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Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat is a unique holiday destination like no other in Hervey Bay. The 36 private, individual lakefront villas are surrounded by 10 acres of lush nature reserve, teeming with wildlife. Each villa is self-contained with a balcony overlookig our lake, providing the perfect setting for your family holiday or quiet getaway.Just 300 metres from the best beach in Hervey Bay, it's pricless. For your meals you can either cook in your villa, on our array of barbeques near every villa or dine out at a fantastic variety of restuarants close to the retreat. For your supplies, Urangan Shopping Centre is only minutes away, or stroll down to the fish co-op in the morning and select seafood that has been caught fresh daily.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Lake View
Family
Languages Spoken
English
Location
1 Shell St Urangan, Hervey Bay, Queensland 4655 Australia
Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
4.4 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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I stayed here for 1 night only in a one bedroom villa. The instructions as to how I could find and access my villa were comprehensive and easy to follow. My villa was almost at the end of the roadway in so it was reasonably quiet, and I drove past all the lovely lakes this accommodation is known for.
The villa was spotlessly clean and nicely presented. A large TV with access to streaming services, you could either sit on one of the comfy chairs to watch or lie on the bed. A small kitchenette with a full size fridge. A nice surprise was finding the box of Roses chocolates in the fridge, and the frozen peas in the freezer...to feed the turtles. The bathroom doubled as a laundry with a washing machine and dryer, not that I needed it but good to know for a longer visit. The bed was very comfortable and I had the best night's sleep.
The villas are alongside the lakes that are full with turtles and bird life. I also saw a bat colony over the other side of the lake, far enough away not to be a problem.
The location is fabulous being walking distance to the Botanic Gardens, the Urungan Pier, and close to shops and restaurants by car.
A lovely spot to stay and different to your usual accommodation with nature so close. I'd stay here again.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Further away from the reception area seems to be a bit quieter.
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.
We booked our holiday last minute and we’re lucky enough to find a place to stay in the school holidays which was reasonably priced. I came with my daughter and 3 young grandchildren and we all loved it. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable and the kids just loved feeding the ducks, turtles and birds from the balcony. It was lovely and peaceful with well kept grounds, lots of wildlife and the pool was nice for an afternoon swim. I liked the fact we were safe and secure as access was through a secure gate. The beach was close by and a shopping centre a few minutes away. Would recommend for families and nature lovers.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
Response from Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 13 Apr 2023
Hi 649annettem - thank you for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review. We really appreciate it. Last minute bookings through school holidays are very hard to come by so we are excited that you were able to squeeze us in. I'm glad you all had a great time and enjoyed your stay. Aren't those animals just so precious - and entertaining for the kids too lol. We hope we see you again next time you are heading toHervey bay.
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This is a great location and the managers do a very good job.
As a solo traveler I stayed in one of the studio style units. The kitchen is quite adequate with a small fridge and small hotplates, a frypan, etc. There is enough room so that one does not feel claustrophobic during a weeks stay. The furnishings are fairly basic but what is delivered is compatible with the rate charged.
The only drawback is the limited and unsecure wi-fi. Limited to 500MB per day with ordinary signal strength and data transfer speeds at peak times and it is really unsecure (not just public wi-fi unsecure).
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Date of stay: August 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Response from Deb Schultz, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 6 Sept 2020
Hi 2_5greenacres Thank you for taking the time to review our property. We really appreciate it. We do try to make sure our guests are comfortable and have everything they need for their stay. Our owners are slowly updating furnishings and supplies in their rooms so gradually we are getting there. You are correct though, it is fairly basic but our prices are very affordable. Thank you for bringing the wifi issue to our attention. Our network has always been secure, however we changed to NBN a couple of weeks ago - I wonder if that has had an effect on it all. We will certainly follow up with our IT team and see if we can have that fixed asap. We are glad you enjoyed your stay.
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We really enjoyed the aquatic life (birds and turtles) here. The lakeside setting is absolutely gorgeous and one-of-a-kind. However, the cabins are in serious need of renovation. Very old furniture and a sad-looking, threadbare comforter on the bed. The floor in our room was not clean when we arrived. We really wanted to love this place but it's in need of some touch-ups. Everything was serviceable (wifi, aircon, hot water) - so you may well enjoy staying here, as long as you know what you're getting into.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
During our 2 night stay Rod entered our accommodation (with our belongings) with two other people without our knowledge or presence. The only reason we were made aware of this entry and why we left a paper review with Deborah and Rod was because my parents were staying in the cabin opposite and happened to be sitting on their deck, witnessing the entry.
Rob calling out if anyone was in the cabin, and then entering without phoning, emailing or telling us face to face is highly unprofessional and the opposite of trying to get in contact with me.
At no point prior or during our stay was there any attempt made to contact me about the cabin being for sale and potentially having buyers look through during our stay. We have only found this out after reading your review on Airbnb.
This event was a breach in our privacy. Had my parents not been there we would have never known you had entered our private getaway space for the weekend. We will not be staying again, despite loving the location, as we do not feel comfortable or trust that our privacy will be respected.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
This place is great, I would recommend for anyone visiting Hervey Bay. It is a 1 minute walk to the beach, close to Woolworths, and has an on site laundry and pool. Deb and Rod are very friendly and will help you with anything you need. They made my partner and I feel very welcome and comfortable. The cabins are beautiful and clean, all of which have a lake view. There is spectacular wildlife around the lake, very friendly and can be hand fed with bird food that can be bought for cheap at reception. Our favourites were all the ducks Deb and Rod have raised, and the turtles that came up out of the lake for food. I will definitely be coming back.
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip 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.
Response from Deb Schultz, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 18 June 2020
Hi Rheannarose. Thank you so much for such an awesome review. We are very happy you enjoyed your stay with us and want to thank you both for being amazing guests. We love it when we have guests who love the wildlife as much as we do and get why we are so protective of them and the beautiful property. Please don't be strangers - we hope to see you guys often.
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The cabins were basic but had what you needed for a few nights stay. It was a spectacular location surrounding the lake which was full of ducks and turtles. The place could do with a bit of a renevation but at the price it was a lovely stop for a few nights.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
Response from Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 2 Dec 2023
thank you Richard. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. We are currently closed for 2 weeks to update some of our cabins and tidy up the grounds a little more. Its been a busy time for us. We are sure you will notice the changes on your next visit.
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We arrived late, having driven from Sunshine Coast Airport and Rod was great organizing us. It is very secure with a coded entry gate. Cabins are clean and comfortable with a queen bed and single in the standard cabins in one open room with a separate bathroom. Lovely really hot shower. Kitchen has fridge and microwave. All have Aircon unit and tv. All cabin balcony’s face the lovely lake, which is filled with turtles, ducks and geese. They and the corellas come in for a feed in the morning. You are woken by a colcophony of bird song. Thoroughly enjoying our stay. Rod and Deb are also very friendly, helpful and can organise tourist activities. We will be returning.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:If you use a booking company, and you will be arriving late, it is best to let Rod & Deb know as...
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.
Response from Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 2 Dec 2023
Hi Samarshall77 - thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We really appreciate it. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us and meeting the wildlife. Thry really do enjoy being around people too, and they feel safe to be themselves, which is really lovely. We look forward to seeing you again on your next visit.
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great place to relax and to explore Hervey Bay from. Locked gate entry, with a code supplied for entry to the place. separate cabins , all overlooking the lake. Your own shower , toilet , cooking in your room , with pots, pans, plates, ect supplied. swimming pool, laundry, BBQs, on site. Staff very friendly and helpful. We had a couples cabin, they also have family cabins. ducks, water fowl, swans, and turtles can be seen in the lake at different times. will definitely be staying here next time I go back to the area.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:call and speak to owners about your needs, they are very helpful
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.
Response from Deb Schultz, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 2 Dec 2022
Thanks Robert - we are glad to hear you enjoyed your stay with us. We think we have a lot to offer the traveller at a very affordable price and try to enwure our guests have everything they need for a relaxing and comfortable stay.
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What a treasure of a find , this place is superb, not only in its tranquil setting but in every aspect. We had a clean cabin situated on the lakes edge with nature surrounding us and the turtles were great visitors and trees with an abundance of birds . Sitting on the deck overlooking the lake and all the wildlife calls made for a relaxing time . The hosts were obliging in all ways and were genuinely friendly and great conversationalists . We highly recommend a visit 😀🍺❤️
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip 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.
Response from Deb Schultz, General Manager at Sanctuary Lakes Fauna Retreat, Hervey Bay
Responded 26 Dec 2020
Hi TomR744 Thank you for a lovely review. It really is a hidden little gem isn't it. OMGosh - those turtles lol - they are everywhere, and don't mind a bit of a chat and a free feed sometimes. We are glad you were able to relax and enjoy everything we love about our home. We are country folk and like to treat people the way we would like to be treated. Hope you get the chance to come back again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Hervey Bay area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$120 - AU$154 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Sanctuary Lakes Beach Resort
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandFraser CoastHervey Bay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
36
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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