Heron Island is situated on the Tropic of Capricorn, the most southern inhabited coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef, and part of the Capricornia Group. The island is on the western end of Heron Reef and is only 800 metres long by 300 metres wide, giving it an area of 16.8 hectares. Approximately 70 kilometres off the coast from Gladstone, Queensland, the island can be reached by boat in two hours, or by a spectacular helicopter ride in thirty minutes. The coral reef is easily accessible for the viewing of one of the richest marine environments on earth with 900 species of reef fish (out of 1500 known species) and 72% of coral species found on the reef. There are 20 different diving sites on the reef, and most are only 15 minutes from the beach. The island is rated as one of the best diving locations in the world. The reef grows right up to the beaches and can be easily seen by anybody with a snorkel, or can be enjoyed by a guided walk when the tide in low. Remember to take your reef shoes!! Just swimming within the lagoon area you can see a variety of fish and rays, very exciting!!
Established in 1950, the island maintains a permanent marine research station operated by the University of Queensland. This research facility has become one of the world’s leading coral reef research stations, and has world class teaching facilities for marine science. The visitor can take a very interesting guided tour around this facility, and handle some of the reef wildlife.
The island is a major natural habitat for many varieties of birds. The name of the island comes from the large number of Herons on the island, both Reef and White, there are also Buff Banded Rails, and thousands of White Capped Noddy Terns. The Terns nest throughout the island, and live happily around the resort areas, remember since the island is a National Park, the birds have priority. Wedgetailed Shearwaters (mutton birds) also nest on the island, and can be seen cleaning their burrows prior to nesting. The island is covered in she oaks, octopus bush, pandanus and dense pisonia forests, which supplies abundant nesting for the terns.
The island is also a major breeding ground for Green and Loggerhead turtles, and these can be seen easily during egg laying season, and at hatching. The whole island is surrounded by white coral sand which gives the turtles a large breeding area. Turtles can be seen mating from September, nesting and egg laying starts November, hatchlings start December. This continues until March, which is the end of the nesting season, and May is the last month for hatchlings.
Heron Island is also a good location for whale watching as the whales use the channel between the island and Wistari reef, which is to the south west of the island. Humpback Whales pass the island during their migratory journey north from June to September, and on their journey south to the Antarctic with their calves from October. The research station staff suggest that the best sightings occur in July and August.
The island originally was used as a resort as a lease was given to Captain Christian Poulson, in 1932. The current wooden marine landing station is accessible through a channel blown through the reef by the Poulsons. In 1943 the island was declared a National Park, and in 1950 the marine research station was built. The resort has been fully refurbished in the mid 1990’s and offers a wide range of services.
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