We have not visited Green Turtle Cay since Hurricane Dorian, but I hear things are open and it is still a fun place to visit. This ferry schedule was published on June 7, 2021.
Visiting Green Turtle Cay can be another fun day trip from Casuarina Point. You would begin by driving north to Marsh Harbour and turn left toward Treasure Cay before you are downtown. The turn is not marked right now, but it is past the BEC (Bahamas Electricity) office and you turn left. If you get to the intersection where you see K & S Gas Station you went too far. It is the left turn BEFORE the intersection with K & S. You drive about 30 or 40 minutes north on that highway, and just past the Treasure Cay turn and the Treasure Cay airport, you will see the Green Turtle Ferry Dock on your right. Click here for the Ferry Schedule.
Green Turtle is an island about 3 miles long and ½ mile wide. It was named because there were so many green turtles that inhabited the area. The main settlement, where the ferry will take you, is New Plymouth, founded in the 18th century. The original settlers were from New England, and the older homes have the steep-pitched roofs like you see in New England. The population of Green Turtle cay is around 450 people.
New Plymouth contains a post office, a bank, a customs and immigration office, four grocery stores, several restaurants, bars, and churches. There is a museum, Albert Lowe Museum, opened in 1976 by noted Bahamian painter Alton Lowe. He named the museum in honour of his father, who was a well-known craftsman of ship models, a sailor, fisherman and farmer. The museum is the oldest historical museum in The Bahamas and was established to preserve Abaco’s unique history and development tracing back to the time of the Loyalists.
The museum is located in a Victorian-era family home and has colonial dormers, a steep roof and wraparound porce. It showcases displays of model ships, historical artifacts, photographs, paintings, writings and other exhibits. The original outside kitchen and latrine are still intact. The museum also highlights occupations like sponging and fishing that have been important to the economy and success of Abaco over the years.
Cars are allowed on the island, but golf carts and bicycles are the usual mode of transport. You will find a place to rent one when you get off the ferry. Gary and I rented a golf cart and took our own tour of the island. Green Turtle Cay is known for its nice beaches and has several full-service hotel-resorts with boat marinas. We went north and stopped to enjoy several beaches on the way to lunch at The Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina.
After lunch and exploring the Bluff House area we drove back to New Plymouth and enjoyed the driving the streets of the picturesque and charming village.
It was time to return the golf cart and catch the ferry back to Great Abaco.
