Wilson Island has no theme parks or shopping strips. Its drawcards are a white coral beach, a pisonia forest and a rookery full of turtles and birds. The best Wilson Island attractions are all natural, and most of them follow the seasons.
The island is one of eight vegetated coral cays in the Capricornia Cays National Park, about 72 kilometres north east of Gladstone. It sits in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This page covers what there is to see and when to go.
Where Wilson Island sits
Wilson Island lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Gladstone Region. It is 15 kilometres from Heron Island, and it forms part of the Capricornia Cays Important Bird Area. The island is named after Sub-Lieutenant William T.P. Wilson of HMS Waterwitch.
If you are planning a wider trip, our Heron Island destination guide covers its neighbour, which is also the departure point for getting across. For general state planning, Tourism and Events Queensland runs the official site at queensland.com.
The beach and pisonia forest
The cay is fringed by a white coral beach and covered with pisonia forest. That is the whole landscape: a small, vegetated island with sand around the edge and canopy in the middle. We reckon it suits people who want quiet and wildlife rather than activities.
Turtles and birds
Wilson Island is an important turtle and bird rookery. Wildlife is the main reason to go.
Nesting season, November to March
From November to March, wedge-tailed shearwaters and green turtles use the island to lay their eggs. The Capricorn silvereye, a small bird found only on the southern Great Barrier Reef, is also present.
Hatchlings, January to April
From January to April, baby green turtles hatch and make their way into the sea. This overlaps with the late nesting season, so January to March is when the island is at its busiest for wildlife.
February closure
The island is closed during February for the bird nesting season. Plan around that before locking in dates.
Whale watching, June to September
From June to September, humpback whales can be seen travelling to and from their winter feeding grounds. It is a different season from the turtles, so the island has something on show for much of the year.
Staying on the island
The island's main land use is an exclusive resort run by Aldesta Hotel Group. Only eighteen guests can stay at any one time, in nine tents. That small number is an attraction in itself, as the beach and forest are never crowded.
Access is by boat from Heron Island, which Aldesta Hotel Group also owns, so our guide to Heron Island is a handy companion read. The resort was owned by P&O until it was sold to Voyages Hotels & Resorts in August 2004.
Weather by month
These figures are 1991-2020 averages for the Heron Island area, about 15 kilometres away, so treat them as a guide.
| 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 |
Summer is warm and wetter, with highs near 29 degrees. September is the driest month at about 22 mm, which fits whale season. For a general reference entry, see Wilson Island (Queensland). Anyone building a longer reef itinerary can also start from the Heron Island destination page.
Frequently asked questions
When is Wilson Island closed?
The island is closed during February for the bird nesting season.
When can visitors see turtles on Wilson Island?
Green turtles lay eggs from November to March, and baby turtles hatch from January to April.
When can humpback whales be seen?
From June to September, humpback whales pass by on the way to and from their winter feeding grounds.
