Resort Heron Island

Beachfront · Private Beach. Property is on or next to a beach and has a private beach (free access). Airport shuttle. Airport shuttle available at an additional charge. You can request this in the next step. Travel Sustainable property

Great Barrier Reef, 4680 Heron Island, Australia – Excellent location – show map

Excellent location – rated 9.7/10! (score from 570 reviews)

Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions

7.9
Good
570 reviews

Great views, lots to do, lots of fun! Great snorkeling location! Excellent island vibes

Allison Australia

Beautiful location and very chilled vibes Perfect for 2 nights

Rachael United Kingdom

Clean and set up with what you need. This resort is more about experiencing the island and the wildlife that surround and inhabit it. The restaurant changed its evening menu daily, which I appreciated. The staff where approachable and friendly.

Elana Australia

The Location is perfect! the whole reason for going to heron is for the marine life and it was magical - turtles, rays, sharks, fish and the birds did a great job too (very noisy mutton birds / shearwaters singing all night so bring your ear plugs!) Visibility varied with tides, currents and weather conditions but overall ok. The guides were brilliant, special shout out to Mossy, Rachel and Ellie.

Fiona Australia

Everything else, especially the outer reef snorkeling

Thomas Australia

The location is stunning. There's so much to do on such a small piece of land and around it.

Ivan Australia

The snorkelling and snorkelling guides were really great.

Hannah Australia

Stunning Island for snorkeling and diving. Having the beach as your backyard and seeing turtles, ray's and reef sharks passing is an incredible experience. The resort is very family friendly, amazing staff and a real Island experience. Can highly recommend this resort!

Lieke Australia

Relaxing and marine biologist was most knowledgeable.

Molly United States of America

Rooms are clean, food is tasty, the staff is helpful and friendly, the reef is unbelievable beautiful and amazing. Snorkeling on the reef trumps any inconveniences we had from birds and heat.

Kimberly United States of America
7.9
Good
570 reviews
  • What guests loved the most:
  • “Great views, lots to do, lots of fun! Great snorkeling location! Excellent island vibes”
    Allison Allison Australia Australia
  • “Beautiful location and very chilled vibes Perfect for 2 nights”
    Rachael Rachael United Kingdom United Kingdom
  • “Clean and set up with what you need. This resort is more about experiencing the island and the wildlife that surround and inhabit it. The restaurant changed its evening menu daily, which I...”
    Elana Elana Australia Australia
  • “The Location is perfect! the whole reason for going to heron is for the marine life and it was magical - turtles, rays, sharks, fish and the birds did a great job too (very noisy mutton birds /...”
    Fiona Fiona Australia Australia
  • “Everything else, especially the outer reef snorkeling”
    Thomas Thomas Australia Australia
  • “The location is stunning. There's so much to do on such a small piece of land and around it.”
    Ivan Ivan Australia Australia
  • “The snorkelling and snorkelling guides were really great.”
    Hannah Hannah Australia Australia
  • “Stunning Island for snorkeling and diving. Having the beach as your backyard and seeing turtles, ray's and reef sharks passing is an incredible experience.”
    Lieke Lieke Australia Australia
  • “Relaxing and marine biologist was most knowledgeable.”
    Molly Molly United States of America United States of America
  • “Rooms are clean, food is tasty, the staff is helpful and friendly, the reef is unbelievable beautiful and amazing. Snorkeling on the reef trumps any inconveniences we had from birds and heat.”
    Kimberly Kimberly United States of America United States of America

Categories:

  • Staff 8.6
  • Facilities 7.4
  • Cleanliness 7.8
  • Comfort 7.9
  • Value for money 7.1
  • Location 9.7
High score for Heron Island Low score for Heron Island

You're eligible for a Genius discount at Heron Island! To save at this property, all you have to do is sign in.

Located on the World-Heritage-listed Heron Island, this resort offers free snorkeling lessons in the outdoor pool and free guided reef walks.

Rooms at the Heron Island Resort feature bright living areas, which open onto balconies or terraces with forest or sea views. Each has a fridge and tea/coffee making facilities. All include beach towels and sun umbrellas.

Heron Island Resort has a day spa offering massages and facials. The tour desk organizes a variety of diving and snorkeling tours around many Great Barrier Reef locations. Shearwater Restaurant offers buffet and á la carte options with views over the Coral Sea. Guests can sip cocktails on the outdoor terrace or relax in the Pandanus Lounge.

Heron Island Resort is accessible by boat and helicopter from Gladstone. A coach service to/from Gladstone Airport is available.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.7 for a two-person trip.

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Heron Island has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Sept 13, 2010

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Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.7)

Breakfast Info

Buffet

Activities:

Spa

Pool table

Canoeing

Saved to 389 lists

Most popular amenities

Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
Bar
Beachfront
Private beach area
Lock in a great price for your upcoming stay

Get instant confirmation with FREE cancellation on most rooms!

Guests must meet one or more requirements to stay in this property: Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination, a recent valid negative coronavirus PCR test, or recent proof of coronavirus recovery.

Availability

When would you like to stay at Heron Island?

Check-in date
Check-out date
 
Approximate prices for a 1-night stay
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Sleeps Accommodation Type Price
Max adults: 2. Max children: 1
Turtle Room
  • 1 full bed
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Max adults: 3. Max children: 2
Reef Room
  • 1 full bed and
  • 1 sofa bed
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Max adults: 4. Max children: 3
Beachside Suite
  • 1 king bed and 2 sofa beds
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Max adults: 4. Max children: 3
Turtle Family Room
  • 2 twin beds and
  • 1 full bed
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Max adults: 4. Max children: 3
Reef Family Room
  • 2 twin beds and
  • 1 full bed
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Travel Sustainable property

Travel Sustainable property

This property is part of the Travel Sustainable program, which means it’s taken significant steps to make your stay more sustainable.

4 reasons to choose Heron Island

  • Prices you can't beat!
  • Booking is safe
  • Manage your bookings online
  • The staff speaks English

Guest reviews

7.9
Good
 · 570 reviews
Read all reviews
  • Staff 8.6
  • Facilities 7.4
  • Cleanliness 7.8
  • Comfort 7.9
  • Value for money 7.1
  • Location 9.7
    Access to the beach
High score for Heron Island Low score for Heron Island

Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Allison Australia

    “Great views, lots to do, lots of fun! Great snorkeling location! Excellent island vibes”

  • Rachael United Kingdom

    “Beautiful location and very chilled vibes Perfect for 2 nights”

  • Elana Australia

    “Clean and set up with what you need. This resort is more about experiencing the island and the wildlife that surround and inhabit it. The restaurant changed its evening menu daily, which I appreciated. The staff where approachable and friendly. ”

  • Fiona Australia

    “The Location is perfect! the whole reason for going to heron is for the marine life and it was magical - turtles, rays, sharks, fish and the birds did a great job too (very noisy mutton birds / shearwaters singing all night so bring your ear plugs!) Visibility varied with tides, currents and weather conditions but overall ok. The guides were brilliant, special shout out to Mossy, Rachel and Ellie.”

  • Thomas Australia

    “Everything else, especially the outer reef snorkeling ”

  • Ivan Australia

    “The location is stunning. There's so much to do on such a small piece of land and around it.”

  • Hannah Australia

    “The snorkelling and snorkelling guides were really great.”

  • Lieke Australia

    “Stunning Island for snorkeling and diving. Having the beach as your backyard and seeing turtles, ray's and reef sharks passing is an incredible experience. The resort is very family friendly, amazing staff and a real Island experience. Can highly recommend this resort!”

  • Molly United States of America

    “Relaxing and marine biologist was most knowledgeable.”

  • Kimberly United States of America

    “Rooms are clean, food is tasty, the staff is helpful and friendly, the reef is unbelievable beautiful and amazing. Snorkeling on the reef trumps any inconveniences we had from birds and heat. ”

Got a question?

Find more info in the questions and answers. Need something else? Send your own question to the property below.

About Heron Island

Welcoming Booking.com guests since Sept 13, 2010

We speak your language

The property usually replies within a few days

Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.

  • Is your private beach next to the property or do I need to use a means of transportation to go there?

    The beach is walking distance from all points of Heron Island

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    Answered on March 27, 2020
  • Where are you able to leave your car if staying on the island

    Secure parking can be booked with Compleat Angler Gladstone.

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    Answered on April 11, 2021
  • Does the price include travel costs to the Island

    The prices of our rooms include daily breakfast and snorkel equipment. Ferry transfers are $150 return per adult or $76 return per child (3-12 years). The ferry operates every day except Tuesday, Thursday and Christmas Day.

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    Answered on July 10, 2021
  • hi, how can I book a transport facility from Gladstone to Heron Island

    You can book through our reservations team or contacting the island team.

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    Asked about: Turtle Room • Answered on July 25, 2021
  • What happens when my check out date is a Tuesday and there are no ferries to go back.

    The alternative mode of transport on a Tuesday or Thursday is by helicopter.

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    Answered on May 4, 2021
  • How do I change the rooms

    Room and date amendments are subject to availability and can be done through your original booking source

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    Answered on July 21, 2020
  • Can you have extra beds for children? Or adjoining rooms?

    Turtle and Reef Family Rooms can accommodate up to five guests, there is existing bedding for four people, and a roll-away bed can be hired for the fifth person. If you are booking multiple rooms, we can request they are close together or side by side, but there are no guarantees for special requests unfortunately.

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    Asked about: Turtle Room • Answered on March 27, 2020
  • how do we get to herron island ? boat obviously but whats costs & timetable please ? are there any shops on the island ?

    You have two options - passenger ferry operates everyday excluding Tuesday & Thursday. The other option is by helicopter. This varies as to when you want to travel. We have a small boutique gift shop with other retail outlets on island.

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    Asked about: Turtle Room • Answered on July 25, 2021
  • How do we get their from Gladstone return. Do we just book on internet ?

    We offer ferry and helicopter transfers. Please note the ferry does not operate on a Tuesday or Thursday. Bookings for transfers can be made through the Heron Island reservations department directly.

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    Answered on August 10, 2020
  • Does this price include air travel to and from the heron island?

    No, air travel is additional and optional at the customer's expense.

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    Answered on July 25, 2021
  • Hi looking at coming over by boat mid August. Just wondering do u sell ice and bait on the island ?? Thanks

    We do not permit guests to bring their own vessels to Heron Island unfortunately, transport is either by ferry or helicopter. With relation to bait, there is no fishing on Heron Island, so bait is not sold.

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    Answered on July 30, 2020
Area Info *
Guests loved walking around the neighborhood!
Excellent location – show map
Natural Beauty
  • Ocean/Sea Heron Island
    0 miles
Closest Airports
  • Gladstone Airport
    52.8 miles
How to get to Heron Island from Gladstone Airport
    Public transportation
* All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.
Are you missing any information about this area?
Brilliant!
1 Restaurant On Site

    Shearwater Restaurant

    Open for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Menu: Buffet & À La Carte

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Travel Proud

This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.

Resort Facilities at Heron Island

Most popular amenities

Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
Bar
Beachfront
Private beach area
Outdoors
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Beachfront
  • Sun deck
  • Private beach area
  • Terrace
  • Garden
Activities
  • Live music/Performance
  • Themed dinners Additional charge
  • Walking tours
  • Movie nights
  • Beach
  • Evening entertainment
  • Water sports facilities on site Additional charge
  • Entertainment staff
  • Snorkeling Additional charge
  • Diving Additional charge
  • Canoeing Additional charge
  • Pool table
Food & Drink
  • Coffee house on site
  • Chocolate/Cookies Additional charge
  • Fruit Additional charge
  • Bottle of water Additional charge
  • Wine/Champagne Additional charge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kids' meals Additional charge
  • Special diet meals (on request)
  • Snack bar
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
Internet
WiFi is available in public areas and costs AUD 10 per 24 hours.
Parking
No parking available.
Front Desk Services
  • Invoice provided
  • Concierge
  • Baggage storage
  • Tour desk
Entertainment & Family Services
  • Board games/Puzzles
Cleaning Services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry Additional charge
Business Facilities
  • Meeting/Banquet facilities Additional charge
Safety & security
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Smoke alarms
  • Safe
General
  • Paid WiFi
  • Convenience store on site
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Airport shuttle (additional charge)
  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Packed lunches
  • Family rooms
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Non-smoking rooms
Accessibility
  • Toilet with grab rails
  • Wheelchair accessible
Health & Wellness Facilities
  • Spa/Wellness packages
  • Foot bath
  • Spa lounge/Relaxation area
  • Steam room
  • Spa facilities
  • Body wrap
  • Body scrub
  • Body treatments
  • Pedicure
  • Manicure
  • Hair treatments
  • Makeup services
  • Waxing services
  • Facial treatments
  • Beauty services
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Beach chairs/Loungers
  • Pool/Beach towels
  • Massage Additional charge
  • Spa Additional charge
Languages Spoken
  • English
Missing some info?
Awesome!

House rules Heron Island takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

3:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in

Check-out

7:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 2 and above are considered adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 2 years
Crib by request
Free

Additional fees are not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

This property doesn't offer extra beds.

The maximum number of cribs allowed depends on the room you choose. Double-check the maximum capacity for the room you selected.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Mastercard Visa Diners Club American Express Heron Island accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

The fine print

From 17 December, or when 80% of Queenslanders are fully vaccinated – whichever comes first, unvaccinated people will be unable to stay at Heron Island Resort. Guests will be required to show their vaccination certificate and valid ID at check-in confirming they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Heron Island is accessible by boat and helicopter from Gladstone. The boat transfer will depart Gladstone for Heron Island at 09:30 daily, except Tuesdays and Thursdays. The return boat transfer will depart from Heron Island at 12:45 daily, except Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Heron Islander will not be operating on Christmas Day, 25 December. The cost of the transfer on the Heron Islander is AU $75 per adult each way and AU $38 per child each way. Please contact the Heron Island Reservations Team to book your boat transfer or inquire about the cost of a scenic helicopter transfer.

Please note there is no mobile phone coverage on Heron Island.

An Environmental Management Charge (EMC) of AU $7 per person per day (for guests 5 years and older) to a maximum of AU $21 per person per stay will be charged direct to guests. Price is subject to change.

Upon arriving to Heron Island, the Environmental Management Charge will be applied for the first three nights of your stay in accordance with the number of guests in the room.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property is taking steps to protect the safety of guests and staff. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property has reduced reception and service hours.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), this property adheres to strict physical distancing measures.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Heron Island of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Guests must meet one or more requirements to stay in this property: Proof of full Covid-19 vaccination, a recent valid negative coronavirus PCR test, or recent proof of coronavirus recovery.

FAQs about Heron Island

  • Room options at Heron Island include:

    • Double
    • Suite

  • Check-in at Heron Island is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 10:00 AM.

  • The prices at Heron Island may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • From the nearest airport, you can get to Heron Island by:

    • Airport shuttle (arranged by property) 15min
    • Ferry 2h

  • Heron Island has 1 restaurant:

    • Shearwater Restaurant

  • Heron Island is 3.7 miles from the center of Heron Island.

  • Heron Island offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Spa
    • Massage
    • Pool table
    • Snorkeling
    • Diving
    • Canoeing
    • Beachfront
    • Evening entertainment
    • Waxing services
    • Beauty services
    • Spa facilities
    • Walking tours
    • Pedicure
    • Facial treatments
    • Foot bath
    • Water sports facilities on site
    • Hair treatments
    • Live music/Performance
    • Private beach area
    • Movie nights
    • Body scrub
    • Themed dinners
    • Entertainment staff
    • Beach
    • Makeup services
    • Steam room
    • Body treatments
    • Spa/Wellness packages
    • Manicure
    • Spa lounge/Relaxation area
    • Body wrap

  • Guests staying at Heron Island can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 8.5).

    Breakfast option(s) include:

    • Buffet