HERON ISLAND NATURE TOUR: 19 - 24 February 2025. Deposit of $965.00 - only 3 places left. Bookings close on 10 January!

Limited places remain - book your reef nature art retreat now! 

Experience the best of nature on Heron Island, world famous for its spectacular coral reef and a sanctuary for an extraordinary variety of marine and bird life. 

Heron Island is a National Marine Park in the Great Barrier Reef Protected Zone, and provides important habitat for unique flora and fauna. Our nature activities include exploring the ancient Pisonia Forest surrounding your beachside cabin during the peak breeding season for the Black Noddy Terns and Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters (Mutton Birds). See female turtles laying eggs and turtle hatchlings emerging, making their way to the sea for their epic ocean voyages. 

During this nature tour, document your observations through nature journaling with NatureArt Lab Director Julia Landford, and for artists enjoy the series of illustration workshops with Dr Lindsay Marshall. There are also lots of opportunities to photograph amazing wildlife during the week with incredible birds and marine species all around you. 

Our Heron Island Nature Tour includes: 

• return boat trip from Gladstone
• 5 nights accommodation and food at the Heron Island Resort
• nature journaling with Julia Landford; art workshops with illustration techniques for marine wildlife including turtles with Dr Lindsay Marshall
• a range of nature walks exploring the reef, island vegetation, birds and turtles
• evening walks around the island
• a visit to the University of Queensland's Research Station (optional extra)
• free time for snorkeling/diving* on the barrier reef surrounds, or relaxing in the pool
• a sunset cruise and much more! 

Dates:  19 - 24 February 2025

- Boat departs from Gladstone on Wednesday 19 February, and returns on Monday 24th February 2025. Details to be confirmed closer to the date. 

Cost: $3,860.00 per person inclusive of return boat fares from Gladstone, all accommodation (double/twin share), food, tutored art workshops, guided walks and talks. 

A 25% deposit of $965.00 inc GST is required to confirm your place; the balance of $2,895.00 is due by 23 December 2024. 

Our expert nature tour art and science team: Travel with naturalists Julia and Alan Landford who have led expeditions to Heron Island, Montague Island, Cape York and the Atherton Tablelands, and Tasmania, and internationally to Borneo, Costa Rica, The Galapagos Islands and other destinations.

Julia Landford is the team leader and Founding Director of NatureArt Lab and brings substantial experience with natural history, nature journaling and tour management. 

Alan Landford has a scientific background in zoology, specialising in entomology from the Australian National University. He also has substantial wildlife experience from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and other regions. 

Dr Lindsay Marshall  - our guest artist and tutor - is a world-renowned fisheries biologist and natural history artist. In 2021 Lindsay was inducted into the Australian Society for Fish Biology Hall of Fame - a lifetime achievement award - for her contribution to fish taxonomy and species identification through her artwork. In 2023 Lindsay was also honoured by her colleagues by having a new species of Hornshark named after her, The Painted Hornshark (Heterodontus marshallae). Lindsay has great respect for each animal that she paints and endeavours to represent each individual with accuracy, integrity, and a vivid life force. What Lindsay would ultimately like to accomplish with her art is to inspire a sense of awe for the natural world and, in doing so, motivate people to value and conserve it. 

Nature Tour Cancellation policy: 

We strongly recommend that participants take out comprehensive travel insurance against injury, illness, emergency medical evacuation, loss and damage to personal belongings, not being able to travel on a confirmed date of departure or tour cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.  

Any cancellations after the deposit is paid will incur loss of the full deposit, which helps to cover our costs for design and management of the tour program and early supplier costs incurred. 

For cancellations 120 to 60 days before departure 50% of the cost of the tour will be forfeited. If cancellation takes place 59 days or less before the start date 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited. 

If NatureArt Lab has to cancel a nature tour due to undersubscription, you will receive a refund of all payments made for that tour.

Please contact us at info@natureartlab.com.au if you have any questions. 

If you are interested in joining this nature tour in 2025, please let us know!

Photos: courtesy of Heron Island Resort