A wonderfully unspoiled Robinson Crusoe retreat, Haggerstone Island is a remote and exclusive sanctuary offering the ultimate in intimacy and privacy. Accessed only by air, it lies 600 km north of Cairns.

A unique and special place, Haggerstone is a private island that caters for a small number of guests willing to explore and experience the surrounding wilderness. The Guesthouse is set in a small complex of tropical timber buildings, gardens, orchards and dams. The island is teeming with fish and birdlife and surrounded by some of the most magnificent coral gardens in the world.

Guests will be amazed by the marine life on Haggerstone. Exploring shipwrecks, beach combing for WW2 artifacts, snorkelling and fishing are complemented by a superb yet simple mouth watering cuisine featuring all fresh natural foods. The incredible remoteness of Haggerstone and the simplicity of island life ensures this is one of Australia's most unforgettable experiences.

Anna and Roy Turner came to Haggerstone in April 1985 with a barge loaded with poles, timber, fruit trees, chickens and an old tractor. The island was covered in jungle, uninhabited and hundreds of miles from civilization. Little did they know at the time that they were to spend the next six years alone on the island as they created their own paradise and transformed the island into their home and future guesthouse.

Accommodation & Facilities:

The main building of Haggerstone is spacious and functional. Sunbleached poles and open sides welcome the cool island breeze. Driftwood collected on the beach is used to support heavy polished benches and an array of relics such as an ancient wooden dinner gong and Balinese beds add to the atmosphere.

There is a main kitchen, two bathrooms, dining area and an open fire on the front decks. There is a well stocked bar and library, but there is no television.

The rooms are in the form three hand-crafted huts, each with spectacular views out to sea. There are two round huts that are similar in style to the main building and feature sundecks. The beach hut is a rustic driftwood construction with outside shower and toilet. All have a kitchenette equipped with a solar fridge and ensuite bathroom. Each hut has a double bed and single sofa bed, with additional beds available if required.

Each hut can accommodate up to four people, however Haggerstone caters for just 6-8 guests at any one time. Daily room service and a laundry service are provided.

There is a good selection of classical and contemporary music CDs on the island, as well as a well stocked and carefully selected reading library.

Haggerstone offers a 7 metre twin engine powered catamaran, a 7 metre and a 6 metre fiberglass long boat that are all available for fishing, diving and exploration.

Fishing equipment includes a complete range of rods, reels and handlines to suit both river and open sea. Masks, snorkels, and assorted diving gear are also available.

Haggerstone does have a satellite telephone on the island, although it is NOT FOR BUSINESS while you are visiting! The satellite link supports both telephone and fax. They are also connected to the Royal Flying Doctor radio service for medical emergencies.

Dining:

All meals, fishing, snorkeling, and excursions are included in the cost, with the exception of drinks.

Most of the food is gathered and grown on the island, and is usually cooked on the sun deck fireplace. Tropical fruits, their own poultry, fresh seafood and vegetables, and an abundance of coconuts combine to produce a unique and rich variety of dishes.

Bread is baked fresh on the island and muesli is toasted with grated coconut. Fish is pickled and smoked and coconut is used extensively for both meat and "cream". Freshness and simplicity have guided the cuisine.

There is a good selection of red and white wines and a well stocked bar on the island. Before you arrive, they will check with you if you have any particular preference for wines or beverages, and buy these in for you, charging you only the purchase price.

Activities:

Fishing is excellent at all levels - rod, reel, or fly-fishing, reef, ocean or river. As there is no human habitation to nearly one hundred miles, the grounds around the island are rarely disturbed. Bait is caught of the island beach. Spear fishing is an every day method of food gathering also.

Snorkelling is at it's best and is safe all year round. Two clear water lagoons just off Haggerstone's beach put beautiful coral gardens right on your doorstep. Also close by they have discovered an 1840s shipwreck in a shallow reef garden. The utter remoteness of the location ensures that the marine life is prolific. Adjacent to Haggerstone on the Outer Barrier Reef is one of the largest Green Turtle rookeries in the world, and turtles are abundant in the waters off Haggerstone.

Beach combing along the pristine white beaches will provide miles of adventurous exploration.

Birdwatching on Haggerstone is a fantastic as the island harbours a dense and varied bird population. Sunbirds, honeyeaters, pigeons, eagles, kingfishers, finches and many others have made it their home. Dawn is a kaleidoscope of sounds dominated by the soft coos of the bar shouldered doves.

Helicopter flights are the best way to explore locations difficult to access, fish lagoons and estuaries on the uninhabited mainland. A Helicopter will transport you in style to dine on distant sand cays, or experience low level views of the wilderness surrounding Haggerstone.

What to Bring:

You really don't need much gear for a stay on Haggerstone. Long sleeved cotton shirts are recommended for sun protection. A hat, sandshoes for reef or bush walking, comfortable trousers for bush walking sarong, sun screen are all well worth bringing and if you feel inclined, something to change into for the evenings. Don't forget your camera and spare film. Casual wear and bare feet are the norm for the island.

Haggerstone Island operates in remote and often rugged locations. Guests must be in good health and have a reasonable degree of fitness.

Getting There:

Access to Haggerstone Island is via Cairns. From there a private charter flight is organized to neighbouring Hicks Island. The flight is two hours and takes in the spectacular Cape York Coastline and northern Great Barrier Reef.

From Hicks Island, you will be transferred to Haggerstone on a 20 minute boat trip.

It is preferred that the charter flight departs Cairns early in the morning so that returning guests are able to meet connecting flights from Cairns. This means that guests should be in Cairns for at least the night prior. However, later charters can be organized if you are unable to meet the early departure.

Haggerstone closes from 14th January to 15th March every year. (a minimum stay of 7 nights applies)