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4.0

#1 of 1 all-inclusive in Heron Island

Location

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Service

Value

Heron Island is a true coral cay situated on the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Here you swim off the beach to an endless garden of coral. Activities include guided island and reef walks, semi-submersible I Spy, bird watching and beach picnics, plus a Reef Ranger program. Heron Island is famous around the world for its scuba diving and snorkeling with the mega marine life that make their home on Heron Reef.

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Property amenities

Pool

Free breakfast

Beach

Diving

Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)

Conference facilities

Spa

Gift shop

Pool / beach towels

Outdoor pool

Bar / lounge

Restaurant

Breakfast buffet

Poolside bar

Snorkelling

Billiards

Massage

Non-smoking hotel

Shops

Sun loungers / beach chairs

Room features

Private beach

Private balcony

Safe

Wardrobe / wardrobe

Coffee / tea maker

Refrigerator

Bath / shower

Hair dryer

Private bathrooms

Room types

Ocean view

Non-smoking rooms

Suites

Family rooms

Good to know

HOTEL CLASS

HOTEL STYLE

Family Resort

Languages Spoken

English

Hotel links

Visit hotel website

Special Offer:Turtle Experience Package

Location

Via Gladstone, Heron Island, Queensland 4680 Australia

011 61 1800 875 343

E-mail hotel

Getting there

Gladstone Airport80 kmSee all flights

Rockhampton Airport147 kmSee all flights

Rental CarsSee all Heron Island car hire

See all nearby hotels

2377Reviews72Q+A100Room tips

Reviews
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Denise S wrote a review 3 Dec

Brisbane, Australia119 contributions52 helpful votes

Amazing in every way, just go!

Before I went to Heron I had read some dreadful reviews about the food and the staff which could not have been more wrong. The staff were incredible, very friendly and extremely professional. The food was great! Buffet breakfast was pretty standard, fruit, cereals, Yoghurt, toast and hot food bacon, eggs etc. Dinners were also buffets and were delicious. A really good variety every night, chicken or meat option, fish, vegetarian with veg and salads, loads of deserts. When people give bad reviews I am not sure what they were expecting, it's simple good food and yes a bit pricey but you are on an island where everything is shipped in, and it's a buffet so you can fill your plate as often as you want! We loved our time on Heron and can't wait to go back.

Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple

Room Tip: Don't have a big lunch if dinners are buffet style! Enjoy all the island activities

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Bluedigby wrote a review Nov 2023

Melbourne, Australia2 contributions

Paradise

Second time visiting Heron Island. We stayed for three nights in one of the beach front rooms. Had an amazing time snorkelling and three Scuba dives. This is a place to come to if you adore marine nature and birds and you absolutely love escaping your phone! You will see complaints about the food from time to time but frankly it is not a place you come to for gourmet food and accommodation it is not a luxury place it is a little island Paradise for other reasons. I find the food is absolutely fine, even good and I’m used to eating good food. Plenty to eat and lots of choice just not gourmet. They have to bring everything in by boat. The staff are so friendly and a big thanks especially to the dive staff. I was lucky enough to see a manta rays on two occasions scuba diving which was unbelievable. We saw turtles coming up to lay eggs, we saw eagle rays, cow tail rays, loggerhead turtles, green turtles, lemon sharks, reef sharks and shovel nose rays just snorkelling off the beach! That’s all on top of the usual outstanding great barrier reef fish. I think it’s the larger stuff you see just off the beach which makes Heron for me better than Lady Elliot Island and anywhere else on the reef.…

Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends

Room Tip: Take travel sickness tablets for the boat across. Book scuba/snorkelling in advance

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Amanda B wrote a review Nov 2023

Melbourne, Australia1 contribution1 helpful vote

Thank goodness for the location because the food is baaaaad

Heron island is beautiful. The location itself is utterly breathtaking. But, be aware, this is not a luxury resort. Bear in mind that the cost includes power generation, water desalination and EVERYTHING shipped from and back to the mainland. Plus this place is old and starting to look its age. However, the location and access to reefs and unbelievable beauty makes up for almost everything EXEPT the food. The food and service in the restaurant is utterly appalling. Buffet dinner is awful AND there isn’t enough staff to keep the bain maries stocked. My recent visit was my second, with my first just post the major Covid shut downs. I thought, they’ll have their act together. Food will be better! Nope. Food is so much worse. $50 per person per night for sloppy buffet food. Each night I thought, well, it can’t be worse than last night! Yep, it can. Sweet and sour chicken? I mean, come on! Traveller beware.…

Date of stay: November 2023

Rooms

Location

Service

Room Tip: Don’t bother with beach view, it costs extra but there is too much vegetation for a view.

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

1 Helpful vote

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yvette wrote a review Nov 2023

Gladstone, Australia2 contributions

Doesnt even rate a 1 star in quality of service, food or accommodation.

The first day we arrived on heron island we were suppose to be transferred to Wilson island. where we paid over $1200 per day for a secluded and higher quality experience. on arrival at heron island we were told they could not transfer us straight away and may not be able to at all that day. First mistake. tell us this before travelling two hours on a boat to an isolated island. We paid alot of money for an all inclusive experience. missing out of half a day of this experience and meals. However they did provide us with a lunch voucher and two drink before we companied and then they gave us more drinks. once arriving at wilson island the quality was higher. however the meal were the size a mouse could eat. we had to rely on packets of chips and beef jerkey between meals as were were not full. on return to heron we stayed two days and the heron island food was less than 1 star quality. i would not feed it to my dog. will never go back there again. …

Date of stay: September 2023

Value

Location

Service

Trip type: Travelled with friends

Room Tip: dont go to Heron Island. you will regret it.

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Ivor wrote a review Oct 2023

2 contributions

+1

Best time ever on Heron

I have been coming to Heron Island since 1980 and this trip was especially memorable. Stepping off the ferry and then arriving at reception, we were warmly welcomed by the fantastic staff. A special mention goes to Serra, Lawson, and Michelle who made us feel instantly at home on Heron. Having mainly stayed in the Beachside accomodations over the years, this time we stayed in the Point Suites which was absolute magic. The improved furnishings were a wonderful surprise. We were very impressed by the friendly and kind staff in the Shearwater restaurant. A shoutout goes to Jess and also Guilia who we had previously met at our Easter visit this year. It's a breath of fresh air to come to such a stunningly beautiful place that is free from internet, social media and constant screen time. It creates the most wonderful escape from the rushes of daily life and promotes a wholesome and connected feel between guests on the island. For those who can't resist making a call home to brag to family and friends about how amazing Heron is, you'll be pleased to know that there is a free Telstra phone box next to reception. A must do on Heron is to wake up early and take a lap of the island and take in the sunrise as you listen and watch in awe as the birds go out to sea for their morning catch. Our time on Heron was capped off with a return trip by helicopter. The views across Wistari reef are spectacular and by the end of the 30 minute ride you'll have a new library of jaw dropping pictures. We are planning a return trip soon to Heron and Wilson Island. So looking forward to it!! …

Date of stay: October 2023

Value

Location

Service

Trip type: Travelled as a couple

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AJS2015 wrote a review Oct 2023

Calne, United Kingdom153 contributions90 helpful votes

+1

Absolutely beautiful setting!

An easy hop from the mainland via the fast and friendly ferry service. This really is a beautiful location and an easy place to unwind. It was strange that none of the rooms can be locked but, once settled in, you understand why. Great service generally from all the staff with a reasonable, if expensive, menu choice. It was a real treat to watch the turtles hatch and disappear into the ocean!

Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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lindakwhitesell wrote a review Sept 2023

4 contributions2 helpful votes

Heron Island

Heron Island is amazing, this was our third time here. The boat ride can be a bit rough so be prepared with sea sickness, pills There is no TVs, and Cell phones don’t work, you can purchase WiFi for a fee, which we did. We were there in September, so, the Noddy birds were coming back to the island to nest. We love the Noddie birds, but if you have any fear of birds, this is not the best time to go. They are all over swooping and diving, we loved them. The weather was warm, but very windy, not the fault of the Island, though. There are sharks, turtles and all kinds of fish, especially on the snorkel trips. My husband went on the snorkel boat and 3 curious humpback whales, swam around with them. That was a thrill of a life time, for my husband. We were in the beachside rooms, they were comfortable and had a refrigerator and a hot pot for coffee. Breakfast was good and dinner was also fine. I liked the buffet nights the best. I’ve read some reviews were people complain about the birds, food, no cell etc. This is a coral cay, everything is brought in and taken out. It’s not a high end resort, where all your needs are catered, too. Employees are friendly and helpful, the Great Barrier Reef is amazing at low tide you can walk around it and the bar with the pool tables is a lot of fun. We can’t wait to go back…

Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family

Room Tip: bring some snacks, though there is a gift shop that sells snacks, it’s not always, open. Book at...

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

2 Helpful votes

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Graham G wrote a review Sept 2023

Kinka Beach95 contributions36 helpful votes

+1

Great family experience

We had a great time, but there were a few things that took the shine off the experience. 1. Insisted on charging for a rollaway bed we already paid for. Luckily we had our itinerary printed off. It was eventually repaid. 2. A little run-down (nothing to drastic) 3. Lack of variety for breakfasts 4. Only instant coffee available at breakfast. On the flipside you get to swim with sharks turtles rays and fish and some pretty good coral aswell. Pack plenty of snacks/non perishable food.

Date of stay: September 2023

Value

Location

Service

Trip type: Travelled with family

Room Tip: Pack snacks and drinks

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Caradi M wrote a review Sept 2023

Gold Coast, Australia117 contributions16 helpful votes

+1

Heron island time to relax and rejuvenate.

4 trips to Heron Island in a year and love every minute of it. If your wanting a digital detox and to be surrounded by nature and all its beauty then this is your holiday. The snorkelling is incredible from either just off the beach or if you take a short 10 minute boat ride out to the reefs edge you will not be disappointed given the amount of large and small marine life to be seen from this gorgeous part of the Great Barrier Reef. Yes the birds are noisy and poop on you when out walking around but you get used to it and you just gracefully accept the island for all that it has to offer on a positive note. When I come to HI I feel like I’m miles away from the worlds dramas and truely relax and enjoy the simple things in life.

Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends

Room Tip: Do not go to Heron Island for the coffee or food. In my experience it has been a bit hit and...

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

1 Helpful vote

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whataboutthis wrote a review Aug 2023

Kareela, Australia35 contributions9 helpful votes

Thank you to all at Heron!

Many thanks to the fabulous Heron Island team. I hosted my 60th birthday party on the island and the team did a tremendous job in accommodating and looking after the 38 guests. The seafood buffet was fabulous - the food just kept coming. The live musician was fantastic and the team from the Manager down was so responsive to any requests. Accommodation is clean and adequate, Heron is very well priced for its location, if people are after a five star luxury stay then Bedarra, Orpheus and Lizard at circa$4000 a day are your options. Heron is exceptionally well priced in comparison to other reef experiences and of course you are on a cay with snorkeling at your door step. A special mention to Michelle the Events Manager who made sure everything ran smoothly and provided biltong and droewors!! Many thanks and for sure Ill be back at some time. Thank you all! More…

Date of stay: August 2023

Value

Location

Service

Trip type: Travelled with friends

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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