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Reviews of Heron Island Resort

3.5 out of 5
Heron Island Resort
Via Gladstone, Heron Island, QLD

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 93 out of 231 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 97 out of 231 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 23 out of 231 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 14 out of 231 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 231 reviews" "

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing location and surrounded by wildlife non-stop
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

anne

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
staff were great and the whole trip was great dining should have more options at dinner
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
staff were freindly and helpful
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Fae

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Holiday of a lifetime. Turtle hatching and laying was amazing. Highly recommend Heron Island for an unbelievable experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lea

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The best place on earth! You wont regret coming to heron island the rooms are all in very close proximity to the beaches and everything is a 5min walk
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you Lea for sharing how much you enjoyed your Heron Island holiday!

10/10 Excellent

kristian

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing family wee stay, 2 days in paradise!
This island is amazing!! Wildlife galore! We came for the sealife sharks, turtles and fish etc and it didnt dissapoint! Birds are everywhere... if you like birds this island is good for bird lovers! The ferry over - booking went smoothly. Parked car in carpark opposite paid for but secured. Was choppy crossing but staff were helpful and always checkjng the kids were ok and not feeljng sick etc. Room- we went with 2 bedroom beach room. It was great view onto beach, spacious. Basic room with all what you needed. Room had a celing fan not aircon so was hot but its a 3 star property. Staffing- staff all over island we felt were friendly and helpful. Always happy to hear we having good time. Big shout out to 2 guys the man siging in bar was ace and deserves a mention. Also our turtle tour at night was brilliant. Tour guide was great loves his job! Wildlife - wow we seen so much. Just standing in paddling water and see sharks. Meals - we were quite happy wjth the food overall. Breakfast was a good selection, plenty to pick from. Lunch could have done with smaller lunch snack type food menu. Diners- both nights we had rhe butter chicken as was so good!! We found it ok priced too. Few reviews werent happg wjth the cost of buffets... i think they changed it now and its a menu instead buffets. Nice pool area. Free boardgames and pool etc in the bar. Defo recommend this place and hope to be back again!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you Kristian for your amazing review. Very pleased that your family enjoyed their stay.

10/10 Excellent

Craig

Travelled with partner, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We absolutely loved our stay at Heron Island. It was picture perfect. The snorkelling was incredible, so much marine life right off the shore. The staff were all incredible and super friendly. I've seen some bad reviews about the accommodation which was basic but fine, same as the food which was actually good. Also people complaining about no phone reception or tv although we found it was very refreshing to completely switch off from the rest of the world. If you can't enjoy Heron Island for what it is and need fancy accommodation and internet, then go somewhere else!
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
So happy that your family enjoyed your Heron Island holiday. Thank you for sharing!!

10/10 Excellent

Mariedith

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Its nature and close encounter to birds and turtles and marine life
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
So glad you enjoyed your Heron Island holiday!

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you Vanessa for taking the time to review your Heron Island experience.

10/10 Excellent

Siddharth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you for taking the time to review your Heron Island holiday

8/10 Good

Ivan, Kanata

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you Ivan for your review

8/10 Good

Michelle

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our week at Heron Island was wonderful - the facilities made accessing the outstanding marine life a joy.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you Michelle for your wonderful review

10/10 Excellent

Max

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Everything was perfect but the shearwater…lol
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Heron Island Team on 6 Dec 2023
Thank you for the review. Improving the dining experience is a priority. Our team continue to review their processes to improve the guest experience at the restaurant and bar

10/10 Excellent

Jinah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place has changes from 30yrs ago when I stayed there for the 1st time. It is still a beautiful place with great diving. It was good to see that reefs around it were not damaged. More rooms and upgraded facilities. No more just back packers. Now, it is more for families, couples, and older people. With proper diving boats now, diving was certainly more comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Heron Island Team on 6 Dec 2023
Thank you Jinah, we are so glad you enjoyed your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Graham

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Heron Island is an amazing place. So much wildlife just outside the door of your room. From turtles, rays, sharks to multiple different birds. It’s easy to snorkel off the beaches. The resort offers a range of activities. We loved our time there.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Heron Island Team on 6 Dec 2023
Thank you Graham for your amazing review, so happy you enjoyed your stay

8/10 Good

Christine

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 14 Jan 2024
Thank you Christine

6/10 Okay

Stephen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
staff excellent food very average island wonderful
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from Heron Island Team on 6 Dec 2023
Thank you for your very positive feedback for our team and the island. Our team continues to work towards improving the dining experience for our guests.

8/10 Good

Deborah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The location is amazing and the kayaking, snorkeling, bird and reef tours were fun and informative. The breakfast was ok, but the dinner was terrible. I don’t understand why it has to be that way.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from Heron Island Team on 6 Dec 2023
Thank you for your positive review for the island and our team. Improving the dining experience is a priority for our team.

10/10 Excellent

Tatiana

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

akihiko

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Facilities seem a little old. But nature is wonderful, so it's not a problem.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 22 Oct 2023
Thank you for your wonderful review

2/10 Terrible

adrian

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
I booked
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Response from Heron Island Team on 22 Oct 2023
AdrianThere is one public mooring outside the Heron Island reef which is the only option for guests who arrive on their own boat and cannot be guaranteed to be availableFor safety reasons, access to the channel and jetty shared by QPWS, HIRS and Heron Island Resort is strictly managed which you would have been advised if you had checked before arrival.

10/10 Excellent

jennifer

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful stay at Heron Island! Snorkeling and diving were excellent! The naturalists/guides were super informative and engaging. I-spy boat worth it, especially if you have anyone in your group not interested in snorkeling. If it’s a clear day, you will see lots of fish and coral. Food in the restaurant was really good, plenty of variety, good portions, friendly staff. (Prices comparable to good restaurants elsewhere.) Espresso drinks and cocktails at the bar were tasty! Room was clean, beds were comfy, extra blankets available in case you get chilly. We did end up spending an extra day because a storm rolled in earlier than expected and the ferry out was cancelled. But, the reception folks were great at getting us situated back in a room and arranging a helicopter ride out as soon as possible. (Far more expensive than the ferry, just a heads up.) Good to book your activities early, before you arrive on the island. Sign up for the walks and talks when you get there - some limit the number of participants, and the guides are awesome, so definitely worth joining in if you can. Bring a good book in case it rains. Make sure your plans after have some flexibility in case the weather turns and you have to stay an extra day or more. We went end of July, not crowded at all, really pleasant temperature. Planned three nights, which was plenty to do everything we wanted.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 25 Jul 2023
Thank you Jennifer for choosing Heron Island for your Great Barrier Reef Holiday and for taking the time to share such wonderful feedback for our team and your holiday!!!

8/10 Good

Irene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Hal

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Angel

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jedrzejewski

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely oasis
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

China

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Surrounded by amazing marine life.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Theresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful area, slightly outdated accommodation but very liveable. Love the wildlife and the way the staff show their knowledge and passion for it and it’s conservation. Food was great too. Maybe just a few more cheaper water options
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

4/10 Poor

Nadir

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The only food available on the resort is in the one and only restaurant. You cannot order any food and have to have a limited buffet covered in flies at $50 per person. The choice of food is very poor, cooked in a very basic way. I had much better meals in third world countries!!! As it it a bird sanctuary with about 200.000 birds nesting and screwing all night, you have a very good chance of been pooped on your clean clothes on the way to the restaurant. I wouldn't recommended to my worst enemy!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

6/10 Okay

Suzanne

Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

karen

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

joy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Everything was great .As a family we were in 4 rooms spread out across the resort.Some sort of way of communicating with other rooms would have been handy at times
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 25 Jan 2023
Thank you Joy, we are so glad you enjoyed your family holiday.

8/10 Good

Angela

Liked: Room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Rooms dated, but fantastic stay
Rooms are somewhat dated, but staff and activities offered were first class, and the island itself is truly beautiful - a great place to stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2023
Response from Heron team :) on 25 Jan 2023
We are so glad you had a fantastic stay, thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback.

4/10 Poor

Liz

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alessandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

6/10 Okay

Geoff

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Time for some upkeep
The island, the nature and the tropical water is absolute paradise. However the buildings and facilities are not maintained, our room had mould in bathroom, paint peeling and damaged curtains (so sun just streams through in the morning). We were warned not to wash sand off our feet in the shower as they continue to have drains clogged, but did not provide a tap or bucket to clean feet, so sand gets everywhere with 3 kids. The dinner buffet is overpriced for the food quality and low cooking standard, hard to eat. There's no other option for dinner so you are held ransom to pay $50 per head without a drink. Dinner for a family of 5 should not be a $300 outlay each night. For nature lovers this is the place to be (as long as you have good weather).
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Response from Heron Island Team on 5 Dec 2022
Thank you Geoff for your positive and constructive feedback which has been shared with our management team to be addressed. I apologise for your disappointment with your room standard, I can confirm the new curtains for the property have arrived and are in the process of being installed. Due to the location of the property on the Great Barrier Reef being very exposed there is a team of maintenance trades regularly updating the rooms.

8/10 Good

Sheena

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Loved the environment, the swimming around the island the wonderful sea life, the views. We were lucky to have only one day of rain. The staff were friendly and helpful, clearly not enough of them but they did their best. The room was good. Good boat trip, check in staff at the wharf lovely, check in at heron great - warm, friendly person who checked us in and out. The staff at the bar - a lovely young man, smiley, happy, chatty, just what is required at such a venue. I left feeling very much at peace. The downside: The food was very ordinary. The menu limited, i don't eat burgers chips, bread, noodles so lunch was a disaster, dinner was very basic and way overpriced at $50 per head. The gluten free cereal option for breakfast was an utter joke, i have seen huge tables in hotels full of gluten free goodies, you really could have done better there.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Cheryl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carlos, Mudgeeraba

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Staff is absolutely fantastic. It is heaven on earth.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marcus

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fantastic place loved it. Will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A 10/10 snorkelling experience!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Isabella

Liked: Staff & service, amenities
The island is a paradise, it was an otherworldly experience to be in a sanctuary and be able to see so many different animals
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Rebecca on 21 Jul 2022
Thank you for your wonderful review. We hope to welcome you back to Heron Island again soon.

10/10 Excellent

Hiroko

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The amazing island and coral reef make this an outstanding place. Staff culture on service and customer care also outstanding. Minor things like poor wifi and not good coffee pale into insignificance in comparison
Stayed 14 nights in May 2022
Response from Rebecca on 21 Jul 2022
Thank you for your review, and for choosing Heron Island as your Great Barrier Reef holiday destination.

8/10 Good

Anton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shanti

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stunning island.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Lisa on 9 May 2022
Thank you for your wonderful review.

6/10 Okay

Glen

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

sarah

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had the absolutely worst weather which is very very un usual for the time of year. All excisrsikns were cancelled. However even with this, we found heron island to be one of the best places we have been for sea life friendly service and passion for their environment. We will return for sure xxx
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Lisa on 9 May 2022
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are so happy you are planning to return to Heron Island, hopefully the weather will be much better for your next visit.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Lisa on 21 Apr 2022
Thank you for your review, and for choosing Heron Island as your Great Barrier Reef holiday destination.