Our ninth Be a Guest Travel Writer winner, Michael Knott, discovers his inner Gilligan in luxury on Wilson Island.
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale... Okay, okay, I’ll spare you the rest, but if you’ve ever dreamed of kicking back on your own tropical island, with just enough cohorts to keep you from talking to the trees (or volleyballs), but are sadly lacking the requisite buffoonery that scored Gilligan his, I’ve found just the place for you.
How did they get here? See the Be a Guest Travel Writer Competition winning entries3 more to go! See the reports filed so far from the winners' travels
Wilson Island is a four-hectare oasis in the southern Great Barrier Reef. It is one of eight vegetated coral cays that make up the Capricornia Cays National Park, situated about 90 kilometres north-east of Gladstone. The island can only be accessed via nearby Heron Island; the inter-island boat trip takes around 45 minutes, and if the weather is right (or wrong?) the ride will provide just as many thrills as any theme park gimmick (say hello to the ‘washing machine’ for me). But if you have a weak stomach, don’t let this put you off, even if they made you swim the last couple of kilometres it would still be worth it. Let me put it this way: think of your perfect tropical paradise; erase the coconut trees (so cliché), and photoshop out all the little imperfections – that’s Wilson Island. Just remember that shorts are definitely the go for the ‘wet’ landing, and have your camera ready.
The accommodation on Wilson Island is luxury at its most unpretentious. Guests stay in one of six two-person tents (don’t worry this ain’t camping) perched atop a raised wooden platform and featuring spectacular vistas over the surrounding reef. Inside you’ll find everything you need for a perfect low-maintenance yet ultra comfortable vacation, including bedside LED lamps, embroidered robes, a hammock on the deck, and a water pot to wash away any stray sand from your feet before you slip beneath the covers of your king-sized bed.
Though it may be tempting to cocoon yourself away in the blissful isolation of your tent for the duration of your stay, a quick tip – meal time is not to be missed. During my stay I feasted on delicacies like scallops, kangaroo, quail, and fresh reef fish, each expertly prepared by Chef Toby in the intimate longhouse. If you’re prone to snacking, the kitchen is always open and stocked with goodies like chocolate bars and potato chips, and when you’re thirsty the eskies are stocked with premium beers and soft drinks. Oh, and then there’s the wine selection and the spirits...
But you can’t spend all of your time indulging, and a stay on Wilson Island just isn’t complete without a snorkel over the reef. The best snorkelling is just metres from the beach; as soon as you enter the water you will be surrounded (not literally, there’s just lots of them) by fish of every colour imaginable. The snap, crackle, and pop of the munching parrot fish (apparently they are ‘creating’ sand, but I’ll leave the physical process to your imagination) is a constant soundtrack as you cruise above the forests of spectacular coral. If you want to swim with a green turtle (they are indescribably beautiful and graceful creatures up close) the best times, from my experience, are early morning and late afternoon.
When all that activity becomes too exhausting, the best way I found to wind down in the afternoon is to grab a good book, stretch out in the hammock and take some time out to recover my strength. And you’ll need it for sunset champagne and canapés on the beach while you wait for the adorable turtle hatchlings to emerge from their caverns beneath the sand. Trust me, Gilligan and co. never had it this good. The only catch is that eventually you will have to leave.