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Wilson Island is the ultimate island castaway experience. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind Great Barrier Reef getaway in one of only 9 safari style designer tents. Following a day of world class snorkelling straight off the beach and exploring, curl up with a cool drink on your private, elevated, wood deck and enjoy your exclusive view of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.
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I found the cure for stress and tension: Wilson island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Best mini break in a long time! It’s for adults only with a maximum of 18 guests. It epitomises understated luxury in the heart of nature. There were only 8 of us including a beautiful family from Germany and a UK couple on their honeymoon. Seeing the reef experience through their wide-with-wonder eyes was magical. We snorkelled right off the beach daily with fish of all sorts, clams, turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks. And the Gob-smacking Wilson Bommie, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Mind blown. I fell asleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore in a comfy king bed. And woke up to sunrise across the coral sea You have to disconnect - there’s no wifi - and the only distractions are remembering the tide and meal times. No ensuites here: there’s a shared/central amenities block however each ‘tent’ gets its own dedicated shower room complete with deliciously smelling hair & body products. We were made to feel like VIPs but without any fuss by our delightful hosts Sheree and Alex . They made our stay effortless, belying the hard work that goes into providing an exceptional experience while running a small resort. Chef Eric provided us with three Delicious and generous meals each day using only Australian produce. Lunch and dinners were complimented by a very nice selection of Australian wine It was easy to get there! A flight from Brisbane to Gladstone the night prior, then a ferry to Heron Island (just in time for lunch), before a quick private transfer across to Wilson Is. My heart is full, my shoulders are down, my vitamin D levels are restored and a week later I’m still smiling! Worth every cent.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: We stayed 2 nights, I’d recommend at least 3.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Karen Sweeney, Owner at Wilson Island
Responded 3 weeks ago
On behalf of our team, thank you so much for choosing Wilson Island for your Great Barrier Reef Holiday and for your wonderful review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had an amazing time at Wilson Island for our Honeymoon. It truly feels like paradise with great snorkelling just off the edge, accommodation right on the beach and (while we were there) exquisite food prepared by very talented chefs. Because of COVID restrictions, there were only a max of 12 people on the Island which meant that despite having communal bathroom, we could each have our own designated shower area. This will likely change when the 18 person maximum is reinstated.
We found out on our last day, however, that our two hosts (Andrew and Bec) were leaving Wilson Island that day. While the Island is amazing, it was the food and the hospitality that truly made it special. Andrew and Bec felt part and parcel of the island, they took great care with every meal and were extremely attentive and welcoming to all the guests. When you are paying as much as you do each night to stay on Wilson, you expect high quality food and they truly exceeded this, with each meal being of restaurant quality. We were really sad to hear they were going but it is a testament to their professionalism that we had no idea they were leaving until we hopped on the boat on our final morning.
I would warn future guests to wait for more reviews to see what impact their departure has on the Island. I hope that Wilson Island management will bring in chefs of a similar calibre both in terms of the food they serve but also their friendliness, hospitality and professionalism. We feel very lucky to have timed our stay when we did! We will certainly be waiting to see future reviews (including photos of the food!) before we book our next stay on Wilson.
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Date of stay: October 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wilson Island is a beautiful piece of paradise. We were unfortunately unlucky enough to have a change of management over our stay but luckily only one day with the two new staff. The previous meals were 5 star plus and the changed staff meals were unfortunately lacking in expertise and finesse. I would consider them to be 3 - 4 star at best. The bathrooms were not cleaned during this last 24 hours nor was the only news update on the chalk board updated. This meant we had no idea of tide times, weather, meal times etc. The new staff also starting turning lights off after dinner to move us along and not sit and talk to the other guests. All staff were lovely but when you are paying for this type of experience, you expect a certain quality of service. I would recommend a visit as overall it was a very good experience. Hopefully these issues will be ironed out soon as this place is nature at its best!
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Date of stay: October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wilson Island is a unique, beautiful island getaway. We flew Brisbane to Gladstone, helicoptered over to Heron (30 mins) and caught the boat over to Wilson (30 mins). It is important to be cognisant that helicopter departure times both ways are changeable which can mean a wait on Heron (there are worse places to while away a few hours) and weight limits are strictly enforced. The ferry Gladstone to Heron both ways is another option but a longer trip at 2.5 hours.
On arrival we were met by the lovely Andrew and Bec, truly outstanding hosts - kind, calm, caring, great company and super hard working. We glamped in a large tent with a comfy bed and a deck overlooking the beach. The toilets are shared but guests generally have their own dedicated shower in the facilities block.
The beach is white sand, the ocean azure blue and the marine life abundant, you can snorkel, canoe or paddle board pretty much any time and enjoy the coral, see heaps of fish, turtles, rays etc.
Wilson is for people who love the beach and the ocean and truly want to relax and getaway from everything. There is no internet (except in emergencies) and it is truly about chilling and enjoying nature with some pampering via lovely food, drinks and accommodation thrown in. Thank you Andrew and Bec for a wonderful holiday.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Having just returned to civilisation following 3 nights on Wilson Island, we have to share how very special this island destination really is. We flew by helicopter to Heron Island from Gladstone and knew as we skimmed over the blue waters that this was going to be great. A short boat transfer to Wilson Island followed where we were greeted on the beach by our gorgeous hosts Bec and Andrew. They absolutely made our stay so very special by spoiling us with amazing food and treats and great wines and entertained us with great stories of their time on Wilson. Their love for their job is evident and their attention to detail perfection. Accommodation in stunning glamping tents is right on the water with each tent very private and with a stunning outlook over the water. We snorkelled and loved the abundant sea life including thousands of colourful reef fish, turtles, sharks, and even spotted whales breaching in the distance. Although the amenities are shared, we each had our own private shower with quality bathing gels and body lotions all Australian made. The little touches were much appreciated, especially the 5pm cheese platters withdrinks which we could take to the beach to enjoy the sunset. Andrew’s attention to detail with the food was fantastic - the red emperor to die for - and Bec is a wonderful host with nothing too much trouble. We have been fortunate to travel to a few spectacular islands but are happy to share the great news of Wilson Island as our most favoured island holiday in many years. Our transit back through Heron Island was seemless with Kat and Andreas adding personal service second to none on both occasions. You need to put Wilson Island on your holiday bucket list - we absolutely loved it !!!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wilson Island is a high quality experience unlike others. The environment is pristine and the opportunity to watch scores of turtles arrive each evening was unforgettable. Given that there are only up to 9 couples at any one time the opportunity to get to know similarly minded people is priceless. Snorkeling is outstanding as is the hospitality, food, atmosphere, accommodation (considering they are glam tents) and environment. We returned after 10 years and were delighted with the fun we had and the people we met.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â All are good. Seasons will bring different benefits for aspects.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LJLivingLife, Sales Executive at Wilson Island
Responded 8 Mar 2020
Thank you for your fantastic review. We are delighted that you had such a wonderful experience during your stay at Wilson Island. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon for your third visit to this unforgettable destination.
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We have just returned from Wilson Island inspired and already planning our next visit. We were graciously hosted by Andreas, Amanda and Les, who are truly some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Andreas is the GM of Heron and Wilson Island and, due a staff rotation, was filling in as host with his wonderful wife Amanda.
We have been fortunate enough to visit some of the most acclaimed safari lodges and resorts, and have always ranked them in two categories: those that leave you feeling like a tourist and those that leave you feeling like a guest. We now have a third category (of one), those that make you feel like friends. In this case friends with a tropical island!!
Don’t expect any Versace lamps or staff fawning over your every move, these guys tread lightly on this pristine little piece of nature. However what the three of them do achieve is nothing short of amazing. Andreas’ attention to detail is only matched his sublime talent as a chef. Amanda is ever vigilant, ever working to ensure your every need is met and never short of a kind smile or to stop for a chat. Les is simply a machine, not many men a third of his age could achieve all he does in a day. Then there is the nature.... These two little acres 100km out to sea on the reef with leave you breathless and yearning for more. Andreas has only been GM for 6 months, we can’t wait to see what his raw talent, leading from the front ethic and phenomenal work ethic will bring to these islands. Seriously folks, this place is a masterclass in how to do things right!
Grant and Janina Weyer, Noosa, October 17 2020
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 4 days on Wilson Island and were totally immersed in nature. Birds, turtles, Eagle Rays, reef sharks, fish and coral reef. Food and drinks were always top quality. One thing visitors need to be aware of is this location is remote and nestled in amongst wildlife. During Summer time thousands of birds inhabit the island and its loud and can be a bit smelly. If you are wanting to experience nature at its finest, you will love it! The location is secluded, tropical and spectacular and the caretakers ensure your stay is one to remember. Gourmet food and quality drinks mixed in with snorkeling and relaxing amongst an amazing ecosystem. Highly recommend a stay on Wilson if you want an experience to remember.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 4 days/3 nights on this amazing island. The fun started as soon as we left Heron Island with both dolphins and whales near the boat as we went across. Arriving at this magnificent place, we were greeted by the gorgeous hosts, Sam and Dan and lovely chef Kaz. Nothing was too much trouble for these three, they made sure we were pampered and fed the whole time.
You can do as little or as much as you want here. There are canoes and kayaks and snorkelling is straight off the beach. You MUST make sure you snorkel the Coral Gardens. It's one of the most magical places I have ever snorkelled. The water temp is fantastic. We went in July and a spring suit was fine. Please bring rock booties (you can grab them from Big W for about $8), you need them for walking on the beach.
The food and alcohol is plentiful and top notch. A treat we always looked forward to was the afternoon Charcuterie board with champagne or G and T on the beach, watching the sunset.
The tents are all in great spots and the beds are super comfy. They have everything you could need, and the views are amazing. Don't worry about your clothes, it's super casual.
I could go on forever about how fantastic this place is and how special Sam and Dan made us feel. They are also a wealth of information and advice. If you are considering coming here, just do it! You definitely won't regret it!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited Wilson Island for my 70th birthday as a special treat and we were not disappointed. Bec and Andrew treated us all like Kings and Queens with wonderful food and options for picnics, nothing was too much trouble for them. There is plenty to do if you want - snorkel, kayak, paddle board etc or you can just sit on your balcony and watch the tide the bait fish and the turtles. Beware - there is no ensuite in the tents and some are a fair way from the facilities., This fact is not highlighted in the information and we only discovered this after we had booked and paid. However, this did not cause us too much problem. We went over to Heron Island by helicopter which is a great way to travel, also be aware that there is no jetty on Wilson Island so be prepared for a wet landing, this was also not pointed out to us when we booked. I'd strongly recommend taking reef shoes as there are a lot of rocks and the foreshore is quite coarse shell grit. Best time out ever - no phones, papers or internet HEAVEN
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Date of stay: September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi robyn,
Sorry late reply, you will just beach things for during the day, night time just a warm jumper and maybe something to cover up, but you wont need much. Its amazing enjoy.
Cheers Andrew
There are more places to choose from in the Wilson Island area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$1,163 - AU$1,302 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandWilson Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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