Curtis Island

This is rugged exploration at its best - Four Wheel Drive tracks to remote and secret fishing spots, back to basics bush camping, beaches, sparkling ocean, wilderness and wetlands.

Curtis Island is accessible by private boat or by a regular ferry service; although once on the island and camping you will need a Four Wheel Drive to get around.

Camping is permitted halfway up the east coast at the sand blow at Yellow Patch, not far from the Cape Capricorn lighthouse. More accessible for campers (just one kilometre from the barge landing point) is the grassy campground on the outskirts of the community of Southend.

Southend has some accommodation and eating options available for day trips or longer stays.

Birders will be in spotting heaven with jabirus, rainbow lorikeet parrots, cockatoos, herons, brolgas, sea eagles, wood ducks, black swans, and the rare yellow chat all inhabiting the island.

The aptly named Turtle Beach is home to the third largest flatback turtle rookery in Queensland so if you are visiting between October to March you may see nesting and hatching on the shore.

This island has seen many changes in its years, from a working cattle station, current liquefied natural gas hub and with plans to develop a luxury resort on the island in the future, it could just be the Gladstone region's best kept secret.