North West Island - Nature's Aquatic Playground - Looking for a tropical island holiday? Would you like to snorkel or fish on the Great Barrier Reef or perhaps bird watching and turtle spotting are more your thing? Well, you may have to rough it, but for nature lovers on a budget, I think I've found paradise.

Take a break on North West Island a 100ha coral cay at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. In 1843 the island was sighted north west of Heron Island, hence given the name North West and was declared a National Park in 1980.

The island is home to an estimated 150,000 black noddies and more than 500,000 wedge-tailed shearwaters. They are graceful and skilled at sea but clumsy and disorientated on land. Their mournful howl can be deafening after dark, so if you are a light sleeper pack the earplugs.

North West Island is the largest green turtle nesting site on the southern Great Barrier Reef with nesting mainly occurring at night between November and February. Be careful not to frighten turtles as they emerge from the sea, bright lights and movement will see them return without laying. We watched in amazement as these prehistoric looking creatures made the hard haul up the beach followed by a long and laborious nest building process.

By day, you may wish to lie in the hammock, read a book, fish, snorkel, walk or watch the kids splashing in the safe and smooth waters. Days are often planned around the tides, on low tide take the 150m walk out to the drop off for some spectacular snorkeling with an abundance of fish and colourful coral. If diving is your thing, bring all your gear and store compressors in bunkers provided.

We took the tinnie to catch a feed, but on high tide found we spent more time pulling the kids on the boogie boards or tube than pulling in the big ones. It takes about 2 hours to walk around North West; carry a bag and collect any rubbish washed up on shore as you go. It all helps. The kids will find the walk fascinating as they climb the almost sculpture-like fallen dead trees and discover shells of all shapes and sizes. There is an inland track that takes you through the heart of the largest pisonia forest in Australia. The island is heavily vegetated, with other species including native elms, strangling figs, and coastal sheoks.

Camping is remote, there are 3 sets of composting toilets but everything else is your responsibility. I would suggest hiring an emergency radio on the mainland especially if you have children. Take plenty of drinking water (some barge services provide this for you - check when booking). You can be isolated due to strong winds, rough seas or cyclones so pack extra food, just in case. There is a limit of 150 campers at any time, so you will need to book well in advance for times like school holidays. The camping area is well defined, be careful to pitch your tent well back from where turtles may nest. Avoid camping near shearwaters burrows, if you are in their flight path they will fly into your tent every night.

Access to the island may prove a little challenging, and is easier in groups as you can charter barges out of Gladstone and split the costs. You will need to be ready for some serious exercise as all your gear needs to be loaded by hand including any boats, kayaks or canoes which need to be lifted on and off the barge. The journey takes about 6 hours so take the ginger tablets and hope for the best. If you can, stay at least 10 days, it takes a while to relax and get in sync with the tides. National parks charge $4pp /night, so once you're there it's cheap living. .

North West Island is beautiful and untouched. Its blue green waters are cool and refreshing, it's birds and turtles abundant. It makes a wonderful holiday for those of us who like to get back to basics, who love the smell of the ocean and marvel at the underwater world.
For more info log onto the government website or phone 131304