I have read many negative posts re green island and will probably get a few more with this request for your thoughts, however, here goes. We are a family of four, children aged 4 & 9 will be in Cairns/Port Douglas for 8 nights in October. I am definately not a snorkeller, neither is the 4 year old but hubby & 9 year old are somewhat keen. I was wanting to find something that would be a compromise for all of us as I don't want to spend hours on a pontoon keeping 4 year old happy whilst others enjoy themselves! (After all, it is going to be my birthday!) Someone suggested that Green Island might be what we are looking for, but after reading so many negative posts, I'm not sure. Please give me ideas and/or suggestions.

Mandy - you could do a lot worse than Green Island, its not the outer reef but its a lovely safe beach for kids, the coral is not so great these days, but there's plenty of fish and kids love the place. Someone mentioned here the other day that the beach is nowhere near as crowded as a summer Sydney beach and that's true. Other alternatives, and one that I would prefer is Frankland Islands, south of Cairns or Low Isle out of Port Douglas. If you choose the Franklands which are pristine, watch the weather, its not so great for snorkelling for beginners with with a NE wind - last time I was there in that sort of weather there were children who were quite frightened to snorkel. Check with your hotel tour desk for correct weather info.

PS, come to think if it, you're not really likely to get a NE in October, it usually comes later in year.

I am not a big fan of Green Island either (as pat said, the corals are not that great anymore), I would rather go to Low Isles. It is not as crowded as Green Island and the snorkelling is great too.
If you go on the Wavedancer catamaran, you can be sure of a calm, comfortable trip.
I would decide this way: If you stay in Port, go to Low Isles, if you stay in Cairns, choose Franklands.

Thanks for your advice. Does either Frankland or Lowe Islands have activities on the islands or is it just snorkelling? I have been reading about Green Island & apparently there's a glass bottom boat, windsurfers, catamarans, pool, underwater observatory, etc. My thoughts are that it might keep the kids happy, however, many posts keep saying that there is not much there and it was the worst day of their whole trip!

mandy - to preserve the ecology of both Frankland Islands and Low Isles only limited numbers are allowed per day. There are no man-made attractions on either, although the Low Isles has an old lighthouse no longer in use.

You get a great lunch with the Frankland Island trip (most of it is on protected river with only about 25 mins on open sea), the crew sets up lunch on beach and has to cart every item of food from boat to beach in a small tinny (tender).

Green has all the usual tourist toys, including parasailing, sunlounges, shops, 5-star resort,and a small nautical museum, wharf for boat mooring plus what you have already mentioned. Its serviced by both Great Adventures and Big Cat catamarans out of Cairns, both vessels take hundreds of passengers.

So its up to what appeals to you, personally I don't think kids would be bored at either Franklands or Low Isles as long as the weather is good you won't be able to get them out of the water.

Thanks Pat, your advice is very helpful. (As always!)

Quicksilver who operates the Wavedancer catamaran has two glass-bottom boats out at Low Isles.
Actually, there is no real need for other equipments as you will spend most of your limited time in the water.

We have the same problem for our September trip. 3 people, one diver, one snorkeller and one glass bottom boat preference. We chose Ocean Spirit because it caters for everyone plus it lands on a bird sanctuary being Michelmas Cay. Quite expensive though so hope it turns out a good day.

Tassietwiser, Ocean Spirit at Michaelmas doesn't have a glass bottom boat but it does have a semi-submersible, which is far better. You get a better view of fishes and coral when you're looking at them at their level than you do peering down from a glassbottom boat. At $175 it seems a bit pricey but everything is included (except dives), ie, reef tax (government environmental management charge), transfers if necessary, a very good lunch and high ratio of crew to passengers. Quicksilver is $189 without transfers - $204.50 with Cairns or northern beaches transfers and reef tax. Two certified dives on Quicksilver are $134; two on OS are $110. And Quicksilver doesn't leave PD until 10.00am, Ocean Spirit leaves at 8.30am giving over 4 full hours on reef. Hope you get a bit of breeze so they use the sails, its a lovely vessel, especially under sail.

Pat

I am looking forward to it. It probably would have been my first choice had I read this board before I went up there the first time. We are staying at Palm Cove for the first time (can't wait) so the coach transfer to the wharf will be very handy. Also staying at Mission Beach, my favourite place on the whole planet 9at the moment). I always get excited to go to FNQ even though I seem to be up there every six months lately!

Mandy

Hi Mandy. Just to share with you - I've been to Green Island this March and I'd say the main attractions there are the semi-submersible/glass bottom boat trips. I didn't do snorkelling as it was a raining. Though there are many negative publicity about this place, it wasn't as bad. Lunch is served on board a 2 storey vessel call "eye-spy" (pronounce "Eyesbee&quot -- ya, we kept guessing what the Aussie is talking about haha If you take both the semi-sub and glass bottom boat trips, you could see giant clams, big school of fishes, corals (no, they are not dead - but alive and plentiful), stingrays and even tiger sharks on your lucky day! (I'd encountered one chasing the glass bottom boat throughout the whole boat trip). Sand on the island is very clean, fine but not powderly fine. You can also spot some dead corals in the sand. But Beach hire is costly (AUD20 an hour for the Beach umbrella alone), so do bring your own beach mat/hat. Just stick under the shadows of some trees would save you some costs. Depending on your agenda, I think is worth considering a visit. But like all other boat trips off Cairns, beware of the stormy sea. One could get sea-sick easily. So do take into consideration if you are bringing kids. Bring some seasick medication just in case. Whichever reef you choose in the end, it will definitely be worth the experience cos is part of the Great Barrier Reefs!

Thanks Starlite for your very helpful and detailed information. It makes me feel better about my decision to go.

My sister and I went to the Frankland Islands in May and had a fantastic time. There are small trails on the island that you are able to walk around if you get bored sitting on the beach. The other nice thing is that the staff also provide you with little mini nylon "tents" that you place on the sand, which protects you from the sun(and rain on the day we were there). If you are not comfortable snorkeling, they also have floaties that you can put around your waist so that you can at least look at the coral in the clear water.

I have been reading the dialogue and perhaps some of you seasoned travellers can help me. Two families with teens (10 of us) will be in Port Douglas just before Xmas. We have booked a Quicksilver snorkelling trip, but a friend has said she did this trip and the boat was huge (200 people). It took a long time to get out and there wasn't much time snorkelling. Generally there were far too many people. She also did a small clipper snorkelling trip to the Low Isles which they enjoyed much better. I'm thinking of trying to cancel the Quciksilver in favour of the Low Isles trip. Any advice and can anyone suggest an operator/boat?? Thanks

Yes, Quicksilver is huge, 200 passengers would have been a light day. Check one of their other trips on boat, Quicksmart, takes far less people and is also less expensive. From memory $142 pp. If you're locked into Quicksilver, that's what I'd do, otherwise check Wavelength out of Port Douglas, snorkelling only (no diving) - takes only 28 people and has some of the best reef sites. If you do a search here you'll find many a recommendation for Wavelength; for 10 people do book in advance.

Pat, This is actually a question for you or anyone else who cares to input their thoughts. Could you tell me what you would recommend for sightseeing and activities for our family [2 teenage boys] in the Cairns/Port Douglas area? We will be there 5 days next June. Hotel recommendations would be great as well . I appreciate your time. Tx Jim

Gosh, sabbin, just about everything. Of course at least one reef trip, if your teenagers aren't certified divers they'll probably want to do an introductory dive, as well may you too. White water rafting on Tully River (Grade 5) would be a go - there's a fun Tableland trip which teenagers love (but you mightn't!) - Uncle Brians - the kids get to slide down waterfalls in rainforest etc. Teenagers I meet seem to adore anything to do with height or water, especially skydiving (expensive). There's bungy jumping and the Minjin jungle swing at AJ Hackett just north of Cairns city and sea kayaking off Fitzroy Island, just off Cairns. Kite "surfing" is also becoming very popular in winter months when you often get a stiff breeze. Hot air ballooning on Tableland is great for whole family - also teenagers like the ATV's you can rent near Palm Cove, just north of Cairns. And of course, there's fishing, either reef, river, inlet or off one of the many beaches.

Pat, Thankyou for the great advice. I would like to start to plan some of this and would appreciate any specific names of good companies you have for the rafting and the fishing. Are these day trips out of P.D. or Cairns? Thanks Jim

Both sabbin, but more fishing choices out of Cairns. R&R Whitewater Rafting's full day on Tully River picks up in Cairns city at 7.00am daily; 5.30am from Port Douglas every day except Sunday - returns to Cairns at 6.30pm; PD 8.00pm. www.raft.com.au

For reef fishing have heard good things about Blue Whaler - their website doesn't seem to be working but email is [email protected] Don't know the ages of your teenagers but most reef charters won't take kids under 14. For calm water fishing for any age you could email Jim Millar - [email protected] - fishing here is in Trinity Inlet which is quite a vast waterway right next to Cairns city. 60kms of creeks on mangrove lined estuary system.