Sports and the Outdoors
Half a dozen marked walking trails traverse Fitzroy Island National Park; they range from half-hour rainforest strolls to steep, challenging three-hour hikes. Take drinking water; wear sturdy closed shoes, insect repellent, sunscreen, and a hat; and watch for snakes (and in estuaries and mangroves, crocs). For maps and detailed information, visit the Queensland Government Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR) website (www.nprsr.qld.gov.au).
But most visitors to the island are keen to get on or under the water, and there are plenty of options for doing that. Day-trippers and resort guests can book guided dives and tuition, and rent scuba gear at Fitzroy Island Dive & Adventure Center, and hire snorkeling and water sports equipment from Raging Thunder Adventures by the jetty on Welcome Beach. The island has some terrific snorkeling spots—some right off the beach, others accessible by sea kayak—and excellent beginner dive sites close to shore. Go sea kayaking, paddle-boarding, or glass-bottom boat touring for more chances to spot turtles, rays, reef sharks, and thousands of bright-hued fish.
Cairns Dive Centre. Departing Cairns's Marlin Marina daily, dive boat MV Reef-kist drops day-trippers at Fitzroy Island and picks up island guests en route to the outer Great Barrier Reef. The A$90 fare includes round-trip transfers, a coral-viewing tour on a glass-bottom boat, and time to snorkel, swim, and explore the island. Reef-kist picks you up again at 3:45 on its way back to Cairns. Daylong Reef-kist dive trips from Cairns include gear, lunch, and stops at two exclusive outer Reef sites. You can also take an open-water scuba course (two days in Cairns, two on Fitzroy Island and the reef) that includes four training dives, a two-dive outer reef "pleasure" day trip, and all gear. CDC also runs overnight and two-night reef live-aboard dive excursions. Fitzroy Island Dive & Adventure Centre, Fitzroy Island, Queensland, 4871. 07/4051–0294; 1800/642591; www.cairnsdive.com.au. From A$90.
Fitzroy Island Dive & Activities Center. Day-trippers, resort guests, divers, and campers can rent kayaks, paddle-skis, and stand-up paddle-boards here, as well as stinger suits, diving gear and equipment, tanks, and snorkeling gear from the island's Dive and Activities Center. Here, you can also book guided dive and snorkeling trips, sea-kayaking explorations, introductory dives, and glass-bottom boat tours. Fitzroy Island Resort, next to Fitzroy Island Jetty, near Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island, Queensland, 4870. 07/4040–2100; 1800/663396; 800/640–2486; www.fitzroyislandcairns.com. From A$20.
Raging Thunder Adventures. This operator offers three-hour sea kayaking excursions to top snorkeling spots around Fitzroy Island. The company's water-sports hire hut, right on Welcome Bay, near the Jetty, rents out snorkeling gear, wet suits, life jackets, coral viewing boards, paddle-skis, and stand-up paddleboards (A$5–$A20 an hour). Raging Thunder's Fitzroy Island Activity Pass (A$105) includes ferry transfers, a prepacked lunch, free use of paddle-skis and a stinger or wet suit, and either a glass-bottom boat tour or free use of snorkeling gear). Prebooking at least a day ahead is essential. Welcome Bay, Beach Hire Hut, to right of Fitzroy Island Jetty, Fitzroy Island, Queensland, 4871. 07/4030–7990; www.ragingthunder.com.au. From A$105.
