Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of reef. There's a resort and research station on the northeastern third of the island; the re-
mainder is national park.
Heron Island Resort
( 1300 863 248;
www.heronisland.com
;
d/suite/beach house from $419/669/909)
has
comfortable accommodation that is suited to families and couples; the Point Suites have
the best views. Meal packages are extra, and guests will pay $50/25 (one way) per adult/
child for launch transfer, $291 by seaplane, or $395 for helicopter transfer. All are from
Gladstone.
Wilson Island
( 1300 863 248;
www.wilsonisland.com
;
per couple $1100)
, also part of a national park,
is an exclusive wilderness retreat with six permanent 'tents' and solar-heated showers.
There are excellent beaches, superb snorkelling and, during the season, turtle-watching.
The only access is from Heron Island and to get here, you'll need to buy a combined
Wilson-Heron package and spend at least two nights on Wilson Island. Transfers between
Wilson and Heron are included in the tariff.
TOP OF CHAPTER
North West Island
Behind North West's uninspiring name is a national park that's proving evermore popular
with campers, walkers and those seeking a slice of seclusion. At 106 hectares, this is the
second-biggest cay on the reef, and despite a dubious past (North West was once a guano
mine and home to a turtle-soup cannery), is now an important site for nesting green turtles
and birds; every October, hundreds of thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters descend on
the island to nest, squabble and scare the wits out of campers with their creepy nighttime
howls.
There's a limit of 150 campers on the island at any one time; camping is closed from
January 26 until Easter each year (day trips allowed year-round). There's no scheduled
service to North West, but
Curtis Ferry Services
(
07-4972 6990;
www.curtisferryservices.com.au
)
can
arrange a drop-off.
NPRSR
(
13 74 68;
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
)
has more info on getting to the is-
land, camping and essentials.
