Heron Island Resort Reviews

We loved our stay on Heron Island. There is so much which we care about there. The Birds, the turtles that come back to the island to nest, the reef and marine life. Its not a big island so you can walk around it pretty easily. We found the talks and information offered good, if a little rule driven. ( I guess this is needed sometimes ) What I found completely unacceptable was the use of a leaf blower on the island. Intrusive, noisy and just lazy practice. A broom could do just as well. And who minds some leaves in this beautiful place? A beautiful haven for wildlife. Marina Marangos

it was an amazing experience. This island is a paradise on earth, I will do it again for sure 100%!! 

Food was very good except for the pasta pesto genovese. Snorkeling was fun. Birds were amazing. Didnt see the turtles.  Rooms were rustic. No air conditioning 

The staff were amazing, particularly the staff doing the talks guided walks and snorkelling. 
The food was adequate but why have chips with all meals that were not pasta or salad. 
The volunteers working on the turtle counts etc on the beach we're also wonderfully helpful. 

Beautiful experience 

Great little Island with magical snorkeling and sunsets to die
for,its a real shame the island food wasn't to the same
standards

This was our second stay on Heron. This time we went to see the turtle hatchlings, and we weren't disappointed! It was a wonderful experience and highly recommended, as is the wonderful snorkelling in and around the reef. The variety of marine life—turtles, fish, sharks, rays, and the reef itself are all just spectacular, as is the bird life (if you can cope with the noise—day and night, bird poop, and smell).
The facilities are a little worn around the edges, but we can see it is a constant battle for staff to keep the place pristine in such a tropical environment, and after all it is a nature reserve so all that goes with that territory, so no complaints there. The staff are always friendly and go out of their way to provide exceptional service. I will say this though... Our last visit was 2 years ago and the Shearwater Restaurant (the only place to eat) had an a la carte lunch and dinner menu. This time it was buffet for breakfast and dinner, and lunch was the same very limited menu for the entire week! The buffet breakfast was great but the dinner buffet was hit and miss mosts nights. For families this type of meal is probably the go, but for adults only it wasn't great, and to be honest we both don't eat enough to justify the hefty price per person for a buffet of dishes that were not that appealing... And if you're on a tropical island snorkelling and being active all day, food becomes even more important, particularly when on holiday!
I really hope they get their act together and turn around the poor lunch choices, and return to an a la carte dinner menu. Also, there is nowhere to just get a snack. They used to offer pies and toasted sandwiches at Baillies bar, but no more. Oh dear. sorry this is all about the food! But it was such a disappointment. That said, Heron is still a wonderful holiday destination and I recommend it to everyone. We will certainly be returning (may have to bring our own fruit, veggies and sandwich maker!)

Sea, sand, safe snorkelling with deeper reef diving for the more ambitious and comfortable accommodation. Plus, an extremely interesting insight into the research on the world's reefs and the effect on our everyday way of life. The birds can be a little overpowering so, if this could be a problem, choose a time when they have migrated, but you will miss the turtles. Our only negative was the food. Good range and presentation but the preparation was well below our expected standard.

Hello,

Heron Island was amazing and most things were great.

However on arrival at the ferry terminal they did not have our booking.

They only let us on because I have all of the booking documentation and some people did not show up.

When we arrive they had our booking date wrong they had 15/2/23 to 19/2/23.

After speaking to you guys they fixed it.

Even if they had our dates wrong it does not explain why we were not book on the ferry.

It was very stressful.

What a beautiful island where pristine beaches and clear waters brim with protected marine and wildlife. It is not 5star but a piece of conservative paradise that endeavours to educate and let's you join in and enjoy its wonders. Absolutely stay again and would recommend to all ages.

The ocean and aquatic life was magical.

loved the fact that luggage was transported to boat

Heron is a marine research and wildlife protection paradise, of which the resort is a privileged guest. Visitors should not come to heron resort expecting five star services and entertainment. Great for anyone who is happy without the 24/7 need for I.T. and not precious about dining. Yes, the resort has simple fare and I can imagine the problems reported on quality and supply could be exacerbated in peak times. Overall, for lovers of wildlife, simple pleasures of escape and islands. Great.

A fascinating island. Food was expensive but tasty. The glass bottom boat trip was cancelled. Maybe a informative video could have replaced this. Staff were helpful but more were needed. Clean and comfortable rooms but there appeared to be music, drinks and partying late at night in staff accommodations near guest cabins behind (157 and 158) which made it hard to sleep some nights. Would go again but would pay extra for beach from cabin.

I don't know what all the bad reviews were about ! If you know what your getting which is a beautiful island absolutely surrounded by beautiful reef.. animals and all the marine life one could hope for .. you know you aren't staying in a posh 5 star resort !! Food was great .. nice options that changed every night . Few things ran out but no problem !
Brekky buffet I recommend going earlier but nonetheless it's free and you get what you need .
Partner had the best battered fish for lunch he's tried in a long time .
We stayed in the wistari suite .. it was everything you needed. Cold aircon..working fans.. good water pressure.. birds that came up to your little balcony everyday.
The staff were friendly .. front desk weren't always as helpful as they could of been. But nonetheless we had the best trip and we can't wait to come back !!

Basic resort, but catered for all our needs. I would only recommend Heron if all you want to do is Dive, snorkle or lye in the sun, otherwise theres not a lot to do. Do not go if you dont like birds, as they are everywhere and noisey. The snorkling is great, you see so much, just off the beach, sharks, rays, turtles and lots and lots of different fish.
We stayed in a beachside room and that was very nice, great sea breezes, if you can afford it, its much better than a Turtle room.
A good buffet breakfast every morning, but get there early as they run out of certain things. A good priced snack bar and lunch menu, just wish they had some of the things from the lunch menu on the dinner menu. Overall a great beach holiday.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our 4 day break on Heron Island. We both enjoy watching wildlife and were pleasantly surprised at the comfort of the accommodation, the amazing access to the beautiful and endangered animals - it was very special. I believe you do have to be keen on wildlife to really enjoy the Heron Island resort, humans are made very welcome but are not the VIPs on the island or in the sea.
Our only note for improvement is to add some vegetable sides to the menu.
Staff are lovely. Guides are knowledgeable and keen to answer all your questions. We are looking forward to another visit.

The 4 nights on Heron Island were very nice. The boat transfer was easy and very comfortable. Our room was really nice, very clean and comfortable. We enjoyed the snorkelling and exploring the island.
Had a few issues with noise from the birds as it's nesting time. And the dining options are limited. The staff were amazing and working very hard. It will be great when they can get some more staff.
We enjoyed our stay

Heron has never failed for a recharge

No comment

We had a wonderful time on Heron
All staff are helpful, friendly and positive, they love Heron and spread this love onto you
Rooms are basic, but clean, food is good

I loved our family trip to Heron Island, service in general was Amazing, all staffs are friendly and we felt very welcome! Definitely a Paradise! We had such a great time as a family.

Great resort, would go back. You can snorkel straight from the beach.

Great location, a fishing charter service would be valuable, also day excursions to other cays.
Dive shop assistant in a time warp, and could not accept constructive criticism that Watairi reef no 1 was, on the occasion we snorkeled there, a very poor site in terms of both fish life and coral. All other dive staff great, as were other snorkel sites.

Visit this place for the scenery and nature which are both fantastic. Don’t expect a five star resort but overall it is well worth the trip.

Fantastic! Wonderful friendly staff. Great room. Can't beat the location!
Almost everything about our stay was fabulous.
If we had one quibble it was the food - it was hit and miss. Some lunches/dinners were great but others were just okay. And often it was served cold. Not what one expects from a restaurant at restaurant prices. Still, it's a small inconvenience given the location and what the staff are dealing with in these COVID-19 times. Breakfast however was really good. We intend to make a return trip next year. It was that good!

Nice place, but I was unlucky, it rained the 3 days I was there. The nature guides were very good and did their best, despite the weather, staff were very friendly and helpful.
The food is very ordinary

Wonderful experience and great value. Food and service were average on the island but we still had a wonderful time. Thank you.

Stunning location with wonderful snorkelling and beach adventures for families

The best snorkelling I’ve done. The sea life is abundant and pristine. It’s safe, clear water with options for most weather conditions. Yes the stars of the island, the turtles, where there in numbers. We snorkeled with them, watched them from the wharf and every day watched nests erupt and run to the water.
The restaurant food is nice. Not overpriced considering your on a secluded island with options for all. If you get sugar cravings byo.
Accommodation is ample. Not 5 star, especially the mattress but clean and tidy.
Things you don’t find out till you get there are :
1. The birds are very noisy at night and their poo smells.
2. Quiet a few of the water based activities are tide and weather conditions dependent.
3. The trip on the boat across can be very rough. Sea sickness tablets are a must.
4.Numbers are capped on the tours. Book early.
The staff are young, enthusiastic and friendly. We especially enjoyed the walks and talks. The information and friendly atmosphere made these good times.
I mean nothing as a negative. This was the best weeks holiday we’ve had. We throughly enjoyed it all. We would love to take our family back.

Dining was very limited and fairly basic...not sure if this can be improved but if there is a chance to do that it would help very much.
Room was clean and though we didn't need it cleaned everyday the staff did come by to ask.
Room upgrade was very much appreciated because of a plumbing problem.
Would come back...Snorkelling was excellent as was the turtle walks

We stayed 6 days on Heron with our 8 and 10 yr old. This is my second trip having been there 20 years ago! It’s still magic, the location is fantastic - snorkelling off the beach every day and we took two boat trips out to see the deeper shelves which is totally worth it. The restaurant and bar are great (4/5) stars; they do really well considering it’s 2 1/2 hours out and bot trips to replenish not every day. The reef talks and eco tourism are faultless - the kids wanted to go to ever talk so I didn’t feel guilty about taking them out of school! The staff are terrific, bar one or two and the knowledge outstanding, especially Mossi and Rachel! Experiencing swimming with turtles, different types of rays and tons of fish and then trekking down the beach at night to see Mum green turtle nest or a baby hatchling nest eruption - absolutely priceless! The rooms are basic and definitely in need of a bit of tlc (in the bathrooms, touch up work at least needs attention too) but to me you can dismiss this - it’s not luxurious but to be transported to this reef world is so so worth it. Recommend bringing some lunch goods for a few days if you have kids to save on costs as a dinner will cost $100 for four without drinks. Breakfast included, room serviced every day and beach towels provided!

We have been visiting Heron Island for the past 8 years and are pleased to say we have noticed many improvements in this last stay. The food in the restaurant has improved significantly, staff in all areas more friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is more positive. We are hoping that there not too many changes however to the beautiful natural environment that makes Heron Is so unique.

Regards
Leisa Stranback

non

We travelled to Heron Is for the first time in March 2020, and had a rollicking trip over as the swell was up because of the cyclone! The customer service officers at Gladstone Marina advised us that it would indeed be rough sailing and that the normal diveboat tours would not be operating for the next few days. We were offered a postponement, but we decided to go. Once at the island, we were further advised we couldn't get snorkelling gear either due to safety concerns, so one of the key island activities was unavailable. However, we persevered and enjoyed the terrestrial activities and, in particular, were blown away by the sophisticated and unique sounds of the resident musicians at the Baillie Bar of an evening - Brett and Kate (from well known Sunshine Coast-based band Dubarray). Brett's hip hop inspired rhythms and Kate's atmospheric vocals blend in such a unique way! Their clever mix of live and electronic sounds perfectly matched the chilled out atmosphere and beautiful sunsets. The Staff were great - food was great - and package we had was very affordable. We did get to snorkel on the inshore reef on the last 2 days, despite less than perfect visibility, and swam with a turtle and a lemon shark! And seeing turtle hatchlings break out to the sea was an incredible experience! - the hatchlings and the well selected live music really made our Heron Is getaway - and more than compensated for the unlucky weather. Next time we will check the forecasts more carefully though.

Great place to stay to experience all the reef and island has to offer in comfortable surroundings.

My second time to heron island, but definitely not my last. a few issues with cyclone winds (!) but still managed to snorkel away from too much wind. Lots of running after seagulls to stop them picking up the baby turtles, alot of marvelling at the beauty and the birds. And not sure what they have done but the food compared to last year was absolutely fantastic. Always a bonus to have live music also. Many thanks for keeping heron so special and laid back. NEVER CHANGE. although the food change was fantastic.

An excellent location, at which the resort is actively developing its services after a change of ownership. I look forward to going again.

Heron Island is great place to go and unwind and get away from everything. I found phone reception is non existent which i found liberating. I loved the food very fresh and flavoursome. And I have to say I found the restaurant menu very refreshing- simple with a variety of catered dishes and well priced. The staff are great and really make you feel welcome. Great place to go for snorkeling and to just sit back and relax.

Beautiful white beaches, crystal clear warm blue waters, stunning coral and fish of every shape, size and colour, resort perfect, food excellent, staff excellent and the best hands on and visible manager I have ever met, Turtles turtles everywhere. If you love nature and relaxing this is a must.

I had always wanted to swim with turtles & Heron Island did not disappoint me. The wreck 200metres off sure at sunrise is an abundance of turtles, rays, sharks & fish & the water is just like a bath temperature wise. Our Turtle room was lovely & well serviced daily & the housekeeping ladies were very friendly & efficient. The food in the restaurant was good & the seafood buffet I ordered was wonderful. The resort has a new GM & he is ironing out some small issues with service delays in the restaurant & very open to feedback. The staff are all very friendly & willing to assist in any way. We were also privileged to witness a nest of baby turtles hatching, an experience that we will never forget & I pray that some are still lucky enough to be swimming their way to a wonderful underwater life in anticipation of returning to the same shores on Heron Island in 30 years time to have their own babies.
Thank you Heron Island we love you

Revisited heron for 4 nights/5 days - having stayed 15 years prev - this time with some of our family. This resort’s biggest asset is the sea life and birds. The resort was the same but that’s okay because it’s the surrounds, activities and staff who really make this place so special. Breakfast, dinner, snorkelling gear included in the tariff. The marine centre has very good equipment and the staff are so helpful to fit you out with your gear for the duration of your stay. They also have guest showers, towels on the day of check in or checkout for snorkelling/swimming when you your arrive or before you leave. We did 3 snorkelling tours - excellent value at $50pp - we went to 3 different locations. This time of year was excellent for turtle laying, hatching, bird breeding. We upgraded to point suite which was fantastic for afternoon sunsets but the other rooms - beachside suites and turtle rooms are more than adequate. We spent each day exploring and swimming and snorkelling and afternoons at shark bay before heading back to our room for sunset. This is a must for your bucket list. We hope to come back with all of our family in the next year or two. A very memorable experience. The other plus is no phone reception or wi fi so we were not distracted by our electronic devices. There are public phones to check in with loved ones if you need. Keep doing what you’re doing Heron Island. We are some of your greatest fans.

We had an incredible stay at the resort at the height of turtle and bird nesting season. The birds were highly entertaining and Rachel at the Information Centre was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about them and the turtles that were nesting and also the inhabitants on the reef. Plenty of turtles laying eggs and hatchlings to watch scurrying down to the beach. Diving and snorkelling from the boat was amazing and the reef was so healthy and full of life - turtles, reef sharks, rays and thousands of various fish. Already planning to go back next year at the same time!

Water, marine life (especially turtles), reef are all amazing.

The birds and the overwhelming stench of their droppings is awful. Also, the constant noise day and night does not allow much sleep.

The reception, shop and office are air-conditioned.

The restaurant, Baillies Bar/Cafe and cabins are not. A small fan in each cabin does not cope with Queensland heat. There is no respite for guests from the heat. Common areas at least should be air-conditioned.

The pool area also needs shade sails and a fence.

The staff were very friendly and helpful.

What a gem of a small Island on the Barier Reef. Connecting with nature, snorkeling, strolling around the island on the beach. Space enough for all. Felt priviledged to see the turtles daily come ashore to nest and leave.

Our spacious Reef room was on the second floor. Our veranda was a great space to relax looking through the trees and aqua seas and listening to the birds.
Fortunately the restaurant had an outer seating area with low lighting which made it far more atmospheric than the bright lights within. The breakfast and dinner buffets had a good selection.
All staff on the Island were friendly, very helpful and very knowledgable in their field of expertise.
We stayed 5 nights and would definitely stay longer. Not having internet and mobile connection on our mobiles was BLISS! It was an enriching and inspiring holiday and will return in the future.

We had an awesome family holiday at Heron. Whilst the accommodation could do with an upgrade and aircon in the hotter months, overall I would highly recommend it!

It was great to be able to snorkel so close to your room. Turtles were in abundance. All staff were professional, friendly and very helpful. Alex in the Restaurant was professional, polite and went out of his way to help. Room 188 was superb. To have aircon was fantastic and made our stay more pleasurable. I have to say that this was the best holiday I had been on for such a long time - I was relaxed from the moment I stepped off the Ferry and felt I had had a great break.

only the room can be hot during the night. Also better with fly screens.

Room service was nearly non-existent, our room (not beachfront) was extremely hot with difficulty sleeping. Overall the snorkelling and turtle watching made up for the negatives.

Heron is a great timeout for all ages. Beautiful location with great diving and snorkeling. Turtles everywhere. Sharks, and rays and plenty of fish as well. Largest sand whiting I've ever seen. Small island that is easy to walk around. The reef kills the surf making it easy to find a nice place to flop in the crystal clear water. The food is mostly buffet with a enough variety to suit most people. It isn't 5 star dining but there is more than enough to fuel the tank. At lunch you can buy a (nice) meal from a small set menu if you need a break from the buffet. Given the location I thought the food was great, others comment that the standard of dining leaves a bit to be desired and if 5 star is your go - you will be disappointed. The staff were fantastic and kept the resort in great shape. There are a lot of birds crapping all over everything but the resort was kept remarkably clean. There are not a lot of activities outside of basic water sports and if you must have the internet you have to pay for it. The "library" in the only bar on the island had a very limited selection - almost 1/2 the books in a foreign language. If you opt to disconnect from the internet for a few days I strongly recommend that you bring you bring a book (or two), puzzles or some games along. The accommodation is good - again, not five star but well maintained, clean and functional. There is no TV in the room but there was a small fridge & tea/coffee. Overall, the turtles alone made the trip worth it - everything else was cream on top. My thanks to all of the staff for their hard work and smiling faces.

perfect in every way

It is an amazing natural paradise

An amazing experience for our family. From swimming with turtles, reef sharks, stingrays and a multitude of beautiful fish, to watching nesting turtles make their way to the beach and hatchlings make their way to the water, Heron Island is a wonderful learning experience. The beautiful turquoise water is stunning. The resort needs a revamp, the food could be better and the rooms are old and poorly cleaned. Overall we would visit again as the island is amazing!

We absolutely loved every minute of our stay on Heron Island. We had never snorkelled before and did not have much expectation. From the first moment we opened our eyes under water, we were amazed and hooked! Our room was perfect, the food was plentiful, and having a screen free week has done wonders for our family, Loved every minute!

We had a great Christmas 2019 on Heron Island. It was such a lovely place to visit. Would definitely like to go again! :)

Our family loved every minute of our 3 night stay on Heron Island. The jade green and aqua water is spectacular and the reef sensational. The birds were very active when we stayed so be aware of the almost certain risk of being pooped on. A big hat helps! The rooms are basic but nice at the lower end of the price scale however there is no sink apart from the bathroom vanity and no cutlery to make even a sandwich from items in your mini fridge. From the turtles and hatchlings to the myriad fish, rays and reef sharks we were mesmerised. Buffet was enjoyed by all ages and staff were friendly and helpful. We didn’t want to leave!

The Island is amazing and we all love every bits of it. Sunset, turtles, snorkelling, fish, diving and even the bar and food were all amazing. Staff there were so helpful and friendly. Highly recommended.

I will definitely be going back. Not a place for people used to 5 star luxury treatment. Luckily I'm not one of those people. The more natural the better and you don't get much closer to nature than Heron Island. Loved everything about it. Even got used to the natural bird noise and smell of the island. Beachside suite was simple but all we needed. Food was excellent.

The only thing that needs work is probably the cleanliness of the rooms and restaurant and bar areas .

The only negative was the Buffet dinners were not up to scratch .
Reception need to get their invoices correct with promotion or deals customers have.

Enjoyed the stay on the island.
All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.
Enjoyed all the facilities and the snorkelling off the beach daily.

.

We made some very special memories on Heron Island and would visit again however there is room for improvement. As with many guests our time here was relatively short and therefore precious. Having to waste time repeatedly trying to arrange a particular activity was quite stressful but eventually this was sorted but not until we stamped our feet! All of the staff are very polite and obliging, the whole thing just needs a bit more direction

great place- but only for a few days. Small island, really can only snorkel at high tide.
Kayaks on the island- but you can't use them!
Good food, excellent room (we paid for an upgrade).
Naturist talks and walks very good

Enjoyable stay highlighted by snorkelling and turtle watching. Lack of sleep due to the loud noise of mutton birds throughout the night was our only concern.

A relaxing time spent in an idyllic location

Very relaxing, well run, highly recommended.

Great experience. Must do!! We thought the birds would be a little more ‘annoying’ than they were... October was ok, for birds... not too noisy.
Plenty of turtles, rays, fish, coral and sharks to be seen right off the beach.

People should keep in mind this is a national park 100 km from the main land, so the resort is always going to have some natural struggles. In saying that the Island natural wonders mind blowing. If you love to dive or snorkel you will not be disappointed.

We loved our brief holiday at Heron Island. My daughter and I are both keen swimmers and snorkellers and Heron was perfect for this.

4 days is plenty. Food a bit basic.
Staff very busy. Location excellent. Boat ride just long enough to relax.

We enjoyed all that nature has to offer on the island and would consider going back for the snorkelling alone. The food offered in the restaurant was delicious, however the service was lacking. It seems the restaurant was understaffed because it was difficult to find a cleared table in the morning. You also had to go earlier in the morning to ensure there would be mugs and cutlery.

Heron Island is an amazing place to visit, the water is so clear and the bird and fish life are beautiful.

A great place to relax and unwind. Good for snorkelling and reef walking off the beach with an abundance of wildlife -birds,rays,sharks, fish,turtles and nice coral. Luckily for us there were not too many birds at the beginning of September. Stayed in Turtle room - reef room better outlook. Bed was comfortable and food was great and the staff were awesome!

A very comfortable resort in an idyllic location with great staff.

I love snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, and Heron Island is now my favourite location. There is not as much damage to the coral as further north, the off the beach snorkeling is the best I have experienced, and offshore locations are a 5-10 minute boat trip rather than 1 hour plus. The dive staff are also very helpful.

The guided nature walks were also excellent.

My only minor criticism is that our main course on one night was warm rather than hot. Similarly the breakfast buffet could have been hotter.

Will return

Fantastic location, great for families our children are 6 & 8. Amazing snorkelling with great coral diversity. Food at resort was great for the whole family. Will definitely visit again. Liked the fact there are no day trippers. We are from Tassie so not that big on crowds. July school holidays was awesome getaway, weather was perfect.

We had a great time! The weather wasn’t the best during our trip which was sad but still enjoyed it. The ocean is amazing! We got the best photos. The food is great considering how far off the grid it is. The accommodation is very basic. It’s all you need but no aircon, tv or wifi. It’s full of birds which we didn’t realise. I can see how people might not love this. They are noisy 24/7 and have a funny smell. Perfect to go with another family and disconnect from your device and connect with nature! I recommend going one way at least by helicopter!

Dreadful smell in location of the sweets/salads buffet section
Advice on snorkelling - best times locations / access needed
Greater clarity e.g. guided reef walks ‘can’t be booked’ but they are - first in best dressed, on the day.
Excellent tour of research facility / guide handled ignorant and informed questions with tact and sound knowledge

Loved the nature
Loved no internet
Loved no TV
Incredible food
Fantastic vibe and great live band.

The most amazing place, what an experience you provided us especially our children. To be able to wake up and see turtles on the beach, swim with stingrays, sharks, endless coral fish and again turtles! The room and food was better than expected. Staff are welcoming, friendly, professional and provided many informative talks. We will definitely be back Heron Island.

Great Value, Surreal location and the Wildlife makes Heron Island a true slice of paradise.

Every day there were so many interesting things to do with a knowledgeable guide......
Reef walk at low tide,bird walk , island walk ,turtle walk at night..... the live music in the bar was excellent and the buffet breakfast terrific!
The staff were all wonderful, always helpful.
Only problem was that the rooms did not have fly screens and the flies were many .
We were there at peak nesting time so there was a cacaphony of bird calls ... amazing noise! But what an experience!

Excellent

Although should be recommended to take travel sickness tablets before boat trip or take the plane. Very sick

Heron Island is a magical place with so much or so little to do. The island activities provided you with great options and a ideal way to experience all this coral cay has to offer.

We enjoyed the snorkelling trip (cost additional), bird watching and island walk (free), night turtle walk (free), tour of research centre (free) and daily island snorkelling (our gear was included in are package).

We flew ionto the island via the seaplane and out via a helicopter. Although this did add to our costs, it is totally worth it to witness the island from above. Beware of sea sickness from the launch (boat) transfer particularly on the way to the island.

The daily breakfast was a typical buffet style and we would usually grab a toasties (to share) from the snack bar for lunch. Hats off to the chef for the nightly dinners at the Shearwater Restaurant.

We thoroughly enjoyed (and packed into a lot) during our 4 day stay on Heron Island.

Heron Island provides the most amazing barrier reef and coral quay island experience anyone could wish for. If you want to know why so many people want to save the worlds coral reefs and migratory turtles & birds...go visit Heron Island...and take your kids.

To truly appreciate this place you need to be comfortable to swim/ snorkel or go in the underwater boat! So many giant sea turtle. Definitely one of my favourite locations. Not much technology on the island (which is a great thing)! Advise to take some food and snacks yourself as the only restaurant is quite expensive and not much selection for lunch and dinner.

Heron island is an unspoilt paradise immersed in nature and completely surrounded by reef. The snorkelling and turtle laying and hatching was amazing.

Heron Island was possibly the most beautiful place I have ever been to. The Island is small and intimate taking approx 20 -30 minutes to walk around and what a walk it is. Each side has a different story to tell, with different animals, coral and terrain. We went with our two children aged 9 and 14. I can honestly say it was the time of their lives. We snorkelled every day and saw the most amazing varieties of fish and coral every time. The highlight of our stay would be swimming with the sharks, rays and turtles that live around the island. The accommodation was perfect. We stayed in a turtle family room which was a small cabin, clean and simple, perfect for our families needs. It was located right in the heart of the island making access to the restaurant, bar and ocean ideal. The room was serviced everyday and we were given fresh towels when needed. The staff were amazingly friendly and helpful and the food was to die for! Absolutely divine food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The management of the island and the restaurant was perfect, in that, it made it feel like there was not may people there giving you that feeling of privacy, like you had the place to yourself mostly and this was a peak times. We would highly recommend anyone and everyone to visit this amazing place as you will not regret it or ever forget the experiences you will have. Our only tip would be to plan the activities you would like to do and then book them straight away as we missed out on a few things only because we thought we could book whenever and then found it was all booked up. Heron Island thank you for your absolute beauty, lovely staff and amazing life experiences!!!

We have been coming to Heron Island for a long time. The food was much improved and the room we stayed in was light and airy. There’s not much negatives on an Island that is so beautiful.
The one negative was having to leave a day early due to a weather front. That’s fine but it was lack of communication that made things more difficult. We were meant to be leaving Saturday 8th Dec. At no time on Friday morning were we approached to tell us there wouldn’t be a boat leaving again until Monday morning due to the weather. We heard it from another tourist and then we asked at reception. In order to make our connecting flights on the Saturday we had to pack up in 20 minutes and leave Friday morning. Some notice would have been great!!
Anyway Heron came through and after a very rough trip back on the ferry had a room booked and paid for in Gladstone. Still my favourite destination ????

Heron is a wonderful rustic experience for anyone that loves nature, wildlife and marine life up close. The accomodation is probably 3 star and adequate for your stay but being called a ‘resort’ and the daily rate does set a higher expectation. The facilities are tired and could do with a refresh but staff are lovely and the food fantastic, tasty, well thought out and great value. The ferry is comfortable and delivers a great service.

My daughter and I planned our trip to Heron Island to celebrate the end of a difficult year and it was the perfect choice. The accommodation was comfortable but in need of upgrading (which the resort is in the process of doing) and the staff were most efficient, friendly and helpful. The only restaurant on the island meant that there were limited choices, however the food was delicious. Most of all we enjoyed the prolific wild life that abounds on the island at this (November) many birds nesting, turtles coming to lay their eggs in the sand and fascinating creatures of the sea. It is a safe haven for all to kick back and enjoy the treasures the island has to offer.

If you like to snorkel and observe nature, then this is the place for you. A precious jewel on the reef with an abundant diversity of life.