St Helena Island Tours BYO Lunch (Manly departure)

Fra AUD A$ 65,00
  • Varighet: 6 Timer (ca.)
  • Lokasjon: Manly, Queensland
  • Produktkode: SHIMAN

River and Bay cruise to Brisbane’s best kept secret “hell hole of the south pacific”. St Helena Island is only 6 km SE of the Brisbane River mouth. Available on the Bay of Islands cruise and some weekdays. 

Departing from William Gunn Jetty, Manly 

Bookings available ONLINE or call our Fabulous Booking Crew on 07 3630 2666 for more information and to book.

Cost: $65 adult   $35.20 children (4-14 yrs)

  • BYO picnic lunch
  • Includes morning tea and guided tour cost

Departs: William Gunn Jetty 10am  Returns 1.30pm (approx)  (times confirmed on booking)

St Helena was a penal settlement for Queensland’s most hardened prisoners from 1867 to 1932. Officials travelled here from all parts of the world to study the settlement's techniques.  A most important feature being that the island was self sufficient. The prisoners grew their own food and crops, made their own boots hats and uniforms and exported goods to the mainland.

Our continuing research unearthed BUSHRANGER Captain Starlight alias Walter Gordon as a St Helena inmate!

Aboriginal usage of the Island dates back over 2,400 years.

The remaining buildings are over 100 years old.  They are made from a locally quarried beach rock joined together with cement made from the island’s lime kiln.

ESCAPES: Only about 3 prisoners escaped in 65 years.  In modern prisons, it’s about 3 escapes per month. Was this low figure due to the isolation OR the SHARKS that were actively encouraged around the island by throwing in blood, offal and meat scraps?

TOURS: This is our first historic national park.  There is restricted access with an accredited tour guide only. A gentle walk of about 2 hours with our entertaining tour guide will recapture the spirit of this “hell hole of the south pacific” as we visit the blacksmith shop, punishment yard, the black hole, museum, sugar mill, cemetery, lime kiln and the beach rock quarry.

People travel all the way to Port Arthur and Norfolk Island to see similar penal settlements - and yet this special Historic National Park and bird haven is right on our own doorstep!                         

“We‘ll whip you into shape so you don’t become a prison inmate”. 

* Call our Fabulous Booking Crew on 07 3630 2666 for more information and to book