Haggerstone Island

Situated 600km north of Cairns, Haggerstone Island is incredibly secluded, unspoiled and private. The interior of the island itself provides a plethora of adventures but it is its location on the Great Barrier Reef that makes it even more special. The largest protected marine park in the world with its lagoons and reefs stretches from its beach, with fantastic snorkeling and swimming.

The five private guest houses at Haggerstone are all completely unique, beautifully made with timber and driftwood, and are placed in different settings with uninterrupted views of the turquoise lagoon and uninhabited islands. The focus here is very much on barefoot luxury and the houses are open plan, airy and have large decked areas. The Tree House has three separate buildings with a rope bridge which you cross to reach the bedroom in the tree's canopy. The newly built House Mawu has three bedrooms and is a self contained home with thatched roofs and starlit bathrooms.

The food at Haggerstone Island is the freshest imaginable, with maybe fruit or home made muesli for breakfast, oysters or squid for lunch and lobster barbecued for dinner - all harvested from the island and its surrounds. Food here is fresh, simple and delicious and the sand cay is the ultimate dining area for a candlelit dinner with the waves lapping at your feet.

Days can be spent here enjoying the beach and the calm waters for swimming and snorkeling - two clear lagoons are located just off the shore's edge and have beautiful coral gardens to explore. Birdwatching and beachcombing are other popular activities and the adjacent mainland's beaches provide miles of beach for walking and even 'sandboarding'. Helicopter access is available for some spectacular inland sights, fishing locations, tropical waterfalls and it is an unforgettable opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef from the air.

The hosts Roy and Anna have children of their own so families are more than welcome to this amazing hideaway.

Haggerstone has four private guest houses all with hot water, gas cooking facilities, a fridge, mosquito nets and lounge and deck areas. The Beach Hut is made from driftwood, is right on the beach and has a boardwalk leading to the open bathroom. The Kwila Hut & Lagoon Hut have polished teak floorboards, timber shutters and a sundeck with views through the coral trees to the reef. The Tree House is in three buildings joined by a bridge and the newly built three-bedroom House Mawu is a designer's dream. All include: fridge, gas cooking facilities, sink, plugs, bathroom with shower and WC, lounge and deck areas and laundry service.

Haggerstone Island is run by a family with two children and naturally children and families are more than welcome here. There is plenty for kids to do from safe swimming in the lagoons to beachcombing, sand boarding and spear fishing and as everything is so personalized, meals can be adjusted to suit their tastes.

Haggerstone Island has little in the way of formal facilities - nature is all you need here. The two lagoons make wonderful natural swimming pools and your hosts are on hand to guide you in anything you need.

Activities at Haggerstone include snorkeling, skin diving, spear fishing and nature trails. For an additional cost helicopter tours and fishing trips can be organized.

Winter (June-Aug) is high season in Queensland; the water can be chilly - at least to Australians - but its temperature rarely drops below 22°C. April through October is peak visibility time for divers. Summer is hot and sticky across the state. In North Queensland the monsoonal Wet season is from November or December through March or April. It brings heavy rains, high temperatures, extreme humidity, and cyclones. It's no problem to visit then, and the Wet or "Green" season allows an unusual opportunity to explore this region during a truly balmy time of monsoonal calms.