Short version:

Short version:
Heron island is truly a paradise with a great group of staff and management eager to help you relax, unwind, and explore. The nature is as beautiful as ever and the resort is on an upward trend under new management. The wildlife and beauty of the island are just stunning, as we saw immediately on arrival as we walked down the jetty surrounded by all sorts of sea life and the most stunning turquoise water. We kept away from the resort Wifi and enjoyed distraction-free sunrise mornings, adventure-filled days on the beach and out on the reef, and amazing sunsets from the bar with a glass of wine. The food and chefs at the restaurant we TERRIFIC - if it were a restaurant on the main land we would definitely go just to eat there again. From what we had heard the whole restaurant had just been refurbished and a new menu had been created - seafood, steak, vegetarian dishes - it was all fantastic.

Heron Island is an experience not to be missed in Australia - to wake up for a morning snorkel or dive with the turtles, rays and sharks right on the Great Barrier Reef. We will never forget our time there, and will certainly recommend our friends and family to come!

Long version:
My partner and I travelled to Heron in June 2020, as in-state restrictions on travel were lifted for Queenslanders. Although it was only the first week since resorts had reopened, there were no issues in booking or getting to the resort via the Heron Islander ferry from Gladstone - a very smooth process. The ferry operators will ask if you want to check any luggage through to your room on the island; make sure you don't check luggage with essential items you may need in the interim few hours, since the bag gets delivered to inside your room, you won't be able to access the items until your room is ready (we arrived on Heron 2 hours before our check-in time). This wasn't an issue for us but something to consider.

Once on the island, the staff and management were welcoming and noticeably excited to have visitors back to this little slice of paradise. From wait staff to front desk, dive teams, boat crew, and management you could feel their passion for the protecting and exploring the island and its amazing wildlife.

Honestly we had no negative experiences with service or anyone on the staff - everyone was very friendly and went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed for our room, while out on excursions around the island, or in the restaurant/bar. The food at the restaurant exceeded expectation, especially at dinner, based on older reviews. The dining area was very clean and refurbished, and we
Although slightly dated, our room was kept very clean by housekeeping and had amazing views of the beach and reef (your real room where you'll be out spending most of you days anyway)!

If you have even the slightest interest in nature, sea life, snorkeling or diving, then this is the place for you. All activities are available directly from the island - just make sure you sign up at the Marine Center when you first arrive on check-in. There are few other resorts that bring you right up the edge of nature - especially one of the wonders of the world - and open the door for you to explore every day. We have no hesitations in recommending Heron to anyone looking for a truly amazing adventure in Australia and love the outdoors. The people working on the island are some of the friendliest we've met on our holidays, and we cannot wait to get back here soon!