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South Solitary Island
Open Days
Open Days
The Lighthouse Island is only open
to Tours for 2 weekends a year!
to Tours for 2 weekends a year!
Register your interest with us - next tours July 2011
Contact Jo or Tracey (02) 6652 9988
jo@precisionhelicopters.com.au
jo@precisionhelicopters.com.au
Visit South Solitary Island which is located 18kms from Coffs Harbour, NSW.
Rarely does an opportunity like this present itself as the
lighthouse island is normally closed to the public.
Inspect the lighthouse keeper's quarters which were built in 1880 and imagine living in this isolated outpost.
Included in this fantastic offer is an interpretive guided tour by National Parks and Wildlife Rangers and return helicopter flights.
View the beautiful Coffs Coast with Precision Helicopters as they fly you to one of the most remote island lighthouses in NSW.
2010 - Thank you!
Thank you to all who visited the island on these tours. Especially those that came from interstate.
Thank you to National Parks and Wildlife Service - this would not have been possible without you. Special thanks to Glenn Storrie and David Nalder.
Thank you to Australian Maritime Safety Authority for allowing the lighthouse to be opened. Special thanks to Lyndon O'Grady who came up from Canberra.
Thank you to Peter, Jim, Barbara and Jayne (all previous residents of the island) for your wonderful story telling and help with the tours.
Thank you to Lauren and the team at Starr Pr in Sydney - for all your marketing help!
Thank you to Jodie Evans and all the staff at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort for becoming our "Departure Lounge" and allowing the use of your facilities.
Thank you to Sheryl, Mandy and Bernie at the Visitor Information Centre for all your assistance!
Thank you - of course - National Parks and Wildlife Discovery Rangers.
Below is information on Tours held July 2010
Bonus - newsflash......
Tours for the first weekend will meet ex residents on the island. Talk to people that lived and worked on the island - they will be with you on your tours!
There are 4 Tour Options this year.
1 Hour Tour - including a visit inside the Lighthouse
1 Hour Tour - no visit inside the Lighthouse
2 Hour Premium Tour - an extra hour on the island plus a visit inside the Lighthouse
3 Hour Unique Tour - Specialised Tour - limited to 3 visitors
Part proceeds of your tickets go into a
Heritage & Maintenance Fund
just for South Solitary Island
Heritage & Maintenance Fund
just for South Solitary Island
You will help to save the island!
You will need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tour time for check-in.
Please allow yourself 2 hours.
Please allow yourself 2 hours.
What to Expect:
· The visit on the island will be for 1 hour with an approximate 10 minute helicopter flight each way.
· Tours will be conducted in groups of 4 or 8
· Once you have had a full safety briefing of the helicopter, the group will fly to the island.
· On the island you will be taken on a fully guided interpretive tour by NPWS Rangers to discover the islands unique natural, cultural and historic heritage.
· The tour will include inspecting some rooms of the Head lighthouse keepers cottage.
· Groups will stay together on formed concrete paths, children must be supervised at all times.
· Return to Pacific Bay Resort after the tour.
1 Hour Tour inc Lighthouse - $320.00 per person -
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2010 only
You will need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tour time for check-in.
Please allow yourself 2 hours.
What to Expect:
· The visit on the island will be for 1 hour with an approximate 10 minute helicopter flight each way.
· Tours will be conducted in groups of 4 or 8
· Once you have had a full safety briefing of the helicopter, the group will fly to the island.
· On the island you will be taken on a fully guided interpretive tour by NPWS Rangers to discover the islands unique natural, cultural and historic heritage.
· The tour will include inspecting some rooms of the Head lighthouse keepers cottage.
· You will have the good fortune to inspect the Lighthouse and ascend the spiral staircase to view the magical panorama from the Light Tower balcony. A representative from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will enlighten you with fascinating facts of the Lighthouse.
· Groups will stay together on formed concrete paths, children must be supervised at all times.
· Return to Pacific Bay Resort after the tour.
Premium Tour - 2 Hour Tour - $490.00 per person -
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July 2010 only
You will need to arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tour time for check-in.
Please allow yourself 3 hours.
What to Expect:
· Your visit to the island will be for 2 hours with an approximate 10 min helicopter flight each way.
· Tours will be conducted in groups of 4 or 8
· Once you have had a full safety briefing of the helicopter, the group will fly to the island.
· On the island you will be taken on a fully guided 2 hour interpretive tour by NPWS Rangers to discover the islands unique natural, cultural and historic heritage.
· The tour will include inspecting some rooms of the Head lighthouse keepers cottage, an opportunity to hear some stories of life on the island before it was automated in 1975 and a walk down to the old gantry.
· You will have the good fortune to inspect the Lighthouse and ascend the spiral staircase to view the magical panorama from the Light Tower balcony. A representative from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will enlighten you with fascinating facts of the Lighthouse.
· An opportunity for a more relaxed pace of experience on the island, where participants can more readily absorb the unique environmental ambience of the island and follow their imagination as it wanders back through time to ponder the colourful times gone by of generations of lighthouse keeper and their families. Time also to engage in casual conversation under the eves of the restored keepers cottage with Rangers, all the while spotting for the blow of humpback whales on their migration to more northern breeding grounds.
· Groups will stay on formed concrete paths, children must be supervised at all times.
· Return to Pacific Bay Resort after the tour.
For All Tours:
What to bring:
· One small backpack per group, water, camera, sunglasses, good hat that stays on in a strong breeze!, sun cream, waterproof jacket if showery.
· Wear long sleeved clothing and sturdy footwear, NO thongs or slip on sandals.
Departing from:
Novotel Pacific Bay Resort -
Pacific Highway and Bay Drive,
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
(3kms north of Coffs Harbour, just past the Big Banana)
A good level of mobility is required.
See Full Terms and Conditions here
Numbers are limited. Extra days may be released.
Actual time of day of your tour will be given to you closer to the departure date.
Tours may be transferred to alternate time/day if weather prevails.
Unique Tours - 3 hours - $950.00 per person -
Friday 30th July 2010 only (lighthouse not open)
Wildlife Special
Offering a longer stay on the island, a smaller group size and a more
intimate experience, the Wildlife Special includes key aspects of the standard guided tour of the island and around the light station with an added focus on experiencing the wildlife of South Solitary Island and surrounding Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Record numbers of Humpback Whales are moving past the NSW North Coast on their migratory journey to reach warmer water off Queensland in which to breed and give birth. South Solitary Island can be a magnet for whales which often linger around the island to rest and play. Join NPWS Discovery Rangers to watch out for these awesome marine mammals using powerful viewing scopes and binoculars and learn more about whale behaviour and biology. Other wildlife experiences at South Solitary Island can include encounters with dolphins, turtles and seabirds such as migrating Albatross.
Minimum Group size is three and bookings are essential.
Art & Photography Special
Offering a longer stay on the island, a smaller group size and a more intimate experience, the Art & Photography Special includes key aspects of the standard guided tour of the island and around the light station with an added focus on appreciating and capturing its ambience and visual qualities.
The South Solitary Island Lighthouse and Keepers' Quarters is a dramatic landmark feature with an impressive visual quality in a harsh cliff top setting. The natural and cultural heritage and architecture of South Solitary Island and its light station offers 
infinite inspiration for artistic expression. Join NPWS Discovery Rangers to discover the contextual background to the imagery of the island and landscape and take time to capture it.
Minimum Group size is three and bookings are essential. Note: see Terms & Conditions regarding Commercial Photography.
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Previous tours to the island
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click here
___________
(02) 6652 9988
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