Complete Guide to the Low Isles, Port Douglas, Australia

Complete Guide to the Low Isles, Port Douglas, Australia

A detailed and up-to-date guide to visiting the Low Isles off Port Douglas, Australia. The best ways to get here, what to expect, and photos of Low Island to inspire your visit.

The Low Isles or Low Islets are a small coral bay consisting of two islands located approximately 25 km east of Port Douglas. It's a great little archipelago that offers views of the Great Barrier Reef, just a stone's throw from the mainland.

In this guide I share everything you need to know about visiting the Low Isles. I've included a section on how to get from Port Douglas to Low Island, as well as detailed instructions on what to expect once you arrive.

Featured in: 21 Best Things to Do in Port Douglas

How to get from Port Douglas to Low Island

The great thing about the Low Isles is that visiting this group of islands is very easy. It is Port Douglas' answer to Cairns' Green Island and Fitzroy Island. After less than an hour's drive from Port Douglas, you'll find yourself on Low Island, a tropical escape on the Great Barrier Reef on the Coral Coast.

Of course, since it is a remote island, you will need to book a boat transfer to get here. There are many agencies for booking tours in Port Douglas, but they often charge high commission rates, so I would suggest booking online instead.

The most affordable and popular boat trip from Port Douglas to Low Island is aboard the Wavedancer. This impressive 30 meter long luxury catamaran sailing vessel has to be seen to be believed. The tour offered is equally impressive. It contains:

• Ein ganztägiger Segeltörn nach Low Island von Port Douglas (Hin- und Rückfahrt)
• Fahrt mit dem Glasbodenboot auf Low Island
• Verleih von Schnorchelausrüstung (inklusive geführter Tour)
• Ein tropisches Mittagsbuffet
• Abholung und Rückgabe vom Hotel

The cost of booking a Low Island day trip with Wavedancer is less than $220 per person. This trumps all other options in terms of price considering what you get.

Book the best price on the Port Douglas Wave Dancers
alt="WAVEDANCER ON LOW ISLAND, PORT DOUGLAS">
Your other option is to join an organized half-day snorkeling trip. Calypso is a company that offers trips to the Low Isles. For this option it will cost you around $195. However, I wouldn't really recommend this one as the Wavedancer offers a full day trip with a lot more included for around the same price.
alt=“Low Isles, Low Islets Port Douglas Drone Photography”>

RELATED POST: Where to Stay in Port Douglas

Across the Low Isles

The Low Isles consist of two small islands; Low Island and Woody Island. The first is a small, round island with dense tropical vegetation. The island has a lighthouse, a small research station and accommodation for the island's caretakers.

On the other side is Woody Island, a larger but uninhabited mangrove island. This is home to many nesting birds and is protected and restricted.

Between the islands is a rich, tropical reef that extends outward and surrounds the islets.

Low Islands recently advertised this dream job as a janitor in news outlets across Australia. It definitely wouldn't be a bad gig!
alt="Low Island and Woody Island, Low Isles">

RELATED POST: Cairns Islands: 7 Islands Off Cairns

Exploring the Low Isles

Want to explore one of the Great Barrier Reef's best islands? Below I've listed a few things you should definitely check out on your Low Isles itinerary.
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RELATED POST: Fitzroy Island vs. Green Island

The island's lighthouse

The first thing you might see as you approach the island is the picturesque white lighthouse called Low Isles Light. This is an active lighthouse built in 1878.

If you approach it from land, you'll probably spot the huge pile of sticks at the top. This is actually an eagle's nest. I was told there are two resident eagles who built the nest to raise chicks.

There is a small research station next to the lighthouse. The world's first international research project on coral reefs took place here in 1928, bringing together scientists from around the world to study the Great Barrier Reef.
alt="Low Island Lighthouse, Low Isles Light">

Go snorkeling in the Low Isles

Probably the main reason most people visit the Low Isles and the Great Barrier Reef in general is for the incredible marine life.

The reef around the Low Isles is in good condition. There are 150 different species of hard corals and an abundance of marine life. You will see huge groupers, colorful parrotfish, anemonefish, damselfish and large schools of mackerel, to name a few.

If you're lucky you might even see a resident turtle or some blacktip reef sharks like I did in the deeper waters or sand flats.

• alt=“Low Isles, Schnorcheln auf den Low Isles“>
• alt=“Spanische Makrele schulen“>
• alt=“Fledermausfischfütterung, Fledermausfische auf den Low Isles“>
• alt=“Schwarzspitzen-Riffhaie, Low-Isles-Haie“>

The Low Isles: Information for Yachtsmen and Sailors

If you are lucky enough to be exploring the Low Isles on your own sailboat then you may be interested in the anchorage information.

For sailors and cruise ships it is possible to get some parking buoys just outside the coral lagoon. There are three available and they accommodate monohulls up to 20 meters and cats up to 18.

Otherwise, it is best to anchor directly in front of the reef. Here you will find a sandy bottom, but remember that the water here is quite deep, so let out a lot of chain.

READ THE SAILING LOG FROM THE LOW ISLANDS: SAILING LOG WEEK 10

alt="Sailing Malaika, Young Rig Sailing">

More Tropical Far North Queensland travel guides

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to visiting the Low Isles. If you found your way from Port Douglas to Low Island, let me know how you enjoyed the trip in the comments below. Otherwise, if you're looking for more Far North Queensland travel inspiration, check out some of the other articles on my blog.

Additionally, if you need some photography inspiration from the Low Isles, below are shots I took on my recent trip.

• alt=“Woody Island, niedrige Inseln“>
• alt=“Niedrige Inseln Niedrige Insel Port Douglas Cairns“>
• alt=“Niedrige Insel, niedrige Inseln, Port Douglas“>
• alt=“Schnorcheln am Low Island Reef“>
• alt=“Strand auf Low Island, Port Douglas“>
• alt=“Strand auf Low Island, Port Douglas“>
• alt=“Schwarzspitzen-Riffhai auf den Low Isles“>
• alt=“Fledermausfische auf den Low Isles füttern“>

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