Michaelmas Cay
Michaelmas Cay
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
643 reviews
Excellent
430
Very good
147
Average
47
Poor
14
Terrible
5
scvrose
Fiddletown, CA1,165 contributions
Nov 2022
Seastar dropped us off before the island we swam in. Enjoyed watching the hundreds of birds making their nest on this slender piece of land. One of my highlights.
Written November 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hawkeye321
Mount Clemens15 contributions
Nov 2022
I went here as part of my snorkeling trip. The birds were wonderful! However, I wish the informational display was closer or a little larger to read. It was difficult to see. Also, it would be nice to have a better description of the birds that were there. I know the informational and gave some information but it could have been more helpful. Wonderful that we get to see and explore that beautiful place!
Written November 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn H
11 contributions
Oct 2022
This is a highlight going to the Barrier Reef .Captain and crew friendly and efficient .Buffet Lunch so much to choose from after I went snorkelling. Very Relaxing and went in the glass bottom boat to look at the fish and coral .
Written November 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B A
Sydney, Australia42 contributions
May 2022
its a cay - a large sand island on the great barrier reef. Went here as part of a reef cruise. Nice shallow waters to snorkel.
Written May 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex F
4 contributions
Jun 2021
Beautiful coral cay. Lots of sea birds, marine animals, fish and corals. Absolutely stunning and highly recommend a visit to the Michaelmas and Upolu Cay Marine Park
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John T
6 contributions
Apr 2021
We took a dive charter out here and it was an awesome experience. The remoteness was wonderfull and access to the reef really good.
Written June 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Journeys
Yeppoon, Australia566 contributions
Nov 2020
We found the reef clear, with great visibility. The reef is colorful. Our tour company provided a safe and friendly.
Written November 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stugillCheshire
Runcorn, UK30 contributions
Mar 2020
Brilliant day trip with Ocean Spirit. Everything so well organised. Loved the semi submersible. Not good swimmers but the staff were so helpful and patient that we were able to say we had snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef. Unforgettable day!
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manuel C
Montreal, Canada18 contributions
Feb 2020
We get there with Sailing Whitsundays cruise, so the pictures on the "brochure" to sell the tripe is VERY BEAUTIFUL but the reality is completely different so be CAREFULL because this company sell you Rabbit but it is Cat CROKED
They show in picture a VERY BEAUTIFULL sail boat but you will NEVER see the sails is a Catamaran with two powerful motors a lot of noise and POLUDE the OCEANS a lot
Food is Disgusting, and to finish when you get to the island you ONLY have 30 meters to walk, I know the bird nests but if you really care about DON"T BRING PEOPLE THERE you are DISGUSTING when you talk about save the birds and the reefs and the OCEAN YOU do completely the opposite so don’t be HIPOCRITS because you are, YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY NOTHING ELSE
We start in Cairns get in the boat and after 20 minutes the boat broke, so the "captain" try to fix it but is not capable so we have to go back to the port to change boats we get there very slowly we lost one hour twenty minutes so a person on the microphone toll us ' DONT WORRY " we will compensation the time we lost... blab...blab...blab... so I send one email to get compensated but they give me A$25
to resume it be CAREFULL with this company they promise something and they don’t delivery
For that stupid Swedish Great Thunberg care about the planet so go to exe: Cairns, Townsville etc., and see what happen with THOUSEND of boat pollute the oceans with Thousands of tourists go their stupid
They show in picture a VERY BEAUTIFULL sail boat but you will NEVER see the sails is a Catamaran with two powerful motors a lot of noise and POLUDE the OCEANS a lot
Food is Disgusting, and to finish when you get to the island you ONLY have 30 meters to walk, I know the bird nests but if you really care about DON"T BRING PEOPLE THERE you are DISGUSTING when you talk about save the birds and the reefs and the OCEAN YOU do completely the opposite so don’t be HIPOCRITS because you are, YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY NOTHING ELSE
We start in Cairns get in the boat and after 20 minutes the boat broke, so the "captain" try to fix it but is not capable so we have to go back to the port to change boats we get there very slowly we lost one hour twenty minutes so a person on the microphone toll us ' DONT WORRY " we will compensation the time we lost... blab...blab...blab... so I send one email to get compensated but they give me A$25
to resume it be CAREFULL with this company they promise something and they don’t delivery
For that stupid Swedish Great Thunberg care about the planet so go to exe: Cairns, Townsville etc., and see what happen with THOUSEND of boat pollute the oceans with Thousands of tourists go their stupid
Written March 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jannie
8 contributions
Mar 2020
We had the most wonderful time on this trip. The sailing to Michaelmas was nice. The snorkeling was quite okay although we have done more varied snorkeling with more views. But overall we had a really nice day. A pity that the sails have not been used, only the engine. Drinks and food were good.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How is michaelmas cay for advanced divers? Regarding coral bleaching, still worth while?
Written June 21, 2017
We were there last September and the area we viewed from a semi-submersible were fine, no bleaching. However, the area we covered was not where the divers/snorkelers were.
While I'm not a diver, I'm guessing that most of the folks on our boat were novices... certainly not advanced, because they were all renting equipment rather than having their own gear.
Written June 21, 2017
Hi guys!Which cruise company to choose for a day tour to this cay, we want it to b fast and luxurious. Will not be snorkelling though. Just a relaxing cruise trip with lunch.
Written January 4, 2017
The answers above are right, we did see a few people who did not snorkle but there only option was to sit on the beach (small area) or wait on the boat. My opinion for you if you do not want scuba or snorkle is to find one that has a submersable. This way you can still see some of the underwater stuff without getting wet. Here is a lnk to the company I found, they are very helpful and can arrange things for you if you want them to - cairns holiday specialists. I hope you find this helpful and enjoy your travels.
Written January 5, 2017
Hi guys!Which cruise company to choose for a day tour to this cay, we want it to b fast and luxurious. Will not be snorkelling though. Just a relaxing cruise trip with lunch.
Written January 4, 2017
Ummmm, do you understand what you indent to do is like going to Cambodia then driving past the temples at Angkor, Visting Peru but staying at the foot of the mountain at Machu Picchu or seeing the Grand Canyon but not looking down?
Doing a two hour (bumpy) cruise to a sand cay with birds (somewhat interesting) without putting your head underwater (or a the very least in a semi-sub) and missing the seeing the greatest natural wonder on the planet is not just waste full, it near criminal.
Either Ocean Spirit or Passions Of Paradise will get you to Michaelmas in relative comfort and have reasonable food. But if all you want is food and a water cruise you are better off to eat in Cairns then go on a sunset cruise.
Written January 5, 2017
Hi
I am wondering what birds I would see on Michaelmas cay in July
Thank you
Written July 5, 2015
According to Ebird the birds that have been recorded at Michaelmas Cay during July are:
Great Frigatebird
Brown Booby
Silver Gull
Common Noddy
Sooty Tern
Crested Tern
Welcome Swallow
Lesser Frigatebird
Masked Booby
Black-naped Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Eastern Reef Egret
Black Noddy
Bridled Tern
Caspian Tern
Roseate Tern
Osprey
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Australian Pied Oystercatcher
Little Tern
Ruddy Turnstone
Curlew Sandpiper
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Ross
Written May 2, 2016
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