Quoin Island Gladstone sits about 5 km off the harbour and is private land, not a picnic island. The Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and Quoin Island Retreat take booked groups and Quoin Island volunteering only. For a public barge beach use Facing Island or Curtis Island.

🌴 Why Visit Quoin Island Gladstone

Quoin Island Gladstone is the private harbour island behind the region’s sea-turtle hospital, not a picnic beach you step off a public barge. Most people who belong here are booked volunteers, education groups or private-event guests. If you want a harbour island you can actually land on without an invitation, go to Facing Island or Curtis Island.

🎣 Things to Do

🐢 Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre — pre-booked education visits only.
📅 Private events — weddings and groups when the owners accept a booking.
🙌 Volunteer days — live-on-island care work when a place is open.
🌅 Harbour views — for people already invited onto the island.
🚫 Not a public activity list — no walk-up kayaks, picnics, garden walks or jetty swims.

🐢 Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

🏥 The Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre opened in 2012 and treats sick and injured sea turtles from Yeppoon to Agnes Water.
🐢 Species — green, flatback, hawksbill and loggerhead. 📈 Results — about 70 percent released. No government funding.
📞 Injured turtle — phone 0408 431 304. Do not boat the animal here yourself.
📍 Hotspot — Lilley’s Beach is their number-one stranding beach.
🏫 Talks — school and group sessions on-island or off-island. Email kim@quoinislandretreat.com.au.

🏠Quoin Island Retreat

🏠 What it is — Quoin Island Retreat is the volunteer base and private-event venue on the southern end.
🚫 Not a public resort — no walk-up rooms, no Sunday session, no restaurant night.
📰 2025 status — the old tourism stay had stopped. Centre posts say closed to the public.
📅 What still happens — accepted private events, and cabins used by people on placement.
🐕 No pets — native wildlife on the island.
🛒 No shops — groceries come across by boat for people who already have a place here.

🙋🏻‍♀️Quoin Island Volunteering

🙌 What it is — Quoin Island volunteering is live-on-island care work, not a weekend tour.
⏳ Waitlist — places are limited. The 2026 intake has been running toward 2027.
✉️ Apply — resume, cover letter, photo and dates to kim@quoinislandretreat.com.au.
🚫 Rules — no smoking, no pets, usually single placements, valid Australian work rights.
📦 Life on island — weekly grocery drop, shared kitchen, no nightlife.

🗺️ Getting to Quoin Island Gladstone

📍 Gladstone Harbour — about 15 minutes by private boat when you are invited.
🚫 No public ferry — the Curtis barge is for Facing Island and Curtis Island.
🚫 No casual landing — do not anchor and walk ashore.
🅿️ Marina parking — paid mainland parking while you wait for a booked transfer.
💡 Confirm first — ask the centre before you leave the wharf.

💡 Local Tips

📞 Save 0408 431 304 — use this number for a floater or injured turtle on a Gladstone beach.
🚫 Do not turn up — you will be turned away without a booking.
🔗 Public beaches first — Boyne Island Beach, Tannum, Facing Island, Curtis Island.
🧭 Wrong Quoin — Mitirinchi National Park is Cape York and closed. This page is the harbour island only.

🗺️ Nearby Attractions

🏝️ Facing Island — public barge, 4WD and The Oaks camp.
🏝️ Curtis Island — public barge, South End and national park camps.
🏝️ Heron Island — overnight reef resort, not a harbour picnic.
🏖️ Boyne Island and Tannum Sands — sealed foreshore and cafes.
🐢 Lilley’s Beach — 4WD permit strip and the clinic’s main rescue beach.

📆 Events & Markets Nearby

🛍️ Gladstone Marina Markets — monthly mainland stalls when running.
🎶 Gladstone Harbour Festival — Easter on the mainland.
🎄 Gladstone Christmas Markets — December only.
👉 Gladstone Attractions — full mainland list on the Gladstone Attractions page.

For a full list of what’s on in the region, visit the
👉 Gladstone Attractions | Best Things to Do Near Gladstone Beaches

🛏️ Accommodation & Quoin Island Retreat

🚫 No public hotel book — there are no walk-up rooms.
🙌 Volunteer cabins — used by people on placement.
📅 Event groups only — venue hire when a booking is accepted.
🏨 Sleep on the mainland — Gladstone, Boyne Island or Tannum the night before a booked transfer.

For bookings and enquiries contact Quoin Island Retreat on 0408 431 304 or email kim@quoinislandretreat.com.au.

📖 Read Accommodation Reviews
📸 Submit Your Accommodation Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.

🍴 Places to Eat & Drink

Quoin Island offers a private island experience with meals available exclusively for guests staying at the Quoin Island Retreat. Enjoy freshly prepared dishes featuring local produce, buffet-style dining, and drinks overlooking the Coral Sea. Day visitors are encouraged to bring snacks or picnic items for their visit — then share your favourite food and drink experiences below!

📖 Read Food & Drinks Reviews
📸 Submit Your Food & Drinks Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly with your review.

💬 Share Your Quoin Island Beach Photos & Reviews

📸 We’d love to see your favourite moments from the Gladstone Region and its nearby islands! Upload your photos, share your experiences, and leave a review to help other visitors discover this stunning part of Queensland’s Southern Great Barrier Reef.

📖 Read Beach Reviews
📸 Submit Your Beach Review
💡 Please note: Full names and emails are kept private — only your chosen Display Name will appear publicly.

💙 Explore More Beaches Nearby

Discover more of Gladstone’s nearby island escapes:
Facing Island ➜ | Curtis Island ➜ | Heron Island ➜ | Boyne Island ➜

🌊 About This Beach Directory

🌴 Note: This directory doesn’t include every beach in Queensland — there are simply too many! We’ve selected the most significant and unique beaches based on a range of factors including natural beauty, accessibility, and local popularity.

💌 If you think we’ve missed one that deserves to be featured, we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Email us at Admin@QldBeach.com with your photos and tell us why your favourite beach should be added.

☀️ Happy surfing, swimming and sunning from the Queensland Beach Guide team!

← Go Back

✅ Queensland Beach Guide contains affiliate links. This means if you click on certain links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we genuinely believe will help our readers. All opinions are our own.

_{Last updated: June 2026}

Quoin Island FAQs