Perfect sugar sand beach,
Heron Island, Australia.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Remodeling is Now Complete !
Recently an extensive renovation project
was completed on Heron Island, transforming an already
brilliant property into an even sweeter 3-star getaway!

Here's Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Map is © Copyright Delaware North Companies.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

This unique atoll getaway is perfect for honeymoon couples, anniversaries or romantic getaways; & also for families with kids who want to scuba dive, or snorkel, in high comfort & luxury -- at a remarkably affordable price -- on a remote, pristine South Pacific island. Here on Heron, time & stress have little meaning. Our Australia dive packages reflect this TLC fully. And that goes for both Australia snorkeling vacations or Australia scuba diving vacations.

One of a kind in the Queensland region, Heron Island is among few resorts anywhere in Australia that is located right on the Great Barrier Reef itself. Most other resorts are 1-2 hours by bumpy boat from the living reef. However, Heron Island perches atop its own private coral atoll -- surrounded by a vast & magnificent turquoise-peacock blue lagoon. Where the clean, white, sugar-sand beach stops, the Great Barrier Reef starts. It's as easy as it is breath-taking!

Because Heron Island is literally made of coral, & is bordered on all sides by lush acres of living coral reef, the abundance of vivid colors, marine life & crystal clean water is a balm to any city-weary soul. The reef here is utterly bustling with fish, like some fantasy aquarium. That's why this resort consistently has attracted travelers & researchers from all over the world, year after year, seeking Australia dive packages with a flair yet decent economy.

One of the many strong suits of this resort is that any guest, any time of day, can take a short stroll from their front door to the edge of a coral reef that's only a few steps right off their beach. Once again -- this is the ideal environment for either snorkeling vacations or scuba diving vacations. At low tide you can wade over clean white sand in only a few feet of warm water, skirting life-rich coral beds, seeing many of the same sights a scuba diver sees without even getting your face wet. At high tide, the water right near the beaches is still safely shallow & allows incredible snorkeling in & around the coralheads. Regarding Australia diving vacations, this place is ideal for parents with young children since the snorkeling & swimming conditions are so gentle & forgiving. There are few places in the world that offer this kind of easy access to underwater beauty. Your beaches are just a few fin kicks away from some amazing sights.

For scuba divers with a yen for deeper & more challenging adventure, Heron Island's swift, spacious dive vessel can whisk you off to the perimeter of the outer lagoon where ocean walls beckon, teeming with fish, soft corals & hard corals in riotous colors. The diving is safe & spectacular & the dive guides know their atoll like their own living room. Aussie's feel so strongly about the exceptional purity of this reef environment that in 1974 the Heron Island-Wistari Reef System was the first coral region anywhere in Australia to be declared a Marine National Park.

Apres water play, the lounge, restaurant, accommodations & amenities offer five-star luxury with service that's gracious & attentive. There aren't many Australia dive packages left like this anywhere on the Great Barrier Reef, offering dive resorts that haven't been inundated by daytrippers, gaudy tourist trappings & the party-hearty hordes from big Aussie cities. Heron Island is a gem that stands out even on the huge expanse of the world's longest living barrier reef. It's a cinch to get to from Gladstone, Queensland -- via catamaran or helicopter as you wish -- out to Heron Island to commence your Australia snorkeling vacation or Australia scuba diving vacation.

******************************************************

All Heron Island packages are charged in Australian dollars. Please feel free to phone our USA stateside agents at 952-953-4124 for the best package prices to Heron Island Resort. Prices subject to small random flux from currency exchange rates, & we promise to always price protect our clients.

Scuba diving with peaceful Aussie sea turtles.

(Portions of these texts have been reprinted courtesy of Heron Island Resort & are copyrighted by Delaware North Companies, our esteemed contract partners in marketing Heron Island.)

Blissing out with snorkels on the Heron Island reefs.

DINING & BAR FACILITIES:
3 superb meals are included each day. Breakfast & lunch are buffet style while dinner is usually a 4 course set menu. Open for breakfast from 7.00 - 9.30 am, lunch is served from 12.30 - 2.00 pm & dinner is served 6.30 - 9.00 pm. On arrival, the Maitre D' will allocate a table which will be yours for the duration of your stay. Special diets catered for by prior arrangement. Picnic hamper service available by request. The Bar & Lounge features panoramic reef views, with a cocktail bar, entertainment lounge, dance floor & upstairs games area. A varied live entertainment program takes place each evening. The Bar & Lounge opens to an outdoor terrace. Open from 10 am to midnight. After all, social lubricants sometimes add a mellow touch to Australia snorkeling vacations or scuba diving vacations.

FREE ACTIVITIES at HERON ISLAND:

• Interpretative reef walks (operate daily subject to tides)
• Island ecology walks
• Birdlife walks
• Turtle nesting tours (peak nesting times)
• Wildlife presentations
• Beach picnic hampers
• Snorkelling lessons in swimming pool
• Tennis (night & day)
• Reef creature interpretative workshops
• Research station walks
• Guided glass-bottom kayaking trips
• Nightly entertainment

OTHER ACTIVITIES (small charges apply):

• Snorkelling excursions to the reef edge
• Heron Kids Junior Ranger Program
• Semi-submersible coral viewing cruises - commentary by reef interpretor
• Scuba diving
• Night dives
• Adventure dives
• 6 day Open Water dive course
• Learn to Dive courses
• Fishing trips
• Scenic helicopter flights
• Full day barbeque cruises to Wilson Island (up to 30 guests)
• Sunset wine & cheese cruises
• Wine & cheese tastings
• Therapeutic massage (oh yesssss....)

DETAILS on HERON ISLAND LODGING OPTIONS:

1. Turtle Cabins

• 32 suites
• 1 Queen bed & 1 single bed
• Accommodates 3 people (4 if rollaway or cot used)
• En suite with shower & toiletries
• 1 room is set for disabled persons but does not offer full disabled facilities

Riotous colors & healthy marine
life of the Great Barrier Reef are
only seconds from your beach !

SCUBA DIVING at HERON ISLAND:
The resort owners now require all scuba diving to be registered for & paid for on the island; & therefore we do not pre-book the scuba tours. Heron Island is famous around the world because it is exciting diving made easy. There's no need for day-tripping dive tours to the Reef, because you're already there. So you can easily enjoy two full dives a day. There are over twenty different dive sites, more than half of which are just fifteen minutes from the beach. With so many acres of living coral literally teeming with fish, it's easy to see why keen divers keep coming back to Heron, one of the focal points of Australia snorkeling vacations or scuba diving vacations.

Why dive Heron Island, when you can go anywhere
else on the Great Barrier Reef of AUSTRALIA?

• Minimal time to dive sites (5-15 minutes)
• Shallow dives available (20 meters maximum)
• Long bottom times can be obtained (up to 50 minutes)
• Buoyed dive sites for most dive tours
• Stable platform style boats with shaded canopies
• Divemasters dive all sites on your dive tours
• Giant stride entries - exit via wide step ladders
• No carrying of tanks or weights at any time
• All dive sites located within a Marine National Park
• Highest quality dive equipment
• Three guided boat dives per day if you wish
• Night dives available whenever weather & currents permit
• Adventure dive tours for qualified scuba divers
• Water temperature range is wonderfully comfortable --

Winter - 20-22 degrees Celcius (68-70 degrees Fahrenheit)
Summer - 25-27 degrees Celcisus (77-80 degrees Fahrenheit)

Map of the best classic Heron Island scuba diving sites.
All graphics provided courtesy of Heron Island Resort.

CLASSIC HERON ISLAND SCUBA DIVING SITES:

• Heron Bommie -- One of the most photographed dive sites in the country. Resident marine life is fantastic including schooling Jacks, Barracuda, Strawberry Hussars plus Moray Eels, Sharks, Eagle Rays & Mantas. This series of bommies is located 2 minutes from the Harbour. 5-20 meters. Pams Point to Heron Bommie Drifting from Pams Point to Heron Bommie is spectacular - just let go & watch the kaleidoscope of colour go by. 5-20 meters. To convert meters to feet, just multiply meters times 3.28.
• Coral Gardens -- Lies just outside Heron Harbour. Beautiful sloping banks of Staghorn & Branching corals. 8-16 meters.
• Staghorn Banks -- Nearby to Coral Gardens this is an exquisite bank of vividly coloured staghorn coral. Many colonies of brilliantly hued coral fish create a myriad of color. 12 meters.
• Canyons -- So named due to the number of ravines cut into the reef edge. These cuttings are home to an amazing variety of creatures, including turtles. 6-16 meters.
• Harry's Bommie -- This coral outcrop is huge, usually filled by schools of Batfish & spotted Sweetlip. Regularly visited by White Tip Reef Sharks. 5-16 meters.
• Southpark -- A huge bommie with an amazing biodiversity of Turtles, Rays & big fish. 8-16 meters.

• Twin Peaks -- Two large coral bommies give this site its name & the teaming life is no less suprising than the TV show. A mega dive site. 10-18 meters.

• First Point -- Scattered coral bommies with overhangs, teeming with life, pelagics, turtles, rays & sharks. 5-14 meters.
• Fifth Point -- Discovered recently this is the farthest site from the harbour offering pristine coral & action packed diving. 6-20 meters.
• Libbie's Lair -- Honeycomb caves & swim throughs, jam-packed with larger coral reef fish species. 8-18 meters.
• Gorgonia Hole -- Gorgonia & fan corals abound on the spectacular reef edge. Discover Mantas, Reef Sharks & Turtles. 7-16 meters.
• The Junction -- Rediscovered only recently, the corals here are splendid. Morays, Turtles & Crayfish abound. 7-16 meters.
• Pams Point -- Mind blowing Manta Ray dive tours (seasonal). Resident Queensland Blue Groper. 8-16 meters.
• The Cliffs -- An adventurous dive, offering a fantastic wall & gently sloping bottom down to 30 plus meters - a veritable Garden of Eden. 12-30 plus meters.
• Wistari 1 & 2 -- The neighbouring Wistari Reef is located only 5 minutes from Heron Island. These two sites are along the reef wall with magnificent corals of rainbow hues. 5-20 meters.
• Three Rocks -- A special little sandy bay cut into the reef edge. From 7 meters, it drops straight down Wistari Wall to around 20 meters.
• Tenements 1 -- Magnificent dive with many gullies, swim throughs & grottoes. Special mention to the huge blue-footed anemone & the 30 clown fish that live with it. 7-20 meters.
• Tenements 2 -- This horseshoe shaped shelf drops straight down to 21 meters & is draped with schools of black tipped fusiliter drummer & yellowtail. 13-21 meters.
• Coral Cascades -- Stand-alone or combined with a drift dive along the spectacular coral wall to Tenements 1, this is one of our favorite dive tours. 5-16 meters.
• North Bommie -- A huge bommie that doubles as a cleaning station for some of our larger critters. Majestic mantas, & white tipped Reef Sharks frequent here. 10-20 meters.
• Blue Pools -- Crystal clear waters fill this little bay in the coral. A great place to start or end a drift dive east or west. 6-8 meters.
• Hole in the Wall -- Large bommie split into 3 pieces. Swim through & along the reef edge. Large Maori Wrass, Moray, Sharks & Mantas are all regulars. 9-18 meters.
• Coral Grotto -- Affectionately known as the Turtle Grotto. You can see turtles everywhere on these dive tours. Asleep, swimming, feeding or just being Turtles. 8-18 meters.
• Plate Ledge -- So called because of the number of plate or tabletop corals in the area -an impressive site. 8-16 meters.

FOR THOSE WITH A YEN FOR ADVENTURE
DIVING, HERON ISLAND OFFERS THESE SITES:
Just when you thought you'd seen it all, Heron also offers Adventure Diving. Join a full day expedition away on one of the island's specially equipped dive boats, seeking outlying virgin reefs such as Sykes, Broomfield, Lamont & Fitzroy, & explore even more of what the region has to offer. & to top off your diving holiday, try a Night Dive. You'll witness a dazzling performance from a cast of thousands never seen during the light of day. An entirely new dive experience if you have never explored the marine world on nighttime dive tours before. The coral brilliance is equally accessible to clients on snorkeling vacations or scuba diving vacations, so skin divers feel free to jump in; you're considered equally important here on Heron Island!

• Lamont Wall -- A ribbon reef, 16km South of Heron Island with a steep wall featuring unique coral formations. 5-30 meters.
• Fitzroy Lagoon -- This is a favourite for lunch & a snorkel in the crystal clear waters of this magnificent location.
• Fitzroy Bommies 1 & 2 -- These two sites allow great bottom time due to the shallow depths. The biodiversity on these dive tours needs to be seen to be believed. 10-18 meters.
• Broomfield Bommies -- Many nooks & crannies & underwater fossiking, this site will keep you amazed without having to move very far. 12 meters.
• North Reef -- This is the northern most dive site we visit & features Mantas as the main attraction. The Southwest corner nearly always produces these magnificent creatures. 16 meters.

At sunset, a sea turtle calmly skids back home.

HERON ISLAND CLIMATE STATISTICS:
Tropical climate, average year-round temperature of approximately
27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). To convert Celsius into
Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 then add 32 degrees. Pretty keen math, eh!

The clean inviting swimming pool on Heron Island.

HERON ISLAND IS HOME to MANY AMAZING CRITTERS.
HERE IS A GOOD PLAN for MONTH-BY-MONTH VISITING,
& WHAT YOU CAN HOPE to SEE at this WILDLIFE SANCTUARY!

January
Heron Island's bird life is very active. This month is the peak breeding season for sea birds,
particularly Black Noddies, Mutton Birds & Reef Herons. Pisonia grandis have sticky
seeds falling from the trees. Female Turtles are laying eggs on the beach & turtle hatchlings
can be seen making their way to the sea.

February
Wedge tailed Shearwater Mutton Bird chicks hatching - Island birdlife remains active.
Female Turtles are still laying eggs & hatchlings continue to emerge from the nests

Average rainfall - 136 mm
Average temperature - min 23.5C max 29.5C
Average water temperature - min 26.5C max 30.5C

March
Migratory types of birds, such as the Ruddy Turn-stone & Eastern Golden Plover depart
the Island. Some show breeding plumage as they return to their Arctic nesting grounds.
Birds still nesting, include the Buffbanded Rail & the Black Noddy. Female turtles are at
the end of the nesting season.

Average rainfall - 155.99 mm
Average temperature - min 23.3C max 29.0C
Average water temperature - min 25.0C max 28.0C

April
Most of the Noddies depart the Island. Young Wedge-tail Shearwater birds
(Puffinus pacificus) leave their burrows. Adult Shearwaters leave the Island.

Average rainfall - 79.0 mm
Average temperature - min 21.6C max 27.3C
Average water temperature - min 23.2C max 27.0C

May
The last of the turtle hatchlings can be seen emerging from their nests.
Young Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are still learning to fly & should
leave the Island by the end of the month.

June
Humpback Whales northern migration begins & they are often seen passing
through waters around the Island. Average Humpback weighs 40 tons & measures 16 metres.

Average rainfall - 55.8 mm
Average temperature - min 22.0C max 29.4C
Average water temperature - min 25.0C max 29.0C

July
Humpback Whales frequently sighted in the Capricorn & Bunker region.
Reef Herons start building their nests.

Average rainfall - 90.5 mm
Average temperature - min 16.2C max 21.4C
Average water temperature - min 18.0C max 23.0C

August
A month warming up to spring, more general activity on the reef & the Island.
Towards the end of the month the Black Noddies begin returning.
Good Humpback Whale sightings have been frequent in past years.

Average rainfall - 46.2 mm
Average temperature - min 14.6C max 26.0C
Average water temperature - min 20.0C max 23.0C

September
Humpback Whales are active. Humpbacks are well known for their breeching habits.
Black Noddies are now returning to the Island will commence nesting. Turtle mating
may be seen. Northern Hemisphere migratory birds, such as Ruddy Turnstones &
Eastern Golden Plovers arrive back on the Island.

Average rainfall - 26.1 mm
Average temperature - min 15.8C max 27.0C
Average water temperature - min 20.0C max 24.0C

October
Whales now heading south to the Antarctic with their calves. Black Noddies nesting.
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters returning to the island to nest. Resident Silver Eyes nesting.
Turtle mating may be observed.

Average rainfall - 43.5 mm
Average temperature - min 16.7C max 29.0C
Average water temperature - min 20.0C max 26.0C

November
Turtle egg laying begins. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters can be seen digging & repairing
nesting burrows to start their breeding season. Black Noddies' eggs are seen in the nest.

Average rainfall - 54.1 mm
Average temperature - min 18.5C max 29.0C
Average water temperature - min 22.0C max 28.5C

The annual synchronised mass spawning of corals usually occurs during this month.
Spawning synchronises with the lunar month & dates vary, usually 3 - 4 days after
the full moon. If corals do not spawn in this month, they will in December.

December
Bird life is extremely active. Numerous Black Noddy chicks can be seen. Wedge-tail
Shearwaters are laying eggs in their burrows. Turtles are laying eggs & hatchlings
emerging from the sand. Coral spawning may occur.

Average rainfall - 55.8 mm
Average temperature - min 22.0C max 29.4C
Average water temperature - min 25.0C max 29.0C

AIR CONNECTIONS:
Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone (GLT) with Qantas (QF) or Ansett (AN)

DAILY CATAMARAN-FERRY & HELICOPTER SERVICE:
Heron Island is just a half hour helicopter ride from Gladstone. A complimentary coach departs Gladstone Airport at 10.30am to Gladstone Marina. The launch departs at 11.00am to Heron Island & returns (with coach transfer) to Gladstone Airport at approximately 3.45pm daily. Flights arriving into Gladstone to meet the launch must arrive no later than 10.30am Flights departing Gladstone must depart no earlier than 3.45pm. To fully confirm launch transfers for your dive tours, arrival & departure details for Gladstone must be advised. Note: This service does not operate on Christmas Day. Marine Helicopters depart Gladstone Airport daily on demand during daylight hours.

BAGGAGE ALLOWED on HELICOPTERS:
Passengers on Marine Helicopter transfers to Heron Island may be restricted to one suitcase & one small carry-on item of hand luggage (combined maximum weight - 15kg).

***************************************************

IMPORTANT NOTE about PRICES & TARIFFS:
The resort & facilities on Heron Island are owned & operated by Delaware North Companies, our respected travel partners in Australia. U.S. Dive Travel serves as a contract wholesaler/broker for vacation clients seeking air tickets & lodging on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. All photos on this webpage, & many of the bulleted text lists are material provided courtesy of our colleagues at Delaware North Companies. All copyrights for the borrowed text blocks & for these photos are reserved by Delaware North Companies. Now onward to the scuba vacations!

Unless specifically noted, these above Delaware North Companies dive tours show prices for only the land-based portion of your vacation, in most cases reflecting double-occupancy rooms. At most dive resorts & on most live-aboard vessels, there will be no triple-occupancy rooms offered. Some exceptions will be noted with our scuba vacations. International & commuter "island-hopper" airfares are always extra above these land costs. Nominal service fees are also extra for air tickets & the lodging + diving components. The baseline tariffs for all clients start at $45 per person for the land portion + $35 pp for the air tickets. Late-booking clients may receive slightly higher tariffs on the lodging + diving. Solo clients will always pay a single supplement to secure a private room -- normally 35% to 50% more.

The preferred payment mode for all our Australia dive resorts is by cashier's check or wire transfer in U.S. dollars. All clients living outside the USA or Canada will need to pay only via direct wire transfer in U.S. dollars. No personal checks will be accepted for the land portion of any reservation, please. Thank you for your gracious understanding. Our service level for our dive tours is the highest & our prices the lowest in this industry, & thus we need to preserve a reasonable margin. For published-fare air ticket bookings, USDT always accepts Visa & Mastercard. For ultra-discount wholesale air tickets, however, USDT accepts only cashier's checks, please.

Remember, all clients to all Australia dive resorts will be asked by local officials overseas, upon departing the airport on your final day, to pay a nominal government departure tax, usually between USD $35 - $40 per client. USDT cannot collect this tax beforehand, so you simply pay it down there, in your host country. Be sure to stash away some quickie cash for this final moment at the airport, so you'll get your exit visa stamped quickly with no fuss; & away you go. Best of luck with your travel plans. We hope all your Australia dive vacations are safe & satisfying adventures. Blessings & best wishes.

Best fishes too!

>////*> <*\\\\<