Skip to main content
Proudly Australian owned & operated Speak to one of our experienced consultants 1300 414 198 · 7 days a week
Starts at 60
Get in touch
Rail journey · Travel at 60 · 6 nights

Heron Island & Central QLD: Over-60s Social Getaway (2026)

  • Guided Heron Island and reef tours exclusive to Travel at 60 travellers
  • Local host Darryl shares 40 years of regional knowledge and hidden gems
  • Complimentary access to Yaralla Fitness Centre, internet access and in-room movies
From
$2,655 pp twin share
$3,488 pp solo share
6 nights
Enquire
You have missed the boat

This holiday is no longer available — but we can help you find something else.

Find me something similar or call 1300 414 198
When & how much

Choose your departure

2 departures

  1. Fri 30 Oct 2026 → Thu 5 Nov 2026 6 nights · Brisbane · Tilt Train Rail $2,655 from $2,655 pp twin share Departs in 3 days Select
  2. Fri 13 Nov 2026 → Thu 19 Nov 2026 6 nights · Brisbane · Tilt Train Rail $2,655 from $2,655 pp twin share Enquire
Departs Fri 13 Nov 2026 Returns Thu 19 Nov 2026
Duration6 nights
OperatorTravel at 60
StyleRail journey
HighlightA seven-day escape from Brisbane exploring Heron Island, Gladstone, Agnes Water and Town of 1770 with fellow over-60 travellers
Roundtrip from Brisbane (return rail included). Includes 3 days on Heron Island, a "LARC+Lunch" experience at 1770. PLUS 4.5-star Gladstone accommodation, most meals, transfers and activities

Explore Heron Island, Gladstone, Agnes Water and Town of 1770 with new over-60 friends!

Your next perfect holiday is closer than you think! Join a group of like-minded travellers for 7 days of easy, ready-made fun.

This exclusive Travel at 60 package includes return train travel from Brisbane to Gladstone, three days on Heron Island, four nights of 4.5-star accommodation in Gladstone, daily breakfast & dinner plus a great itinerary of activities.

Your host in Gladstone will be Darryl, a beloved local of 40 years (and winner of Citizen of the Year in 2020), who will share his vast knowledge of the region, take you to some truly hidden gems, and offer a hugely entertaining experience every step of the way.

Life in transit

Tilt Train

Details
Tilt Train
Day by day

Itinerary

  1. 1

    Arrive Gladstone

    Travel between Brisbane and Gladstone aboard the comfortable Tilt Train, enjoying a smooth journey north and avoiding the traffic. On arrival into Gladstone at approximately 5:30pm, you will be met and transferred to Mantra Gladstone – your home for the next three nights. After time to settle in, enjoy dinner in-house at Encore Restaurant.
    Mantra GladstoneD
  2. 2

    City Sights & Art Trail

    After breakfast at the hotel, explore what makes Gladstone such an important regional hub. This morning's tour showcases the city and its industries before travelling to Lake Awoonga Aquaculture. Continue to the coastal twin towns of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands, with lunch at Tannum Sands Hotel (own expense). In the afternoon, visit Ocean Breeze Art Gallery – a community collective featuring works by talented local artists. Return to Gladstone mid-afternoon with time to relax before dinner at Yacht Club Gladstone.
    Mantra GladstoneBD
  3. 3

    Discovery Coast Experience

    Journey south to the beautiful Discovery Coast, home to Agnes Water and the historic Town of 1770. Board the iconic LARC amphibious vessel for the LARC & Lunch experience, discovering the region's stunning scenery, Indigenous heritage and the significance of Captain James Cook's landing. Return to Gladstone mid-afternoon with time to freshen up before dinner in-house at Encore Restaurant.
    Mantra GladstoneBLD
  4. 4

    Heron Island Escape

    Enjoy an early breakfast before checking out of the hotel. Transfer to Gladstone Marina to check in for your ferry to Heron Island. Arriving around midday, you'll be welcomed to this pristine Great Barrier Reef paradise. After lunch (own cost), join an exclusive guided island tour. The remainder of the afternoon is free to arrange optional activities such as snorkelling, reef walks, dive trips, spa treatments or a semi-submersible experience for those who prefer to stay dry. Dinner this evening is at Shearwater Restaurant.
    Heron Island ResortBD
  5. 5

    Reef Discovery

    Following breakfast at the resort restaurant, enjoy a guided reef tour (tide dependent), offering an incredible opportunity to experience the reef up close. The rest of the day is at leisure to further explore the island or participate in optional activities. Dinner will be served at Shearwater Restaurant.
    Heron Island ResortBD
  6. 6

    Return to Gladstone

    After breakfast, check out of Heron Island by 10:00am. Late morning, depart by ferry back to Gladstone, arriving approximately 3:00pm. Transfer to Mantra Gladstone for your final night. This evening, celebrate a wonderful getaway with a farewell dinner and drinks at Yaralla Sports Club.
    Mantra GladstoneBD
  7. 7

    Farewell

    Enjoy an early breakfast and check out by 7:15am. Transfer to Gladstone Railway Station to board the Tilt Train for your return journey to Brisbane, arriving mid-afternoon after a memorable six-night escape to Queensland's Central Coast and the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
    B
What you get for the price

Inclusions & exclusions

What’s included

Tour Includes

  • Return economy seats on the Tilt Train from Brisbane to Gladstone
  • Return transfers from Gladstone Rail Station to Mantra Gladstone
  • 4 nights accommodation at Mantra Gladstone
  • Return ferry transfers from Gladstone to Heron Island
  • 2 nights accommodation at Heron Island + 2 guided tours
  • Daily itinerary with experienced tour guide in Gladstone
  • 6 Breakfast, 6 Dinners & 1 Lunch

Highlights

  • Tour of the city, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands
  • Visit the Barramundi Hatchery
  • 2 hour LARC + Lunch excursion
  • Exclusive to Travel at 60: Heron Island guided Island and Reef tours
  • 3 days on Heron Island to do as much (or as little) as you want

Not included

  • Any additional meal or drinks
  • Additional tours at Heron Island
  • Alcohol
  • Travel Insurance
Where you’ll stay

Accommodation

Mantra Gladstone

The award-winning Mantra Gladstone is a stylish and modern 4.5 star hotel within minutes of the city centre. The hotel features 60 premium accommodation rooms, secure undercover parking and complimentary internet access. The Superior Rooms feature either two queen beds or a single queen bed, and balcony. Beautifully furnished with modern decor these spacious rooms offer all the comforts a traveller requires. Includes complimentary access to the Yaralla Fitness Centre, internet and movies within the room.

Heron Island

Experience nature at its best. World-famous for its spectacular coral reef and a sanctuary for an extraordinary variety of marine life, this natural coral cay provides a genuine eco-experience and the unique opportunity to witness the magic of the world’s largest coral reef. 

At Heron Island, you are not simply a hotel guest, you are a guest of nature – sleeping, playing and exploring a protected sanctuary overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. As a self-rated 3.5* property, accommodation features relaxed, low-key comfort and immediate access to crystal clear waters teeming with colourful fish, turtles, rays, reef sharks and more.

Heron Island caters to all levels of marine enthusiasts with 20 dive sites easily accessible by boat within minutes of the jetty. The most popular activity is snorkeling straight off one of the stunning beaches onto the Great Barrier Reef. Join a guided nature walk or star gazing tour, be pampered with a signature therapy at Aqua Soul Spa or head to Baillie’s Bar, the ideal location to enjoy the panoramic reef views.

Standard Room Mantra Gladstone
Standard Room Mantra Gladstone
From the operator

Common questions about this voyage

HERON ISLAND

As a keyless property guests do not need to worry about carrying a key with them while snorkelling, diving or undertaking any of the other many activities available at Heron Island. Rooms can be locked from inside the room and a safe is available at reception if needed.

What is a LARC?

LARC stands for Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo vehicle. An ideal all-terrain vehicle, its design allows for the transition from water to land, or reverse, to be done on a range of shorelines. 1770 Larc! Tours vessels are well equipped for accessing the 27kms of picturesque coastline along the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Climbing headlands, 4WDing over sand dunes, traversing tidal creeks and riding surf, even with heavy loads, prove to be a piece of cake for these bright pink mean machines.

Willing to Share?

One of the advantages of taking a dedicated Travel at 60 group is that we have the ability to match solo travellers who wish to avoid the single supplement. Please let us know if you would prefer to share.

NOTE: this option is subject to availability of another traveller of the same gender willing to share.

Ready to lock in?

Book this rail journey

Send us an enquiry and a consultant will be in touch, or call 1300 414 198 for personal help choosing a departure.

Enquire about this rail journey
The fine print

Terms & conditions

Read the operator’s full booking conditions

Minimum numbers are required for tour to proceed.

Non-Refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure booking.

Final payment due no later than 45 days prior to travel.

Travel at 60 Social Getaways

Travel further when you're not travelling alone

Our Social Getaways are small-group holidays designed especially for over-60s Australians who want the freedom of a great trip without the work of planning every detail. A Travel at 60 host travels with the group, the operator handles the logistics, and you get to focus on the bit that matters — the people, the places, and the stories you'll bring home.

Open to solo travellers too. Many of our travellers book on their own and find their feet quickly in a friendly group of like-minded Australians. Reduced single-supplement options are available on most departures — ask one of our consultants and we'll talk you through what's offered on this trip.

  • A friendly Travel at 60 host — an Australian face on the ground, looking out for the group from day one.
  • Curated local guides & boutique suppliers — the same operators we'd book for our own families.
  • Real itineraries, not whirlwind tours — comfortable transfers, breathing room, and the “off the beaten track” stops the big bus tours skip.

Want to talk it through? Call 1300 414 198 7 days a week, Queensland time, and one of our consultants will walk you through it.

— The team at Travel at 60

A Travel at 60 host with travellers on a Social Getaway
From (twin) $2,655 pp
From (solo) $3,488 pp
Enquire