Four thirty a.m. is not my time of day. Especially after about only three hours sleep as I toss and turn, thinking of things not finished or packed...
But that’s when I rise. Today, we catch a 7am flight to Brisbane, another to Gladstone in a little Fokker than tracks along the Queensland coastline, a bus to the marina, a three hour wait at the Gladstone marina then a two hour catamaran trip for 85km out to Heron Island.
But twelve hours travel on only one coffee is worth it to come to a place where sting rays, bright blue parrot fish, reef sharks and huge turtles greet you at the jetty. I’ve been wanting to visit the Great Barrier Reef for decades now, especially a non-glitzy, touristy resort. Heron Island is relatively basic - the cabinetry is aging, the restaurant is trying to be flash but has touches of cafeteria to it and the pool is nothing grand but the wildlife is great!
Plus there is a Research Station on site for this National Park with the promise of activities with the rangers.
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s snorkelling excursion!
2025-02-11