SUN, SEA AND SECRETS

I have noticed that many places in Australia refer to themselves as the “best kept secret” but I truly think Russell Island deserves to be called that.  It is so close to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Many people commute to both for work and I am sure that no matter how hectic and stressing their day has been, all that falls away bit by bit once the ferry trip begins and weaves its calming magic.

And the island is changing, changing in a good way. In its laid-back, easy-going way the island can look quite busy on a Saturday morning. More houses are being built, more people are coming and have the pleasure of discovering what my husband and I discovered some years ago: a surprise of an island, a secret of sun and sea, of dugongs and turtles, of beautiful hidden wetlands, of precious flora and fauna and people who passionately, lavishly give their time to reinstating areas and wildlife so that we don’t lose what once was and should forever be.

I think the greatest gift to my husband and I, in living on Russell Island, is the lovely unhurried way of life and the friendly people. And of course the weather, so mild all year round. Even in the midst of storms and floods all around us, somehow on Russell we seem to be sheltered from the worst. Hot in summer is never as hot as it is on the mainland neither is the cold in winter as cold as it is on the mainland.

Russell Island is all that it promised to be when we arrived.

Russell Island – my home, our home – a friendly place with smile.