By Bryn Wakefield

ABC Tropical North

Travel and Tourism

Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 11:15 am

An artist's picture of a water gondola at Stone Island.

In short:

Five groups want to buy Stone Island in the Whitsundays.

The 92-hectare land has a plan for a new resort and may cost $23 million.

What's next?

The seller is showing the island to possible buyers.

A new resort and gondola at Stone Island may soon be real.

Stone Island, near Bowen, was put on the market again last month with new development plans.

Richard Vanhoff is selling the 92-hectare land and has had offers from five buyers.

The buyers are willing to pay $23 million.

Locals snorkel and fish near Stone Island.

The resort plan includes 18 homes, bungalows, and a guest lodge in a special style.

A cable car may connect tourists from Bowen to the island.

Richard Vanhoff sells private islands and resorts in Queensland.

The resort could be as big as Hamilton Island, without an airport.

Buyers may have their own ideas for the resort.

Residents are careful about the sale

Stone Island has been for sale since last October and has had trouble finding new investors.

Zara Butler thinks the gondola may hurt the area's beauty.

Zara Butler says locals should be able to visit the island.

Stone Island had a wharf built in the 1940s for its first resort.

A guest lodge on the island will be upgraded.

A new wharf was built after Cyclone Debbie damaged the island in 2017.

Zara Butler welcomes investment but is concerned about the development.

Locals love tourists but want to keep their quiet lifestyle.

Council supports regional growth

Bowen has about 10,000 people and is planning new developments.

Bowen is one of Queensland's oldest towns.

Councillor John Finlay thinks the resort will help Bowen grow.

John Finlay questions if a cable car is better than a ferry.

A gondola may connect to North Head Island and Stone Island.

The council approved 18 villas and a restaurant on the island in 2023.

There is no deadline for selling the island.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 11:15 am

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