Play Pokies at Heron Island Resort in Coral Sea

Snorkelling and diving was fantastic as were all the staff, but the food needs to be improved. Bland and overcooked buffets, not great when there are no other options.
Such a shame the food lets the island down.

I had an absolutely wonderful holiday on Heron Island. It is a truly magical destination absolutely teeming with wildlife. You don't even have to leave the white sandy beaches or head to the outer reef to experience it, you can literally enjoy a stroll around the island with turtles, rays and sharks for company. I went during winter which meant I missed the turtle and bird breeding season but I actually enjoyed this quieter period and was lucky enough to enjoy perfect weather too. I have no complaints about the accommodation. My bed was comfortable, the room was clean and the shower was hot. The complimentary buffet breakfast was excellent - I couldn't have asked for more and all the dinner meals I had were delicious and no more expensive than you would pay at any good restaurant.
The staff were all friendly, efficient and professional. I loved touring the research station and the daily walks with the marine biologist - I learnt so many amazing things about the reef and the island wildlife.
I cannot recommend this beautiful coral cay more highly. I swam every day with turtles, rays, reef sharks, lemon sharks, scores of beautiful fish and even had my first encounter with an octopus. It was incredible. Another first was seeing the Milky Way at night! Spectacular! I also loved visiting the bar to watch the gorgeous sunsets and enjoy the wonderful live music on the weekends while chatting to other guests over a cocktail or two. The trivial pursuit game was great fun too. Thank you to all the wonderful staff who protect this beautiful place for all to enjoy and learn about. It is truly stunning.

Stayed here a few times over the years. Feels like there's been a bit of a turn over in staff and must say this is a VAST improvement. Sonia and Cecilia that work reception/boutique in particular were great. They were both only too happy to help with requests and generally made us feel very welcome. In addition the bar staff were good fun, and again made everyone feel welcome. The Marine center runs dive and snorkel trips that are well worth doing regardless of whether you're certified or not. The location and the wildlife are still spectacular, something that's becoming harder and harder to find. As I said to my dad it's the location that you're paying for above anything else and that's important to keep in mind. While it's not your super posh high end places in other parts of the world, the environment is truly unique. Saw loads of sharks, turtles, rays, huge sport fish by the dozens, getting out in the morning with the eagles is great. It's amazing places like this still exist in the modern world!

The wildlife gets 5 stars .
The accommodation is 3 stars
The staff 5 stars . bar staff are very helpful .
$25 a day for internet is expensive
Children who can snorkel should enjoy it the most .
Music in bar too loud and not restful . Prefer to hear the bird calls . The restaurant is the only one , meals are nicely cooked and presented , but not exactly cheap . . Shop sells souvenirs, soft drink and potato crisps and no real food there . Overall the wildlife is just extraordinary !

Pretty disappointed with our experience at Heron Island. Resort needs a revamp, rooms for what we paid (over $600pn) were very, very basic. We had ants in the room by the time we departed. Weather wasn't great while we were over there which hindered our snorkelling experience, however we still saw some pretty cool stuff! We were out snorkelling on our second last day and were told by another couple our ferry for the next day was cancelled. Had to race to reception to see what was going on. Poor communication in regards to this. Couldn't get a refund for our night we were missing out on and they wouldn't allow us to use that money to pay for the room charges. Food was absolutely terrible, overpriced and poor quality. Limited range of options for children, nothing in the sort of vegetables on offer. For the total amount of money we spent we expected a LOT better. Don't recommend at all, spend your money on a day trip snorkelling experience if that's what you're looking for!