Heron Island is a small coral cay island situated in the Great Barrier Reef in one of the planets natural wonders. This spectacular paradise offers visitors an opportunity to get up and close with marine life in one of the best snorkel and dive spots in the world.
Heron Island is the ultimate reef escape situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s remote location and exclusivity all adds to its appeal giving visitors a rare opportunity to switch off and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings.
Heron Island is situated 89 kilometres off Gladstone in Capricorn Coast. Heron Island is a tropical paradise popular among visitors who are truly looking for an island getaway. The island is a sight to see with picturesque beaches and turquoise coloured waters that are brimming with colourful coral and marine life.
The island is run exclusively as a resort and you need to be a guest to visit. The intention is for visitors to come here, take a break, slow down and get up and close with nature. You won’t find televisions, telephones or wifi in the rooms. This is great drawcard for many. There are no day trippers visiting either, so the beaches and surrounding waters are never crowded.
The fringing reefs and dive sites have been rated by PADI divers as hosting some of the best snorkel and dive sites in the world. Heron Island is lucky enough to have 20 dive sites all within a short boat ride away. Many snorkel sites are just a few steps off the beach surrounding the island.
If you have ever wanted to learn how to dive then there is no better place to learn than on Heron Island. The dive centre can take you on an introductory dive or more advanced open water dive courses run over several days. Boat trips run three times a day and are suitable for snorkelers and divers. Sites are chosen on the day and are dependent on weather conditions.
For animal lovers, the island is home to a large turtle population that return annually for their turtles nesting season between November to March. During the winter season you may also be lucky enough to spot Humpback Whales on their migration. Year round many birds including the ‘Heron’ call this island home.
The resort caters to couples and families offering 109 rooms which all have balconies and terraces. The room types range from suites to beach houses. The Point Suites are recommended due to their uninterrupted view of the reef and is a great place to watch the sunset. The island also has a beach house that can be rented out exclusively and has direct beach access.
The resort also has a swimming pool, day spa and a restaurant and bar. Shearwater Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Baillie’s Bar is the only place on the island that you will find a television or get any WIFI if you need to catch up with the news or your favourite sports team.
To reach Heron Island you will need to fly into Gladstone with most commercial airlines operating services several times a day. From here you can either board a boat to Heron Island from Gladstone Marina or seaplane from Gladstone Airport. The boat takes approximately 2.5 hours to reach the island and the seaplane flight over the beautiful reef takes just 30 minutes.
Heron Island experience a tropical climate with warm temperatures experienced all year round. Temperatures range from 22 to 30 degrees making this a great place to visit anytime of the year.
