Green Island Resort, Great Barrier Reef

While Green Island is a beautifully vegitated coral cay, the real excitement is under the water. My husband and I enjoyed taking several glass bottom boat rides as well as an exciting snorkeling trip. We saw friendly John Dory fish, giant clams, hundreds of colorful fish, and brightly colored coral. During a rainstorm, we also visited the crocodile farm, where I had an opportunity to hold a baby croc - it was soft and squishy - not at all what I had expected. The largest croc in the farm was over 20 feet. We were excited to see these beasts get fed. I visited their website recently and it did not mention the croc farm, so if this is your main interest, call first. After the day trippers left the island, we shared the entire facility with only 70 other guests. At 4:30 we participated in a fish feeding. Huge sea creatures gathered to await our food. We saw a feeding frenzy, up close. After the sunset, we had an incredible seafood feast. For Australian dollars per person, we ate lobster, prawns, bay bugs, clams, mussles, and more. I guess we had a feeding frenzy of our own!

Quick Tips:

Be sure to take your seasickness medicine before you board the catamaran. During our trip to the island, most of the passengers were sick. The friendly crew walked up and down the aisles with sick bags and ice chips. It also helps to eat a very light dinner the night before and a light breakfast that morning. While the ride to the island was almost unbearable for most of the passengers, it was all forgotten once we arrived on Green Island.

Best Way To Get Around:

The only way to get around the island is by foot. This is a blessing in disguise, because that way you can experience the true beauty of the walkways through the rainforest and along empty coral beaches.

The Reef Suite was pure luxury with an Asian influence. The suite was fully self contained with a raised king sized bed, separate sitting area, private balcony, and mini-bar. The bathroom facilities were impeccibly clean. The shower was separate from the deep bathtub, and the toilet was in a separate room. We had a concierge that would set up our dinner schedule and all island activities. All hotel guests pay a tariff that includes most of the island activities. We paid for the meals and drinks separately. When we go back to Australia, we hope to stay on Green Island again.

We ate at Emeralds Restaurant every evening. The waitstaff was prompt and courteous and the food was top notch. Our favorite meal was the Seafood Extravaganza. It included a whole mudcrab, crayfish, grilled seafood platter with clams, mussles, bay bugs and prawns, and whole baked tropical reef fish. In order to eat this meal, be sure to order it by 3pm.

Green Island is surrounded by pristine coral beaches, with a living, vibrant coral reef directly offshore. Near the wharf, there is a protected swimming beach with lounge chairs and umbrellas and snorkle equipment for hire, however, I recommend taking a small hike, so that you can have an entire stretch of beach to yourself.

We enjoyed taking a leisurly walk along a well kept wood plank trail with Island Naturalists who explained the unique flora and fauna of the island. Our guide explained how the island was formed, who inhabited it originally, and how the trees started to grow on the island. The tour was entertaining and the guide kept the group to a pleasant pace.