Experience nature at its best on Heron Island, world famous for its spectacular coral reef and a sanctuary for an extraordinary variety of marine life. This natural coral cay provides a genuine eco-experience and the unique opportunity to witness the magic of the world’s largest coral reef.
Any time of the year is the best time of the year to go to Heron Island and the Great Barrier Reef. A protected habitat for a stunning variety of wildlife, Heron Island allows you to get up close and personal with a diverse array of fauna and marine animals. You soon sense that you are very much a guest of the natural environment, you’re here to be part of it, to enjoy it and to learn from it.
To help plan your visit, here’s a month-by-month forecast of what to expect on and around Heron Island.
January
January is the peak breeding season for sea birds with many breeding colonies returning to the island to breed. Heron Island is estimated to have up to 200,000 on the island particularly Black Noddy Terns with there being up to 120,000 of these birds recorded and the Wedge Tailed Shearwaters (Mutton Birds) Resident bird colonies such as the Eastern Reef Egret and the Buff Banded rail can also be seen breeding. Female turtles are laying eggs and turtle hatchlings can be seen making their way to the sea.
February
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Mutton Bird) chicks hatching in February. The island birdlife remains active with up to approximately 200,000 birds on the island. Female turtles are still laying eggs and hatchlings continue to emerge from their nests.
March
Some birds such as the Ruddy Turnstone start showing the breeding plumage during March as they return to their Arctic nesting grounds. Birds still nesting include the Buff-banded Rail and the Black Noddy Tern who may be on to the second clutch. Female turtles are at the end of the nesting season.
April
Young Wedge Tailed Shearwater birds (Puffinus pacificus) leave their burrows and adult Shearwaters begin to leave the island.
May
The last of the turtle hatchlings can be seen emerging from their nests. Young Wedgetailed Shearwaters are still learning to fly in preparation to leave the island by the end of the month
June
Humpback Whales’ northern migration begins in June. They are often seen passing through waters around the Island. The Jetty is a great spot for Whale Watching. An average Humpback weighs 40 tonnes and measures 16 metres.
July
Humpback Whales are frequently sighted in the Capricornia Bunker region in July. The Jetty is a great spot for Whale Watching. Eastern Reef Egrets start building their nests.
August
August is warming up to spring. There is more general activity on the reef and the island. Humpback Whales can be sighted in the waters around the island.
September
Humpback Whales are active during September, breaching regularly. Whales begin heading south to the Antarctic with their calves. Northern Hemisphere migratory birds, such as Ruddy Turnstones and Eastern Golden Plovers arrive back on the island.
October
Black Noddies return from other feeding grounds and islands throughout the Pacific. They join the few thousand that stay on the island year round to feed in the surrounding waters. They join the resident Silver Eyes, Buff Banded Rails, Silver Gulls and Eastern Reef Egrets that will nest from October through to March. Wedge Tailed Shearwaters are also starting to return to the island. Mating turtles may be seen in the waters around Heron Island.
November
Turtle egg laying begins in November. Wedge Tailed Shearwaters can be seen digging and repairing nesting burrows at night. Black Noddy Tern eggs can be seen in the nest. The annual synchronised mass spawning of corals usually occurs during the full moon this month.
December
Bird life is extremely active in December with approximately 200,000 birds on the island. Numerous black Noddy chicks can be seen and Wedge Tailed Shearwaters are laying eggs. Turtle Hatchlings may start being seen making their way to the sea. Coral spawning may occur if this did not occur in November.
Heron Island caters to all level of marine enthusiasts with 20 dive sites easily accessible by boat within minutes of the jetty. The most popular activity is snorkeling straight off one of the stunning beaches onto the Great Barrier Reef. Join a guided nature walk or star gazing tour, be pampered with a signature therapy at Aqua Soul Spa or head to Baillie’s Bar, the ideal location to enjoy the panoramic reef views.
For more information on visiting this wonderful island head to Heron Island
Do you have your ticket for the Underwater Tour Show on 23 May? It’s easy – there are Free Tickets, Silver Tickets and Gold Tickets available. To choose the ticket that’s right for you head to the Underwater Tour Show.
