Heron Island is home to a national park, a Queensland University research outpost, and a resort. As part of the Great Barrier Reef, guests actually stay in a world heritage listed area.
An aerial view of Heron Island and its reef would resemble an infra-red photo of a huge fried egg: On the dark-blue plate of the Pacific Ocean, there is a 25 km2 large coral cay: Like a wall, the reef creates an area of turquoise sheltered water, at low tide almost falling dry, at high tide just 2 metres deep. And in that coral cay, there is the island like the yolk on the egg: tiny, 800 m in length, 300 m at its widest spot, 1.8 km circumference. A walk around it takes 25 minutes.
Yet it’s hard to get bored. The resort staff have put on all sorts of activities to keep you busy and entertained: Island walks that give you an overview about Heron Island, its key natural features and history. Bird walks, star gazing. And of course the one activity that Heron Island is famous for: diving outside the reef and snorkelling or reef walking inside its shelter. You won’t be disappointed. Colourful fishes, oddly shaped corals, a variety of rays and even sharks can be spotted.
This is paradise, and time is flying way too fast. When we embark the ferry back to the mainland we say good-bye, but definitely not farewell to Heron.
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| Even on a bad weather day sooooo beautiful! |
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| White sand, no photoshopping |
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| Black-tipped reef sharks in the harbour |
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| This ferry is my enemy — day of departure |
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| We'll be back |
[Heron Island resort, 20.-24. July]
