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 Snorkeling on the northern beach, I discovered small spotted sharks and bull-rays patroling the glass-clear waters. They were everywhere!
There is plenty to do after a day of diving such as a very interesting guided reef walks to develop your appreciation and understanding of the precious coral cay island and the incredible reef environment of Heron.
Or participate in an interpretive island guided walk or bird watching walk. Visit the Heron Island Research station who do daily marine presentations with reef creature slide shows and workshops. If that's not enough there's tennis, a spa and lots of star gazing. The place is so serene you'll have a hard time adjusting back to real life.
Most importantly I think is that being on Heron Island makes you feel engulfed in an intensive marine biology course of the Great Barrier Reef. The marine biologists at the Marine Center do an excellent job. You come away with a much better appreciation of this fragile ecosystem. Great for kids too that are interested in marine life.
 
Heron Island Resort is part of the Voyages group of resorts around Australia.
Accommodation is in simple but comfortable bungalows or choose one of the more upscale and well appointed suites, only a stone's throw from the beach. Especially the upstairs units have big balconies with amazing views of the reef.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the daily rate, and are served in the Shearwater Restaurant. The kitchen offers good, modern Australian cuisine with a buffet style breakfast and lunch. Dinner is a choice of three set menus with which you can sample one (or more!) of the excellent Australian wines. Service is personal and the staff quite funny. You get the impression they're happy to be on this paradise island. Dinner bookings are essential. On Saturdays there is a seafood buffet and in the summer they hold BBQ dinners outdoors. Overal the food is tasty except for the desserts. You might want to consider taking additional snacks with you to the island for in between dive hunger pangs etc.
Many divers are surprised to learn of the need for a full 3 to 5mm wetsuits, especially during winter. I really liked my 7mm and hood. Even though Heron Reef lies across the Tropic of Capricorn, water temperatures range between 19°C in July to 26°C in January.
 On average:
Winter - 20-22 degrees celcius (68-70 degrees Fahrenheit).
Summer - 25-27 degrees celcisus (77-80 degrees Fahrenheit).
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone on the mainland with Qantas. Gladstone is an hour and 20 minute flight from Brisbane. The boat transfer service departs Gladstone Marina at 11.00am daily, final check-in time is 10.30am if not arriving off a flight at the airport. The courtesy transfer to the Marina leaves the airport daily at 10.15am, after the arrival of the early morning flights into Gladstone. The coach arrives at the Marina 10-15 minutes later. The boat transfer arrives at Heron island at approximately 2.00pm Heron Island time. Buffet lunch is served upon arrival at Heron Island. Departure: The boat transfer departs Heron Island at approximately 2.00pm Island time or 1.00pm EST. Arrival time into Gladstone is approximately 3.45pm EST and a courtesy transfer is available for immediate transfer to the airport.
Flights arriving into Gladstone to meet the boat transfer must arrive no later than 10.00am. Flights departing Gladstone must depart no earlier than 4.20pm. Bookings can be made through Voyages.
To add an even greater touch to this already amazing amazing trip; splurge on the islands's helicopter transfer from and to Gladstone and enjoy great views of the Great Barrier Reef while glimpsing turtles swimming in the crystalline waters below. The pilot will explain what you see along the way and it is an unforgettable experience!
Please note that Heron Island operates one hour ahead of Queensland time all year round. This dates back to WWII when all eastern states introduced daylight saving. At the end of the war all states reverted back but at Heron Island it simply was and is too good to have more daylight to enjoy this island paradise that they kept things as they were.
 
Heron Island
Voyages
Great Barrier Reef Visitors Bureau
Destination Australia
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