Turtle Conservation of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Heron and Wilson Islands

Board the purpose-built Heron Islander catamaran for the two-hour journey across crystal waters to Heron Island. Meet your guide Susy on the jetty and settle into your island accommodation surrounded by Pisonia forest. After a welcome briefing and lunch, embark on an introductory island walk through dense coastal forest toward Shark Bay, learning about this vegetated coral cay’s formation, the environmental factors shaping its ecosystems, and the thousands of nesting seabirds that call it home during breeding season.

Begin with a comprehensive CoralWatch presentation, learning to use the Coral Health Chart — a simple yet scientifically rigorous tool for monitoring coral bleaching. Practice your skills during a guided reef walk at low tide, where Susy reveals the intricate adaptations of reef creatures, symbiotic relationships between species, and threats facing coral ecosystems today. Collect data for the global CoralWatch database. Later, learn about the biology and nesting behaviours of green and loggerhead turtles before joining an evening turtle-nesting walk along moonlit beaches, observing these ancient mariners as they laboriously dig nests and lay their eggs.

Snorkel from a boat over the spectacular Heron and Wistari Reefs, drifting over coral gardens alive with colourful fish, rays, and turtles. Back on shore, enjoy your exclusive private tour of the University of Queensland Research Station led by Station Manager Dr. Stuart Kininmonth. Explore active experiments, visit the marine touch tank, and learn about groundbreaking research into coral resilience, fish behaviour, and ecosystem monitoring. Enter your collected CoralWatch data into the global database, then walk to Shark Bay to witness moonrise over the reef. The evening may include another turtle nesting walk or time for stargazing from your accommodation.

Transfer by boat to Wilson Island, landing knee-deep on a pristine coral beach. Wilson Island represents the ultimate castaway experience. Settle into your luxury tent with ocean views, then explore at your own pace. Snorkel directly from the beach over vibrant coral, paddle a kayak through turquoise lagoons, or simply relax in a hammock. As evening falls, gather for sunset beach cocktails before a shared dinner under the stars at the longhouse, surrounded only by the sound of waves and nesting shearwaters.

Rise before dawn for a sunrise turtle nesting walk — Wilson’s isolation means turtles often nest in the morning rather than at night. Afterwards, snorkel to the massive Wilson Bommie, a five-metre-tall coral formation growing at roughly one centimetre per year, making it centuries old and teeming with marine life. Spend the day as you wish: kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling pristine reefs, exploring the island’s bird colonies, or reading in the shade. Join a guided bird walk learning about the four categories of species that visit Wilson — breeding populations, visitors, migratory shorebirds, and residents. As many as 200,000 birds nest on these islands at peak season. Evening brings sunset cocktails, dinner, and a marine trivia night testing everything you’ve learned.

Enjoy one final sunrise turtle walk and beach snorkel before packing up. Boat transfer returns you to Heron Island, where you have time to browse the gift shop and enjoy a packed lunch before the afternoon ferry back to Gladstone. The journey concludes upon arrival at the mainland, carrying with you memories of ancient turtles, thriving coral reefs, and the profound privilege of experiencing two of the Great Barrier Reef’s most protected sanctuaries.