WILSON ISLAND, GLADSTONE EDITION 3, 2020

QUEENSLAND ISLANDS

Queensland’s more than 900 islands offer a magical holiday destination, packed with culture, adventure and an idyllic escape from the everyday.

Perfect for an outdoor adventure holiday, relaxing tropical break, family vacation or romantic getaway, embrace the stunning weather and explore our islands’ untouched natural beauty The Whitsundays and surrounds. Mackay Boasting incredible attractions, sun-soaked scenery and fascinating wildlife tours against a backdrop of pristine beaches and nature, Capricorn there’s a Queensland island to suit every type of traveller. Outback Queensland Gladstone We have created this Queensland Island experience guide Bundaberg containing product suggestions, itineraries and resources to Fraser Coast improve your destination and experience knowledge and help you Sunshine Coast Southern Queensland to create the trip of a lifetime for your clients. Country Coast For more trade resources, refer to the Queensland Good to Go Trade factsheet here.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Journey from the coast of the Tropical North Green Island Queensland region and you’ll be greeted by a Green Island is a coral a 45-minute boat ride or quick collection of idyllic islands waiting to be explored. helicopter transfer from Cairns that boasts unspoilt rainforest, Surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Great incredible scenery and surrounding reef so close you can snorkel Barrier Reef, these incredible spots overflow directly off the beach. Green Island is perfect for day-trippers from Cairns or stay longer at the luxurious Green Island Resort. With with surreally beautiful nature, family-friendly just 46 air-conditioned suites, guests can indulge in rejuvenating attractions, romantic escapes, and opportunities massage treatments, a gourmet picnic hamper on the beach or to make memories that will last for life. revel in snorkelling and scuba diving the magnificent Great Barrier Reef just a few steps away.

Haggerstone Island Haggerstone Island is a remote, all-inclusive boutique resort island situated 600km north of Cairns. Guests can enjoy barefoot luxury while experiencing the activities and adventures that make the island unique. Included in the accommodation cost are fishing, snorkelling, spearfishing, beachcombing, gourmet meals and daily ocean safaris, with each day tailored to guest’s wishes. The island is exclusively available for up to 12 guests.

Fitzroy Island Just 45 minutes by Fitzroy Flyer from Cairns, Fitzroy Island is a national park island, home to Fitzroy Island Resort. Almost completely surrounded by , it’s a snorkel-lover’s paradise, and its most popular spot is Nudey Beach, around one kilometre from the resort. The resort offers affordable 4.5 Bedarra is one of ’s most exclusive islands, boasting star accommodation, from suites and studios to cabins and a resort designed to blend in with the beauty of the natural apartments. The island’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre allows visitors surroundings and accommodating a maximum of 20 to help care for turtles before they are returned to the ocean. guests at a time. When it comes to relaxing in glorious seclusion, Bedarra Island is the perfect retreat. This private island provides many leisure activities that take advantage of the natural setting and is perfectly positioned close to the Great Barrier Reef. Located off the coast between Cairns and Townsville, Bedarra is usually accessed by helicopter from Mission Beach or Cairns Airport.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Learn to dive Many visitors choose diving as an immersive and memorable way to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Warm, clear waters, very little current, and an abundance of marine life make Queensland the perfect place for this underwater activity. Glide among rays, dive through schools of colourful reef fish, and come face to face with a gentle turtle with only the sound of your breath and the swell of the ocean in your ears. This guide helps guests choose where and how to get their PADI dive qualification.

Local’s guide to the Islands Bid goodbye to the in Cape York and head north towards , where en route you’ll greet a cluster of islands called the Torres Strait. Largely untouched, this collection of islands overflows with as much cultural significance as it does natural beauty.

Where to find Queensland’s Great Eight The Great Eight is Queensland’s underwater answer to an African safari’s Big Five. It’s not only a checklist of the reef’s most iconic marine creatures, but a great way to ensure you see all manner of other wonderful fish, coral and sea life along the way.

Lizard Island Resort Due to reopen 14 December 2020 If you looked up ‘luxury island’ in the dictionary, it’s as if you would find (AKA one of National Geographic‘s Unique Lodges of the World). As one of the most northernmost island resorts on the Great Barrier Reef. Accessed exclusively by private charter from Cairns, you’ve got one of the seven natural wonders of the world right at your doorstep and 24 powdery-white beaches. With only one resort on the island hosting 40 rooms, it’s the tranquillity and natural beauty of the island that will first greet you.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS Townsville

Townsville is Australia’s largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, and located off shore are more Great Barrier Reef Islands to explore. Grab a snorkel and explore the kaleidoscopic Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville, Magnetic Island has everything a visitor would want from an island getaway, with all colours of the Reef, alongside the bounty of accessibility needs covered. The island is home to more than national park reserves, hidden beaches, and palm 2,500 residents with its own postcode, a thriving Townsville trees that call these islands home. suburb. This handy convenience factor makes it the perfect spot for spontaneous weekend getaways or a cheeky mid-week sojourn, where guests are greeted by Magnetic Island’s natural unspoilt beauty and 23 golden beaches. From watersports to wildlife, including a resident population of koalas, Magnetic Island offers a magnificent Queensland island experience.

Orpheus Island Uncover a secluded Great Barrier Reef oasis that offers immaculate coastlines and a tranquil tropical escape at Orpheus Island. Located just off the coast of Ingham in North Queensland, Orpheus Island is renowned for its seclusion, beauty and spectacular fringing reefs. With luxurious accommodation options and access via helicopter or private charter, guests are transported to tropical indulgence complete with gourmet dining in some of the most spectacular settings imaginable. Relax in comfort, or let the staff arrange a full day of activities, such as the exclusive tour to the Museum of Underwater Art, spa treatments, or a visit to Orpheus Island Research Station.

Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island has garnered a reputation for its walking trails and is home to one of the world’s best. The The best luxury islands in Queensland most recognised is one of the Great Walks of Australia, you need to visit the Thorsborne Trail, which runs a 32-kilometre stretch through varying from milky pine to palm figs. Hinchinbrook is In Queensland, it’s a case of paradise lost not to visit our luxury uninhabited and no accommodation is provided – just pitch islands. And with so many to choose from, it can be hard to know your own tent along the trail. The walk is rated as one of the which one (or two) to visit. Whether you want to wake up in a villa top ten walks on the planet and offers iconic visuals of what on the Great Barrier Reef or a billionaire’s home, we’ve saved you a makes Hinchinbrook Island so special – vast tropical lands, spot on the sand at the best luxury islands in Queensland. mountains shrouded in mist, thick rainforests, waterfalls and the east coast’s white sandy beaches.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS The Whitsundays

The reside in the very Hamilton Island centre of the Great Barrier Reef. Get up close Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in The Whitsundays and personal with this natural wonder, flippers region, easily accessible by direct flights to the island’s airport or in hand, snorkelling and diving the coral-laden by boat transfer from Airlie Beach. From Reef View Hotel to Beach stretch, or avoid getting wet altogether, taking Club to qualia, the island offers a range of accommodation styles a seaplane to catch a glimpse of the natural to suit budgets and traveller types. Families are catered for with beauty from the sky. With a bounty of beautiful bungalow-style or hotel rooms, couples have access to adults-only sandy stretches to choose from here, there’s an areas, and friends travelling together have plenty of options as well. With its dining and shopping options, plus outer reef tours and island for everyone. exclusive access to Heart Island, it’s easy to see why Hamilton is such a popular Queensland island.

qualia Ahh, qualia… the word itself is synonymous with Australian island luxury, bagging more awards than you can count on all fingers and toes - including regularly being named the best resort in the world. Located on Hamilton Island, qualia is just one offering on the island in terms of accommodation. There’s the jaw- dropping Whitsundays location on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, private pavilions with some serious bathtub game, and signature experiences like hot stone massages using 300-million- year-old stones. Add a golf club on its very own island, and you’ve got a sure-fire recipe for island luxury.

Intercontinental Resort Surrounded by verdant cliffs, crescent-shaped white beaches and celestial-blue sea, InterContinental Hayman Island Resort combines immersive luxury and iconic private island experiences with sacred moments of connection with family, friends and for solo travellers. The resort offers unrivalled comfort in 168 exquisite rooms, suites and villas across three distinct wings of the resort, with luxury appointments and breathtaking views of The Whitsundays. Transfer to Hayman Island by luxury boat or helicopter from Hamilton Island or Airlie Beach for an unforgettable Queensland island experience.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER THINGS TO DO REEF ISLANDS The Whitsundays

Itinerary: Three days on as a family Daydream Island has been a playground for families and people around the world for decades, located in the beautiful Whitsundays. After a recent refurbishment, the resort reopened in early 2020 with a big reveal of it’s $100 million makeover.

Itinerary: How to island-hop your way around The Whitsundays When you’re visiting a destination with 74 islands, why settle for only visiting one? Island-hop The Whitsundays instead and see why this destination delivers its promise as the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

Explore The Whitsundays by kayak Kayaking The Whitsundays is essentially exploring paradise on your own time. Comprised of over 70 islands, The Whitsundays, off the Queensland central coast, are packed with hidden coves, empty beaches and unexplored inlets just waiting to be discovered, oceanside. Long Island Long Island, as the name suggests, is 9km long while only being 400m wide at its widest point. Surrounded by secluded bays and expansive coral fringing reefs great for snorkelling and beachcombing, Long Island is a quiet paradise for visitors seeking seclusion and tranquility. There are two accommodation options on Long Island - Elysian Retreat (with luxurious island villas) and Palm Bay Resort (self catering options). Access Long Island by water taxi or a helicopter transfer.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS Southern Great Barrier Reef

Heron Island Located off Gladstone in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island is renowned for its marine life. The moment guests step foot on the tiny coral cay, a welcoming party of giant shovel-nosed and cow- tail rays, blacktip reef sharks and turtles are often seen in the waters under the jetty. Turtles are regularly seen swimming in the shallows and if a visit is timed in turtle season (November – March) visitors can witness one of nature’s greatest shows as turtles nest and hatchlings are born on the island’s edge. Heron Island Resort is the only accommodation option on the island.

Great Keppel Island sits just 18 kilometres off the Australian coast, a half-hour ferry ride from . It’s also within arms reach of major transport hub , where there are plane, bus and Tilt Train connections. Visitors can stay at Great Keppel Island Hideaway or the Great Keppel Island Holiday Village. As a barefoot island paradise, there are plenty of aquatic adventures to enjoy such as snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, diving and glass-bottom boat, particularly well set-up for families.

Pumpkin Island Pumpkin Island is one of Queensland’s best-kept island secrets. Lady Musgrave Island Part of the Keppel Island Group, guests can book one cabin or hire the entire island – available for 34 guests staying in seven Think of it like one of the Great Barrier Reef’s biggest eco-friendly bungalows, each boasting barbecues and private swimming pools. This tiny coral cay is brimming with marine decks. Getting there is drama-free, just climb aboard a transfer life and colourful coral. With no formal accommodation on from Marina in Yeppoon. The island is small, only 245m the island, guests can camp or visit as a day trip with Lady wide and 150m long, so it’s easy to get acquainted with its pristine Musgrave Experience. Departing Bundaberg (four-hour drive beaches and snorkel without a crowd. north of Brisbane), the luxury catamaran has you entering the lagoon in two hours. Spend the day with sprawling coral and enjoying this beautiful location. Lady Musgrave is home to excellent, healthy coral and is accessible year-round for a Great Barrier Reef island experience.

QUEENSLAND.COM GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS Southern Great Barrier Reef

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost tip of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s located well offshore in a highly protected green zone of the marine park, making it a sanctuary for more than 1,200 species of marine life including an abundance of manta rays, turtles, reef sharks and an unspoilt coral reef. The unpretentious 44 room eco resort strives to provide guests with a genuine eco-tourism experience with highly engaging reef experiences, sustainable management and an eco-friendly lifestyle. Lady Elliot Island is only accessible by plane - the scenic, carbon-neutral flights depart daily from Bundaberg, /Fraser Coast, Brisbane (Redcliffe) and the Gold Coast.

Wilson Island Resort Wilson Island is located northeast of Gladstone and 15 kilometres from nearby Heron Island. One of the smaller coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef, this secluded paradise, covers just 5.24 acres and is surrounded by fringing reef and plentiful marine life. Wilson Island is the ultimate island experience, offering seclusion in a setting of unrivalled natural beauty and playing host to just 18 guests at any one time enjoying a one-of-a-kind getaway in their glamping tents. With just nine sites available, guests wake up in the morning to the sounds of the ocean from the comfort of their king-sized bed.

Where to see turtles on the List: Great Barrier Reef island resorts Southern Great Barrier Reef worth leaving the mainland for Part of the largest living ecosystem on earth, the Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stretches almost the entire There’s no denying that the Great Barrier Reef is the prize of length of the Queensland coast. It’s also one of the best places in Queensland’s east, skirting the coastline for kilometres and the world to see (and swim with) turtles in their natural habitat. offering a home to wildlife and experiences available no- where else in the world. With that come an expansive array of Great Barrier Reef island resorts to experience, discover and indulge in the reef, with options for every kind of traveller and budget.

QUEENSLAND.COM QUEENSLAND ISLANDS Southern Queensland

Closer to Brisbane, three sand islands in K’Gari (Fraser Island) Southern Queensland offer off-road adventures, There’s no denying Fraser Island, or as the local Butchulla people immersive nature-based experiences and call it, ‘K’gari’ (meaning paradise), offers an abundance of Aboriginal culture. untouched natural beauty just 300km north of Brisbane, and 15km off the coast of Hervey Bay. As the world’s largest sand island, stretching 123km long and 22km wide, this World Heritage-listed wonder offers endless white sand beaches, freshwater lakes and tropical rainforests, and is home to native wildlife including dingoes and goannas. Accommodation options range from resort-style to private houses and camping, and tours that visit the highlights and secret spots can be joined from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast or Hervey Bay. As the island is 100 per cent sand driving, you must use a 4WD- you can bring your own, hire one or jump on an organised tour. Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Beauty Spot tour is a 4WD adventure seeing all of the island’s iconic sights.

Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) Just 75 minutes by ferry from Brisbane, Moreton Island is known to the local Ngugi people as Mulgumpin (the Place of Sandhills). This island is a 4WD heaven – bring your own, join an organised tour, or hire one from Tangalooma Island Resort. There’s plenty to see and do – sandboard down the famous , snorkel around the 15 shipwrecks and enjoy the view from the oldest lighthouse in Queensland, or simply live the island life watching the sunset across the water.

Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) Guide: Why K’Gari (Fraser Island) is one of Rich Aboriginal culture, abundant diversity of wildlife, and a laid-back the most special places on earth sense of community await you on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), just a 15-minute boat ride from Brisbane’s bayside on the Does the world’s largest sand island, ancient rainforests and 75 Redlands Coast (45 if you’re taking the car ferry). Ideal for day trips, miles of beach entice you? How about giant sand formations weekend visits and longer stays, ‘Straddie’ is the world’s second and more than 100 freshwater lakes? It sounds like a Robinson largest sand island and offers accommodation choices ranging from Crusoe adventure, but it’s right here in Queensland – and it’s camping to B&B, hostel, hotel and resorts. North Stradbroke Island is no wonder that K’gari (Fraser Island) is World Heritage-listed, as perfect to visit all year round for coastal walks, beach fun and a laid- one of the most significantly special places on the planet. back sense of community.

Looking for more information on Queensland’s islands? Get in touch at [email protected] LADY ELLIOT ISLAND, BUNDABERG

Update on COVID-19 In relation to travel, the current restrictions allow: Queensland is implementing a phased roadmap • Queenslanders can travel within Queensland. towards resuming local, regional and interstate travel. • Queensland’s borders are open to interstate travellers other Queensland’s Roadmap to Easing COVID-19 restrictions than those who have been in declared hotspot areas. outlines a staged approach to giving Queenslanders • Australia’s borders remain closed. Only Australian citizens, more freedom to travel, participate in more activities residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia. and hold more gatherings. • Events can be staged in compliance with approved COVID Safe Plans. • Tourism experiences, accommodation, dining in restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered or licensed clubs, RSL Clubs, food courts and hotels, nightclubs, beauty therapies and casinos can all operate with required COVID Safe documentation in place. See here for further information on Queensland’s response to COVID-19 and advice for travellers.

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