Where to catch a ferry to Heron Island?

If you're making your own way to the Heron Island Ferry Terminal, you'll find it at the Gladstone Marina Parklands, in the Gladstone Visitor Information Centre building at 72 Bryan Jordan Drive, Gladstone. The Heron Island Ferry Terminal is located in the same building as Compleat Angler.

How long is the boat ride to Heron Island?

The ferry to and from Heron Island operates daily except Tuesdays, Thursdays and Christmas Day. The ferry takes two hours and departs from the Gladstone Marina at 9.30 am and departs for Gladstone at 12.45 pm. The ferry ride can sometimes be rough, so be prepared for seasickness.

What is the best month to go to Heron Island?

Snorkelling and Diving: June to September offers the best visibility and calm conditions for exploring the reef. Turtle Nesting and Hatching: Nesting occurs from November to January, while hatchlings emerge between January and March. Birdwatching: October to April is the peak season for seabirds nesting on the island.

Can you visit Heron Island for the day?

With no day-trippers allowed, the only way visitors can come to Heron is to book into the luxe Heron Island Resort. Accommodation ranges from secluded rooms to freestanding houses with exclusive access to the beach. Check it out. Heron can be home to up to 200,000 bird species at the height of nesting season (January).

Can you take your own food to Heron Island?

Guests are not permitted to bring their own food and beverages onto Heron Island, and liquor licensing laws prohibit the consumption of BYO alcohol. All touring and transfer pricing is subject to change with 30 days' notice.

Things to do on Heron Island

Is there phone reception on Heron Island?

Heron Island typically has no mobile phone coverage. Wi-fi calling allows you to make and receive calls over the wi-fi network instead of a cellular network.

How long does it take to walk around Heron Island?

Being right on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef means you can dive right into the coral. Next, fit in a gentle walk around the island and get to know your surrounds, even a meandering pace will take you around half an hour.

What is there to do on Heron Island?

Is there wifi on Heron Island?

Heron Island Accommodation

To allow our guests to truly unplug and connect with nature, all rooms are free of televisions, telephones and Wi-Fi. Internet service is available at Baillie's Bar, Pandanus Lounge, Reception and Shearwater Restaurant.

How do I get to Lady Elliot Island?

Access to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is on small aircraft chartered from Seair Pacific to transport our guests to and from the Island. As Lady Elliot Island is the most remote Great Barrier Reef island regularly accessed, boat access is impractical.

Are there mosquitos on Heron Island?

It was previously thought that the population carried very few parasites. However, this could be because past research exclusively looked at blood parasites such as avian malaria. These parasites rely on the presence of mosquitos to spread – but there are no mosquitos on Heron Island.

When can you see turtles on Heron Island?

Although you can swim with turtles year-round at Heron Island, from November to March, endangered Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles return on the high tide to nest in the dunes. Then from December to April, be enchanted by hatchlings as they begin to erupt from their nests.

What is the closest town to Heron Island?

The nearest urban centre and commercial airport is located 72kms from Heron Island in Gladstone. Regular flights to Gladstone are available via Brisbane with either Qantas or Virgin Australia.

Who owns Heron Island?

The new owners of Heron Island Resort, the Aldesta Hotel Group, as part of their commitment to improving our guest experience, have reached the next stage which is to invest in a refresh of all 112 rooms.

How long is the mobile ferry ride?

The trip takes roughly 40 minutes providing plenty of time to view ships, birds and marine life.

Is Heron Island part of Whitsundays?

Is Heron Island Part Of The Whitsundays? No. The island is located on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, in Queensland, Australia. Heron is located close by the neighbouring island, Wilson Island.

Can you do a day trip to Heron Island?

As Heron Island is a two hour boat ride from the Gladstone Marina, we don't recommend day trips as there's so much to do and see on the island that can't be fit into just one day.

What to do on Herron island, WA?

When to visit Heron Island?

Local tips. Visit Heron Island during turtle season from November to March and experience one of nature's greatest shows as endangered sea turtles come ashore to nest, before hatchlings the size of a coin erupt some months later from their shells and bravely make their way to the water.

What is the water temperature in Heron Island in July?

Heron Island and the Great Barrier Reef enjoy a pleasant sub-tropical climate with balmy weather all year round. The water temperature ranges from 18 degrees Celsius in winter (July/August) to 29 degrees Celsius in summer.

How long should you stay on Heron Island?

Heron Island is a great island to stay on, and I recommend staying for at least two nights because there's a lot to do, and you'll want to get lot of snorkeling in. Accommodation starts from $358 a night, and is really comfortable.

Are there herons on Heron Island?

An eastern reef egret looking for noddy fledglings to eat. This is the namesake "heron" of Heron Island. Though other herons may occasionally visit the island, the only member of the Ardeidae which is a breeding resident is the eastern reef egret.

What is Heron Island famous for?

Heron Island is in a World Heritage listed Marine National Park, supporting around 1000 of the 1,600 different fish species that can be found on the Great Barrier Reef. The Heron Reef is also home to 72% of the more than 450 species of hard coral that is found on the Great Barrier Reef.

Are there carnivorous trees on Heron Island?

Heron Island's forest of lush, towering Pisonia trees seems similarly impossible on this tiny coral cay. And this island is carnivorous too. The Pisonia trees have sticky seeds, that catch in the feathers of the noddy terns.

Why is it called Heron Island?

Francis Blackwood on the H.M.S Fly discovered the cay in 1843 while looking for shipping channels through the Great Barrier Reef. The ship's geologist named it Heron Island after he noticed what he though was a large number of reef herons feeding on the cay's reef.