45-minute ferry crossing to Fitzroy Island, 29 km southeast of Cairns.
~11:00 AM
Arrive Fitzroy Island, collect gear and board glass bottom boat
Collect snorkel gear (Best of Island and Essentials). Glass bottom boat tour departs for guests on Best of Island and Island Value packages. Viewing windows show the fringing reef without getting wet.
Late morning
Snorkelling from Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach
Fringing reef accessible directly from shore. No boat required to reach the snorkel site. Snorkel gear provided with Best of Island and Essentials. Guided snorkel add-on available (price TBC).
Midday
Lunchbox (Best of Island) + free time
Lunchbox included with Best of Island. Free time: rainforest trails, Lighthouse Walk to the summit, Nudey Beach, and self-guided visit to the turtle rehabilitation centre.
Afternoon
Continue activities, optional Turtle Talk
Continue exploring. Turtle Talk add-on ($23) available as a structured presentation on the turtle rehabilitation programme. Kayak and SUP hire also available independently on the island.
3:45 PM
Depart Fitzroy Island
Board the return ferry at Fitzroy Island for the 45-minute crossing back to Cairns.
4:30 PM
Arrive Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns
Return to 1 Spence St, Cairns. Total time from departure approximately 6 hours, approximately 5 hours on the island.
Practical Details
Before You Book
Departure Point
Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St, Cairns. Check-in 8:45-9:45 AM.
Duration
Departs 10:15 AM, returns 4:30 PM. Approximately 5 hours on the island.
Children
Child rate available. Family pass $442 (2A + 2C, Best of Island).
Cancellation
Free cancellation 48+ hours before departure. Non-refundable within 48 hours. Weather cancellations: full refund.
Hotel Transfers
Not included in standard packages. Contact Sunlover directly for transfer options and pricing.
What to Bring
Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, swimwear, towel. Snorkel gear included (Best of Island and Essentials). Lunchbox included (Best of Island).
Questions and Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Until September 2026, the Island Value package automatically upgrades to Best of Island inclusions at the same price. Best of Island is the best value: snorkel gear, glass bottom boat and a lunchbox are all included. If you only want one activity, Essentials saves $32 per adult. Ferry Only is worth considering only if you have your own gear and plan to eat on the island.
Fitzroy Island Adventures charges $108 adult for the ferry only. Adding snorkel gear ($34) and a picnic lunch ($24) brings the total to $166, the same as Sunlover's Best of Island before the fuel levy. Key differences: Sunlover includes the glass bottom boat (not available as an add-on from Fitzroy Adventures), departs at 10:15 AM instead of 8:30 AM or 10:45 AM, and charges a fuel levy of $4 adult / $2 child. Fitzroy Adventures has no fuel levy.
Sunlover charges $4 per adult and $2 per child on top of all packages. For a family of two adults and two children, that is an extra $12. Fitzroy Island Adventures charges no fuel levy at all, so when comparing prices the effective Sunlover Best of Island price is $170 adult rather than $166.
Sunlover operates a single daily departure at 10:15 AM, returning at 4:30 PM, giving approximately 5 hours on the island. Fitzroy Island Adventures offers two departure times (8:30 AM and 10:45 AM). The 10:15 AM start is Sunlover's main flexibility advantage for those who prefer not to rush, but there is no morning half-day option.
Turtle Talk ($23 add-on) is a guided presentation about the turtle rehabilitation programme on Fitzroy Island. It provides more depth than simply wandering past the centre. Worth booking if you have children or a strong interest in marine conservation. The rehabilitation centre itself can be visited for free without Turtle Talk as part of your island time.
No. Nudey Beach is made of crushed coral, not sand. It looks white and photogenic and was named Australia's number one beach in 2018. Worth visiting, but if a soft sandy beach is specifically what you want, temper expectations. The water and snorkelling around Nudey Beach are genuinely excellent.
From shore. The fringing reef at Fitzroy Island is accessible directly from Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach without needing a boat. This is one of Fitzroy Island's strengths: you can enter the water whenever you like during your stay, independently. Snorkel gear is included with Best of Island and Essentials packages.
Turtle Talk ($23), guided kayak tour, guided rainforest walk and guided snorkel. Prices for the kayak, rainforest walk and guided snorkel are not published on the website. Contact Sunlover directly for current pricing when booking.
Yes. The glass bottom boat is included in the Best of Island and Island Value packages. It tours the fringing reef around Fitzroy Island, giving non-swimmers or anyone who prefers to stay dry an underwater view of the reef. Fitzroy Island Adventures does not include a glass bottom boat, making this a Sunlover-specific advantage at this price point.
Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, swimwear and a towel. Snorkel gear is included with Best of Island and Essentials. A lunchbox is included with Best of Island. Bring card or cash for any additional purchases on the island (cafe, kayak hire, Turtle Talk). Leave valuables at your hotel.
Free cancellation if you cancel 48 hours or more before departure. Within 48 hours the booking is non-refundable. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or sea conditions.
Sunlover Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island Day Trip · Cairns
Best of Island (Recommended)
Adult
Ferry + snorkel + GBB + lunchbox
$166
Child
$110
👪 Family Pass
2 Adults + 2 Children
$442
⚠️ +$4 adult / +$2 child fuel levy on all packages.
Island Essentials
Adult
Ferry + 1 activity of choice
$134
🔒 Secure booking, no payment now
✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour
↩️ Free cancellation 48h+
We confirm availability with the operator and send a secure payment link by email. No charge until confirmed.