Gladstone QLD (Queensland Australia)

Gladstone is a port city in Queensland, Australia. Together with Tannum Sands and Boyne Island, the city has urban population around 50,000 and area approx 240 km2 (93 mi2). Gladstone is approx 100 km (62 mi) southeast of Rockhampton and approx 550 km (340 mi) by road north of Brisbane. Located between Calliope and Boyne rivers, Gladstone has Queensland's biggest cargo shipping port and is the gateway to the Capricornia Cays National Park.

The seaport (locode AUGLT) is managed by Gladstone Ports Corporation and consists of several wharves and terminal facilities, of which Boyne Wharf is used by Boyne Island aluminum smelter. The harbour's western part was expanded, primarily to allow increasing exports of LNG (liquified natural gas). Major exports include alumina, aluminum, coal, cement products, and chemicals (Ammonium Nitrate, Sodium Cyanide).

Over 50 million tons of coal passes through Port Gladstone annually, making up 70% of its total export shipping.

Gladstone Harbour is within Great Barrier Reef and historically supports QLD's seafood industry, with reported annual losses ~AUD 36 million. The city's primary industries are mining-related. Port Gladstone is Queensland's largest multi-commodity cargo port and Australia's 5th largest. It is also ranked the world's 4th largest coal export terminal. Gladstone Harbour is Australia's largest natural harbor waterway. The port offers direct access to the Great Barrier Reef's southern islands (located to the northeast) Heron Island and Lady Musgrave Island.

As cruise port, Gladstone is the gateway to Capricornia Cays NP, as well as to Boyne Island and Tannum Sands - popular for their relaxed lifestyle and beautiful beaches.

Capricornia Cays is a National Park (comprising 241 hectares/595 acres of coral cays) located approx 90 km (55 mi) to the northeast of Gladstone. The Park offers recreational activities like wildlife viewing (birds, whales, turtles), camping, swimming, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving. Capricornia Cays is also an Important Bird Area (has the world's largest nesting colonies of white-capped noddies, wedge-tailed shearwaters, and brown boobies) and provides habitat for many endangered species (plants and animals) including loggerhead turtles.

Capricornia Cays has eight vegetated islands of which seven are open for tourists - Erskine, Heron, Lady Musgrave, Masthead, North West, Tryon, and Wilson.

Gladsone's Millennium Esplanade (waterfront promenade) is another tourist attraction with many walking paths, shelters, BBQ sites, and long stretches of beach.

Port's cruise shipping business started in 2016. In 2018 were handled 5 ship calls, in 2019 - 14. It is estimated that each cruise ship visit generates ~USD 400,000 (AUD 500,000) for Gladstone's economy. This is based upon an average cruise tourist daily spending USD 200 (AUD 250) and visiting vessel with passenger capacity 2000. Among the largest cruise companies visiting the port are the aaa-owned brands Holland America, Carnival and  P&O Australia. From Gladstone are offered custom-made cruise shore excursions, including Port Curtis harbour cruises and Quoin Island Retreat (Turtle Rehabilitation Centre).

In 2018, the port operator Gladstone Ports Corporation started an expansion project (in the East Shores Precinct) with scheduled completion in April 2020. By this project will be built a new cruise terminal, water park, waterfront boardwalk (with playgrounds), floating pontoon (serving passenger ferry transfers, doubles as tour boats dock).

Gladstone QLD cruise terminal