BIG CAT GREEN ISLAND REEF CRUISES

What BIG CAT GREEN ISLAND REEF CRUISES does

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises is a Cairns-based reef tourism operator established in 1990 that runs daily catamaran cruises from Marlin Wharf to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef. The company operates a fleet of four vessels — including the main catamarans Big Cat and Reef Rocket and the Aquarius II used for multi-island tours — alongside a 27-seat air-conditioned semi-submarine that is the only such vessel operating at Green Island. Its offering comprises full-day (up to 5.5 hours on island) and half-day (2h 15m) cruise tickets starting at AUD $110, with bundled optional modules including introductory and certified diving, snorkel safaris led by marine biologists, glass-bottom boat tours, buffet lunch prepared by partner caterers, and hotel coach transfers from Cairns and the Northern Beaches.

The business is privately held through multiple J & J Wallace entities and owned by Experience Co Limited (EXP), an Australian-listed adventure and leisure tourism group operating across 18 Australian and 3 New Zealand locations. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer via the Respax online booking platform, phone and WhatsApp reservations, walk-up sales at Marlin Wharf, a commission-based travel agent network with a dedicated agent line, and hotel transfer integrations. Customer segments span individual tourists and holidaymakers (primary), families with children, Far North Queensland locals (30% discount program), and adventure/nature enthusiasts.

Pricing follows a unit (pay-as-you-go) model with tiered packages, pre-booking discounts of $20–$22 per person on activities versus onboard pricing, family rates (2 adults + 2 children), and promotional codes (e.g., QLDHOL10). The company holds Advanced Ecotourism certification — the highest level from Ecotourism Australia — alongside Climate Action Business and Green Travel Leader credentials, and operates within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's regulated UNESCO World Heritage Area. Strategic positioning is reinforced through GBR Biology education programs and a "no fuel levy" pricing commitment absorbing fuel costs to preserve accessibility.

Name

BIG CAT GREEN ISLAND REEF CRUISES

Legal name

J & J Wallace (Projects) Pty Ltd, J & J Wallace (Holdings) Pty Ltd, J & J Wallace (Tours) Pty Ltd and J & J Wallace (Permits) Pty Ltd

Website

https://greenisland.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises, founded 1990 in Cairns, operates daily catamaran cruises to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef, serving leisure tourists and families with full-day and half-day tours, diving, snorkelling, and exclusive semi-submarine experiences under its Experience Co parent.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Tourism Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves) (THAAAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Submarine & Glass-Bottom Boat Experiences (THAJAJAL), Sailing, Catamaran & Day-Cruise Excursions (nature-focused) (THAAAIAG), Catamaran & Sailing Cat Cruise Operators (THAEADAD)

Keywords

• Reef cruise tours
• Great barrier reef tourism
• Green island day trips
• Snorkeling and diving tours
• Eco-certified reef cruises

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairns

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Reef Cruise Tour Tickets: Core revenue from selling full day and half day cruise tickets to Green Island. Full day tours include up to 5.5 hours on the island. Pricing varies by departure time (9am, 11am, 1pm) and includes ferry transfer with optional activities.
2. Optional Activities & Upgrades: Revenue from add-on activities including intro diving, certified diving, snorkel safaris, snorkel experience tours, semi-submarine tours, and glass bottom boat upgrades. Pre-booking offers $20-22 savings per person vs. on-board pricing.
3. Food & Beverage Services: Buffet lunch served aboard Big Cat ($40 adult/$26 child) prepared by Ochre Restaurant and Tropic Spirit Catering. Licensed bar on board offering refreshments, hot/cold beverages, soft drinks, ice-creams, snacks and souvenirs. Boxed lunches available for Two Island Explorer tours.
4. Coach Transfer Services: Hotel pick-up and drop-off transfers from Cairns city hotels ($35 adult/$25 child return) and Northern Beaches ($45 adult/$30 child return) via fleet of modern air-conditioned coaches.
5. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers sold directly through Reef Unlimited (reefunlimited.com) or over the phone. Valid for 3 years from purchase date. Non-refundable but transferable to another person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises operates daily catamaran tours from Cairns to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef, offering full-day and half-day cruise packages with optional diving, snorkeling, semi-submarine, glass bottom boat, and buffet lunch add-ons. The company is owned by Experience Co Limited and is the only operator running a semi-submarine tour at Green Island.

Product overview

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises is a reef tourism operator offering half-day and full-day tours to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef. The core product is the Full Day Tour (from $109) and Half Day Tour (from $122), with a free choice of either Glass Bottom Boat Tour or Snorkel Hire included with standard fares. The company operates add-on modules including Semi Submarine Tour (the only one at Green Island), Introductory and Certified Diving Adventures, Snorkel Experience Tour, Snorkel Safari Tour with marine biologist, Coach Transfers, and Buffet Lunch & Bar. The Two Island Explorer package combines visits to both Fitzroy Island and Green Island in one day. The company also offers Cairns Tour Packages combining reef tours with local attractions and Gift Vouchers. Operating since 1990, the company is Advanced Eco-certified and part of Reef Unlimited/Experience Co family.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Island Full Day Tour Full-day catamaran cruise from Cairns to Green Island with up to 5.5 hours on the island, including a complimentary choice of glass bottom boat tour or snorkel hire, with optional add-ons such as semi-submarine, diving, and buffet lunch. Available for 9am and 11am departures and priced from $109.
• Green Island Half Day Tour Two-hour 15-minute island experience with glass bottom boat tour included, ideal for families with young children, infants, and travelers with limited time. Available for 9am and 1pm departures.
• Transfer Only (Ferry Transfer) Ferry-only return transfer to Green Island allowing passengers to choose activities on the day. Available for 9am, 11am, and 1pm departures; from $110 adult/$55 child.
• Glass Bottom Boat Tour 30-minute coral viewing experience aboard a glass bottom boat with fish feeding and informative commentary about the Great Barrier Reef. Included free with standard tour or available as an optional extra.
• Snorkel Experience Tour 35-minute beginner snorkel session with equipment guidance in shallow waters and coral garden exploration supervised by an experienced snorkel leader. Minimum age 6 years. All gear included.
• Snorkel Safari Tour 50-minute advanced snorkel experience led by a marine biologist, featuring exclusive tender boat access to outer Green Island walls with drift snorkelling at famous coral formations. Includes lycra suits and vests.
• Semi Submarine Tour 30-minute exclusive underwater coral viewing experience aboard an air-conditioned semi-submersible vessel seating 27 passengers, with fish feeding and informative commentary. The only semi-submarine operating at Green Island.
• Introductory Diving Discover Scuba Diving experience for beginners with qualified instructor guidance, including practice in shallow waters and coral garden exploration. No certification required. Includes all gear. Available as one or two dives with pre-booking savings of $20 per person.
• Certified Diving Advanced diving experience for certified divers with 40-45 minute dives at deeper, more adventurous sites including Pinnacle Canyons, Reef Edge Drift, and Northern Drift. Divers must produce valid certification card. Includes all gear. Available as one or two dives with pre-booking savings.
• Two Island Explorer Combined day tour visiting both Fitzroy Island (2.5 hours) and Green Island (3.5 hours) aboard the Aquarius II vessel, with snorkel gear usable at both islands, glass bottom boat option, and optional extras including guided snorkel safari and lunch. Family pricing available; saves $29 per adult and $22 per child versus visiting islands separately.
• Coach Transfers Air-conditioned coach transfers from Cairns city hotels ($35 adult/$25 child return) and Northern Beaches hotels ($45 adult/$30 child return) to the Reef Fleet Terminal. Available for 9am Full Day tour only; book up to the day before.
• Buffet Lunch & Bar Freshly prepared buffet lunch served aboard Big Cat between 11.15am-1.15pm, prepared by Ochre Restaurant and Tropic Spirit Catering. Licensed bar offers refreshments, hot/cold beverages, soft drinks, ice-creams, snacks, and souvenirs. Priced at $40 adult/$26 child pre-booked ($5 pp discount vs. on-board).
• Gift Vouchers Gift vouchers sold directly through Reef Unlimited (reefunlimited.com) or over the phone. Valid for 3 years from purchase date. Non-refundable but transferable to another person.
• Cairns Tour Packages Combination deals pairing Green Island tours with Cairns regional attractions including Skyrail, Kuranda Scenic Rail, Scenic Reef Flights, ATV Quad biking, and 2-day Reef & Rainforest Combo.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.5/5 Facebook rating based on customer reviews
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• GBR BiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBR Biology team tailors reef education programs connecting local students to their local reef systems via curriculum-based projects and research opportunities. They invest heavily in coral reef monitoring and research, including Eric Fisher and his team. Experience Co's GBR Biology team runs reef education programs on Big Cat vessels.
• Ochre RestaurantsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighly awarded Ochre Restaurant prepares fresh buffet lunches and boxed lunches served aboard Big Cat vessels and at Fitzroy Island. Provides eco-friendly packaging for catering.
• Tropic Spirit CateringsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner caterer with Ochre Restaurant for fresh buffet lunches and boxed lunches served aboard Big Cat vessels and at Fitzroy Island.
• Tourism & Events QueenslandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProud partners of Tourism & Events Queensland's 'That Holiday Feeling' campaign. Offering 10% discount to tourists booking during specific promotional periods.
• Ecotourism AustraliasupportingOthersProvides Advanced Ecotourism certification and Climate Action Business certification — globally recognized brand helping travellers choose authentic sustainable tourism experiences.
• Fitzroy Island AdventuressupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company under Experience Co portfolio. Combined tour packages available (Two Island Explorer) visiting both Green Island and Fitzroy Island in one day using Aquarius II vessel.
• Reef UnlimitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBig Cat Green Island is part of Reef Unlimited experience, part of the Experience Co family. Central booking platform for reef tourism experiences including gift vouchers (reefunlimited.com) and group bookings.
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)supportingOthersRegulatory body that implemented zoning and area management for the Great Barrier Reef to help manage human activities and minimize wildlife and habitat disturbance. The GBR received World Heritage status in 1981 as the first coral reef ecosystem in the world.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ocean Freedom: Cairns-based premium small-catamaran reef operator running daily trips to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Direct competitor with similar upmarket positioning, marine biologist-led snorkeling, and diving add-on portfolio.
• Wavelength Reef Cruises: Cairns-based small-group reef cruise operator specializing in Outer Reef snorkel and dive experiences with marine biologist commentary. Eco-certified competitor with similar premium small-group positioning and customer mix.
• Reef Magic Cruises: Cairns-based reef cruise operator offering full-day outer reef experiences from Marlin Wharf. Direct competitor with similar catamaran fleet, marine biologist commentary, and diving/snorkeling add-ons targeting the same Cairns tourist pool.
• Down Under Dive: Cairns-based dive and snorkel tour operator offering day trips to the Great Barrier Reef with certified diving, introductory diving, and snorkeling experiences. Comparable product mix and target customer base focused on reef diving.
• Passions of Paradise: Cairns-based sailing catamaran operator offering day trips to the Great Barrier Reef with snorkeling, diving, and glass bottom boat tours. Eco-certified competitor with a similar mid-market day-trip positioning focused on the same Cairns visitor segment.
• Quicksilver Connections: Long-established Port Douglas-based reef cruise operator running catamaran day trips to the Outer Great Barrier Reef (Agincourt Ribbon Reefs) with snorkeling, diving, and glass bottom boat activities. Closest direct competitor serving the same Far North Queensland reef tourist market with a comparable day-trip product.
• Great Adventures Reef Cruises: Cairns-based reef cruise operator owned by Quicksilver Group, offering day trips to Green Island and the Outer Reef with similar activity mix including snorkeling, diving, and semi-submersible tours. Directly competes in the Green Island day-trip category alongside Big Cat.

Others

• Cairns Harbour Cruises: Sister brand within the Experience Co portfolio operating harbour and sunset cruise experiences from Cairns. Operates the same vessel type and customer base but on a different (harbour) route, making it a portfolio peer rather than direct product competitor.
• Fitzroy Island Adventures: Sister company under the same Experience Co Limited parent, operating ferry and tour services to Fitzroy Island. Directly comparable business model and adjacent reef tourism destination, and now combined with Big Cat via the Two Island Explorer bundle.

Regional players

• Calypso Reef Cruises: Cairns-based catamaran reef cruise operator running smaller-group snorkel and dive tours to the Great Barrier Reef. Comparable product offering and customer base in the same geography, but with a smaller vessel and more boutique positioning than Big Cat.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bigcatgreenisland
• Instagraminstagram.com/greenislandcairns
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-cat-green-island-reef-cruises

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIG CAT GREEN ISLAND REEF CRUISES