HEART REEF WHITSUNDAYS

Heart Reef Whitsundays is located off the mainland of Airlie Beach, Queensland 4802 and is only accessible by boat, helicopter or scenic plane.

78 Km from Airlie Beach
71km from Hamilton Island
108km from Bowen
152km from Mackay

The exact coordinates are 19.7754° S, 149.2478° E. You can see the below Google map which also has a satellite view over Heart Reef.

Heart Reef Whitsundays is located 78km over the coral sea from Airlie Beach, so the options to visit this location are limited. Your options are

1. Scenic Flight By Plane
2. Helicopter
3. Boat

Option 1 – Scenic Flight Tour By Plane over islands and reef 

Taking an Airlie Beach Scenic Flight to Heart Reef Great Barrier Reef is the most popular and affordable way to see this so-called Heart Island.

FlyAus Charters have 6 to 8 flights departing daily for Whitsunday Airport just 5 minutes from Airlie Beach. The 70 Minute Flight takes a maximum of 5 people and flies over

• Whitsunday Island
• South Molle Island
• Daydream Island
• Whitehaven Beach
• Hill Inlet (swirling sands)
• Hayman Island
• Hamilton Island
• Hardy Reef
• Hook Reef
• Line Reef
• Heart Reef

These flights can book out fast so make sure to book ahead. ZigZag Whitsundays have the Sea and Sky Combo which includes FlyAus Charters scenic flight and a Whitehaven Beach Tour . To Find out more about the Sea and Sky Combo by clicking the button below.

Option 2 – Helicopter Flight From Airlie Beach Or Hamilton Island

Heart Reef Helicopters have flights to the heart island pontoon, there are a few different options including

• Heart Reef Scenic Helicopter Flight
• ‘Heart Island (pontoon landing)
• Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef scenic
• Whitehaven and Heart Reef Landings (time at each location)

for all the information visit their website here 

Option 3 – By Private Boat 

This option will take some planning as you can access the lagoon where the reef is by High Tide, and I mean very close to high tide. Even wait for the yearly King tides.

To access Heart Reef Whitsundays by boat will need to be very well prepared and have a good long-range vessel.

we only recommend this option for very experienced local boaties. To see more information on the marine area and restrictions please see below.

Heart Reef Zoning Map

 Heart reef is covered by the Whitsunday plan of management zoning restrictions and is a green zone in the Great Barrier Marine Park. This means a lot of activities like fishing, spearfishing and harvesting are restricted and not allowed, however boating, snorkelling and scuba diving are permitted around Heart Reef Whitsundays.

The below 2 images show Heart Reef in a green zone and what activities are allowed in a green zone within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

To see the full PDF (4mb) zoning map issued by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Click here

Closest Accommodation to Heart Reef

The closest accommodation to Heart Reef Whitsundays (ordered by shortest distance)

1. Cruise Whitsundays Reef Sleep on their overnight pontoon. see full details here 
2. Hayman Island Resort
3. Hamilton Island
4. Daydream Island
5. Airlie Beach

All of these locations have options of seeing and experiencing Heart Reef Whitsundays by plane or helicopter

How Was Heart Reef Discovered?

It wasn’t until 1975 that Heart Reef was discovered by an Air Whitsunday pilot called John Ramsden, and he was on a routine scenic flight over the Great Barrier reef, as he passed over Hardy Reef Lagoon he detected a natural coral structure that was in the shape of a love heart.

47 years later and John would have never imagined the significance of his discovery that day. Businesses have taken visitors to this small reef, various organizations have it in their name, Tourism Bodys market regions through the Whitsunday council as ‘’’ Heart of …” E.g. Collinsville is Heart of the Outback, and last but not least, thousands of wedding proposals have been created passing over Hert reef (lovers reef).

FAQ