Welcome to our Winter issue of Quickies

We're thrilled to announce Green Island Resort has once again been recognised as Queensland's leading environmentally sustainable hotel, winning the Best Environment and Energy Efficiency Practise category at the 2026 Queensland Hotel Association (QHA) Awards for Excellence.

From turning waste into resources, to greener energy technologies and advanced water treatment systems, the award recognises Green Island Resort’s ongoing and innovative approach to sustainability and environmental management in one of the world’s most challenging operating environments – a remote island in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef.

Quicksilver Group Managing Director Tony Baker said the award is testament to the resort's dedication to environmental best practices while delivering exceptional guest experiences in a unique location. 

“To be recognised once again for environmental excellence is a wonderful achievement for all our staff. We are incredibly proud of the resort’s team who continually look to improve environmental performance and protect the natural environment that makes Green Island so special. 

“Green Island Resort is a truly unique holiday destination that welcomes guests from across Australia and around the world. This recognition again demonstrates that exceptional visitor experiences and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Green Island Resort General Manager Sue O'Donnell accepted the QHA award at the gala presentation in Brisbane and said, "We're absolutely thrilled to receive this award. Working and living in a remote environment has its own unique challenges, and we are very proud of the role we play in protecting this special place for our guests and future generations."

One of the resort's most recent sustainability innovations is a mechanical sludge dewatering unit nicknamed the "Cakemaker 5000", integrated into its tertiary treatment plant. The system reduces waste volume by removing moisture by approximately 90%, with the resulting “cake” recycled into compost and used by a local mainland biosolid recycler as fertiliser.

"Our guests are often amazed when they take part in our behind-the-scenes sustainability tours and see firsthand how a remote island resort operates. They learn how food waste is converted into organic fertiliser through our food digester and how our many environmental initiatives work in practice."

This most recent QHA award follows a series of sustainability achievements for Green Island Resort, including Business Chamber Queensland’s ecoBiz 3 Star Partner Award for the second consecutive year, and international recognition in leading UK magazine Wanderlust’s Green List for Australasia and the Pacific - an annual list that celebrates sustainability in travel. In 2024 Green Island Resort won both  the Queensland and Australian Hotel Association Awards for Environmental Excellence.

The resort will now represent Queensland at the Australian Hotel Association Industry Awards in November 2026.

Main picture from left: Felicia Salmond, Dave Salmond Green Island Resort Engineering Manager, Sue O'Donnell Green Island Resort General Manager, Jodie Wild Quicksilver Group Human Resources Manager at the QHA gala awards.

A ceremonial breaking of ground at Green Island Resort in April marked the official start of the new Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

With shovels in hand, Andrew Powell Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism was joined in turning the first sods of soil by Tony Baker Managing Director Quicksilver Group, Bree James Member for Barron River & Assistant Tourism Minister, and Jennie Gilbert Co-Founder CTRC.  

The new centre, which is an expansion of the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, will deliver world-class care for sick and injured turtles and strengthen conservation efforts on the Great Barrier Reef.

The facility will be built on land provided by the Quicksilver Group, owners and operators of Green Island Resort and Great Adventures Green Island Cruises. 

“We’re very proud to support the Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, helping give injured turtles a second chance and protecting the unique marine life of the Great Barrier Reef that so many people come here to experience,” said Tony Baker Managing Director Quicksilver Group.

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre co-founder Jennie Gilbert expressed the organisation’s sincere appreciation for the Queensland Government’s $600,000 investment to support the establishment of the purpose-built facility on Green Island.

“This brand new facility is going to include tanks for turtles, and it will also run daily educational talks with small groups of people, as I believe education and research are critical components of conservation,” Ms Gilbert said.

Building on the work of the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, the Green Island expansion will enable ongoing rehabilitation efforts for sick and injured turtles in Far North Queensland.

Located on the Great Barrier Reef which is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles, the Green Island facility is expected to be operational by early 2027.

Six years on from the commencement of an innovative reef restoration project, a rehabilitated area roughly the size of a tennis court is now a thriving reef habitat for marine life with up to 80% coral cover.

Located at Great Adventures “New York” dive and snorkel site offshore from Green Island, the collaborative project has demonstrated different techniques to successfully rehabilitate and support the growth of naturally heat-tolerant coral species on the Great Barrier Reef.    

In November 2020, the project saw the installation of 165 hexagonal metal frames known as MARRS Stars (Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System) to stabilise loose coral rubble. More than 2,600 coral fragments were then attached to the frames using two methods – conventional cable ties and biodegradable ties made from potato starch.

Quicksilver Group Environment and Compliance Manager Phil Coulthard said the results have exceeded expectations.

"The coral growth has been exceptional. What is particularly pleasing is seeing the diverse range of fish, rays and turtles now living amongst the healthy corals."

"It is very satisfying for everyone involved to see the project achieving exactly what we set out to do – stabilising an area of loose coral rubble and creating permanent reef structures that are now covered in coral growth and supporting a thriving marine habitat."

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service marine biologist Michelle Janssen said improving the coral cover could have benefits beyond the project site. “It is also a source reef, so a reef that spawns and provides coral babies to other reefs nearby,” Ms Janssen said.

“When you’ve got a really high-value reef like that, it’s great to see so much coral growth.”

The project was a joint initiative between the Reef Authority, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Mars Incorporated, Quicksilver Cruises and Great Adventures Cruises, Big Cat Green Island Cruises, the Coral Nurture Program and Gunggandji Traditional Owners.

A large population of juvenile green sea turtles is thriving at Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef (AG3) platform, with ongoing research revealing the site is an important habitat for young turtles.

For a little chill time, check out the video of some of the cool resident turtles to be found at Quicksilver's activity platform.

Marine biologist Heather Platt, Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch Manager, said they have been conducting research into the resident turtle population for over 12 months using photo identification techniques. 

38 individual immature green turtles have now been identified with over 390 sightings recorded through a combination of targeted surveys and citizen science contributions.

The findings highlight the ecological importance of the AG3 area for feeding, residence and transit of juvenile turtles.

“All of our documented turtles are immature, which tells us Agincourt Reef provides an ideal environment for their juvenile years,” said Ms Platt. “As the study continues, we’re hoping to better understand how long these turtles remain here before moving on to other parts of the reef.”

Among the growing catalogue of turtles, Jasper has emerged as the most frequently sighted individual, followed by Little Foot. Others, like T-Bone, appear to be more transient - disappearing from the survey area for months at a time before returning to the platform.

Long-term monitoring has also provided insights into a young turtle’s healing journey.

“The ‘OG’ of our turtle survey, Charli, (first identified in 2023) appears to be doing very well after being sighted with a significant carapace injury in July 2024. We’ve been able to document his/her healing journey throughout the months that followed. Sighted in recent weeks, you'd almost never know the injury had occurred.” 

Guests spending the day with Quicksilver are encouraged to submit their turtle photos to assist the Reef Biosearch team in monitoring the population.

Each turtle is identified by their unique pattern of facial scales, which remain consistent throughout their lifetime. During in-water snorkel surveys, both images and video are captured to accurately distinguish individuals, assigning each turtle an alphanumeric ID alongside any nicknames.

The data collected in the turtle survey is contributing to broader conservation efforts, with records shared with the Sea Turtle Observatory to support population tracking along the Queensland coast. This collaboration increases the likelihood of identifying these turtles again at future feeding or breeding sites across the Great Barrier Reef.

The research forms part of Quicksilver’s ongoing site stewardship which focuses on monitoring reef health and protecting the rich marine biodiversity of this globally significant ecosystem.

Green Sea Turtles

• Six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles are found on the Great Barrier Reef with the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) being the most abundant. Primarily feeding on seagrass and algae, they are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem.
• Generally, green sea turtles reach maturity between 30-50 years of age. An adult green turtle will have a straight carapace (shell) length of 65-90 cm. The green turtles identified at the Agincourt 3 platform site mostly range between 45-55 cm. 

Meet our newest Master Reef Guides! We’re pleased to celebrate three new Master Reef Guides, with Kaylee (Quicksilver), Klarissa (Great Adventures) and Gabi (Pro Dive Cairns) completing the Master Reef Guide Field School earlier this year.

As marine biologists - and in Gabi’s case, also a dive instructor, they join a growing team of passionate Reef ambassadors dedicated to sharing engaging stories, science and significance of the Great Barrier Reef with guests from around the world.

Whether leading a guided snorkel tour, hosting an island walk, or simply chatting with guests onboard, they help create memorable experiences that inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation.

Across the Quicksilver Group, 16 crew have completed the Master Reef Guides program. Part of our Reef Biosearch teams, a more passionate group about this wonderful World Heritage environment you could not meet!

The Master Reef Guide program for High Standard Operators is delivered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, and Tourism and Events Queensland. 

We're now in our whale season, one of the most exciting times to visit the Great Barrier Reef. From the humpbacks to the dwarf minkes, whale sightings are an added bonus for customers and crew at this time of year.  Some playful dwarf minkes have been sighted at the Agincourt reefs in full vacation mode, breaching and putting on quite a show.

According to Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch Manager Heather Platt, the dwarf minkes are found in southern oceans but the Great Barrier Reef is the only known congregation that is reliable. This makes the Cairns and Port Douglas region a great place for an encounter with these incredibly curious animals.

Both of our Port Douglas based dive and snorkel boats, Silversonic and Poseidon, have two of the limited Marine Park permits that enable in-water encounters to swim with these inquisitive creatures.

All encounters are conducted under strict guidelines, with the whales themselves determining how close they interact with us and how long they stay, creating a unique and respectful wildlife experience.

While never guaranteed, from our experience, July to September is the peak season to see minkes as they frequent the Agincourt ribbon reefs.

Imagine exploring pristine World Heritage Great Barrier Reef dive sites with your very own personal scuba guide for the day! For divers wanting a next-level experience, Quicksilver Dive offers exclusive private guided scuba diving for a fully personalised and carefully curated adventure.

Whether an experienced diver looking for a more unique experience beyond a standard tour, newly qualified, or even a first-time diver wanting extra confidence and individual attention, a private guided scuba tour is the ultimate way to explore the treasures of the Great Barrier Reef.

• Exclusive Quicksilver Dive Instructors are available on Silversonic, Poseidon and Quicksilver Outer Reef.
• Personalised for your dive expectations, diving ability and special interests.
• Available for certified and introductory divers.
• If diving with family or friends, you can form your own private group. Introductory divers can have up to 4 people in your group.
• Up to 3 private dives across up to 3 different Agincourt ribbon reef dive sites, or customised to include a combination of dive and snorkelling activities.
• Includes all dive gear, and regular cruise inclusions such as lunch, morning and afternoon teas.

Check out Quicksilver Dive for more information.

Guests staying at Green Island Resort have the opportunity to take part in a unique citizen science experience through the Reef Biosearch team's Eco Walk and Beach Clean.

Led by our passionate team of Reef Biosearch marine biologists, this engaging island walk introduces participants to the fascinating history, biology and ecology of Green Island before transforming into a hands-on beach clean activity. Along the way, guests help collect marine debris that has washed ashore, contributing valuable data to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI).

Most of the debris found on Green Island has washed in from the ocean and has already begun breaking down into smaller fragments and microplastics. By removing these items, we can help reduce the amount of plastic entering the marine food chain.

The activity is a fun and meaningful way to learn about the importance of keeping our oceans clean. Every piece of rubbish collected contributes to a healthier marine environment, supporting the idea that a healthy ocean means a healthy planet

Wally says hi! Check out 30 seconds of a little slice of Flynn Reef perfection from a recent Pro Dive Cairns 3 day/2 night liveaboard trip, June 2026. With cooler weather, crystal-clear visibility, oh and friendly maori wrasse, what’s not to love?

 Thanks to Pro Dive Cairns Instructor, Molly Brown.

With the Australian flag flying at half-mast, Green Island Resort's ANZAC Day Dawn Service provided a quiet and meaningful moment of reflection for staff and house guests. Among those attending was a couple who never miss a Dawn Service and were pleased to be able to take part in the Resort's intimate tribute while away from home.

Welcome to Chris Lennards, our Sales & Marketing rep in Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. Before joining Quicksilver Group, Chris spent two years on Hayman Island as Activities Assistant Manager, and prior to that, leading sunrise kayak tours on Sydney Harbour.

Growing up in the UK, Chris remembers telling his parents after watching David Attenborough, “When I grow up, I want to work on the reef in Australia”. He reckons he’s pretty much nailed it! With the reef on one side and the rainforest on the other, Tropical North Queensland was calling!

Cairns is now home and Chris has dreams of buying some land in the rainforest and spending his spare time climbing trees and snapping selfies with turtles. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him searching for wildlife with his camera - because, as he admits, he’s now at the age where birds are interesting, doing Jujitsu, or enjoying cheese and wine while whittling something random.

He’s looking forward to working with everyone and being a valuable member of the team. You can contact Chris here 

Looking good and feeling fine!  Every Friday the fabulous engineering team at Green Island Resort proudly wear their colourful ‘conversation starter’ shirts to support mental health awareness and encourage meaningful conversations. You definitely won’t miss them sporting their pretty cool tropical themed shirts - so if you see them out and about, say G’day! A simple conversation can go a long way and might just make someone’s day.

We’re incredibly proud of our team, and thanks to Trademutt, who donate 50% of their shirt profits to free mental health counselling services.