Information
Eco Stars:
4 star
Stars:
unrated
Location:
Oceania
Country:
Australia
Heron Island
Heron Island is a true coral cay located right on the Great Barrier Reef. Here you can swim straight off the beach to an endless garden of coral where the waters are teeming with fish and marine life. Located in the middle of a World Heritage Listed area, you can expect the outdoors to be number one on your to-do list.
It's what you don't see around Heron that makes the resort so special. You won't see any buildings above the tree line. And you won't bump into any day-trippers either. The reef experience on Heron is exclusively for guests, a unique experience few other resorts in the world offer.
Heron Island is world famous for its fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling. Experience some of Australia's best dive spots - more than 30 dive sites are available, half of which are only 15 minutes from the beach.
An amazing array of animal life can be discovered throughout the year, such as the delightful Green and Loggerhead Turtles. Here you soon sense that you are very much a guest of the natural environment; you're here to be part of it, to enjoy and to learn from it. First and foremost, Heron Island is protected habitat for a stunning variety of wildlife.
If it's school holidays, you can sign the kids up for the Heron Junior Rangers Program (7-12yrs), where they'll get up close and personal with a wonderful variety of marine creatures, and explore the fascinating coral cay.
Heron Island is open year round, with bird season at its peak in January to March. Turtle nesting season is also during this period, and offers the unique opportunity to see hatchlings scurrying to the sea.
Green Star Rating Results:
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Overall Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Energy Rating: ★★★ (3)
Staff Comment - Due to its remote location, the Resort uses diesel generators to supply all of it electricity. Diesel storage is licensed, to ensure that appropriate environmental controls are in place to protect the surrounding environment. Energy use is monitored in an endeavour to determine measures to reduce consumption.
An energy review of the resort was recently undertaken be external consultants. The review identified a number of energy efficiency initiatives which are currently being implemented. These include use of dual gas streaming on our diesel generators which will result in significant reductions in diesel usage and ultimately greenhouse gas emissions.
Water Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Staff Comment - Water used by the Resort is drawn from a well located in the reef flat. Water is directed to a reverse osmosis treatment plant, to remove contaminants and salt from the water. Concentrated brine generated by the treatment process is discharged offshore. The collection and treatment process is conducted under a licence issued by the Queensland Environmental Protection Authority. Water is tested regularly to ensure that it is fit for drinking
Disposal Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Staff Comment - All waste generated on the Island is removed to Gladstone (the mainland) for disposal at landfill. The waste is separated and stored on site to ensure that it does not impact the surrounding environment. Kitchen wastes are stored in a refrigerated room to minimise odours. Recycling is conducted, and includes co-mingled products (glass, aluminium and plastic), cardboard and waste cooking oils
Eco-Active Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Detailed information about the ecotourism aspects of Heron Island are included on the Heron Island website at
www.heronisland.com/ecotourism/
This includes the reef information centre provided for guests, interpretative tours, Junior Ranger program, Coralwatch protection programs such as Coralwatch (www.coralwatch.org) and the Marine Monitoring program Heron Island also has Advanced Eco Tourism Certification (www.ecotourism.org.au)
Protection Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Heron Island is located approximately 70 km off the coast of Australia, NE of Gladstone in Queensland.
The Island consists of the Heron Island Resort and the Heron Island Research Station which is operated by the
University of Queensland and conducts marine research. As such, there is no local community.
Guests are encouraged to partake in a range of ecotourism and conservation programs during their stay. Specific
details of these can be found on our website at www.heronisland.com/ecotourism/
These includes the reef information centre provided for guests, interpretative tours, Junior Ranger program,
Coralwatch (www.coralwatch.org) and the Marine Monitoring program
Contact Details
Name:
Heron Island
Address:
Heron Island c/-
Marine Helicopters via Gladstone Airport
Aerodrome Road
Gladstone QLD 4680
Australia
Telephone:
+61 3 9413 6287
Website:
www.heronisland.com.au
E-mail:
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