Wilson Island transfers come down to one fact: access to the island is by boat from nearby Heron Island. This small coral cay sits off the Gladstone coast, and that short boat link is the way in.
What follows covers where the island sits, how access works, when it is closed, and what the weather is like. Check current prices and times with the resort before you plan.
How Wilson Island transfers work
Wilson Island is reached by boat from Heron Island, which is owned by the same operator, Aldesta Hotel Group. Aldesta also runs the island's resort. Heron Island is about 15 kilometres away, so it is the natural starting point for any visit.
For more on the neighbouring island, see our Heron Island destination guide.
Where the island is
Wilson Island is in the Gladstone Region, Queensland. It lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn, roughly 72 kilometres (45 miles) north east off the coast of Gladstone. It is one of eight vegetated coral cays in the Capricornia Cays National Park, and it forms part of the Capricornia Cays Important Bird Area and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The island is named after Sub-Lieutenant William T.P. Wilson of HMS Waterwitch.
The resort you are travelling to
The island's main land use is an exclusive resort run by Aldesta Hotel Group. Nine tents provide accommodation, and a total of eighteen guests can stay at any one time. That small number is a good reason to plan ahead, in our view, since there is very little room.
The resort was owned by P&O until it was sold to Voyages Hotels & Resorts in August 2004.
When the island is open and what you will see
The island is closed during February for the bird nesting season. Keep that in mind when choosing dates.
- November to March: wedge-tailed shearwaters and green turtles lay their eggs.
- January to April: baby green turtles hatch and head to the sea.
- June to September: humpback whales pass to and from their winter feeding grounds.
Wilson Island is an important turtle and bird rookery, fringed by a white coral beach and covered in pisonia forest. The Capricorn silvereye, a small bird found only on the southern Great Barrier Reef, lives here.
Weather for your boat trip
These figures are for the Heron Island area, about 15 kilometres away, using 1991 to 2020 averages.
| Month | Max C | Min C | Rain mm | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.9 | 23.7 | 103.5 | 25.9 | 30.3 |
| February | 29.5 | 22.7 | 134.5 | 28.3 | 25.4 |
| March | 29.1 | 21.5 | 102.0 | 25.5 | 24.6 |
| April | 27.2 | 19.2 | 44.4 | 11.1 | 21.0 |
| May | 25.8 | 15.8 | 39.4 | 9.8 | 18.1 |
| June | 24.4 | 14.2 | 49.2 | 12.3 | 15.1 |
| July | 23.5 | 13.6 | 31.3 | 7.8 | 17.7 |
| August | 23.7 | 14.8 | 26.3 | 6.6 | 21.7 |
| September | 24.6 | 16.7 | 21.9 | 5.5 | 25.4 |
| October | 26.5 | 18.5 | 44.3 | 11.1 | 29.6 |
| November | 28.4 | 19.6 | 44.1 | 11.0 | 30.0 |
| December | 29.7 | 21.8 | 93.0 | 23.3 | 31.0 |
September is the driest month at about 22 mm, and February the wettest at about 135 mm.
More planning help
For wider trip ideas, the official state site, Tourism and Events Queensland, is a good place to start. Our page on Coolum transfers covers a different part of the state. General background on the island is on Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Wilson Island?
By boat from nearby Heron Island, which is also owned by Aldesta Hotel Group.
Is Wilson Island open all year?
No. It is closed during February for the bird nesting season.
How many guests can stay?
Eighteen guests at a time, in nine tents.