Watch Turtles Nest on Heron Island

The annual turtle nesting season is set to begin on Queensland’s Heron and Wilson Islands, with an abundance of green and loggerhead turtles coming ashore to nest on these two Great Barrier Reef coral cays.

From November through to March every year, a breeding population of turtles comes ashore approximately three to seven times during a season. The turtles lay their eggs at the same location where they were born, laying on average 120 eggs in one clutch, and in some instances returning after an absence of 35-40 years since their birth.

Turtles migrate to Heron and Wilson Islands from as far afield as the Solomon Islands, Cape York and Harvey Bay and with careful guidelines for viewing, guests can observe this wonder of nature on a casual walk on the beach or on guided walks.

Around the Easter period each year, the eggs begin to hatch as thousands of baby turtles emerge to make the annual scurry to the safety of the sea.

To celebrate turtle nesting season, we have created our Turtle Season Escape package.

Turtle Season Escape:

Stay for three nights on Heron Island in a Turtle Room for just $597 per person, including all meals, snorkel hire, boat transfers from Gladstone and $50 resort credit per day. Plus kids under the age of 12 stay and eat for free. This Turtle Season Escape offer is available for sale until 31st December and valid for travel until 31st March 2014.

Heron Island:

Heron Island is located 72km off the Capricorn Coast, northeast of Gladstone in Queensland, Australia. It is an internationally acclaimed dive destination, featuring at least 20 sites within easy reach of the resort.

The island is located on the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and is one of only a handful of coral cays off the Queensland coast.

It is considered to be one of Australia’s top dive destinations. Jacques Cousteau listed the Heron Bommie as one of his top 10 favourite dive sites in the world.

Diving at Heron Island is relatively shallow, with an average depth of around 15 to 35 metres, and snorkellers can enjoy the shallow reefs that come up to within two or three metres of the surface in places. The waters of the reef off Heron Island are home to around 60% of the 1,500 species of fish and around 72% of the coral species found in the Great Barrier Reef.

Heron Island is also home to one of Australia’s most important reef Research Stations. Administered by the University of Queensland, it provides accommodation, boats, diving gear, laboratories and a seawater aquarium system for researchers and student groups. Guests at Heron Island Resort are actively encouraged to learn more about the Research Station and its work to get a better understanding of the delicate underwater world that surrounds them.

For further information visit: www.heronisland.com and www.wilsonisland.com or call 1300 863 248.