HOLIDAYS FOR FAMILIES

Heron Island

Heron Island is a 16-hectare island around 80km or a two-hour ferry journey from Gladstone, the latter only a five-hour drive from Eumundi. Heron, Great Keppel and Lady Elliot are the three main islands in the Southern Great Barrier Reef and Heron is famous for – not herons – turtles.

Green and Loggerhead turtles return to Heron Island annually to nest in the same spot where they hatched up to 30 years earlier. Somewhat carelessly the mother turtle leaves her eggs to the whims of nature until the babies hatch a few months later and scamper back into the sea, an activity which lucky Heron guests can view from October to April.

Aside from turtles the island offers a lot of familybased activities, probably better for older kids as most activities are water-based. Surrounded by a beautiful coral reef snorkelling off Heron is a must with turtles, stingrays, manta rays and even the odd shark. Rent a mask or bring your own, float out from your villa to the reef and look down.

If diving is your thing the island offers a range of experiences from preparatory tuition in the resort’s swimming pool to dive boat excursions. There are sunset cruises, glass submarine tours, reef walking lectures, a giant chess set, morning yoga and a pool table to pass the time between buffet breakfast, swims, sunbathing and cocktail hour.

There is only one accommodation option although rooms differ in size and view. Our family of four stayed in a beach side ‘villa’ with fans, a tiny desk and an ensuite – thank goodness for the communal large bar and hang-out area meaning the lack of relaxation space within the room didn’t bother us. Food is only available from the one restaurant and although we quickly got bored of the repetitive lunch menu the chefs mix it up every evening to provide a variety of decent quality meals.

The accommodation is not flash, a decent cup of coffee a rarity, and there are multiple ways the resort could smarten-up its common areas but the staff – a mix of backpackers and young Australians on a gap year – were generally friendly and helpful. The overall experience was far less pretentious and expensive than other resorts, particularly those on the Northern Great Barrier Reef. My family, including two usually hard-to-please teenagers, thoroughly enjoyed our six-night stay during the winter Qld school holidays and we highly recommend the island.

Oh, and did I mention the sunsets? If none of the above entices you to this slice of relatively unspoiled Qld heaven then visit simply for the sunsets. Where else on Australia’s east coast do you get to see the sun sinking into the ocean amidst a fire of orange and purple while sipping your Heron Island Mai Tai? Liz Stapleton