Green Island Resort - Great Barrier Reef

Green Island Resort Open
Friday, February 04, 2011

Following up to our earlier e-mail of today, we are writing to confirm that Great Adventures Outer Barrier Reef and Green Island products will be operating as per normal from tomorrow, Saturday 5th. With this confirmation, we can now confirm that All Quicksilver group products are operating as per normal.

Best Wishes, Quicksilver Group

Resort Activities Officer scoops Best Employee Award
Friday, December 03, 2010

Congratulations to Green Island Resort Activities Officer, Sid Scott, who was recently jointly awarded the “Best Employee Award” at the 2010 Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence. Sid also won this award in the 2009 Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence.

As Activities Officer, Sid is an active and highly visible face of the Resort’s guest services and daily operations. An accredited Eco Guide, Sid has managed the resort’s Activities Program and Guest Education including conducting daily Fish Feeding Presentation, hosting Sunset Drinks, Stargazing / Astronomy sessions, Guided Night Walk Tours. He is also involved in nature and wildlife monitoring liaising with the island National Parks Ranger.

Sid’s background on Green Island is unique having spent a lot of his life and childhood on Green Island. His family has owned and run the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat and Aquarium on Green Island since 1972.

Island Suites Soft Refurbishment Underway
Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A stylish soft refurbishment of Green Island Resort’s beautiful Island Suites has begun, designed to enhance guest experiences with a whole new level of luxury. Available in King (17 rooms) or twin double bed (19 rooms) configurations, all 36 suites have now received new bedding mattresses. The soft furnishings of the staged refurbishment program are scheduled for completion by April 2011. A luxurious soft refurbishment of the resort’s ten premium Reef Suites has already been completed.

The Belgium Davis Cup Tennis team on Green Island
Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Belgium Davis Cup Tennis team swapped racquets for snorkels when they travelled on Great Adventures to Green Island on Sunday.   Enjoying the warm tropical weather the players and the team enjoyed snorkelling and coral viewing on the glass bottom boat.
Tony Baker, Quicksilver Group, Managing Director said ” While their focus is on the Davis Cup this weekend, it is great to see the players also taking time out from their practice to enjoy the reef, one of the many wonders that Cairns and the region have to offer.”

Savouring the Fresh Delights of Green Island Resort
Monday, August 30, 2010

Green Island Resort has welcomed Andy Greub as the new Executive Chef to the Island.  
 
Heading up a talented kitchen brigade of 19 including chefs and stewards, one of the first objectives of joining the Resort was to initiate and create a different seasonal menu every evening.  Not just specials, but an entire new menu, which allows and incorporates the diverse strengths of the Island chefs.  The menus are designed to be creative, beautiful and appetizing and have a wow factor of a lasting memory of the guest’s time on the Island.
 
Andy Greub, Executive Chef said, “I have always enjoyed coming to Green Island and the wonderful surrounds of the Great Barrier Reef.  I believe that our local produce and seafood are all at our doorstep and we will bring those local flavours to the menu.  Our International and Australian visitors want to experience the regional foods and I will be adapting a modern Australian cuisine with local fresh produce as the key menu selections.”
 
Working with a local company, Australian Tropical Foods has provided Greub a direct link to the Tablelands to source local produce along with purchasing meats from a local butcher.
 
Greub is a classically trained French Chef from Switzerland and arrived in Cairns in 1982.  Having worked with several leading hotels he has since 1997 worked at TAFE and then in 2005 commenced with the now called Skill 360 teaching, training and qualifying apprentices and chefs.

Great Adventures community event supports Animal Charities
Monday, August 30, 2010

Two local animal welfare charities have received a boost with some much-needed funds
thanks to the recent Green Island Beach Volleyball charity event held during the annual Great
Adventures Green Island Family Day. 

The charity Green Island Beach Volleyball challenge, with 96 players from 16 competing
teams, raised $1840 for the Young Animal Protection Society (YAPS) and the Cairns Turtle
Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC), each receiving $920. 

Sponsored by Great Adventures and Green Island Resort with the support of Cairns Indoor
Sports, players receive free travel to Green Island with their registration fees donated to the
charities. 

“Both of these animal charities are well deserving community organisations and we’re very
pleased to be able to support the great work they do,” said Megan Bell, Quicksilver Group
spokeswoman. 

CTRC recently released the region’s first satellite tracked turtle, “Matilda” on Green Island, a
significant turtle habitat, and will be able to use the funds to feed turtles currently in their
care. 

In addition to the funds, The Quicksilver Group has also laundered and donated around 30
towels from lost property, which YAPS will use for animal care.

Matilda released back into the wild
Thursday, June 17, 2010

After 19 months of rehabilitation, Matilda the Hawksbill sea turtle has been released back into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef at Green Island, and in a first for our region, has been also been fitted with a satellite tracking device.

After making a full recovery from ‘floaters disease’ under the care of the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, the once critically ill turtle was released into the waters of Green Island by CTRC volunteers with the assistance of Great Adventures.

Quicksilver Group Managing Director, Tony Baker said “Green Island is a natural habitat for turtles and Great Adventures is pleased to assist with the wonderful work by CTRC a-not-for-profit community organisation. Their work is vital in assisting sick and injured turtles back into the wild and donations from companies such as ourselves and the wider community are vital to making sure these turtles find a way home.”

Green Island Awards - Green by name and nature!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The team from Green Island Resort in conjunction with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service were ecstatic with four outstanding awards achieved in the 2009 Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge.

Green Island was awarded three regional categories and one State-wide award, recognising the island’s pristine beaches and commitment to caring for this World Heritage environment.

Lisa Krause, General Manager of Green Island Resort said, "We work closely with National Parks to ensure our waste management, recycling and environmental management is a top priority. These awards are a wonderful accolade for all involved in contributing to our future sustainability.”

The Clean Beach Challenge awards are the culmination of a year-round collaborative effort by the staff of Green Island Resort, Great Adventures and the Quicksilver Group, and QPWS.

Green Island’s awards:

•“Resource Recovery” - Queensland
•“Environmental Protection” - Far North Queensland
•“Resource Recovery” - Far North Queensland
•“Litter Prevention” - Far North Queensland

A Tropical Christmas Feast on the Reef
Thursday, December 10, 2009

Forget the White Christmas and spoil yourself with a Green one!

For a Christmas Day with a difference, you can enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch feast on the Great Barrier Reef at beautiful Green Island.

The chefs at Green Island Resort’s Emeralds Restaurant have designed a wonderful buffet lunch menu featuring some traditional delights as well as the freshest seafood, a delicious cold selection, sensational salads and decadent desserts.

A two hour beverage package of an assortment of wines, beers, juices and soft drinks will quench the tropical thirst while celebrating Christmas Day.

After feasting to your content, the island’s playground awaits. Walk off lunch with a leisurely stroll through the rainforest or choose to snorkel or view the reef from a glass bottom boat.

For just $168 per adult and $70 per child, your day also includes return fast catamaran transfers from Cairns with Great Adventures.

Emeralds Restaurant, Green Island Resort

Christmas Day Buffet Lunch 2009
Cost: $168 Adult, $70 Child (Child 4 –14 yrs)

Your Day Includes:

• Buffet Christmas Day Lunch at Emeralds Restaurant
• 2 Hour Beverage Package includes Australian heavy and light beers; Australian red, white and sparkling wines; juices and soft drink.
• Return fast catamaran transfers with Great Adventures from Cairns
• Choice of glass bottom boat tour or snorkelling equipment.
• Bookings are essential as places are limited.

Turtles Hatch on Green Island
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

With several turtles recently nesting on Green Island, it was a wonderful sight when around 100 young hatchlings, believed to be Green Turtles, emerged from their nests to scramble towards the water’s edge. Some of Green Island Resort’s guests were thrilled to witness the spectacle during the guided evening nature walk.

Sue O’Donnell, Green Island Resort, Rooms Division Manager also witnessed the event and exclaimed, “It was totally awesome and would have to be one of the 10 best things I have experienced in my life. We lost count of the little turtles but we think there were at least 100 or more running for the water.

House guests and staff alike were thrilled and the ‘oohs and ahhs’ heard all round just showed the delight of everyone seeing this very special occasion on Green Island”.

Quicksilver Group Environment & Compliance Manager Doug Baird said several other nests were also located on the island this season, and it is believed to be the first time in about six years that turtles have nested on the island. “As soon as the eggs hatch, usually at night time, the young turtles will scramble madly to the water’s edge, hoping to gain safety. “The interesting thing is that the temperature of the surrounding sand will determine the sex of the offspring. Cooler sand produces male turtles, while warmer sand produces females. This is nature’s way of ensuring that there are both viable male and females in the population.”

Green Turtles can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, which will incubate for up to 3 months. Several weeks after mating, the females will drag their bodies ashore to dig a hole in the sand above the high water mark to lay their leathery eggs. After the eggs are covered, she will have no further contact with her offspring.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s seven marine turtles and it is estimated that some species, such as the Green Turtle, can live for up to 100 years. Green Turtles are predominantly herbivores and are often spotted grazing amongst Green Island’s significant seagrass habitat.

Stylish Refurbishment for Reef Suites
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Green Island Resort’s premium Reef Suites have undergone a stylish soft refurbishment, bringing a whole new level of luxury to these beautiful suites.

With just ten Reef Suites, each boasts 66 square metres (714 sq ft) of living area over two levels including a large king size bed, spacious lounge area, separate bath and shower, and private balcony set amid the tropical rainforest.

On entering the suite, your eyes are drawn to the warmth of the stunning timber floors and louvre framed window and door treatments. The large king size bed is luxuriant and sumptuous in the stylish simplicity of black and white, contrasted against its tropical surrounds.

Green Island Resort has just 46 suites in total and offers has two superb styles of accommodation, Reef and Island Suites, each featuring aromatic timbers and private balconies with either rainforest or pool views.

STAR GAZING ON GREEN ISLAND
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Thanks to a powerful new telescope, guests at Green Island Resort are discovering the starry Southern skies with the resort’s night nature activities.

SMALL MEETINGS AT GREEN ISLAND RESORT
Monday, December 10, 2007

If you’re planning a small business meeting, teambuilding activity or incentive reward, Green Island Resort is an ideal and unique venue. Come over for the day, or spend the night! Just 45 minutes across the Coral Sea from Cairns, it really is where business meets pleasure. For more information on our meetings packages, please contact our friendly team.