qualia’s Journey to the Heart tour is the ultimate Great Barrier Reef adventure to the iconic Heart Reef. The tour starts with a 30-minute helicopter flight over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and Heart Reef, before landing on the private Heart Island pontoon helipad.

After arriving at Heart Island, guests can expect to board a futuristic glass-bottom boat, especially designed and customised for Heart Island, before making the short journey to the Heart Reef. After exploring the Heart Reef by boat, guests will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the lagoon close to the beating heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Exclusive to guests of Hamilton Island, Heart Island is only accessible via helicopter. Developed by Hamilton Island Air, the state of the art split level pontoon caters for only six guests at a time. Snorkel around the coral in the neighbouring lagoons before returning to Heart Island for refreshments and a swim off the pontoon.

Developed in consultation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Heart Island commenced construction following a two-year environmental impact study. The pontoon has been designed to be ecologically sustainable, is moored in sand and is powered by wind and solar. Heart Island does not carry waste and only operates within a designated lagoon where regular reef health monitoring takes place.