Food and freight

Organise your shipment

Follow these steps for self-catering food shipments.

1. Check the barge timetable

The barge usually travels to and from Heron Island every second Thursday.

The barge timetable is subject to change, and public holidays and unforeseen circumstances occasionally affect sail dates.

2. Check prices and baggage limits

Check our prices page and contact us with questions about freight charges.

We recommend you send bulky equipment on the barge, and lighter excess luggage on the Heron Islander catamaran.

3. Deliver your food to the Gladstone barge yard

Contact us for information about Gladstone-based supermarkets that will take online or email food orders, and bottle shops and hotels that will take alcohol orders.

Remember: Your food order must arrive at the Heron Island Barge Facility in Gladstone no later than 4pm on the Tuesday before the sail date.

Clearly label your packages with your name and delivery details:;

Heron Island Research Station + your full name
11 Rooksby St
Gladstone 4680
Queensland

4. Tell us about your shipment

Email us at hirs@uq.edu.au to confirm the details of your shipment so we can prepare for its arrival.

The barge usually travels to and from Heron Island every second Thursday.

This timetable is subject to change, and public holidays and unforeseen circumstances occasionally affect sail dates.