My family stayed at Shelly Bay Resort over the Xmas holidays. Very poor service from the staff and the management has an extremely poor attitude towards feedback. We would never book there again.

We stayed for 2 nights on a week-end in January having booked on wotif.com. The receptionist was very helpful. The resort was clean as was our 1 brm apartment. The decor in our apartment was 1990's but we didn't care as it was clean, spacious, well-equipped and reasonably priced.

Yes it is waterfront, but like all of the Hervey Bay esplanade there is a road between where you stay and the waterfront, so there is some road noise. The beach across the road is great for swimming and there is a path the length of the esplanade which is ideal for bicycling. We cycled one day to the marina.

There are great restaurants around the resort with an Indian restaurant in the complex. Our apartment was immediately above the restaurant and to my surprise my fears of noise and smells were not founded. The restaurant didn't seem to generate noise, with most patrons dispersing by around 9pm. We dined in the Indian restaurant one evening and it was satisfactory.

Other reviewers have commented on the signs telling you what to do and what not to do. Yes there are many. Most are reasonable requests about keeping the noise down, lift instructions etc. The one that seemed odd to me was "No guests after 9pm". That's like living back at home with mum and dad (which for me was 25 years ago!).

I had a great time. I'd stay at Australis Shelly Bay Resort again.

Meet Tracee the "receptionist' on the phone discussing her child's attendance at the movie "Happy Feet" for at least 5 minutes while I waited for her to discontinue her personal phone call. I am not bothered by such complacency until it rears its ugly head again. Fellow travellers be wary of the studio unit (one bdrm) with the communal wall shared with the restaurant toilet block. Unfortunately, we were not made aware of the noise transfer issue nor offered an alternative option. Notices on the toilet doors do however encourage patrons to be quiet because of this set up. Be wary of complaining because Tracee the unhelpful receptionist will give you a list of unhelpful retorts including:
"what did you expect when you pay the cheaper rate"
" you can't keep everyone happy"
"I should have asked you to leave because you had a baby but I elected not to" (very decent of you Tracee, however I would have preferred to spend my money elsewhere).
"No-one else has complained in two years"
Finally she asked me what I expected her to do about it. At which I replied that it would be useful to be made aware that one's bed would abut the wall of a restaurant toilet block, so that I could make a choice as to whether I booked the room or not. I would certainly expect this of a four star hotel. Tracee finished the conversation by retorting that she would let the proprietors know. You do that Tracee, I'll let the rest of the world know that you have a first class degree in rudeness. Who gives a toss about the toilets when you get such poor manners at the front desk!

Five days stay over Christmas $750 for a self catering two room apartment on ground floor. Apartment was clean, except for the dark carpet which was very dirty, so much so that we had to wear shoes all the time.

Double bed was small, and had cheap innerspring matress. Furniture was budget type.

Noisy.

Service was non existant. Reception is absent on holidays and out of business hours, though you can ring the motel manager, which we were reluctant to do.

No room service, limited tea and coffee provided on the first day only. Inward telephones only worked if the recptionist was on duty.

Free Wi-fi was very slow and strictly rationed. Vouchers were given for two days only with a limit of 200Mb. Additional vouchers could be purchased online.

No beach towel, though they could be hired if a receptionist could be found. It was cheaper to buy a towel rather than hire one.

Washing machine and dryer were provided with the apartment.

A feature of the premises were the admonitions and threats posted nearly everywhere possible. The weirdest was a large sign on the wall outside the lift threatening the user with the cost of service call, estimated at $250, if the buttons were pressed too frequently!!

Motel management really need hospitality training.

Shelly Bay beach and surrounds are wonderful. Hervey Bay is a great place, with lots of acceptable restaurants and coffee shops. Indian restaurant on ground floor of the motel is very good.