Use Heron Island’s barge service to transport food and freight to our station.

The barge makes return trips from the mainland several times a month. 

Plan your delivery

Deliver your food and freight items to the Heron Island Barge Facility in Gladstone no later than 4pm on the Tuesday before the sail date.

Plan your delivery carefully to avoid disappointment. If your items don't arrive at the yard on time, you may need to wait two weeks for the next barge.

Barge yard opening hours:

  • Monday to Thursday: 7am to 4pm
  • Friday: 7am to 12pm
  • Weekends: closed

Organise your shipment

Follow these steps for freight shipments.

1. Check the barge timetable

The barge usually travels to and from Heron Island on Thursdays.

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 freight to the Gladstone barge yard

Remember: Your freight items must be delivered to the Heron Island Barge Facility in Gladstone no later than 4pm on the Tuesday before the barge 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.

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 on Thursdays.

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 on Thursdays.

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

    Heron Island barge timetable 2024

    Sail dateETD GladstoneETA Heron IslandDeliver goods to the Gladstone barge yard before 4pm
    November
    Thursday 145am11amTuesday 12
    Thursday 285:30am11:30amTuesday 26
    December
    Thursday 510am4pmTuesday 3
    Thursday 124:15am10:15amTuesday 10
    Thursday 1910am4pmTuesday 17

    Heron Island barge timetable 2025

    Sail dateETD GladstoneETA Heron IslandDeliver goods to the Gladstone barge yard before 4pm
    January
    Friday 39:15am3:15pmMonday 1
    Thursday 169am3pmTuesday 14
    Thursday 307:30am1:30pmTuesday 28
    February
    Thursday 137:45am1:45pmTuesday 11
    Thursday 276:30am12:30pmTuesday 25
    March
    Thursday 136:30am12:30pmTuesday 11
    April
    Thursday 310am4pmTuesday 1
    Thursday 178:15am2:15pmTuesday 15
    Thursday 243:45am9:45amTuesday 22
    May
    Thursday 157am1pmTuesday 13
    Thursday 297:15am1:15pmTuesday 27
    June
    Thursday 126am12:01pmTuesday 10
    Thursday 266am12:01pmTuesday 24
    July
    Thursday 105:15am11:15amTuesday 8
    Thursday 245:15am11:15amTuesday 22
    August
    Thursday 74:30am10:30amTuesday 5
    Thursday 214:30am10:30amTuesday 19
    September
    Thursday 43:30am9:30amTuesday 2
    Thursday 184am10amTuesday 16
    October
    Thursday 22:30am8:30amTuesday 30 September
    Thursday 237:30am1:30pmTuesday 21
    November
    Thursday 66:45am12:45pmTuesday 4
    Thursday 207am1pmTuesday 18
    December
    Thursday 46am12:01pmTuesday 2
    Thursday 186:30am12:30pmTuesday 16