Can You Stay Overnight on Green Island?

Yes — you can stay overnight on Green Island. Green Island Resort is the island's only visitor accommodation, so you will not find a choice of hotels, apartments or holiday houses.

We stayed for three nights in an Island Suite Twin Room with our two children in July 2026. My short verdict is that staying overnight was absolutely worthwhile, although the room itself felt dated for the price. The real value was having time to relax and experiencing Green Island after most day visitors had left.

Updated August 2026 following our three-night family stay on Green Island.

You can check current Green Island Resort rooms, packages and prices on the official resort website. Prices, dining hours and inclusions can change, so confirm the details of your particular booking before travelling.

An almost empty Green Island beach at sunrise—an experience most day visitors never see.

Is it worth staying overnight on Green Island?

Yes, if you want a relaxed island experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep. Staying overnight gives you the beach, jetty and rainforest in the quiet early morning and evening, outside the busiest day-trip hours.

For us, the strongest reasons to stay were:

• Not having to plan every day around the return ferry
• Walking along an almost empty beach early in the morning
• Evening fish feeding followed by sunset drinks
• Having plenty of time to swim, snorkel and relax without rushing
• Complimentary activities and beach equipment for resort guests

The main drawbacks were the price, the dated feel of our room and the limited dining choices. If you primarily want a modern luxury room, lots of restaurants or nightlife, you may find better value by staying in Cairns and visiting Green Island for the day.

What changes after the day visitors leave?

This is the biggest reason to stay overnight. Green Island Resort says most day visitors are on the island from approximately 9:30am until 4pm. Once the afternoon ferries have departed, the island becomes noticeably quieter.

One of our highlights was the evening fish-feeding presentation at the jetty, followed by sunset drinks. During our stay we saw an impressive assortment of marine life, including blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, eagle rays, barracuda, trevally and turtles. It was particularly good for our three-year-old daughter, who was too young to snorkel but could still see large reef animals from the jetty.

The early mornings were just as enjoyable. I walked around the island each morning before the regular ferries arrived, when the beach was almost empty and many resort guests were still having breakfast or sleeping. You can experience sunrise, walk along the jetty and explore the shoreline before Green Island changes back into a busy day-trip destination.

One advantage of staying overnight is being on the island after most day visitors have left.

Our three-night Green Island Resort stay

• When we stayed: July 2026
• Who travelled: Two adults and two children, aged eight and three
• Room: Island Suite Twin Room
• Length of stay: Three nights, giving us two complete days on the island
• Overall verdict: Three nights was the sweet spot for our family

We never felt rushed and the children did not become bored. We could easily have stayed for another night, particularly in warmer weather when they may have spent more time in the pools. We did not even visit Marineland Melanesia, so there were still activities left undone.

Island Suite Twin Room review

Green Island Resort describes the Island Suite Twin Room as a 56-square-metre room with two double beds, a rainforest outlook, private balcony, separate bath and shower, air conditioning and access to the resort pool. That matches the basic layout of our room.

The room was spacious and gave the four of us plenty of room. The two double beds worked well for our family, and having both a large shower and a bath was useful with children. The balcony looked into the surrounding rainforest, and the suites are set among the trees rather than directly on the beach.

However, our room and bathroom felt tired and in need of updating or redecorating. They were not dirty or terrible, and we did not complain or ask to move, but the room was underwhelming for the price. The rainforest setting also meant the room was fairly dark even during the day.

That distinction is important when assessing value: I would not stay solely for the room. You are paying for the location, included transfers and activities, and the chance to experience Green Island outside day-trip hours.

For current specifications and photographs, see the resort's official Island Suite Twin Room page.

Room facilities and simple food preparation

Our room had a bar fridge and kettle, but no microwave or self-catering kitchen. A guest lounge had a microwave, fridge, complimentary tea and coffee, books, board games, a television and comfortable seating.

We brought some of our own food so we did not need to buy every meal. This worked well, although tiny ants managed to get into a bag of nuts on our third day. If you bring snacks or simple food, pack them in properly sealed containers rather than relying on opened bags.

What is included when you stay at Green Island Resort?

Inclusions can change, but Green Island Resort currently says its room rates include return Great Adventures catamaran transfers from Cairns and a range of complimentary activities. These currently include:

• Return ferry transfers between Cairns and Green Island
• Sunset drinks
• A glass-bottom boat tour
• Snorkelling equipment
• The evening fish-feeding presentation
• Marine-biologist-guided activities
• Most non-motorised beach activities, including kayaking and beach volleyball
• Use of beach sun lounges and umbrellas

We used the glass-bottom boat, snorkelling equipment, beach chairs and umbrellas, and kayaks. We were also able to borrow wetsuits, although I would confirm current wetsuit availability if this matters to you.

Weather can affect what you can use. Kayaking was unavailable on one windy day during our stay, but conditions improved and we were able to take the kayaks out the following day. Included activities are valuable, but they are not a guarantee that every activity will operate throughout your visit.

Check the official Green Island Resort inclusions and frequently asked questions before booking.

Our resort stay included use of beach sun lounges and umbrellas.

Is Green Island Resort good for families?

It worked very well for our family. Green Island is small, flat and easy to navigate, so changing plans with children does not involve long walks or complicated logistics. We could move easily between our room, the beach, pools, food outlets, jetty and rainforest boardwalk.

Our children particularly enjoyed:

• Playing and digging in the soft sand
• Swimming and snorkelling in the sheltered water
• The glass-bottom boat and its fish-feeding demonstration
• The evening fish feeding from the jetty
• Trying the resort pools
• Using the beach equipment

There were two pools during our stay: the main pool near the café and bar, and a smaller pool for resort guests. Both were well shaded. That would be useful in summer, but in July the water felt quite cool and we only used the pools once. Our daughter still managed about 45 minutes in the guest pool.

We did not visit Marineland Melanesia, so I cannot review it personally. Other guests we spoke with rated it highly, but it costs extra and our children were already happy with the beach, reef and included activities.

Food and dining at Green Island Resort

Green Island has several resort food outlets, but the choice is still limited compared with staying in Cairns. Emeralds Restaurant is the principal sit-down restaurant and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other daytime options include the Canopy Grill, Reflections Pool Bar and the café.

We enjoyed the buffet breakfast, which had a good range and appeared to cater for a variety of dietary requirements. Breakfast inclusions vary by package, so check whether it is included in your rate.

Dinner at Emeralds was pleasant and the food was good, although it was expensive. The barramundi was particularly good, and the restaurant had a reasonably good wine list.

One lunch was much less successful. A cheeseburger and chips cost about A$32, and we found the burger bland, the chips ordinary and the meal poor value. With limited alternatives on the island and no cooking facilities in the room, food costs are worth considering when budgeting for a multi-night stay.

Bringing some breakfast items, snacks or simple food can reduce the number of meals you need to buy. Just remember that room facilities are limited and food should be stored securely.

For more practical information, read our guide to food, beer and esky rules on Green Island.

How many nights should you stay on Green Island?

I recommend at least two nights. That gives you one full day when you do not have to think about arriving, checking in, packing or catching a ferry.

Three nights was the sweet spot for us. We had two complete days, could adjust our plans around the weather and never felt as though we had to squeeze activities into a timetable. The children were still happy when it was time to leave, and we could comfortably have stayed for a fourth night.

• One night: Worthwhile for the quiet evening and morning, but both days still involve travel or packing
• Two nights: The minimum I recommend because it gives you one ferry-free day
• Three nights: The best balance for our family and enough time to relax properly
• Four nights or more: Best for travellers who enjoy a slow beach-and-reef holiday and do not need lots of different restaurants or nightlife

Read our full guide to how long you should stay on Green Island.

Getting to Green Island Resort

Return transfers on the Great Adventures catamaran are currently included in the resort room rate, but seats must be pre-booked. The crossing normally takes about 45 minutes from Cairns, depending on conditions.

Our crossing to Green Island was unusually rough because of strong wind, and our eight-year-old son was seasick shortly before we arrived. The vessels are large catamarans, but motion sickness is still possible when conditions are rough. If you are susceptible, plan ahead and take any suitable remedy early enough to work before the exposed part of the crossing.

On arrival, resort staff greeted us at the jetty. Our room was not ready yet, but they gave us locker keys so we could store our belongings and go straight to the beach.

Read our guide to getting to Green Island from Cairns, or compare Green Island ferry and tour options.

Green Island's jetty is quiet in the early morning before regular ferry traffic begins.

Can you camp on Green Island?

No. Camping is not permitted on Green Island. If you want to stay overnight, Green Island Resort is the only visitor accommodation on the island.

Who should stay overnight?

• Families who want an easy, unhurried beach-and-reef holiday
• Couples wanting a quiet island escape
• Visitors who want to see Green Island at sunrise and sunset
• People who want more time for swimming and snorkelling than a day trip allows
• Travellers who value location and included activities more than having a modern luxury room

Who may prefer staying in Cairns?

• Visitors on a tighter accommodation or food budget
• Travellers who want a wide choice of restaurants, shops and nightlife
• People who only need enough time for Green Island's main activities
• Anyone expecting the room itself to provide the principal luxury experience
• Travellers who become restless in a small destination without a long list of new attractions each day

Our Green Island Resort verdict

We would stay overnight on Green Island again. The Island Suite Twin Room was spacious and practical for our family, but it was dated and did not feel special enough to justify the price on its own.

What made the stay worthwhile was everything around the room: the almost empty morning beach, evening fish feeding, sunsets beside the jetty, included equipment and activities, and the freedom to enjoy the island without checking the ferry timetable.

Two nights is the minimum I would recommend. Three nights gave us two complete days and was the sweet spot for our family. We left feeling relaxed rather than bored and could happily have stayed another night if time and finances had allowed.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists stay overnight on Green Island?

Yes. Tourists can stay at Green Island Resort, the island's only visitor accommodation.

Are there hotels on Green Island?

There is one resort rather than a selection of separate hotels. Green Island Resort currently has Island Suites and Reef Suites.

Is Green Island Resort all-inclusive?

No. Ferry transfers and a range of activities are included, but meals and optional paid activities are generally separate unless your package specifically includes them.

Can you bring food when staying on Green Island?

Yes. Our room had a bar fridge and kettle, and the guest lounge had a microwave during our stay. There was no full self-catering kitchen, so bring food that is simple to store and prepare, and use sealed containers.

Is Green Island Resort suitable for children?

Yes. Green Island is flat and compact, with sheltered swimming, a sandy beach, pools, snorkelling, a glass-bottom boat and fish feeding. Our eight-year-old and three-year-old were still happy after three nights.

Can you camp on Green Island?

No. Camping is not permitted.

Related pages

• Home
• How Long Should You Stay on Green Island?
• Best Green Island Ferry and Tours from Cairns
• What Can You Do on Green Island?
• Is It Safe to Swim at Green Island?
• Food, Beer and Esky Rules on Green Island
• When to Visit Green Island
• Green Island vs Fitzroy Island

Resort room details, standard inclusions and dining information were checked against the official Green Island Resort website in August 2026. Packages, prices, facilities and activities can change.