One of the most accessible and popular islands on the Great Barrier Reef is Green Island, a 12-hectare coral cay set in a 710-hectare reef bed just about 30 kilometres from the far north Queensland city of Cairns.
It is an idyllic spot for diving and snorkeling, exploring the rainforest, or simply lazing away the day on gleaming white coral-sand beaches.
While the rainforest gives greenery to the island, its name was actually given by Captain James Cook after an astronomer, Charles Green, aboard the HMB Endeavour, a faithful replica of which is normally moored at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney's Darling Harbour.
The island's Aboriginal name is Wunyami, which means place of haunted spirits. It is said to have been an initiation ground for the males of the Gungandji people.
Green Island was declared a national park in 1937. The waters around it were declared a marine park in 1974. Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage site.
The island's rainforest reaches heights of 25 metres and comprises some 130 plant species, including grasses, palms, scramblers, trees and vines.
It is home to more than 60 different species of bird, including egrets, doves, ospreys, sea eagles, silvereyes and woodswallows.
To view the island's variety of corals, olorful tropical fish and other underwater attractions, go diving or snorkeling, with either your friends or a tour group. You can also ride a glass-bottomed boat or one with glass windows cut into its submerged hull.
Most visitors visit Green Island on commercial boat tours from Cairns, which depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal at the end of Spence St. Travel time to the island varies from 40 to 60 minutes. Commercial helicopter and seaplane services also operate to and from the island.
Safe anchorage for private boats and yachts is available.
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