Heron Island Resort

Loved location and wildlife, turtle experiences and snorkelling amazing. Pity the resort is so poorly maintained and run down. Hotel and restaurant staff less than helpful and a lot were incompetent, meals continually stuffed up and wastage was extreme due to the size of some meals (especially the entrees). Obviously the management is very poor or non existent.

Amazing place for nature watching. Accommodation is in a poor way and clearly hasn’t been maintained for a long long time - large plants growing from blocked gutters, repairs needed inside (broken curtain pole, toilet roll holder, door handle etc), damaged externals. I can’t fathom why they aren’t getting a company in to fix these up given the cost of the accommodation. I do wonder where all of the money is going. Restaurant was surprisingly ok given the reviews I had read. Plenty of choice at breakfast too. Yes there is bird poo everywhere but that’s what happens when it’s a haven for birds! The staff are amazing and those that have completed science/conservation degrees are so interesting. Overall would recommend. Would go back if the accommodation was seen to, but not if it continued to fall into disrepair.

The staff were amazing, our ferry was cancelled due to bad weather. Celine in the office, went the extra mile to make sure we got to our connecting flights. I so appreciate her help, she was amazing. The coral, the fish, the sea birds and the laying and hatchling turtles were also awesome, if you want to teach your kids to love and care for our beautiful planet 🌎 go to Heron. This place holds a special place in my heart ❤️

I read reviews beforehand that made me skeptical about going but it’s a fantastic island and wonderful wild life experience. I highly recommend going, and going with some realistic expectations around staying on a remote island with HEAPS of wildlife. Some highlights from a January trip: - seeing turtles laying eggs and hatchlings running into the ocean - seeing heaps of wildlife when snorkelling off the island and on tours - the activities run by the island (most are free) - live music at the bar Some tips: - bring a few more tops/tshirts and hats than you might normally as you will get pooed on by birds - bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands hands before meals given the widespread bird poo - book the rooms with AC if available, it’s worth the money. We only got a room with a fan and it was hard to get comfortable one of the days due to such bad heat - don’t expect a luxurious resort with fantastic food, you’re paying a premium for the wildlife which is absolutely worth it. In saying that the food is pretty good, but not fantastic! - book travel insurance that includes the island as the ferry can be cancelled and helicopter is expensive

We stayed on Heron Island for 5 nights in the first week of January 2026. Having read the reviews prior to booking, I actively managed the family's expectations on what the experience would be and we ended up having a great time. Firstly, consistent with the reviews, the island is NOT a luxury resort. It is more akin to an "eco resort" and is indeed in need of an upgrade. The food options are also limited, but you are on an island. For ~$40 (adult) all you can eat buffet each night - it is reasonable. The bird droppings are also a hazard. The best thing about the island is the bird and marine life. Just a few meters into the water, we swam with turtles (over 100 come to the beach each night to nest), sting rays (about 20 of them just 5 meters from the shore), 3 sharks (approx. 1 meter in size, so harmless) just off the pontoon, abundance of reef fish and coral. Our days were spent swimming, snorkelling, reading and watching Ashes cricket in the bar in between. It was a wonderful summer holiday. If you want to come and disconnect from the world and reconnect with your teenage kids ... you will have a great experience.