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Sara Tai

Travel Blogger & Photographer

Queensland, Travel · April 1, 2022

The 3 best spots to swim with turtles in Tropical North Queensland

If you’re reading this, I’m going to guess that you love turtles. And so you should. Magnificent creatures they are.

I remember when all I wanted was to swim with my first turtle. I loved them before I even met them. Unfortunately, they’re not always that easy to find.

So here are my top 3 locations in Tropical North Queensland to swim with the elusive turtle.

  1. Green Island
  2. Fitzroy Island
  3. Ocean Safari Cape Tribulation

Tropical North Queensland is the gateway to the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef which is loaded with things to see and do. Not only are these places great for turtles but they also hold incredible amounts of natural beauty that make them worth a visit regardless of the turtles. So even if you are unlucky enough to not see a turtle in one of these places, your trip will still be epic!

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links meaning I may receive a small commission for any purchases you make using these links. This is at no extra cost to you and is a great way to support me in continuing to create these helpful travel guides!

Green Island

I’m putting this one first because Green Island has the most turtles that I’ve ever seen in one place. As soon as you jump off the ferry you can see turtles swimming below the jetty or sleeping among the sea grass. I once saw 5 turtles cruising around in the same area! The island is surrounded by the most beautifully blue water and has always had great visibility when I’ve visited.

Getting to Green Island

Green Island is accessible via catamaran from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal. The trip takes 45 minutes to an hour and can be pre-booked online (especially recommended for weekend trips).

Book Green Island day tour: Green Island Tour with Glass Bottom Boat included

As you step off the boat and make your way along the jetty, keep your eyes peeled for turtles swimming below. I often see more turtles from the jetty than I do snorkelling, just because they’re easier to spot from above.

Snorkel spots

There are 2 main spots for snorkelling straight off the beach (plus more if you go on a snorkel safari tour).

Near the jetty

The first spot is the area surrounding the jetty. Facing the island, on your left are some seagrass beds so this is an absolute hot spot for turtles! They love a good snooze in the seagrass. Just be careful not to swim past beyond the ropes as this is a boat traffic area.

Make sure to also explore the right side of the jetty – I’ve seen plenty of little reef sharks and blue spotted rays hanging around here.

Main Beach

The second spot is accessible from the main beach on the north side of the island. This spot is said to be more beginner friendly for snorkellers and also boasts a high chance of seeing turtles but I’ve always had more luck near the jetty.

If you would rather a guided snorkel from Green Island, you can book a snorkel safari tour. A boat will take you further out from the island where you can see massive clams and coral structures.

Check the tides before you book your trip! Very low tides make it unsafe to snorkel as you risk damaging coral or injuring yourself in the shallow water. Try to avoid day trips with a tide lower than 1 metre during the day.

And lastly, don’t forget to wear a stinger suit in summer! These can be hired on the island or may be provided by your tour operator.

A variety of day tours and optional activities such as scenic flights around Green Island are available to choose from. Check them out below and get booking!

Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island is a beauty of a spot, regardless of the turtles! Home to Nudey Beach (voted Australia’s best beach in 2018) and some incredible walks, it’s worth a visit for its sheer beauty alone.

Getting to Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island is a 45 minute ferry ride from Cairns, with boats running daily from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal. I highly recommend booking in advance as the transfers often sell out, especially for weekend trips.

Book Fitzroy Island day tour: Fitzroy Island Full Day Adventure Tour

I’ll do a more detailed Fitzroy Island post soon but for now, let’s focus on the turtles and where you can find them.

There are 3 main snorkel spots I always go to on the island:

  • White Rock (named for the white rock to the left of the jetty – most likely spot to see turtles)
  • Out the front of Foxy’s Bar
  • Nudey beach

White Rock

When you arrive on the island, the tour operator will likely point out this rock to you (it’ll be to your left when facing the island). From the jetty to this white rock is good for snorkelling and I find it to be the most likely place to swim with turtles as well as reef sharks.

Out the front of Foxy’s Bar

I love the little section of beach here and the trees offer a nice escape from the harsh sun. You’ll often see turtles popping their head up for air while sitting on the beach, but they’re a little harder to spot in the water here. However, the coral and fish life is some of the coolest I’ve seen making this my favourite spot to snorkel on Fitzroy Island. Head towards the rocks on your left for the best corals.

Nudey Beach

I’ve only snorkelled once at Nudey Beach and I didn’t see any turtles (although I’m told they can be found here) but I did enjoy the coral walls and how they drop off near the rocks. Apart from being a certified sexy beach, Nudey Beach is also home to the Insta-famous swing so why not take the 20 minute walk to experience one of the best beaches in Australia.

Book ferry transfer: Fitzroy Island Return Trip by Catamaran

Ocean Safari – Cape Tribulation

This is hands down my favourite snorkel tour to date! A speedboat departing from Cape Tribulation in Daintree will take you out to Mackay & Undine Reef as well as Mackay Cay. The water is crystal clear and the most beautiful shade of blue on this earth.

The coral is some of the healthiest I’ve ever seen and the turtles are so damn chill they don’t even bat an eyelid when you swim next to them.

Getting to Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation is located in the Daintree Rainforest. If you’re based in Cairns and have your own transport you can drive north towards Daintree. This is a great way to also experience the Great Barrier Reef Drive (160kms of stunning coastal scenery on the edge of the world’s oldest living rainforest – how can you miss that?!)

The drive will take about 2.5 hours from Cairns or 1.5-2 hours from Port Douglas, eventually crossing the Daintree river by cable ferry into a whole new world.

Ocean Safari Snorkel Tour

The Ocean Safari tour runs twice daily, and will take you out to Mackay & Undine Reef via high-speed inflatable boat. The ride there takes about 25 minutes and is especially thrilling if you sit up the front of the vessel.

We had roughly an hour in the water at the first spot, and I spotted my first turtle of the day after one 2 minutes! I also saw heaps of blue spotted rays, colourful fish and even saw a massive cray fish.

Book Ocean Safari Tour: Ocean Safari Snorkel Tour Cape Tribulation

You can choose to tag along with the snorkel guide or go off on your own but it’s worth hanging around the snorkel guide for a photo of yourself snokelling!

We then moved onto Mackay Cay where the boat stopped and we jumped off for another snorkel. You’re also able to chill out on the sand cay and have a drink – they supply beer and soft drinks for purchasing on board.

Words nor pictures can fully describe how beautiful this place is – you have to see it for yourself!

Daintree has limited phone reception so be sure to book any tours and accommodation in advance. If you get stuck, I’ve found patches of Telstra reception at Alexandria lookout, near the petrol station and also around PK’s Jungle Village.

There it is folks – the 3 best snorkelling spots to swim with turtles in Tropical North Queensland.

I believe everyone should experience the incredibleness of cruising along with a turtle as it creates a deeper connection between us and the ocean – and therefore, greater care and consideration for our impact on it.

So get out there and find yourself some turtles!

Looking for more activities and sightseeing around Cairns? Check out my 5 day Cairns itinerary which includes some unmissable Tropical North Queensland highlights.

Cairns Itinerary: 5 Day Trips From Cairns

Posted By: Sara · In: Queensland, Travel

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About Photo
Hi, I'm Sara. I'm a travel photographer and writer, bird lover, and nature fiend. I've fallen in love with life on the road and I'm here to share with you my thoughts, travel tips and favourite destinations in Australia.

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  • The 3 best spots to swim with turtles in Tropical North Queensland

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When I heard this audio I instantly thought about When I heard this audio I instantly thought about where I feel most free.
Turns out it’s on an empty sandbank in the middle of the ocean, running up to my bird friends and splashing about in the water. 

That’s it. That’s all I need 🙏🏽

📍 Manimbora Island

🎥 @branjake 

#manimboraisland #eastkalimantan #indonesiatrip
I cried 3 times while going through my videos to m I cried 3 times while going through my videos to make this reel. Twice because I was so grateful for the experiences I’ve had. Once because I was reminded how hard some parts of this year were for me mentally. 

2022 was by far the craziest year I’ve had. I feel like I became a whole new person - one who finally feels comfortable with who she is. 

A few of my highlights from the year include sailing the Whitsundays, bungy jumping, seeing my first wombat, and diving with SO MANY manta rays in Komodo. 

Happy new year y’all 🤠 see you in 2023 ✨
So I had a vision about a tattoo I want of me and So I had a vision about a tattoo I want of me and a turtle 🐢 

But I didn’t know how to draw the image I had in my head so I never tried. 

Then I went through these photos from Derawan Island and realised I could create it 🥹

So I took the turtle from the top photo and me from the bottom one (slide 2). 

Absolutely love how it turned out and can’t wait to get something like this on ma body.

Check out the process in my stories 🎥

#turtlesofinstagram #derawanisland #eastkalimantan #freedivegirls #girlsthatfreedive #oceanlover
Feelin’ a bit gangster while freediving in an oc Feelin’ a bit gangster while freediving in an ocean cave in East Borneo 

By the time we got here, we’d been diving so much that I couldn’t equalise past 5 metres so I had to stay pretty shallow and go down feet first. Luckily there was this perfect little ledge for me to chill out on🤘🏽

Just another one of the crazy spots we visited while on tour with @derawanhappyfuntrip 

🎥 @branjake

#freediveindonesia #eastborneo #maratuaisland #derawanisland
Not much else to say here other than how good are Not much else to say here other than how good are sunset picnics? ✨

Being back in WA was pretty short lived but I had some amazing moments there and this trip down south was one of them. 

How perfect is this little jetty at Karri Valley resort for watching the sky turn pink while you eat gourmet snacks 🌅

🎥 @tessomewhere 

📍Karri Valley Resort @racparksandresorts 

#karrivalleyresort #pemberton #amazing_wa #thisiswa
Best ways to see Komodo National Park - Indonesia Best ways to see Komodo National Park - Indonesia 🇮🇩 

1. Diving live aboard 
2. Day trip from Labuan Bajo
3. 4 day trip from Lombok

I did both the day trip and a diving liveaboard because I REALLY wanted to dive Komodo but I also wanted to see the land stuff like Padar Island and the Komodo Dragons. 

(I saw a picture of a Komodo dragon when I landed in Bali airport in March & made it my mission to see one this year)

These are some shots from the day trip where we hiked Padar Island, snorkelled with turtles and manta rays, visited Pink Beach, met the infamous dragons, and then rode off into the sunset. 

The only problem with the day trip was getting to spots midday and they were absolutely packed with people. Plus the boat almost left without me while I was chilling with a turtle. But overall still worth it for these views 🙏🏽

#komodo #komodonationalpark #indonesiatravel #islandparadise #komodoisland #komododragon #solofemaletraveller
I love Bali but sometimes it’s hard to find new I love Bali but sometimes it’s hard to find new places that you haven’t already seen on Instagram a million times.

So I was absolutely stoked when we got to see these waterfalls that I’d never even heard of, and they’ve become some of my faves 🥹

These are Blemantung Waterfall and Dedari Waterfall in Central Bali 🍃

The best way to see them is with @balijunglecamping on their Waterfall Jeep Tour. They’ll take you straight from your wooden cabin to 3 waterfalls and a temple, all while rolling around in their sick little jeep!

Thanks @balijunglecamping for showing me the less touristy side of Bali 🧡

#balijunglecamping #indonesiaexplore #waterfallchasing #thebalibible #balibucketlist #baliguide #balijungle
I have been wanting a drone shot of turtles for so I have been wanting a drone shot of turtles for soooo long now but I always choose snorkeling over flying so I never thought I’d get one.

Then we turn up to our overwater bungalow on Derawan Island and there’s turtles EVERYWHERE.
You could literally roll out of bed and jump straight into the water with these guys. 

Luckily @branjake also has a drone and I got the best of both worlds 🐢

📍 Derawan Island, East Borneo
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#derawanisland #eastborneo #maratua #eastkalimantan #turtlesofinstagram #snorkelling #girlsthatdive

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