Frankland Island Transfers - Great Barrier Reef

The Frankland Islands — High, Normanby, Mabel, Round and Russell — lie about 10km offshore from the mouth of the Russell-Mulgrave rivers at Russell Heads, about 50km south of Cairns. The Frankland Group National Park is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to preserve the highly significant and cultural values of the islands whilst providing and managing a range of visitor settings for visitor enjoyment.

The reef waters surrounding the Frankland Islands are within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. With fringing reefs surrounding the Frankland Islands, they make a great place to enjoy swimming, snorkelling and diving. The best snorkelling is on the northern and south-western sides of Normanby Reef and on the northern and western edges of Russell Island.

Recreational camping is allowed by permit on Russell and High Islands only. A camping permit is required and a tag with your permit number must be displayed at your campsite. As Russell Island is a lighthouse reserve no camping fees apply, however, a permit needs to be obtained and this can only be done in person at the QPWS Cairns office.

There are no facilities on any of the islands except High and Russell islands. Russell Island has two pit toilets and both Russell and High islands have a bench seat, picnic tables and tarp posts. As there are no facilities on any of the Frankland Islands, all fuel and supplies need to be brought with you. Limited supplies can be obtained from Deeral on the mainland, but all supplies are available in the nearby town of Babinda.

Frankland Islands Cruise and Dive departs daily from the Deeral Landing on the banks of the Mulgrave River to carry day passengers to Normanby Island. They operate a bus link from Cairns to Deeral. You will get to spend the day enjoying all aspects of the day cruise before your transfer over to Russell island.

Departing Deeral, cruise the pristine Mulgrave River with its mangrove fringed banks and mountainous rainforest backdrop. On leaving the estuary at Russell Heads, the Great Barrier Reef is already in sight, making it the shortest open sea crossing in North Queensland.

Your destination Normanby island is a National Park - part coral cay, part continental island with a healthy and vibrant surrounding coral reef community. Snorkelling and reef viewing are easily accessed from the beach. The guided snorkelling tour offers an easy but comprehensive introduction to the reef and the marine environment.

There is a great diversity of Marine life including regular sightings of Sea Turtles, Octopus as well as a large variety of soft and hard corals and giant clams. The guided marine island walk explores the rainforest and surrounding rock pools and reef flats. You will be amazed at what your guide will show you along the way.

Lunch is a cold tropical buffet comprising of chicken, ham, prawns, salads, cheese, bread rolls and a tropical fruit platter under a canopy of trees.

At approximately 2:30pm you will be transferred over to Russell Island. On your return day you will be collected at approximately the same time for your cruise back to Cairns.

Departs daily from Cairns at 7:20am and returns approx. 5:15pm