Brampton Island

Brampton Island is one of the most southern islands in the Whitsundays Islands Queensland. Like many of these islands it has beautiful beaches and a range of water activities to enjoy.

We flew into the island from Mackay on a light plane, an experience that gave us a great view of the island as we came into land. We purchased the all inclusive meals package which ended up being a fantastic idea as the food was amazing with a different 3 course gourmet meal served everynight.

The island is a National Park so its not overdeveloped and there are  a range of walking tracks which allowed us to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. We saw some stunning sights whilst circumnavigating the island and a range of birds and butterflies.

The highest point of the island is Brampton Peak which is 214 metres above sea level. It was a bit of hike to the top but the views were worthwhile.

At low tide you can walk to nearby Carlisle Island and relax on the beach looking back at the resort. You can then walk or swim back to Brampton Island.

I loved snorkelling in the shallow waters between Brampton and Carlisle Islands or just relaxing on one of the many beaches.

A great way to end a day on Brampton Island is to have quiet drink and watch the sunset across the ocean.

The resort was sold by Voyages in 2010 to Brampton Enterprises and was closed in January 2011 for redevelopment. 

Healesville

Healesville is located in the Yarra Valley, Victoria and is probably best known as the home of the  Healesville Sanctuary. The Sanctuary showcases more than 200 species of Australian wildlife which can be viewied in natural habitats set amongst 30 hectares of bushland.

You can see koalas, dingos, platypus, kangaroos, wallabys and a range of birdlife. 

Not to be missed is the Spirits of the Sky spectacular which is scheduled at 12 pm and 2.30 pm each day.

The new children's play area is a fantastic place for children to play and explore.

The Land of the Parrots is worth a visit as you will probably get an opportunity to have one feeding out of your hands. 

The Sanctuary also has a range of Magic Moments to enjoy. These cost an additional money but are well worth the experience of getting up close with the animals.

The Sanctuary incorporates a wildlife hospital where you can view the amazing work they do saving and treating sick and injured wildlife.

Healesville has much more to offer than just visiting the Sanctuary, as it's  surrounded by beautiful Australian bushland.  A great place to enjoy this, and located only a short drive from the Sanctuary, is Badger Creek. The picnic ground includes toilets and BBQ's and there are a range of tracks to wander along and experience the beauty of the area. These range in distance, with 2 shorts ones of approx 1 kilometre each being the Coranderrk track and the Lyrebird track.

The Corranderrk track is named after an Indigenous Mission that was established in the area in 1863 after a group of Wurundjeri elders squatted on a traditional camping site on Badger Creek and requested ownership of the site.  The Lyrebird track is named after the lyrebird a ground dwelling bird that has the ability to mimic the natural and artifical sounds of their environment. We saw a female lyrebird whilst wandering along that track.

There are a range of penstocks located at Badger Weir which are used to regulate the flow of water into Coranderrk Weir. This pipe ensures water continues to flow into Badger Creek retaining the water supply to the many animals and birdlife that still live in the area.

1 Day Yarra Valley Private Tour - Wildlife and Wine

1 Day Wildlife and Puffing Billy Private Tour