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

Contact us for details 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

Contact us for details about freight charges.

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
    January
    Thursday 412:30am6:30amTuesday 2
    Thursday 117am1pmTuesday 9
    Thursday 257:15am1:15pmTuesday 23
    February
    Thursday 110:45am4:45pmTuesday 30 January
    Thursday 1510:45am4:45pmTuesday 13
    Thursday 299am3pmTuesday 27
    March
    Thursday 149:15am3:15pmTuesday 12
    Thursday 288:45am1:45pmTuesday 26
    April
    Thursday 118:45am1:45pmTuesday 9
    Wednesday 246:30am12:15pmMonday 22
    May
    Thursday 96:30am12:30pmTuesday 7
    Thursday 235:30am11:30amTuesday 21
    June
    Thursday 65:30am11:30amTuesday 4
    Thursday 204:30am10:30amTuesday 18
    Thursday 2710:15am4:15pmTuesday 25
    July
    Thursday 44:30am10:30amTuesday 2
    Thursday 183:30am9:30amTuesday 16
    August
    Thursday 14am10amTuesday 30 July
    Thursday 152am8amTuesday 13
    Thursday 293am9amTuesday 27
    September
    Thursday 1212am6amTuesday 10
    Thursday 196:45am12:45pmTuesday 17
    Thursday 262am8amTuesday 24
    October
    Thursday 36:30am12:30pmTuesday 1
    Thursday 175:45am11:45amTuesday 15
    Thursday 316am12pmTuesday 29
    November
    Thursday 145am11amTuesday 12
    Thursday 285:30am11:30amTuesday 26
    December
    Thursday 510am4pmTuesday 3
    Thursday 124:15am10:15amTuesday 10
    Thursday 1910am4pmTuesday 17