Looking for a great holiday destination? Australia has plenty to offer and one of the best Australian holiday destinations has to be the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t just go anywhere on the Barrier Reef, consider the best that it has to offer that could just be Heron Island. The island is located about 540 kilometers north of Queensland’s capital, Brisbane. The nearest port, and the major departure point for Heron Island, is Gladstone about 75 kilometers to the south-west. Heron Island may not be large, measuring only 800 meters by 300 meters, but it certainly offer plenty for visitors.

The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, is defined as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. There are a wide range of options open for tourists wanting to visit and see the reef, however, there are few that are actually located on the reef. Most, although tropical islands and beautiful in their own right, are located well off the reef. Heron Island is one getaway destination that is a little different – it is located right on the reef. It is a typical coral cay which owes its existence to the Great Barrier Reef and, because of that, is part of the Great Barrier Reef National Park.

For travelers, what helps make Heron Island extraordinary is that almost everything is at one’s door. Holiday makers don’t need to use their spending money (along with their free time) on charter vessels to pay a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. On Heron Island, an individual can wake up each day and be in the sea within a few minutes. Not merely in the sea, but floating around over the Great Barrier Reef. If you have a snorkel, face mask and flippers then bring them – you are going to want them if you wish to discover all that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer. Individuals can put in hours snorkeling around the reef so flippers are really invaluable to protect against tired legs. One factor that makes Heron Island all the more extraordinary is that the island is closed to day tourists – this means you will never be crowded out.

Of course, there is a lot more to Heron Island than just the coral reef – though much of it does indeed depend on the Great Barrier Reef. Green turtles travel to the shores around the tropical isle to lay their eggs. Currently, there are thousands of birds from a diverse range of species who call the tropical isle home – merely sitting back on the beach front observing them arrive and depart is intriguing in itself. That’s Heron Island – but what about the Heron Island Holiday Resort?

Your overnight accommodation is not that different to a lot of other resort hotels. Hotel rooms come with the standard ceiling fans, refrigerator, tea/coffee making conveniences and clock radio. What is a little bit special is the lack of a television set, the addition of special beach towels, and the open-air terrace which is where an individual can rest and look out over the sea. There are a limited number of hotel rooms that contain air-conditioning and these can sometimes be convenient when air temperatures get above 30c – but then, why not open your windows and let the coastal breeze in – there is really nothing like it.

When it comes to diet, I highly recommend the purchase of the meals package deal when you book your accommodation. The food is really great and although breakfast is bundled in your hotel fees, you will save a lot of money by paying for the meals package deal upfront. This includes lunch and dinner for each day you’re on the tropical isle. It also frees you from having to worry about paying for each and every meal. You can then freely select from the menu regardless of price – and what a range! If you intend to spend plenty of time snorkeling around the Great Barrier Reef, you will certainly want a great deal of fuel to keep you on the go.

Heron Island features one more claim to fame. It is only one of the limited number of tourism places in Australia which experts claim is fully eco friendly. Heron Island makes its own electrical energy along with safe and clean standard tap water. At the same time, it takes care of all its own waste matter. It also provides power, drinking water and waste disposal facilities for the research station also located on the island.

Although a very popular tourist resort, it has a limitation on the number of guests allowed on the island at any one time. This reduces the impact that humans have on the island which, coupled with the resort’s power, water and waste management policies, have made it one of the top eco friendly holidays in Australia. This has been reflected in the number of eco tourism awards that have been won by this holiday destination. If you are looking for a quite, peaceful and rather romantic tropical getaway, I thoroughly recommend Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland Australia – it has to be one of the best Australian holiday destinations that one can find.