Heron Island

I've been meaning to get back to Heron for a long time now (it's been about 20 years since my last visit), and while it's almost impossible not to feel you've had a break from life on Heron, the resort is not what it once was. One of the charms of Heron has always been its laid back style. You don't feel out of place schlepping around barefoot There are no locks on doors; no TV's in your room ( who needs tv with what's going on outside??); no phone reception. It really is a perfect place to step out of life for a while. Wifi is available for $25/day and best reception is in the bar. I was pleased to see none of this has changed. We stayed in a Point suite - which is well worth the extra for the stunning views ( if you can request a room, I would go for 2 or 3) The rooms are large with lounge area and outside sitting area with pretty much uninterrupted views of the reef - can stare at it all day without getting bored. Unlike some of the other rooms, the Point Suites are air-conditioned - you don't so much want the a/c for keeping cool, but more for escaping the humidity. Unfortunately, the resort has not been kept as well as it once was. Don't get me wrong, it's a big job maintaining a small town in the middle of the ocean - but there is a generally feel of someone pinching the maintenance and upkeep budget. Everything is ok, but a lot of things are in need of TLC. Buildings need general upkeep, the main bar area has a lot of chairs missing cushions - and the cushions that are there look like they are in desperate need of a wash. We were staying in premium accommodation, yet the grounds around our rooms were pretty much ignored. Food was another disappointment on this trip. Gone are the glory days of amazing food on Heron. I remember when people would arrive on the seafood buffet nights - just for the food. The buffet breakfast would be at home in a Holiday Express, the lunch menu doesn't change, and is the standard basic pub grub. We were there for 3 nights and I can't say anything thrilled me on the dinner menu - it was all 'OK' but that was it. Is it worth the money? A subjective question. We really enjoyed our time there and while it is expensive - you have to factor in where it is. It's just disappointing that for a bit of more effort, this absolute gem of a place could be brought back to its former glory. You are really going for the experience of the reef, and if you didn't have the good fortune to know how glorious the reef was 30 years ago, you would still be entranced by its beauty. I am glad we went, but I probably won't rush back.

We were a family group of 14, ranging in age from 7 to 80. We stayed in a variety of room types. What a privilege to stay right on the Great Barrier Reef in a National Park. The accommodation was comfortable and clean. From some reviews I had read I was a bit wary about what the Resort would be like. It was fabulous! You need to remember that is is a National Park and a long way out from the mainland. People go there to experience the Reef and the island. But you can still get a massage, a cocktail, a delicious meal. But don't go if you don't want to spend most of your time outdoors loving the environment. There are interesting talks and walks, many free of charge. You can borrow reef shoes and a walking pole and explore the shallow waters. You can buy snacks and clothing etc at the little shop. The reception staff were very helpful. To sit on a terrace and watch the sun set and the turtles swim by - doesn't get much better than this.