Heron Island, QUEENSLAND
Airing Date: May 8th, 2006
Set foot on Heron Island and you won't need to hop on a boat until you're ready to leave.
Why? Cause the barrier reef is a couple of feet away and the island boasts some of the best diving, snorkelling and turtle watching close to an island. Heron Island is 18 hectares and lies 72kms north east off the coast of Queensland. This is a one island one resort place that you'll reach by hopping on a launch from the mainland. A daily launch service departs Gladstone Marina for Heron Island once a day. No day trippers visit the island - it's just for the exclusive use of the hotels guests. To make you feel even further away from reality, Heron Island always operates an hour ahead of eastern standard time.
There are 109 rooms on Heron Island and six different types of accommodation. Basically this splits into (in order from most basic) Turtle Rooms, Reef Suites, Heron Beach Suites and then the three premium options of The Beach house, Wistari Suites and Point Suites (Premium rooms are reserved for adults only).
Generally the rooms feature a balcony or terrace, ceiling fan, fridge, tea & coffee making facilities, beach towels, ironing facilities, ensuites and even Umbrellas. Televisions and in some rooms telephones (not including Point Suites, Wistari Suites and the Beach House) are not found in guest rooms, but are available on the island.
Heron Island also attracts mostly Green Sea Turtles. Occasionally people come across loggerhead turtles while swimming or snorkelling and very rarely Hawks Bill Turtles. The turtle season starts at the end of October / beginning of November and the best time to see the turtles laying is an 11pm till sunrise. The best time to see hatchlings is an hour before sunset till around midnight. However you are likely to see hatchlings at anytime of the day.
Further Information
From $187 a person twin share. Includes accommodation, meals & activities.
Voyages Heron Island
1300 134 044
Website: www.voyages.com.au
Prices correct at 8/5/06
