Welcome to Gladstone
Gladstone is a beautiful holiday destination located 550 kilometres by
road north of Brisbane, Queensland. Gladstone is blessed with 280 days of
sunshine every year and balmy, subtropical climate. The area offers a wonderful
array of exotic islands, city parklands and gardens, fun outdoor activities,
abundance of wildlife and other unique locations to explore. Gladstone Airport
is located only an 8 minute drive away from the centre of the city.
Running along the coast of this city is the heritage listed Southern
Great Barrier Reef, where it is home to a mixture of fourteen breathtaking
inhabited and uninhabited islands.
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| Heron Island Beach - Gladstone |
Island Wonderland ~ Southern Great Barrier Reef Islands & Lagoons
Gladstone
Off the coast of Gladstone is where you'll find a paradise of islands
dotted along the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Here lies the picturesque, uninhabited Lady Musgrave Island, where it is
the only coral island on the Great Barrier Reef with a navigable lagoon. The
lagoon offers calm, clear water - ideal for swimming and snorkelling - like
swimming in a giant aquarium. There is also plenty to do on land: camping,
trekking and exploring the wildlife on the island.
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| Lady Musgrave Island underwater - Gladstone |
Closer to the shores of Gladstone are Heron and Wilson Islands. They
also offer fantastic lagoons with calm waters well suited for snorkelling,
diving and swimming. Wilson Island offers privacy and seclusion in a quiet,
beautiful location.
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| Wilson Island |
Heron Island is a bigger coral cay (meaning it is completely
composed of sand and coral fragments) with abundant wildlife - from seabirds,
Loggerhead turtles to clouds of multi-coloured fish. Experience all that Heron
Island has to offer: reef walking, viewing the marine life from the coral
submarine, swimming, fishing and snorkelling. Heron Island is also renowned for
having some of the best diving spots within 15 minutes of the shore.
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| Southern Great Barrier Reef |
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| Lady Elliot Island |
Lady Elliot Island is another large coral cay and is the most southerly
island within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This island is a bird
watcher's paradise, with more than 50,000 birds nesting here during the summer
months. Lady Elliot Island is also known for being the ideal nesting ground for
Loggerhead turtles - cute hatchlings can be seen between January until April.
Explore the local shipwreck or the island's iconic Manta Rays via 19 dive sites
scattered throughout the island.
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| Heron Island jetty |
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| Baby Loggerhead Turtle |
Snorkel or scuba dive and explore this beautiful underwater world and its inhabitants: common and bottlenose dolphins, Green and Loggerhead turtles, black blotched stingrays, opalescent spotted Lagoon rays, Manta and Bull rays, plus be surrounded by over a thousand different species of multi-coloured fish! White and black tip reef sharks also cruise through the area - but don't worry, they do not bother humans!
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| Photo credit: fjaine - underwater diving with ray - Gladstone |
Water Sports & Activities Gladstone
Only 20 minutes from Gladstone city are the holiday towns of Tannum
Sands and Boyne Island. These neighbouring coastal towns boasts a wonderful
climate all year round and their waters offer great locations for swimming,
kite surfing/boarding, boating and fishing.
Another set of twin towns that have great options for water sports are
the seaside townships of Agnes Waters and Seventeen Seventy. Located just 1.25 hours’
drive south of Gladstone, Agnes Water’s unspoilt beach is the most northern
surfer's beach in Queensland. The suburb of Seventeen Seventy derived its name
to commemorate the first Queensland landfall for Captain James Cook in May
1770.
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| Heron Island |
With a big offering of different water sport activities to choose from,
there won't be a dull moment while you're in Agnes Waters! Relax and unwind on
the peaceful, pristine beaches; or swim, dive and fish in the crystal clear
waters. Learn to surf, try paddle boarding, sail the waves with a hired boat,
or kite surf alongside dolphins!
For a unique adventure, try a Larc tour (large amphibious craft) that
can drive on land and sail on water! This tour operator offers short and
daylong rides - covering coastlines of Seventeen Seventy and
estuaries, across the sand dunes (where you'll get to sandboard!), to the
remote Bustard Head Lighthouse situated inside the beautifully preserved
Eurimbula National Park. For more information on Larc tours, visit www.1770larctours.com.au
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| 1770 Larc tour |
If you like kayaking and canoeing, you'll enjoy 1770 Liquid Adventures!
This tour operator provides kayak hire and guided tours along the spectacular
town of Seventeen Seventy. Meander through the headlands and reserves while
watching the sunset or get up close and personal with dolphins and other marine
life. Stop over and rest on picturesque, secluded beaches and deserted coves.
For more information on 1770 Liquid Adventures, visit www.1770liquidadventures.com.au
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| Gladstone Beach |
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| Fitzroy Reef |
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| Fitzroy Reef Lagoon |
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| Southern Great Barrier Reef - Queensland |
Metro Hotel and Apartments Gladstone plus Apartments G60 Gladstone are located conveniently in the centre of Gladstone.
Both properties are perfect for short or long stays as they offer fully serviced apartments with fully self-contained laundry services.
The hotel is located on top of a hill, which means many rooms have excellent harbour, city and hinterland views. The property also boasts an onsite restaurant called Rocksalt (popular with the locals), a swimming pool and barbeque area, plus undercover security parking.
The fully serviced Apartments G60 Gladstone can also cater to extended stays of six months or more.
Click here to view Metro Hotel and Apartments Gladstone
Click here to view Apartments G60 Gladstone
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| Apartments G60 Gladstone - Bedroom |
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| Apartments G60 Gladstone - Exterior |
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| Apartments G60 Gladstone - Kitchen |
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| Metro Hotel & Apartments Gladstone - Livingroom |
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| Metro Hotel & Apartments Gladstone - Swimming Pool |
