St Helena Island Penal Settlement

Come and explore Queensland's first penal settlement and be enthralled by tales of prison life, the hardships suffered by prisoners and many other stories.

Take a trip back to a not to happy time in our colonial past!   The ruins will amaze you. 

INCLUSIONS:

• Morning Tea
• Barbecue lunch
• Entry to Ruins
• Guided Tour

Adults $85  Children $40 (4-14yrs) 

Our friendly booking team are waiting for your call on 07 3630 2666, to check on available dates.

NB: Wheelchair access is NOT available for any St Helena Island Tour cruises. The jetty at St Helena is NOT equipped for wheelchairs and St Helena Island is a natural terrain with uneven ground and paths.

for Hamilton Recreation Hub, Commercial Pontoon departure (including lunch)  MORE INFO

Sunday's:  2024:  4 February,  3 March,  7 April,  2 June,  4 August,  13 October

for Fort Lytton departure (including lunch)   MORE INFO

2024 - dates to be confirmed

for Fort Lytton departure (BYO lunch)  MORE INFO
Adults $65 pp (includes morning tea, guided tour, boat cruise)

See our  Cruise Timetable  page for all scheduled cruises.

St Helena Island is only 6 km south east of the Brisbane River mouth and was home to many of society's outcasts from 1867 to 1932.

Let our group of trained and entertaining tour guides take you back in time with a gentle 2 km walk as we visit the ruins of the Gaol, blacksmiths shop, punishment yard and sugar mill. Visit the lime kiln, olive grove and the fantastic renovated museum. Our tour guides take yearly refresher courses. We pride ourselves on factual history accounts, not made up stories for entertainment value.

TOURS: St Helena Island is a Heritage National Park. You are not permitted to walk around the Island without an accredited tour guide.

The TOUR IS NOT COMPULSORY, other activities such as a picnic or relaxing under the large shade trees are available to do if you would like to wait for the group to return.

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS depart Fort Lytton*, Hamilton and Redcliffe.

For school group prices please phone 07 3630 2666

*We recommmend Fort Lytton as a departure point for St Helena Island Tours. Click here  for more information on Fort Lytton.

We conduct a number of educationally focused tours to St Helena that are also suitable for the S.O.S.E. Syllabus for Years 4 - 8.

Our new and exciting Education Program has been developed by our experienced guides (National Parks and Wildlife Accredited), making this the ideal school excursion by taking the drudgery out of history. The excursion aims to ensure that students and teachers step back in time and appreciate Queensland's penal past.

Students participate by using character identification cards and role-play to observe, question, investigate and problem solve. Props and heritage costumes can be used if requested.

Teachers Please Note: No extra cost is involved by participating in this NEW educational program.

St Helena Island NIGHT Tours

Bookings for St Helena Night can be made online or by calling our Fabulous Booking Crew on 07 3630 2666

2024 - 28 September  - Night Tour 

Departs: Hamilton Recreation Hub, Commercial Pontoon 5.30pm. Returns approx 10.30pm

Adults $99 (All inclusive package) MORE INFO
 

Experience St Helena By Night. Optional: Dress up as prisoners or prison guards (prize for best costume)

• Two cruises for the price of one. Brisbane River + Moreton Bay
• Specific group themes catered for
• Delicious meal including dessert and fresh fruit
• Drinks package (beer, wine, sparkling wine, juice and soft drink) on return voyage
• Friendly professional service

On arrival, we move ashore with lanterns and torches. The ghostly cemetery is the scene of "reincarnation" of prisoners with particularly sad and disturbing tales.