The Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Few natural wonders command such attention as the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s greatest coral reef system. Those who see it never forget it. Here, after all, is a spectacle so vast that it can be seen from the moon.

What makes the reef so great is not just what’s beneath the surface but also what’s above it – the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. On an island, you can literally immerse yourself in one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Time spent on a Great Barrier Reef Island is time out in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Some people merely see the Great Barrier Reef, others get to truly experience it. From the exclusivity and unbridled luxury of five-star resorts to the back-to-nature simplicity of tented accommodation in sublime natural settings, the reef’s islands offer a retreat from the demands of everyday life. Whichever you choose, you are guaranteed an experience that will live with you forever.

There are many different islands along the vast stretch of reef to complement your ideal Great Barrier Reef experience: ecological, luxurious, natural, secluded. From these islands you can choose how you connect with the reef. You can dive into it, snorkel through it, sail it, fish it and feel it. You can swim with turtles or watch the whales play.

Voyages Lizard Island

Outstanding in every respect, the unique pleasures of Voyages Lizard Island have created an idyllic retreat second to none. One of Australia’s northernmost resorts, Lizard is located right on the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, fringed with colourful coral reefs and 24 powdery white beaches. It is little wonder that this tranquil escape has won a host of prestigious national and international awards for excellence. Lizard truly is one of a kind.

Accommodation
Each of the 40 villas on Voyages Lizard Island is elegant and spacious, with either ocean or beach views.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Fringing reef and snorkelling straight off the beach • diving and snorkelling trips to the local or outer reef • dive tuition • glass-bottom paddle skis • glass-bottom boat trips • full- and half-day private diving or snorkelling on MV Fascination.

Destination Highlights

24 private beaches
Cod Hole dive site
Fishing, diving and snorkelling in marine national park
Fine food and wine
Marlin fishing season (September to December)
Azure Spa

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Lizard Island via Cairns. Hinterland Aviation operates the connecting flight (approx. 60 minutes) between Cairns and Lizard Island up to twice a day. Private charter flights are also available.

For more information www.voyages.com.au

Green Island Resort

Situated on one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the Great Barrier Reef – is another of nature’s rare gifts: beautiful Green Island. A small coral cay, Green Island is one of Australia’s premier heritage sites and home to Green Island Resort. Widely regarded as one of the most environmentally sensitive tourist developments in the world, it is also the only five-star resort off the Cairns coastline located on a true coral cay.

Accommodation
Each of the 46 luxurious suites at Green Island Resort is elegant and spacious, featuring aromatic timbers and private balconies with rainforest or pool views.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Coral cay with snorkelling straight off the beach • introductory and certified scuba diving • P.A.D.I. dive courses • snorkel tours • day trips to outer reef • Seawalker helmet diving • semi-submersible coral viewing • glass-bottom boat tour • underwater observatory • scenic helicopter and seaplane flights

Destination Highlights

Great Barrier Reef location – true coral cay
Abundant and spectacular coral gardens, birdlife and marine life
Award-winning day spa – Club Spa Massage & Beauty Salon
Award-winning Emeralds Restaurant
Private beach dining experience
Wide variety of aquatic and other leisure experiences
Rainforest walks

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Cairns. Great Adventures operates high-speed catamaran (45 minutes) transfers between Cairns and Green Island three times a day. These transfers are complimentary for resort guests and are confirmed at the time of booking. Helicopter and seaplane transfers from Cairns or Cairns International Airport are also available.

Fitzroy Island

A densely forested continental island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Fitzroy Island is located near Cairns. Almost completely encircled by fringing coral reef, the island’s 339 hectares are covered in lush rainforest and granite outcrops that descend right to the water’s edge. Home to a wide variety of native species, 96 percent of the island is protected and managed as a national park – the remainder is the site of the superb Fitzroy Island Resort, which is currently undergoing a major re-development. Explore the national park walking trails (rising to 269 metres, the island offers grand vistas from almost any vantage point), swim and snorkel at popular Nudey Beach or simply laze by the pool while sipping an icy cool drink.

Accommodation
The new resort will boast a variety of apartment style
accommodation.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Fringing reef – snorkelling and diving straight off the beach • snorkelling and diving day trips to outer reef • glassbottom boat tours • P.A.D.I. introductory and certified dives, plus guided snorkelling tours • night dives

Destination Highlights

Easy access from Cairns
Beautiful tropical location
Re-development to upgrade and expand experiences and facilities
A range of access to the Great Barrier Reef

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capitals to Cairns. From Cairns, guests transfer to Fitzroy Island via launch from the Reef Fleet Terminal (approx. 45 minutes).

For more information
contact Raging Thunder Sales

Voyages Dunk Island

Golden sands, palm-lined beaches, tranquil waters and a thriving rainforest. Dunk Island is Australia’s most spectacular rainforest island. It was known to the first inhabitants as “Coonanglebah”, the isle of peace and plenty. Today, the palm-fringed beaches and lush rainforests of this tropical island are ideal for those who want to enjoy time out or the time of their lives. With a huge variety of activities, facilities and experiences to choose from, you’ll be tempted to extend your stay indefinitely.

Located in a national park, and lying midway between Townsville and Cairns, the resort puts you within easy reach of the Great Barrier Reef.

Accommodation
Dunk Island offers four grades of accommodation, with each of its 160 well-appointed rooms enjoying beach or tropical garden views.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Snorkelling and diving day trips to outer reef with Quick Cat Scuba Adventures (caters for certified and introductory divers and offers guided snorkelling and glass-bottom boat tours) and Calypso Dive (caters for certified and introductory divers as well as snorkellers – also offers “Lady Bowen” wreck dive) • scenic flights (“reef and islands” – offered by Cardwell Air Charter).

Destination Highlights

Resort golf course
Award-winning Spa of Peace & Plenty
National park/rainforest walks
Ulysses butterfly sightings
Huge array of water and land-based activities
Farm and facilities for horse-riding
Diving and snorkelling on nearby Great Barrier Reef

Access
Regular flights are available from all major Australian capital cities to Cairns and Townsville. Hinterland Aviation operates a connecting flight (45 minutes) between Cairns and Dunk Island three times a day. Launch transfers are available from Mission Beach, 2 hours south of Cairns. Charter flights are available to Lizard Island.

For more information
www.voyages.com.au

Voyages Bedarra Island

When you simply don’t wish to be found, when you need to escape, unwind and experience the finer things in life, there is no better place to disappear to than Voyages Bedarra Island. This is Australia’s most exclusive resort, an indulgent tropical private haven, lying off the coast between Townsville and Cairns. At Bedarra, guests can do as they wish, when they wish. And with a maximum of just 32 guests, no-one’s going to cramp your style.

Accommodation
Bedarra Island’s 16 secluded villas are hidden in the rainforest, only minutes from the beach. Superbly appointed, each has a separate living area, spacious bathroom and king-size bed. On the balcony, guests can relax and contemplate the beauty and calm of this elegant retreat.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Scheduled diving and snorkelling day trips to the Great Barrier Reef (via neighbouring Dunk Island).

Destination Highlights

Absolute privacy, indulgence and relaxation
Finest food and wine
Superbly appointed, luxurious accommodation

Access
Regular flights are available from all major Australian capital cities, with a light aircraft transfer to Dunk Island via Cairns. It is then a 20 minute launch service between Dunk Island and Bedarra Island which operates daily and meets all flights into Dunk Island.

For more information
www.voyages.com.au

Orpheus Island Resort

Imagine waking up in one of the world’s most exclusive private island destinations.

Located amidst the Great Barrier Reef and surrounded by 1,300 hectares of pristine national park, Orpheus Island is a nature lover’s paradise. Strictly limited to 42 pampered guests and with the exclusion of telephones, televisions, day-trippers or children under 15, Orpheus provides the ultimate hideaway.

The waters off the island are home to a vast array of vibrant, coloured marine life, showcasing 1,100 species of fish and 34 0 of the 35 0 known species of reef coral. On Orpheus, the magnificence of an unspoilt island and its pristine beaches, tropical rainforests and fringing reefs are a mere backdrop to an experience in tropical food, wine and privacy like no other.

Accommodation
The accommodation at Orpheus is sophisticated and inviting. Each of the 21 rooms, featuring an en-suite bathroom with personal spa, is just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Diving and snorkelling at local reefs • private charter half and full-day trips to the outer reef • dive tuition (limited) • scenic helicopter and seaplane flights.

Destination Highlights

Superb snorkelling and diving
Easy access to the largest known site of giant clams in the Southern Hemisphere
All-inclusive gourmet cuisine
Daily fish feeding
Spectacular butterfly colony
“Dining with the Tides” seafood experience
Seven pristine beaches

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities (and Cairns) to Orpheus Island via Townsville. Orpheus Island Resort operates the connecting scenic seaplane flight between Townsville and the island. Private charter flights are also available.

For more information
www.orpheus.com.au

Magnetic Island

Nestled in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – and just 8 kilometres from Queensland’s northern capital, Townsville – Magnetic is like no other island getaway. Two-thirds of this World Heritage-listed island is national park, providing a haven for abundant native wildlife, including more than 2,500 free-roaming koalas. Tropical fish thrive in the surrounding coral reefs and tranquil waters while rocky headlands frame secluded beaches, some accessible only by boat or on foot. The list of sporting and leisure activities is almost endless – as are the opportunities for shopping, wining and dining. Catering for a 2,500- strong resident population as well as holidaymakers in search of the good life, tropical style, Magnetic Island offers a wide range of services and facilities. Here is an island that welcomes all comers.

Accommodation
Magnetic Island offers more accommodation options than any other island on the Great Barrier Reef. The extensive choice of accommodation includes hotels, motels, luxury resorts, serviced selfcontained holiday units, bed and breakfasts, holiday flats and apartments, backpacker resorts, camping facilities and even holiday houses for longor short-term rental.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Fringing reef with snorkelling and diving straight off the beach • night dives • day and live-aboard trips to the outer reef and world-famous S.S. Yongala wreck • dive tuition • glass-bottom boat tours Destination

Highlights

23 secluded bays and beaches
Abundant native flora and fauna, including large population of koalas
Fishing, diving and snorkelling in a marine national park
Bareback riding along the beach at Horseshoe Bay
S.S. Yongala wreck dives
Wide range of water sports
25 -kilometre network of national park walking trails

Access
Direct flights to Townsville are available from Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney on a daily basis as well as from Melbourne three times a week. Sunferries operates up to 15 fast cat services daily (25 minutes) to Magnetic Island, departing from the Breakwater Terminal in Townsville. Riverside Marine also provides frequent services between Townsville and Magnetic Island, offering a drive-on, drive-off facility. Campervans and trailers are welcome. These depart from the Magnetic Island Passenger & Car Ferry Terminal in Ross Street, South Townsville.

For more information
www.townsvilleholidays.info

South Molle Island Resort

Cradled between the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland coast, South Molle Island rests in the heart of the spectacular Whitsunday Passage. Known as “the friendly island”, South Molle is ideal for couples or families on a budget, offering a value-for-money resort experience in an unspoilt national park setting. Palm-fringed beaches and sheltered turquoise waters are complemented by the resort’s facilities, which include a restaurant, tennis court, swimming pool and nine-hole golf course.

Accommodation
Affordable and comfortable, the units at South Molle Island Resort capture the relaxed tropical atmosphere of the island. Families are well catered for – the resort has dedicated Family Rooms as well as many units with interconnecting rooms.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Fringing reef and snorkelling straight off the beach • glass-bottom boat trips • day trips to the outer reef with Cruise Whitsundays (includes introductory and certified dives, snorkelling, glass-bottom boat and a pontoon with underwater viewing observatory and giant waterslide) • scenic helicopter flights.

Destination Highlights

24 0 hectares of national park with 16 kilometres of walking tracks
Spectacular 360o views of the Whitsundays from Mount Jeffreys
North-facing beach, perfect for water sports year round
Fully inclusive meal and activity packages
Eight pristine beaches
Excellent snorkelling

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities (some via Brisbane) to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and Hamilton Island Airport. From Proserpine Airport, guests are transferred by coach to Abel Point Marina where they board the Cruise Whitsundays launch for a short cruise to South Molle Island Resort. From Hamilton Island Airport, guests also reach South Molle via a Cruise Whitsundays vessel.

For more information
www.southmolleisland.com.au

Hayman Island

Beautifully situated in the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, Hayman is Australia’s most celebrated private island destination. The most northerly island of the Whitsundays Group, Hayman invites guests into a world of privacy, luxury, relaxation, fine wines, abundant dining and breathtaking scenery. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, this idyllic retreat has won a host of prestigious local and international awards.

Accommodation
Hayman Island presents resort living in 228 beautifully appointed rooms, suites, penthouses and a villa, all featuring private terraces or balconies and offering breathtaking views of pools, lagoons, beach, gardens or the Coral Sea.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Diving and snorkelling trips to local and outer reefs • escorted day and night dives • private charters (ranging from small speed boats to luxury cruisers) • snorkel safari trips • semi-submersible • private mooring at Bait Reef dive site • sea-kayaking • helicopter and seaplane scenic flights • day cruise (with Cruise Whitsundays) to Knuckle Reef Lagoon pontoon (facility includes underwater viewing chamber, semi-submersible, glass-bottom boat, snorkelling, diving and Seawalker helmet diving) • Reefworld fly/cruise charter (Reefworld, the largest offshore facility on the Great Barrier Reef, includes underwater viewing chamber, semi-submersible, P.A.D.I. introductory and certified dives, plus guided snorkelling tours with a resident marine biologist).

Destination Highlights

Hayman Pool – seven times Olympic size
Beach Villa – one-of-a-kind accommodation
Fishing, diving, snorkelling, cruising and sailing
Fine food and wine; international and Australian cuisine
Beautifully manicured gardens
The Hayman Collection of contemporary Australian art
Award-winning Spa Chakra Hayman

Access
Regular flights are available from most Australian capital cities to Hayman Island via the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island. Flights connect with Hayman’s luxury launches, seaplanes or helicopters. Alternative access is available via Proserpine Airport, or via boat service from Shute Harbour. Launch or boat transfer time is 55 minutes and seaplane or helicopter is 15 minutes.

For more information
www.hayman.com.au

Daydream Island Resort and Spa

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is a small but dynamic resort located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Nestled among the Whitsunday Islands, it offers affordable luxury for couples and families alike. Its natural attributes – secluded beaches, azure waters and stunning rainforest – are complimented by a diverse range of fun-filled holiday activities, magical dining experiences and contemporary facilities, including a world-class rejuvenation day spa.

Accommodation
Daydream Island Resort and Spa offers a range of 4.5-star accommodation styles to suit family vacations, romantic Whitsunday Island honeymoons, conferences and events. Each of its 29 6 rooms and suites is luxuriously appointed with modern amenities, and framed by views of secluded beaches or rainforest

Great Barrier Reef Access
Private fringing reef and snorkelling straight off the beach • diving • dive tuition • day tours • heli flights

Destination Highlights

Private fringing coral reef
World’s largest lagoon-style aquarium
Fishing, diving and snorkelling in marine national park
Fine food and wine
World-class Rejuvenation Day Spa
Open-air cinema
Australian wildlife

Access
Regular flights are available from most Australian capital cities to Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island) and Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine). Fantasea Cruises and Cruise Whitsundays provide regular transfers from Hamilton Island (35 minutes), Abel Point Marina (20 minutes) and Shute Harbour (15 minutes) to Daydream Island. Shute Harbour is located approx 10 kilometres from Airlie Beach.

For more information
www.daydreamisland.com

Hamilton Island Resort

Perfectly situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, nestled among the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers an experience like no other: glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, awe-inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna, fine food and wines, and activities almost too numerous to mention. With a wide range of restaurants, bars, takeaways, boutiques and shops plus a commercial marina, sports complex and chapel (Could there be a more perfect place to say “I do”?) – not to mention 20 kilometres of bushwalking trails – Hamilton has it all. Whether you’re looking for action, relaxation, romance or a fun family getaway, it’s all here in abundance, with new experiences and adventures waiting around every corner.

Accommodation
Hamilton Island offers a variety of accommodation, ranging from 3-star island-style garden bungalows, extremely spacious 4-star hotel rooms, luxurious 5-star waterfront rooms and a wide range of 3- to 5-star self-catering properties spread throughout the island.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Fringing reef and snorkelling straight off the beach • day cruise to Reefworld (the largest offshore facility on the Great Barrier Reef includes underwater viewing chamber, semi-submersible coral viewer, P.A.D.I. introductory and certified dives, plus guided snorkelling tours with a resident marine biologist) • reef-sleeps and nocturnal viewing • full- and half-day luxury boat reef trips • night and day glass-bottomed boat trips of fringing reef • private charter boats • helicopter and seaplane scenic flights.

Destination Highlights

Whitehaven Beach
Five-course degustation lunch at the award-winning Beach House
Scenic flight over Heart Reef
Diving, snorkelling, glass-bottom boat tours of Hardy Reef
Koala gallery wildlife experience and educational tour

Access
Regular direct flights to Hamilton Island are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, with connections from other Australian capital cities.

For more information
www.hamiltonisland.com.au

Qualia

An exclusive world-class luxury resort, Qualia is nestled into the secluded, northern tip of Hamilton Island, surrounded by the unsurpassed beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. With its own definitive style of understated elegance and quality, and mesmerising calmness, Qualia is a place of rare natural beauty. Complementing the established attractions of greater Hamilton Island, this new Whitsundays resort offers outstanding facilities – including a state-of-the-art gym and yoga centre right on the water’s edge, two infinity pools and a luxury spa – along with uncompromising five-star service. Qualia, a Latin-derived name meaning “a collection of sensory experiences”, delivers on its promise.

Accommodation
Qualia features 60 elegant and private one-bedroom pavilions accessible only to the resort’s guests with interiors including purpose-built hand-crafted furniture by renowned designers Freedman Rembel. Each pavilion has been carefully designed by Australian architect Chris Beckingham to blend into the natural environment, giving the resort an unusual sense of space and harmony.

Destination Highlights

Easy access with direct flights from most major cities
Great Barrier Reef destination, plus over 40 activities
Closest island with access to world-famous Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef

Access
Regular direct flights to Hamilton Island are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, with connections from other Australian capital cities.

For more information
www.qualiaresort.com.au

Peppers Palm Bay, Long Island

Nestled amid swaying palms fringing a secluded private beach, Peppers Palm Bay on Long Island is an intimate tropical retreat rimmed by soft white sand and the turquoise waters of Australia’s beautiful Whitsundays. The ideal getaway for a romantic escape or honeymoon (there are no televisions or telephones to disturb the soul-restoring peace), Peppers Palm Bay is also a perfect base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and nearby islands.

Accommodation
At Peppers Palm Bay Whitsundays, boutique accommodation is offered in 21 deluxe, freestanding bungalows, bures and cabins, most leading directly onto the sandy beach. From the hammock on your private balcony, you’ll have views across the waters of the Great Barrier Reef to other distant Whitsunday Islands. There are no televisions or telephones in any of the guest rooms, leaving you with no other option but to relax, rest up and indulge in the ambience of the lazy tropical Queensland lifestyle.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Full or part-day excursions to the Great Barrier Reef (diving or snorkelling) • private charters (launch, yacht) • scenic seaplane and helicopter flights

Destination Highlights

Long Island – native wildlife, bird watching, 14 kilometres of walking trails, secluded beaches and bay
Great Barrier Reef – snorkel, fish, swim, scuba diving, sailing
Endota Day Spa
Fine food and wine

Access
Regular flights are available from major Australian capital cities to Peppers Palm Bay on Long Island via Hamilton Island or Proserpine. Fly into the Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island) and transfer by helicopter or seaplane direct to Peppers Palm Bay. Or take the Fantasea Ferry to Shute Harbour (approx. 40 minutes) then transfer to Peppers via the property’s own luxury vessel, Jetstream, which operates five times a day. Alternatively, fly into the Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) and transfer by helicopter or seaplane direct to Peppers Palm Bay. Or take a bus, taxi, or luxury limousine to Shute Harbour then transfer to Peppers via the Jetstream.

For more information
www.peppers.com.au/palm-bay

Long Island Resort, Long Island

Hammocks swinging under palm trees, golden sandy beaches, gentle waves lapping at the shore and 1,012 hectares of tropical rainforest to explore: welcome to Long Island Resort. Nestled in the glorious Whitsundays, in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, Long Island Resort has all the facilities you’d expect from an award-winning three-and-ahalf- star resort – including a day spa, 25-metre lap pool and two flood-lit tennis courts – plus a host of activities and entertainment for all ages. It’s little wonder that the resort is a favourite for couples, honeymooners, families and friends looking for an idyllic value-for-money island escape.

Accommodation
With 160 rooms, Long Island Resort provides relaxed and comfortable accommodation in a tropical island setting. The resort aims to provide privacy and the highest level of service while ensuring an intimate getaway experience for all.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Snorkelling on fringing reef • daily excursions to the outer reef (diving or snorkelling) • scenic helicopter flights

Access
Direct flights are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns to Long Island Resort via Hamilton Island or Proserpine. From the Great Barrier Reef Airport (Hamilton Island), Fantasea Cruises meet flights for a transfer to Long Island Resort. From Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine), regular Whitsunday Transit Coaches meet all flights for a 30-minute transfer to Shute Harbour where Fantasea Cruises Blue Ferries provide a regular 15-minute service to Long Island Resort.

For more information
www.clubcroc.com.au/longisland

Voyages Brampton Island

From the emerald greens of the island’s national park to the azure blues of the surrounding waters and its 12 golden beaches, Brampton’s style is vibrant and easy-going. It’s hard not to be captivated by the beauty of this classic Queensland island, lying at the southern entrance to the world-renowned Whitsunday Passage off Mackay. Brampton is big on fun and activity – and with so much included, it’s a perfect haven for couples in search of a romantic hideaway with all the trimmings. (Plus there are no day-trippers to interrupt the peace and solitude!)

Accommodation
Brampton Island offers four grades of accommodation with views of either tropical gardens or the beach and ocean. All 108 rooms are well-appointed with private bathrooms, as well as a patio or verandah.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Fringing reef and snorkelling straight off the beach • diving • snorkelling safaris and cruises • private charters • Reefworld Adventure day trip (scenic flight to Hamilton Island/launch to Reefworld, the largest offshore facility on the Great Barrier Reef includes underwater viewing chamber, semi-submersible coral viewer, P.A.D.I. introductory and certified dives, plus guided snorkelling tours with a resident marine biologist).

Destination Highlights

National park, beautiful beaches, snorkelling
Unique tours: Melaleuca Forest Walk, “Walking on Water” sea kayaking experience, sunset cruises
The Sea Spa
Special dining experiences: “Sea Salt”, Private dinner cruises
Small resort without the crowds

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Mackay. Australian Helicopters operates daily connecting flights to the island from Mackay Airport. A launch also runs from Mackay Marina to Brampton Island daily.

For more information
www.voyages.com.au

Great Keppel Island

Fringed by 28 kilometres of stunning beaches and bays, Great Keppel Island is a fun-loving resort for couples, families and travellers of all ages. Located slightly north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the island enjoys an ideal sub-tropical climate and near-constant sea breezes which, combined with the crystal-blue clarity of its waters and the beauty of its fringing coral reefs, creates a holiday escape unique to the region. The resort will undergo multi-million dollar refurbishment in late 2007 repositioning the product as one of the most exclusive Queensland Island destinations.

Accommodation
Upgrade of the accommodation are part of the multi-million dollar refurbishments. Great Barrier Reef Access Snorkelling on fringing reef • daily excursions to the outer reef (diving or snorkelling) • scenic helicopter flights

Destination Highlights

17 white-sand beaches
Wide variety of sporting and leisure activities
Snorkelling and diving
Camel rides along the beach
Boom-net cruises
Abundant native flora and fauna – more than 100 species of birds

Access
Regular flights into Rockhampton Airport are available from all major ports (some via Brisbane). From Rockhampton Airport, guests can fly to Great Keppel Island (approx. 20 minutes by light aircraft), or travel by coach to Rosslyn Bay near Yeppoon, a distance of 55 km, and embark on a high-speed launch for the 30-minute trip to the island.

For more information
www.greatkeppelresort.com.au

Voyages Heron Island

Voyages Heron Island is a true coral cay, located right on the Great Barrier Reef. A place of stunning natural beauty, it has sugar-white sands, crystal clear waters and acres of brilliant coral with colourful marine life. At this World Heritage-listed marine national park, all flora and fauna is protected, so the island is a nature lover’s paradise, where the emphasis is on enjoying natural beauty. Stress is replaced by a sense of adventure, and your days are filled with discovery.

Accommodation
Heron Island has 109 rooms in a range of accommodation styles.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Coray cay with snorkelling straight off the beach • guided reef walks • semi-submersible coral viewing cruises with commentary by reef interpreter • diving• diving charters • night dives • adventure dives • P.A.D.I. dive courses • scenic helicopter flights

Destination Highlights

Great Barrier Reef location – true coral cay
Abundant and spectacular coral gardens, birdlife, turtles, fish and marine life
World-class diving
Aqua Soul Spa
Whale watching (September)
Scenic helicopter flights

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone. Australian Helicopters depart Gladstone Airport for Heron daily during daylight hours. A launch service departs Gladstone Marina for the island once a day.

For more information
www.voyages.com.au

Voyages Wilson Island

Voyages Wilson Island is a tiny coral cay located just 40 minutes from Heron Island. A divine sweep of castor-sugar sands that is home to turtles and birds, Wilson is both part of the Great Barrier Reef, and surrounded by it. Its pristine waters are host to an unimaginable variety of marine life, including colourful coral and fish, with some of the best snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, just off the beach. Those who are drawn to the Wilson Island experience will see the pristine nature of the island, its seclusion and freedom from modern-day living as part of its appeal. The island provides a maximum of just 12 guests with access to the magnificent reef and beach environments, including rare turtle and bird breeding grounds.

Accommodation
Wilson Island offers designer-inspired tented accommodation, with six permanent tent sites – all with reef and ocean outlooks – combining simplicity of design with luxurious comfort. Interiors feature natural materials and a modern beachcombing theme and include raised timber floors, king size bed, comfortable deck chairs and hammocks and complete insect screening. Solar power allows for hot showers and other creature comforts to be enjoyed in the central amenities building. Each tent has its own designated private shower and dressing area in the Washhouse. Toilets and vanities are also located in this building.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Coral cay • snorkelling straight off the beach • half-day diving charters are available on board the MV Wahoo, a custom-built 9-metre mono-hull vessel providing a perfect platform for dive expeditions (advance booking is required).

Destination Highlights

World-class snorkelling directly off the beach
Nature and ecology: Watching green and loggerhead turtles laying their eggs or their baby hatchlings emerging from their nests (in season – November to May); whale sightings (June–October)
Fine food and wine
Luxury camping
“Castaway” experience with all the creature comforts

Access
Access to Wilson Island is via Heron Island. Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone. Australian Helicopters depart Gladstone Airport for Heron daily during daylight hours. A launch service departs Gladstone Marina for the island once a day. Wilson Island is a 40-minute boat ride from Heron Island.

For more information
www.voyages.com.au

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

The southernmost of the Great Barrier Reef Islands, Lady Elliot is a true coral cay and one of the premier eco-tourism experiences in Australia. Situated in a tidal lagoon and surrounded by a vast reef of living corals, the island is a rainbow of colours, from the surrounding turquoise and azure waters to the stunning white-sand beaches and lush green vegetation. A declared “Marine National Park Zone”, Lady Elliot is one of the few islands where you will see live coral and abundant bird and marine life at every level. Popular with visitors of all ages, it’s little wonder Lady Elliot is renowned as a nature lover’s nirvana.

Accommodation
Lady Elliot Eco Resort offers a range of comfortable accommodation options, with each suite, unit, room and hut designed to minimise impact on the island while enriching guests’ experience of the seasonal wildlife.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Coral cay • snorkelling and diving straight off the beach or via a short boat ride to variety of reef sites • night dives • reef walks • introductory, open water and advanced dive courses • glass-bottom boat tours

Destination Highlights

World-class snorkelling and diving (visibility is over 30 metres for much of the year)
Renowned Severence Wreck dive
Nature and ecology: in season, watching green and loggerhead turtles laying their eggs or their baby hatchlings emerging from their nests, plus humpback whale encounters
Beachcombing and other guided eco tours
Resident population of 40 giant manta rays

Access
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is accessible by seaplane. Flights are available from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Bundaburg and Gladstone. Flights can be taken as a day tour or as part of your accommodation package. There are connections to all these ports via Brisbane.

For more information
www.ladyelliot.com.au

Lady Musgrave Island

A true coral cay, Lady Musgrave rests on the edge of a coral-fringed lagoon measuring 8 kilometres in circumference. This aquatic playground boasts a huge variety of colourful marine life, while the cay itself – cloaked in dense pisonia forest and fringed with sheoaks and pandanus palms – is home to rare turtles and birds. In this World Heritage-listed marine national park, nature prevails. A variety of commercial launches cater for day-trip visitors, but for those seeking the ultimate “castaway” experience, the island offers bush camping for a maximum of just 40 people at any one time. The only facilities are composting toilets, a compressor bunker, and an emergency radio tower; the only duty, to relax and enjoy back-to-basics natural beauty.

Accommodation
Lady Musgrave Island offers wilderness-style camping for a maximum of 40 people at any one time. Only the most basic facilities – composting toilets, an information shelter, emergency radio, navigation tower, fuel storage and compressor bunker – are provided. The island has no water and campers must be self-sufficient during their stay. Camping is by permit only (available from the Environmental Protection Agency/ Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service website) and bookings can be made up to 11 months in advance.

Great Barrier Reef Access
Coral cay • snorkelling straight off the beach • diving • glass-bottom boat • semi-submersible • pontoon

Destination Highlights

Virgin coral cay
Nature and ecology – turtles and manta rays all year round
World-class diving, snorkelling and fishing in marine national park
Unique, navigable lagoon
Bush camping – true “castaway” experience

Access
Lady Musgrave Island is accessible only by private vessel or via Lady Musgrave Barrier Reef Cruises with the closest departure points being Bundaberg, Gladstone and the Town of 177 0. Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone and Bundaberg (via Brisbane).

For more information
www.lmcruises.com.au

Poruma Island

Poruma Island may appear like a pinprick on a map – it’s just two kilometres long – but its reputation as an exclusive hideaway is no small thing. This remote coral cay is located at the extreme northern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, in the Torres Strait, between mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea. Home to 180 saltwater people, Poruma combines luxury “huts”, a tropical island escape and water sports with island culture. The thatched guest suites cleverly combine the original island style with modern comforts, to stunning effect. Each openplan beach suite includes a master bedroom that leads, via a plunge pool and bath garden, to your lounge room on the edge of the beach. From here, the sunset views to the west are spectacular. Guests can swim in front of their suite at any tide and there are corals and marine life just off the sandy beach. Snorkelling from any of the island beaches reveals a world of coral, tropical fish, giant clams, rays, sea turtles and dugongs.

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capitals to Cairns. From Cairns, guests transfer to Poruma Island via a private charter plane.

For more information
www.poruma.com

Haggerstone Island

Haggerstone Island is an exclusive and unique wilderness retreat. Located at the remote northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, this privately owned island is adjacent to the uninhabited Cape York coastline. Guests have a choice of daily adventures, from swimming among pristine coral reefs, snorkelling, fishing aboard the 40-foot jet boat Jo Jo III, exploring uninhabited islands and mainland beach, bays and rivers – or doing nothing at all. All daily excursions involve catching seafood for the superb lunches and evening meals, which feature the freshest ingredients from the island gardens. There are four individual handcrafted “houses”, ranging in style from the Robinson Crusoe Beach House to the Tree House built amid the forest canopy. Each is uniquely decorated with local artefacts, shells and driftwood, and a wooden deck provides views to the ocean.

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capitals to Cairns.
From Cairns, guests transfer to Hicks Island via a private charter plane
(approx. 2 hours). From Hicks Island, guests transfer to Haggerstone
Island via boat (approx. 20 minutes).

For more information
www.haggerstoneisland.com

Double Island

Resting just off the coast of Palm Cove in Tropical North Queensland, Double Island is an exclusive island getaway. Privately owned and operated, the island can only be hired on a whole-of-island basis. Enjoy the idyllic location close to the Great Barrier Reef and the tranquilly of this tropical paradise. Gather a group of friends together or indulge in a romantic holiday with your loved one – it’s all possible here. From the private apartments to the Hideaway Honeymoon suite, Double Island’s luxury accommodation offers privacy, luxury and tropical paradise opulence. All of the island’s facilities and activities are included in the base rental fee, with a key feature being the magnificent heated 25 -metre pool and outdoor spa.

Access
Daily flights into Cairns. Transfers to Double Island can be arranged at time of booking.

For more information
www.doubleisland.com.au

Hinchinbrook Island

When a place is perfect, sometimes it’s best not to touch it. So it is that Hinchinbrook Island is Australia’s largest island national park, where vast tracts of tropical rainforest, rugged mountains and glorious beaches remain in pristine condition. Located just a short ferry ride from the mainland, and surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook is the perfect place to restore body, mind and spirit. The award-winning Wilderness Lodge is the island’s only settlement, offering splendid isolation in spacious crafted timber “tree houses” that are accessed by a meandering timber boardwalk. This eco-lodge makes a great base from which to explore the many activities on offer on the island, such as bushwalking, fishing, snorkelling, swimming, day cruises, bird watching or just laying around and soaking it all in. The more rugged traveller can opt to explore the island’s diversely beautiful wilderness areas on foot, following well-signposted trails, and staying in campsites along the way. Either way, visitors to Hinchinbrook are assured of a wilderness experience they will never forget.

Access
Regular flights are available from all Australian capitals to Townsville and Cairns. *Transfers need to be arranged to Cardwell, where ferries regularly depart to the island (approx. 50 minutes). Unscheduled ferry services are available on request – minimum two adult passengers. * Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Lodge will arrange for all guest transfers to and from either Cairns or Townsville airports to the island.

For more information
www.hinchinbrooklodge.com.au

Lindeman Island

A giant playground for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, and the adventurous holiday seeker – this sprawling fun filled destination is mostly a national park, with seven stunning beaches and more than 16 kilometres of bushwalking tracks. It is also home to Australia’s first, and only, Club Med Resort, which offers a multitude of all-inclusive activities. Lindeman island combines natural beauty with sophistication and style for a truly memorable holiday experience. Club Med Lindeman Island, a three storey, palm tree filled resort, offers a total of 218 well-appointed rooms, set amphitheatre-style around the main bay, meaning every room shares in the stunning views across the Whitsunday Passage.

Access
Regular direct flights to Hamilton Island are available from
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. From Hamilton, guests transfer
to Lindeman Island via a 40 minute ferry ride.

For more information
www.clubmed.com.au

Keswick Island

Quiet, peaceful and secluded, Keswick Island is a lush tropical paradise – and Australia’s newest community island. The southernmost of the Whitsunday Islands, and still undergoing development, Keswick is currently home to a small number of private residents and visitors, who stay at either the secluded Keswick Island Guesthouse or the selfcatering Keswick Island Casa Linda. A designated national park with five pristine white-sand beaches and fringing coral reefs, Keswick offers an abundance of outdoor activities such as swimming, snorkelling, diving, fishing, beachcombing and bushwalking. Narrow walking tracks in the national park wind through pockets of tropical rainforest to deserted beaches, offering superb island and water views along the way. Day trips are available to neighbouring islands such as Saint Bees, which is home to a healthy koala colony. Divers can enjoy not only the superb coral gardens right off the beach, but three wreck sites accessible via a short boat ride.

Access
Access to Keswick Island is via Mackay with transfers arranged at the time of booking.

For more information
www.keswickislandguesthouse.com.au