Voyages Wilson Island

Located off the Queensland coast from Gladstone, this tiny and remote coral cay has captured the imagination of many a modern day Robinson Crusoe! Wilson fulfils your castaway island dreams - a place where no more than six couples can escape to an idyllic Great Barrier Reef Island and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

The island’s caster sugar sands are home to turtles and birds and its pristine waters are host to an unimaginable variety of marine life including coral and fish. Wilson Island is ‘the Great Barrier Reef as nature intended it to be’ and a stay here provides a maximum of 12 guests with the unique opportunity to camp out in style on a private island and enjoy a truly spectacular Great Barrier Reef experience. The island’s facilities have been specifically designed to co-exist within this pristine natural environment - solar power and rainwater are used and strict waste management policies apply.

The island offers comfortable designer-inspired permanent tents, each just steps from the water’s edge and boasting raised timber floors, king-size beds and decks complete with double hammock - and wonderful views! The interiors are based on a modern ‘beachcombing’ theme - natural materials have been used to create a stylish living space which combines simplicity of design with comfort. As the tents are without power, lights are battery operated. A separate building houses six shower and dressing areas (one designated for each tent) in addition to toilet and vanity facilities.

The Longhouse (the island’s social centre) has an informal bar, lounge and dining area in an open-sided design with sun-bleached timber poles and an interior in-keeping with the relaxed sand and sea theme. The large dining table creates a casual dinner party atmosphere and the menu has a distinctly Australian feel with a commitment to freshness, simplicity and variety. Breakfast is a tropical buffet (hot breakfast can be cooked to order) whilst lunch is a smorgasbord which can be enjoyed in the Longhouse or picnic style on the beach. The evenings begin with drinks and canapés on the beach at sunset before returning to the candlelit Longhouse for a relaxed dinner party with light music playing.

Wilson Island ‘castaway’ days can be spent snorkelling, bird watching, enjoying island and reef walks or simply relaxing in a hammock soaking up this stunning natural setting.

Access to Wilson is via a launch (1 hour 45 minutes) or helicopter transfer (30 minutes) to Heron Island, followed by a 45 minute boat transfer to Wilson Island. Children 12 years and under are not catered for. Wilson closes in February for the seabird nesting season.

PRICES Prices from £210 per person per night, based on 2 people sharing including all meals and beverages and boat transfers from Heron Island. Reduced rates apply for stays of 4 nights or more. Flights to Australia vary in price considerably depending on date of departure though there are always good deals on quality airlines. Fares on Qantas/British Airways, for example can start from as little as £699 including taxes and fuel surcharges. From April 2008, Qantas will be introducing its all-new Premium Economy cabin. With dedicated check in, 40" seat pitch, extra width and enhanced meal service, all this extra luxury comes at a suprisingly low upgrade cost. Please ask your sales consultant for more details.