Beautiful Island just 29 km from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland
Table of Contents
If you’ve come here after Googling ‘Fitzroy Island’ then you are in luck! My visitor guide to this gorgeous Island will tell you everything you need to know about going there.
Below is how I have set out the post:
1. Introduction
2. Where is Fitzroy Island?
3. Best Time To Visit Fitzroy Island
4. How to get to Fitzroy Island
5. Things to do at Fitzroy Island
6. Tours and Excursions
7. Fitzroy Island Accommodation
8. Fitzroy Island Restaurants
9. Final Thought
10. FAQs
I’ve tried to include as much information as I can in this guide. So, hopefully you will find it to be a useful resource.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you interact with them).
Read Time: 10 Minutes
Introduction
Fitzroy Island, just 29 km from the mainland of Cairns, is a place every visitor to Tropical North Queensland should go to.
Accessible by the Fitzroy Island ferry, the island is a small national park, which locals often head to when they fancy a change of scene from the Cairns Esplanade.
Encompassing a landmass of just 4km², a small part of the island accommodates the accomplished Fitzroy Island Resort, which makes a terrific base for exploring it.
This is best done on foot, as at the heart of the island is a steep mountain which sits at an elevation of 269 metres and provides magnificent views of the Great Barrier Reef, the mainland and the rest of the island.
Elsewhere, the Secret Garden Walk, which takes you through lush rainforest, and the impressive Fitzroy Island Lighthouse, that provides stunning views of Little Fitzroy Island are other notable spots.
Being almost completely encircled by coral reefs, Fitzroy is a fabulous destination for snorkelling, with Nudey Beach, situated just one kilometre from the resort, being a popular spot for doing this.
The most popular way to get to Fitzroy Island is on the Fitzroy Flyer which departs from Cairns on a regular basis.
Where is Fitzroy Island?
Fitzroy Island is one of the best islands in Queensland. It is also one of a handful of islands off Cairns in Tropical North Queensland you can visit either on a day trip or a few nights.
Situated offshore from Cape Grafton, just a 45-minute ferry ride south-east of the mainland, the continental island is counted as being within the Cairns Region locality. It is almost entirely surrounded by a Fitzroy reef system which is incorporated within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Originally known as Koba, Goong-Gan-Jee or Gabar, the traditional owners of the land are the Gurabana Gunggandji people. Currently 85 people reside on Fitzroy permanently.
Other islands in Tropical North Queensland you can visit
Best Time To Visit Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island is blessed with a tropical climate which attracts tourists all year round. Unlike other parts of Queensland it has two seasons, a dry season and a wet season.
The dry season runs from April to November and is arguably the best time to visit the island. At this time, the weather tends to be very pleasant. However, because this period represents the high season, the prices of the Fitzroy Island accommodation tend to be higher.
During the months of December to March, it can get very hot on the island, with temperatures regularly topping 30 degrees Celsius and humidity exceeding 70%. While this is good for swimming and other water related activities, you will need to take precautions to protect yourself from the sun.
How to get to Fitzroy Island
If you are wondering how to go to Fitzroy Island, the most popular way to do so is on the Fitzroy Flyer which departs from Cairns on a regular basis.
This modern and spacious catamaran can be caught from the Marlin Marina, with between three and five services running every day. It has air conditioning and decent bathrooms which make it a nice way to travel. Overall, the journey takes about 45-minutes.
If you have your own boat you can take it over to the island where mooring options will be available. Alternatively, you can take any of the several private boat charters that operate to and from the mainland.
In terms of places to stay, the Fitzroy Island Resort is the only option. However, it offers a good selection of room types for those who want to stay overnight or for a few nights.
Things to do Fitzroy Island
If you are wondering what to do on Fitzroy Island there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained, when you are not chilling by the swimming pool of the Fitzroy Island Resort with a cocktail in hand.
Typically, activities can be split into two main sections. Those that are water based and those that are land based.
On the water
As the island is almost entirely encircled by fringing coral gardens, you should take the opportunity to snorkel around the Little Fitzroy Island Reef. The colours of the vibrant underwear marine life will captivate you!
If you’d prefer to know what you are getting yourself in for, its a good idea to get your bearings of it on a glass-bottom boat tour (look out for the sea turtles!) before heading underwater yourself.
Other ways you can explore the reef include sea kayaks (some of which have glass bottoms) and stand-up paddleboards. Both of which provide you with unique perspectives of the reef.
Away from the water
Some 97% of the island comprises the Fitzroy Island National Park. Subsequently, you’ll be able to hike until your heart is content along several miles of trails that swathe through verdant tropical rainforest to the summit of the island.
One of the best of them is the Lighthouse Road trail, which guides you to the lighthouse, which presents incredible views on a clear day out to Green Island from a vantage point about 269 metres above sea level. To return to the resort, take the Summit Track for more spectacular views.
If you would prefer more gentler pursuits, heading to Nudey Beach is a must. This is a place Brad Farmer (best known as being the global beach ambassador for Tourism Australia) ranked as number one in his list of the 101 best beaches in Australia. Just be mindful it is only Nudey by name!
Lastly, you should take the opportunity to visit the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, whereupon you will learn about the fantastic conservation efforts of these magnificent creatures, which includes rehabilitating injured and sick ones back into the ocean.
Quick Facts about Fitzroy Island
Tours and Excursions
During your time on the island, or directly from the mainland, there are a number of Cairns island tours and excursions you can go on to Fitzroy, the Great Barrier Reef or other parts of Tropical North Queensland.
Between them, Viator and Get Your Guide offer plenty of options for activities and sightseeing. Here are some of the most popular ones you can book.
Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns
Scenic flight around Great Barrier Reef outer edges
Diving and Snorkeling Cruise to Great Barrier Reef from Cairns
Barron Gorge Waterfall Experience
Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation, and Daintree Rainforest Day Trip
Scenic Day Trip on the Kuranda Railway from Cairns
Skyrail rainforest cableway experience
Whichever tour(s) you choose to go on, it is worth making a reservation as soon as possible as availability tends to get booked up very quickly.
Fitzroy Island Accommodation
In terms of places to stay, the Fitzroy Island Resort is the only option. However, it offers a good selection of room types for those who want to stay overnight or for a few nights.
These options include a range of dwellings from comfortable beach-side bungalows that sleeps two people to a delightful penthouse with four bedrooms which can easily house eight.
For those who want to self-cater, some of the island holiday accommodations come with fully equipped kitchens. There is also an outdoor BBQ they can use to cook up burgers, sausages or fish.
Overall, there are 99 rooms available and the Fitzroy Island resort reviews are quite favourable.
You can make a reservation at any of them here.
So, if you are looking for a secluded place to enjoy a change of pace, there is no better place for you to go.
Fitzroy Island Restaurants
When it comes to Fitzroy Island food options there are two restaurants you can choose from: Zephyr and Foxy’s.
Zephyr Restaurant looks out to the stoic waters of Welcome Bay and is open every day for a buffet breakfast and a la carte dinner. The fully licensed restaurant offers a great cappuccino in the morning and a terrific selection of wines and spirits, which you can enjoy on its al fresco terrace.
Its food menu comprises their take on modern Australian dishes that champions ingredients that are locally sourced. You can view their sample breakfast menu here and their dinner menu here.
The second dining option on Fitzroy is Foxy’s Bar and Restaurant. This venue takes the form of a sizeable 70’s themed Pacific Islands bar which is located directly on the beach, south of the main creek, about 100 metres away from the resort buildings.
It offers a terrific casual style cafe food menu, which you can see here, as well as plenty of drink options. It also provides you with takeaway options and has a good selection of child friendly meals.
Whichever restaurant you plan to dine at, you are recommended to make a reservation.
Final Thought
If you ever visit Cairns I would highly recommend heading over to Fitzroy Island.
While it’s just 29 km as the crow flies, the island’s landscape and laid-back ambience is a world away from the vibrant atmosphere of this Tropical North Queensland city.
So, if you are looking for a secluded place to enjoy a change of pace, there is no better place for you to go.
FAQs
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about visiting Fitzroy Island near Cairns in Tropical North Queensland.
Is it worth going to Fitzroy Island?
Yes! It is absolutely worth visiting Fitzroy Island. There are plenty of things to do there, including swimming and sunbathing on Insta-worthy beaches, hiking through lush protected rainforest and snorkelling at various parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, the camping and Fitzroy Island resort accommodation options are exceptional.
How long do you need to spend on Fitzroy Island?
Ideally you should plan on spending at least three nights on the island. This will give you plenty of time to see its various highlights in a qualitative way and also spend a bit of time taking part in fun activities like swimming, hiking and snorkelling.
How do you get to Fitzroy Island?
The easiest way to get to the island is to take the Fitzroy Flyer ferry, which runs between 3-5 services a day from the Marlin Marina in Cairns. Alternatively, you can take a private tour or come in on your own boat.
