If you’re the type of family or single who’s bang up for an eco-adventure, then a stay on Heron Island should be on your wish list.
This coral cay on Queensland’s Southern Great Barrier Reef, offshore from Gladstone, is a dream destination because nature is so close at hand.
In the warmer months, seafaring birds come to breed, nest, feed and rest, in its Pisonia Forest. That’s also when endangered Loggerhead Turtles arrive in big numbers to bury their eggs on Heron Island’s beach. It’s quite a sight as the little hatchlings eventually bubble out of the sand and turn to the water.
Year ‘round, the water holds many wonders, that you can access right off the beach. Resident Green Turtles compete for snorkellers’ and divers’ attention with rays, sharks, and a thousand species of fish species. The diversity is overwhelming, and there are more than 20 dive sites to choose from, that are just a short boat ride away. Some are considered the best of their kind in the world.
In winter these waters make up part of the route of migrating Humpback Whales, and manta rays make their presence known. So you never know what you are going to see on a visit to the island.
Heron Island is a two-and-a-half-hour boat ride from Gladstone, and there is also an option to fly in and out by helicopter or seaplane.
It offers a variety of accommodation options, from secluded suites to family rooms. Each is convenient to the restaurant, pool, and dive shop, and nowhere is far from the water.
The resort is one of the many Queensland tourism operations that has the required COVID SAFE documentation.
