Heron Island Resort Reviews from GlobeNet Travel for Heron Island

Thank you for your reviews of Heron Island Resort for the benefit of fellow travellers. Included here are some of your responses and we update regularly.

• "Hi Sali, Just letting you know we had an absolutely wonderful holiday in Oz. your part of the trip (flights, heli, Heron Island) went very well. we had a fantastic stay in Heron Island.

Please find attached two foto's one aerial picture of the Island (taken from the Heli) and one of our little daughter Chloe who was doing the ranger passport!

Just one little word advice for anyone going to Heron..... use their earplugs (otherwise the noddies and most of all the muttonbirds WILL keep you awake at night!)" Carla F., Zeist, The Netherlands (13 Jan 06)

• "Hi Sali, Our east coast island hopping was fantastic. Thank you so much for booking the accommodation, your service provided was excellent & we have already recommended GlobeNet Travel to several other people. Our trip highlight was Wilson Island, it was heaven & there was only 1 other couple there with us.

Great Keppel - lovely beaches & rugged island, accommodation/cleanliness very average....but I think they are trying to improve it, however it was cheap.

Dunk Island - we love everything about Dunk, jungle walks, quiet beaches, afternoon storms, excellent service & luxury accomm.

Brampton Island - we loved it almost as much as Dunk, unfortunately the staff weren't as efficient, we think the reception staff were not cut out for their job.

Hamilton Island - We had a spare night, so we popped in, it felt like the Gold Coast on an island after being on the other islands.

Heron Island - birds & birds & more birds...lots of international guests.

Wilson, our dream island, wonderful host couple, amazing wildlife pristine beaches, a very special place. All the islands had their own point of difference, it was interesting to compare them.

We had a fantastic 4 weeks, everything ran very smoothly, next year we are doing central australia..although tempted to go back to some of those islands first chance we get... Thanks again Sali" Christina & Rod L., Melbourne, Australia (27 Dec 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Heron Island was certainly very special. The wildlife was terrific, saw a number of Green turtles laying eggs. I think holiday makers need to be more aware during the time when the turtles are laying not to use torchlight on the beaches at night as it can disturb the turtles.

The food was great, especially the seafood night on Saturday evening. End of November was a great time, the water was warm enough to swim, and very clear, and the turtles were out laying eggs. Weather was terrific, I was very fortunate that there was very little wind, making diving and snorkelling exceptional.

The staff were great, very friendly and helpful. I would certainly recommend Heron Island as a place where people can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, wildlife and terrific snorkelling diving opportunities." Lyn E., Sydney, Australia (13 Dec 05)

• "Dear Gayle, We had a wonderful holiday, I loved Heron Island. Spent most of the time in the water, snorkelling and admiring the reef and fish. We also went on the submersible boat, did a reef walk, snokelling to the outer reef, sunset cruise, and turtle walk - where we saw the turtles crawling up the sand and digging a nest and laying their eggs - very thrilling. Ian also went on a fishing trip.

We found the food delicious, enjoyed the bird life - which you could not avoid as they were nesting outside our unit. The unit also had an ocean view - delightful, love the colours of the ocean.

We also found the staff very helpful - particularly Mel, Sarah - informative excursions, Shari - boutique, Jarryd - submersible & fishing, Callan & Rebecca - Shearwater Restaurant. So we were very well looked after. I would go back there tomorrow." Gail M., Perth, Australia (12 Dec 05)

• "Dear Kylie, We cannot tell you how much we enjoyed our holiday to Heron Island and Wilson Island. As you predicted, Wilson Island was pure magic. We had a wonderful time getting to know the island (dodging the birdie "bombs") and snorkelling right off the beach.

Two unforgettable experiences were being able to snorkel within 5m of a pair of mating turtles and watching a turtle laying its eggs late one evening (they really do look like ping pong balls).

We are very grateful to our hosts Jacinta and Heath who really looked after us - special mention must be made of the fantastic culinary delights Heath cooked up - and of the other guests who were there (2 other couples) who were as chilled out as we were and happy to make the most of some pretty persistent rain at times.

We were sad to leave but are now determined to discover other equally amazing holiday experiences (which may just mean returning to Wilson Island in the not too distant future). Thank you again for all your help in planning our holiday. Please find attached a couple of our photos from our time on Wilson Island." Samantha H., Sydney, Australia (6 Dec 05)

• "Dear Zoe, We had a truly wonderful holiday and it was extra special as we celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary on Heron Island. We were very impressed with the hotel and found the staff to be exceptionally helpful and friendly. Many, many thanks again for all your help and assistance - everything went like a dream. " Janice & David H., London, UK (1 Dec 05)

• "Hello Moniqua, We enjoyed Heron Island, saw turtles nesting, together with heaps of birds, weather was great, travel arrangements were spot on, so thank you for all your help" Barbara and Cyril S., NSW, Australia (4 Dec 05)

•"Hi there Zoe We had a fantastic time away and that we are all well and rested. Heron island was beauitful and the birds were fine... the earplugs work wonders." Donna & Stephen N., Melbourne, Australia (2 Dec 05)

• "Hello Sonia, Although we have been in Australia for almost a month, we have only scratched the surface of what this huge and wonderful country offers. But what we have seen has been wonderful.

In planning the trip, Linda wanted particularly to see the Coral Spawn - an annual event on 3 particular days after the full moon in November. On the last night of our stay on Heron Island it occurred! Photos show what we saw the next morning, after the nighttime spawning.

The spawning event and Roger's accompanying a Green Turtle researcher for 4 late-night hours walking the beach and following turtle tracks to document tagged turtle information were special. The planning of this trip began in 2000, and it has given us much to be thankful for this year." Roger & Linda C., Burlington, USA (28 Nov 05)

• "Hi Zoe, We had an absolutely glorious time. The turtles were coming in to lay their eggs and it was truly a beautiful time to be on Heron Island. As usual the waters were crystal clear and the snorkeling (or just a quiet walk along the beach) was spectacular. Thanks for everything. No real photo's to send you as we took photo's of the wildlife rather than us having a wild time!! Thanks again" Ken and Vicki R., Dalby, Australia (28 Nov 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Heron Island exceeded all our expectations. Everything went smoothly which made for a very relaxing break. Our English friends (who arrived in Oz through Perth) said they had 'been from Perth to Paradise'" Max B., Sydney, Australia (21 Nov 05)

• "Hello GlobeNet, My husband and I visited Australia in Sept/Oct 2005 for our honeymoon. The itinerary that Zoe put together for us was perfect. The accomodations she chose (Four Points Sheraton in Sydney, Heron Island, Outrigger Beach Club and Spa Palm Cove and Novtel Brighton Beach ) were excellent, all the hotels were in great locations, perfect for our honeymoon and above average. While we were planning our trip, Zoe was very friendly, accomodating and gave us alot of options that fit our budget.

The best part of the trip was Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. This location was perfect because the resort holds only about 200 - 250 people at one time so it felt very personal. The staff was very friendly and made our visit to the island very enjoyable. We would recommend this island to everyone going to visit Australia. Overall, the trip was great and we cannot wait to return to Australia again in the future." Nevila & Ivan K., New York, USA (14 Nov 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Thank you so much for planning the honeymoon of a life time at Heron Island. I am 24 weeks pregnant and that still did not stop me from having a ball. It is the most beautiful relaxing place you will ever see to anyone wondering weather to go do it, it is just fantastic really there are no words to explain the serenity of the place.

My husband, our little baby boy Mozes who is on the way and I will be going back for our 1st anniversary next year on the 29th of October 2006. It was just great and the food is devine. Thank you so much again for getting us there." Cody & Melinda C., Brisbane, Australia (8 Nov 05)

• "Dear Trish We recently returned from Australia and I wanted to thank you for your help in setting up our trip. We love Heron Island and all of your reservations and transfers worked extremely well.

Can't wait until the next time we go back. Thanks again! " Marianne B-F., Pasadena, USA (11 Oct 05)

• "Kylie Steve and I had a fabulous time on Heron Island. As a SCUBA diver it is was a wonderful experience. The diving was the quality of a live-aboard trip without the hassels of having to live on a boat. The dive staff were extremely friendly, and the safety with which dive operations were run were the best I've ever seen. In addition to SCUBA, Steve and I enjoyed the snorkeling, reef walks, and especially the isolation of the island which allowed for quiet walks along the beach and through the forest. Heron Island was truly a slice of paradise (check out the beautiful sunrise photo).

With regard to improvements...the food was only so-so, particularly brekky and lunch. This was a bit of a disappointment with regard to how the resort was advertised and the associated costs. It was a especially disturbing having birds in the dining room and often they "helped themselves to the buffet or even the food right off your plate." Several travelers we met appeared to be ill after the seafood buffet. Evenings in which dinner was a la carte were the much better.

All in all, Heron Island was a wonderful place for a relaxing holiday and a great chance to enjoy the beauty of the reef and all of it's marine life. It might not be the type of place for people who want a wild night life, but for us it was a great place to get some rest and relaxation. Thanks for your help in arranging everything. PS -- I'd recommend sea sickness tablets for people taking the launch from Gladstone. The ride can get really rough!" Lynn L., Sydney, Australia (15 Sep 05)

• "Hi Sali We had a fantastic time at Heron Island - only 180 guests and 135 employees. Haley and I had 14 dives in 6 days including a night dive. It was a 5 star experience - the food maybe a little less but that's not why we went. Attached are two photos - one is of Haley in a brief moment of rest and the other of Julian with reef sharks at his feet. Thanks again for your help ! " David L., Colorado, USA (26 Sep 05)

• "Hello Kylie A big thank you from the Family for arranging our recent holiday to Melbourne and Heron Island. All the arrangements were faultless. Heron Island was stunning. Even at this time of year there was plenty to see, we snorkelled with sharks, rays, turtles and all the other beautiful little fish you expect to see on a coral reef. The helicopter flight over was awesome. The resort was comfortable, the staff friendly and offered excellent service.

I know we kept you busy with the arrangement details as our trip couldn't be confirmed until the last minute, so it's a real testament to your patience and expertise that everything went swimmingly." Fiona Y., London, UK (5 Sep 05)

• "To Sali We had an amazing time and Heron Island was fantastic. The helicopter flight was amazing.. we even got it on the way home. Very expensive but really worth the money particually if one gets sea-sick. Over all a terrific place and a perfect time of year to travel." Vanessa B., Brisbane, Australia (5 Sep 05)

• "Hello Sonia We had a wonderful, relaxing and enjoyable holiday on Heron Island. From the moment we left for Gladstone everything seemed to click into place with no problems. The helicopter ride to Heron was well worth the money, the pilot giving an interesting commentary on the reef and islands, showing us a fabulous view of the reef and islands. We were warmly welcomed at the helicopter pad by a member of the staff who had all our bags transported to our room.

Heron itself was heavenly with a comfortable room, delicious food, natural surroundings, uncrowded beaches with many educational walks and talks. I must make a special mention of the superb admin, restaurant, and room staff and service. We returned to Gladstone by launch with Heron staff being there all the way assisting us to our coach to the airport. Highly recommended. Admittedly, we did go off-season - it would, of course, be more crowded in summer aided by an increase in the number of birds. And quite cheeky and daring birds they are ! I'd like to thank you for your help in arranging this most memorable holiday for us." Joe J., London, UK (22 Aug 05)

• "Hi Elisabete I had to send you two pictures from Heron Island , couldn't decide which one was the best. Sorry about sending another sunset, but they are a bit special.

As usual everything went without a hitch, what was fabulous was the transfer speed from the plane into Gladstone to the helicopter. I reckon we got 5 hours extra holiday doing it that way.

Apart from which the wind was a bit strong and most of the passengers on the ferry arrived quite green. Thank you for your help, we are already planning another visit next year, I guess we have become used to doing nothing for week." Ted and Suzi J., Sydney, Australia (6 Sep 05)

• "Hi Tina Here are a few photos of our family at Heron Island and Daintree. Thanks again for a well planned trip." Dolores and Ben, Vancouver, Canada (27 Jul 05)

• "Hello! We had a brilliant time at Heron Island. We saw Turtles!!! The food was absolutely delicious." Caroline, Taree, Australia (23 Jul 05)

• "Dear Tina, Been back in New York now for a couple of weeks... Heron Island is a wonderful place and our diving in the great barrier reef was an experience to remember.

John and I were used to booking everything ourselves so it really was a treat to "leave it all to someone else" and then having it turn out so nice, such a pleasure!!! Thank you again for everything and if I know of anyone travelling to that part of the world I will definitely give them your email address" Laura and John P., New York, USA (1 Apr 05)

• "Hi Sonia, Well, we made it home after a long flight from Darwin after enjoying ... (Read about their trip to the Shangri la Sydney, Heron island, Sunlander train, The Hibiscus Spa hotel Port Douglas, Sails in the Desert Hotel Ayers Rock, Alice Springs Resort and Holiday Inn Darwin here )... again many thanks." Ken T., London, UK (30 Mar 05)

• "Hello Elisabete, Our trip to Heron Island was great! It was my 3rd time there over 15 yrs, and I still would return. We saw turtles hatching and racing for the surf.... Attached is a pic." Fred C., Oregon, USA (3 May 05)

• "Thanks Elisabete, We had a lovely break and would certainly go to Heron Island again. We found it to be very relaxing and casual with all the luxuries of the 'big' resorts. In respect of your service, we were very happy with all arrangements and travel plans. Everything went smoothly and exactly according to plan. That helped to make our stay so much more relaxing." Kate B., Brisbane, Australia (29 Mar 05)

• "Hi Kylie, Just wanted to say thanks for sorting out our trip to Heron Island - we had a fantastic time (wonderful weather, turtles hatching etc). Sydney and work felt a long way away. I'm pretty sure we will be going again. Thanks again." Chris G., Sydney, Australia (1 Mar 05)

• "Hi Zoe! I booked a Heron Island holiday through you a few months ago, we just got back yesterday and I wanted to let you know that it was fantastic!! Thank you for doing all the organising,and speaking with other guests it seems you saved us a lot of money. I will definitely recommend you to all of my work colleagues and to any-one else who asks. Once again thank you, and I look forward to dealing with you next time." Glen S., Brisbane, Australia (10 Feb 05)

• "Hi, I had a fantastic time on Heron Island! As a female traveling by myself in another country, I was concerned about going to a resort, but I had a great time. I met many new friends and was entranced by the beauty of the island and the reef. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the accomodations were excellent. I would recommend Heron Island to anyone!" Judy C., Lansing, MI. USA (16 Feb 05)

• "Dear Tosh, Just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful holiday at Heron Island & can thoroughly recommend it to any of your clients. We were lucky with the weather so scuba was great. Saw turtles laying and hatching & we even loved the noisy birds! Thank you for your help with all the arrangements, which were first class." Vern & Jenny S., Adelaide, Australia (18 Jan 05)

• "Dear Tina Logistics all worked without a hitch (with one small exception), which is a great credit to you! All the transport arrangements functioned as expected and on time, and accomododation was either great or excellent: The 4 Seasons was superb, Heron Island totally wonderful, and the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas villa flashy. I was delighted by the relaxed manner with which everyone accepted the e-tickets or simply a quick glance at my neatly laid out itinerary. What a joy!

We loved the helicopter ride to Heron - I have a special feeling about Heron! This really is eco-tourism at its best. I loved the way the island gently and unhurriedly creeps into your heart and under your skin. You arrive still on your "city rhythm" and are struck by the smell and the noise of the birds, all wafting in this dead-pan super-heated air, and you gasp, both physically and mentally. You sleep not so well the first night, although you have already noticed the remarkably high standard of the food (the best we had in all our trip!).

Then, after 24 hours, you don't notice the noise or the smell any more, and become slowly aware how much your mind has slowed down to the pace of Nature and the sheer beauty of the place and its empty white beaches and the rays and reef sharks swimming and jumping around you in the bay! You go to bed early, you forget about mobiles and the internet, and you "close in" on interacting with your family. Magic! What can I say more!

The PADI diving school at Heron was very professional and well run, and a private instructor had been lined up to take the boys as I had agreed with Garry by email.

Aaron took them for 3 dives, and Jeff for 1 - both guys top notch, blending friendliness, professional safety, and excitement. Would recommend them to any other family. We all went snorkelling together once, when I buddied with my youngest son who that way also got to see a large shark and a humungous turtle swimming just a yard away! Many thanks again for all your assistance - I will be most happy to recommend your company and you in particular to anyone else who I hear in the future to be planning a trip to Australia.

In recognition of the wonderful time we had - and the fact that, had it been the Australasian and Pacific plate that had cracked instead, it would have been us on Heron swept away instead! - I decided to make my donation to the Australian Red Cross while we were there." John G., London, UK (12 Jan 05)

• "Hi Sonia, The trip to Heron Island went very well, certainly much better than our previous trip to Green Island. Flights were OK. Helicopter ride there and back were great - the reef view whilst flying over it, was superb. Our Suite was great - clean, airy spacious and with quite a good view. The only nuisance to it were the noisy birds which were nesting, and there must have been thousands of them. However we got used to them after a couple of days and did manage to sleep through the racket they were making..... in a strange way, they added to the charm of the island.

The food was good / ok - nothing terribly special, but was not disappointed either..... it was pretty OK. Breakfast was certainly good each day. The choices were good too. We did do a lot of diving whilst on Heron. That was very good. - The diving facilities were excellent.

The organization of it was well managed and the dive staff were very professional and charming.... This was the first time I encountered reef sharks whilst diving and that was really cool too. We also encountered some black tipped reef sharks too, whilst swimming at Sharks Bay. I did use the service of the island's resident nurse, due to some ear problems, developed through diving, and he was pretty well helpful...........

To me the highlight was the night we went on a little beach tour at 4:30am to watch turtle nesting..... this was the beginning of the season..... and we were very lucky. That night / dawn we counted 20 turtles nesting and laying eggs, both green turtles and loggerheads. It was a truly amazing experience we had with nature, which I will never forget.... they are such beautiful creatures. All in all we had a great time on Heron ! I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone else, as it was a great set-up. The staff were all very friendly too ! Certainly a beautiful island, quiet, peaceful, truly amazing views..... and all the activities we were seeking on doing were available ! Sonia - thanks for arranging this trip. It was well planned, organized, and thoroughly enjoyable ! I attach some pics of the fun we had ! I will definitely comeback to you for future trips..... this was our second one with you, and certainly not the last ! Best wishes for a happy and successful 2005," John L., Paris, France (5 Jan 05)

• "Hi Tina, Thanks for all your help. Heron Island was beautiful, although the weather (wind) did not cooperate. Alas, after all our efforts to do scuba certification, we could only dive two times (only on Monday) of our five days there. I was disappointing. We had to console ourselves with fruity cocktails and spa treatments. We leave Australia tomorrow...sigh. I will try to remember to send you a photo when I get back." Keith & Joel, Canada (28 Nov 04)

• "Zoe: We cannot thank you or GlobeNet enough. Everything was perfect. (I travel much of the year on business so perfect is a high standard for any travel I don't personally arrange). You are among the first I am writing and I am pleased to attach some of our favorite Heron Island & Sydney photos. The turtle was outside my window at 730 am! " Ira R., New York, USA (1 Jan 05)

• "Hi Sali, We has spent a very good time in Australia. Everything was on schedule and went smoothly. We experienced a wonderful vacation and enjoyed snorkeling in Heron island. The weather was fine during past week (we all became chocolate color skin). My young son even cried not to go back to Taiwan in airplane (Honestly, me too in my deeply heart). Thanks you again for your arrangement of my trip, and Merry Christmas." Julius H., Taiwan (29 Dec 04)

• "Hi Sali, It is nice to read from you home again. My holiday was going almost according plan. In the first part (campervan Red Centre to Cairns ) I had plenty of time finally and could use it very good in Cairns area. Also the part you had prepared worked out very fine.

Heron Island is wonderful, but 5 days were enough (in Winter). The water is quite fresh but with the assistance and equipment I could hire we could stand snorkelling about 1 hour per day. It is definitely boring if it is raining. We had only half a day and this rewarded us with a wonderful cloudy dream sunset. After the island stay it also worked out fine.

The Kondarri is a little far from Gladstone, so we got into night and after a query in gasoline station we found it easily. For the Twinwaters I went to tourist info office far before and they provided nice local area leaflets and maps. This you may suggest to your customers. We enjoyed the travelling along the coastal line to come there. the resort itself is marvellous, but to stay her longer also in winter it may become boring after a few days, as the water is quite cold also in the during nights covered pool.

I will come to Australia again. But next time I will start and end my travelling from more northern or western location (Perth, Darwin) as the distances in Australia are vast and this may reduce the flight times a lot. Also in winter it makes some difference to stay in the South or North of Great Barrier Reef. The nature in warmer North is more colourful when snorkelling or diving. In total you had made a fine planning of this part and I will contact you again. Best regards " Konrad F-S., Lauf, Germany (9 Sep 04)

• "Zoe, Here's a few smaller, edited pics of Heron Island. Thanks for making arrangements that gave us such a good time. I've recommended you to a couple of friends for their Aussie visit." Bill S., Jakarta, Indonesia (25 Oct 04)

• "Dear Zoe, We were delighted with the arrangements you made for us at Heron Island, and Mrs. M particularly appreciated the additional arrangements you made for her to go visiting on the Gold Coast. We found Globenet Travel very easy to deal with, in spite of difficulties with the Indonesian telephone service. (Imagine how it is when the rains begin.) All arrangements and reservations were fulfilled without any problems.

The trip to Heron Island was just what we wanted, very beautiful and relaxing. We had read in reviews over the internet that guests were required to keep to the same table each evening, but this turned out not to be the case. The Noddy Terns were nesting during our time there, and were a bit raucous at times, but the management helpfully supplied earplugs to all guests. The diving and snorkeling opportunities were superb, the food was plentiful and well prepared, and the staff was cheerful. We appreciated the fact that there were no charges for "extras" such as ice for the room, use of the laundry facilities, talks and guided walks on the reef and through the pisonia forest. The semisubmersible sightseeing trip outside the reef was a big hit, as well.

Thank you for your very professional assistance, Zoe. We shall keep Globenet Travel on our internet favorites list. Photo attached for your testimonial board. Cordially," Suzanne S., Jakarta, Indonesia (19 Oct 04)

• "Kylie, We've been wanting to thank you for the perfect itinerary you put together for us for our Australian tour in August-September (Sydney-Top End-Heron Island ). All the arrangements were superb - hotels, cars, cruises, and, of course, Heron Island was a ideal way to end our visit to your magnificent part of the world. I met a fine musician - singer-songwriter-guitarist extraordinaire (he had the gig in the bar at Heron) and we played quite a bit of music together - an unexpected treat for me!

All in all we were amazed by the variety of wildlife and landscape - people were wonderful too! I've attached a little fish photo ( we rented a little underwater digital camera on Heron and had a lot of fun with it). We'll certainly keep you in mind if we ever visit again. Very Best Regards " James T., California, USA (15 Oct 04)

• "Hi Zoe, we had the most fantastic time at Heron Island Resort, it was beyond what we thought it would be. We were worried about being bored, but we shouldn't have, there was so much to do. The weather was fantastic, I think it rained once for only 10 minutes. Thank you for booking everything, the flights and the transfers went off without any trouble.

The room was great too, thank you, we could see the ocean from our room, and it had everything we needed and gladly not a phone or tv in sight. We have come back so relaxed, not happy to be back at work though. It took a few days to get used to not looking at the ocean or 3 meals a day waiting for you! Have attached a photo for your testimonials page. Thank you once again for your help, it was absolutely fantastic! Kindest regards," Janine R., Melbourne, Australia (1 Sep 04)

• " Hi Tina, We had a great time. Graham had a magical time snorkelling the great barrier reef (his first time ever!) and I had a magical time at the Aqua Soul Spa. Mmmmm... Everything went like clockwork and the people at Heron Island made us feel welcomed and very special! Thanks for everything." Karen & Graham M., Brisbane, Australia (4 Aug 04)

• "Hi Zoe, We made it back after a terrific trip. I want to thank you for your advice and assistance in helping us plan this trip. All of the connections were just as you arranged and when there was a change in the flight schedule on one of the legs of the trip you were right on top of that, and called our hotel. A job well done! Anytime we hear of someone heading to Australia we will make sure they know about the fantastic service we had from Zoe Creswick. Thanks again and best regards," Susan & Larry B., Los Angeles, USA (30 May 04)

• "Hi Zoe, Thank you for your message upon our return. We had a fantastic time, due in part to your great organizing of our accommodations and travel arrangements. Thank you. Heron Island was fantastic very relaxing and the snorkeling was incredible, we all really enjoyed the trip. We travel to Australia every one to two years so we will bookmark your companies website and contact you when we are again in need of travel arrangements. Thanks again your service was first rate! All the best," Kim B., Santa Monica, USA (17 May 04)

• "Dear Kylie I just wanted to write and thank you for all the arrangements you made for our recent trip to Queensland. Everything worked out perfectly - there wasn't a single glitch except that the tour we requested at Silky Oaks Lodge had not been booked on the day we requested. But this turned out to our advantage so it was not a problem. We loved everywhere that we stayed - Heron Island, Coconut Beach Rainforest Lodge and Silky Oaks.

We especially liked Silky Oaks - it is a beautiful, elegant resort in a stunning location - Mossman Gorge. Heron Island was a bit like Club Med but we enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and the beautiful location - not to mention all the birds EVERYWHERE and the wonderful marine life. Coconut Beach also had a great location - right on the beach and at the edge of the rainforest - it was also nice being so remote - right up in Cape Tribulation whereas many tourists do not get past Daintree village.. Thanks again for all your help. " K.C., Bangkok, Thailand (4 May 04)

• "Dear Elisabete... Penny, Elizabeth, & Henry had a fantastic time and all of your arrangements went perfectly. Penny was very impressed with the high standards at Heron Island Resort, particularly the attempts made by the management to maintain the Island in a pristine condition.

Henry and Elizabeth took part in the Junior Rangers program and again Pen was full of praise for the high standards set by the staff. Pen also commented that the talks put on for the adults were informative, educational and given by people who obviously loved their work. The food was excellent.

Pen also said she would recommend anyone to take the helicopter at least one way as it was a fantastic experience for them. Please send us details of any specials etc that you would have coming up and again thank you for the wonderful service you gave us in organising this holiday. Warm Regards," Steve W., Adelaide, Australia (25 Apr 04)

• "Hi Zoe - Just wanted to say thank you so much for helping us plan our trip to Heron Island. Everything was perfect! We got home yesterday and the only regret was that we all wish we could have stayed longer. All of your suggestions were right on and everything went smoothly. I would certainly refer friends to you if the opportunity came along. Many thanks for a memorable vacation. " Karen F., San Francisco, USA (19 Apr 04)

• "Hi Zoe! I am not sure if you heard about our fiasco from your co-worker...we were at Heron Island in the middle of TWO cyclones!!! It was VERY disappointing, but, nothing you can do about it. As a result, we were unable to dive, snorkel, swim, fish...We managed to still have a good time-in spite of the weather! My husband was very grumpy that he lugged his dive bag all that way for nothing! Neither of us realized that it was the season for this kind of weather, so we were a little surprised at the weather, but, oh well!

Next time I think we will stay at Cairns and he can go out on the dive boat for a few days of diving. It was a little un-nerving to know that we were actually stuck on the island with no way off until the weather cleared. I wouldn't like to be in that position again-I would like to have options-just in case! Anyway-I would still recommend Heron Island...the staff is great and it is a beautiful place (except when the winds are 35-40 knots!). Thank you for all of your help-I really appreciate it! The welcome home note was a VERY nice touch! Have a terrific day!" Patty S., New York, USA (16 Mar 04)

• "Hi Gayle, Many thanks for your very efficient service and pleasant manner in handling our arrangements. We arrived on Heron Island just ahead of cyclonic conditions. Consequently there were no diving, reef or water activities and walking on the beach was an exfoliating experience! However, we still had fun and enjoyed our stay. We saw turtles hatching, lot's of Noddy Terns, Mutton birds and a variety of other interesting bird life.

At the end of our break conditions had significantly deteriorated and nothing was venturing out of Gladstone harbour, so we upgraded to a helicopter to get us off the island. However, visibility was so poor that the helicopters could not get through! Then around lunchtime we happened to be in the right place at the right moment when a helicopter made it to the island. So, with a just a few minutes notice, we climbed aboard with two others and made it to Gladstone in time to catch our scheduled flight home.

We had a great time, albeit not quite the intended experience. The island facilities are good and we were especially impressed by the new spa treatment and massage centre. Also, the staff on the Island were wonderful - the best we have experienced on several islands. Rest assured we shall use GlobeNet Travel next time we take a break. Regards" Ed C., Sydney, Australia (10 Mar 04)

• "Hi Zoe, We are home safe and sound from Heron Island. For your own information and in our opinion, breakfasts were okay and we heard that from a lot of guests, lunches we found great and dinners also.

We were lucky enough to see baby turtles racing down the beach to the water after hatching. Got that on video plus some other big turtles out by the jetty. We had a fab dive and saw sharks, a mantaray and a turtle. That was the highlight. We met loads of nice tourists also and that made it a memorable holiday. Thank you for your assistance whilst at the resort and your help in booking us. Regards " Rachel H., Auckland, New Zealand (9 Mar 04)

• "Dearest Zoe, Many, Many thanks for all of your help concerning our trip to Queensland. I speak on behalf of all my family that I travelled with, in saying that we had a wonderful time and it was all thanks to you.

We ended up taking the helicopter from Heron Island and it was the most amazing experience of my life! Absolutely out of this world! My apologies for the confusion as it all worked out brilliantly in the end.

I highly recommend Tangalooma Wild Dolphin resort, Moreton Island as feeding the dolphins was a great highlight and the resort was simple but very nice. Heron Island was just idyllic but not if you had a fobia against birds (which we didn't) - there were thousands on the island!! Many thanks again and I will make sure to enlist your help for any future travels!" Anjali M., Sydney, Australia (4 Mar 04)

• "Hi Zoe, It was a blast at Heron Island. We absolutely loved it and will be back! Thank you. the resort staff were great and the food selection fine too. We snorkeled every day - saw heaps of turtles and even a few sharks. It was the best holiday (it was relaxing and fun) that both of us have ever had. We really lucked out. GlobeNetTravel was the epitome of efficiency. I've attached a photo (I'll send another one for you in a future email). Thanks again," Lyn A., Sydney, Australia (4 Feb 04)

• "Hi Zoe, Thanks for planning our trip to Heron Island. We returned from our vacation on Friday the 13th. The kids were fabulous on the airplane and we had a wonderful time at Heron Island.

The birds were noisy, but they never kept us up awake. In fact, I liked the birds at night b/c if my baby cried, then I didn't feel like he was "disturbing" anyone because he sounds just like the birds!! Just FYI, the resort does get a little bit smelly from the bird droppings after it rains. That's just nature, but it wasn't horrible.

My 3 year old loved being able to go right out on the reef with my husband. And I really liked that everything was right there: food, pool, beach, room. It was a very relaxing trip. So thanks again! Best wishes," Angela C., Betneda, USA (6 Feb 04)

• "Hello Zoe, I would like to wish you happy new year. We had a great time on Heron Island. Everything worked fine and it was definitely one of highlights of our trip. Best regards" Erik G., Berlin, Germany (13 Jan 04)

• "Hi Tina, Back in good old ice cold Switzerland... I'd rather be somewhere else, honestly said... Heron Island was awesome, Kingfisher Bay & Fraser Island adventurous (good car!) and Riley's on Sydney's Northern Beaches unexpectedly special, personal and great! We spent a great holiday in OZ, everything worked out fine - thanks very much for your help! I will certainly recommend you to whoever lucky person travels to OZ next... Sniff. Regards." Andrea H., Zurich, Switzerland (6 Jan 04)

• "Sonia, Happy New Year! Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you what a wonderful time we had on Heron Island. Place was wonderful, staff were friendly and helpful, food was excellent and plentiful, drinks were cold and reasonable..... Perfect!! All the best to you. Kind Regards" Mark N., London, UK (2 Jan 04)

• "Dear Elisabete, The holiday went extremely well, only one day of rain, which was welcome as the first couple of sunbathing periods were a little excessive. The venue was just perfect, it was only in the restaurant that we accepted that there was more than 30 people on Heron Island. The place appeared almost deserted most of the time. The food was perfect and the room very comfortable.

There was no hitch in any of your arrangements, I made a flight change on the way up so we could spend a night in Brisbane before going to Heron, and we took the Helicopter back, to add to the experience. I have nothing but praise for your help and as a result the holiday was one of the best I have ever had, anywhere in the world.

Keep up the good work and I will have no hesitation in putting a number of people in touch with you who have seen our pictures and want to visit. I have attached a picture, not of the beach but of an amazing sunset, typical of many, but so beautiful. Our very best regards, and a happy Xmas to you all with a great new year ahead for you I am sure," Ted & Susana, Sydney (17 Dec 03)

• "Hi Jo, Thank you! We had an absolutely wonderful trip. Heron Island was beautiful!! the resort is extremely well run and given the opportunity we would love to go back.

Your organisation was great, definitely no complaints to be made. We will definitely be keeping you in mind when (and I hope it is soon!) we go back to Queensland. GlobeNet Travel deserves the award they received. Not only were you cheaper than most other Travel agents I tried but by far the friendliest and quickest to get back to me. Thank you again for all your help! Till next time," Pam J., Sydney, Australia (2 Dec 03)

• "Dear Zoe - Thank you so much for your assistance with our honeymoon. The arrangements were everything we could hope for. Heron Island is a most wonderful destination and all transfers and services throughout our trip were exceptional." Peter & Suellen J., Brisbane, Australia (17 Nov 03)

• "Hi Kylie, Just wanted to let you know we had a great holiday at Heron Island. Thank you very much for your help. The birds were no problem, we saw turtles (all whales gone) and did do the trip over to Wilson Island. We also caught the helicopter over on standby which was fantastic.

My only gripe would be the dive school not informing where you are diving until you are on the boat. Consequently they took us to the same dive site on the same morning (at 9 and at 11) due to the snorkeller's on board and not wanting to waste fuel on another boat. A real rip off and was not worth the high prices they charge. It would be nice to know where they are going so you can plan when you would like to dive.

Aside from that it was all great. Thanks again," K.M., Melbourne, Australia (11 Nov 03)

Wilson Island Experience
Click to enlarge

• "Hello Rene, We had the most beautiful holiday. We will definitely be heading back to Wilson Island. Heron is beautiful but Wilson is heaven on earth. Just 6 couples and your 2 hosts on the island makes your stay too good to describe. The food, accommodation, views from your tent, the islands fauna and the crystal clear waters that are the most gorgeous of blues filled with abundant sea life and coral." Don B., Sydney, Australia (2 Nov 03)

• "Dear Rene, Just a quick note to let you know that we are back from Heron safe and sound. The trip ran like clockwork, small airport delay on way home, but overall everything was perfect. Heron Island is fabulous. Could not have wished for anything better. I would recommend it to anyone, not cheap but the value was there. Food was great, staff polite, friendly and helpful, accomodation excellent. Can't say enough. Once again, thanks for your excellent arrangments and help. Regards Cheryl J., Sydney, Australia (15 Oct 03)

• "Hi Gayle! Jepp - everything worked Great - even all our stand by trips went very well. We arrived to Gladstone - Monday the 15th and stayed over night at City Plaza. The Bus picked us up and took us to the boat and after 2hrs we arrived to Paradise!

The stay at Heron Island was a success - we enjoyed it VERY Much - especially the snorkelling and ALL the things you can find in the waters - such as: - rays, sharks, turtles etc ...... I will send some pictures with this Mail, so that you can see yourself!

The resort was nice as well, good food, nice staff and a very relaxed atmosphere! We missed the 1 day visit to Wilson island - which had been very nice - overbooked and a lot of people on stand by - even after an extra tour! If I have the opportunity to go back - I would like to take the combined package with Heron and Wilson Island - that would have been something.

Congratulations for the award and Best of luck in the future. I will pass the word around about your company! Thanks and Brgds," Christer on behalf of my selves and Gunilla, Hans and Ulla, Sweden (30 Sep 03)

• "Hi Mary ; Matthew and I have been meaning to write you for MONTHS - the honeymoon you helped us to plan in November was FABULOUS - a dream. Your thoughtful touches - like sending the travel documents with foil heart confetti and having a package of very useful things (hats, sunblock, repellant) waiting for us at our first stop at Heron Island was very appreciated.

We have recently mentioned your name and GlobeNet Travel to friends of ours who are planning a trip to Australia (perhaps they will be contacting you) and will continue to do so. We would be happy to give you feedback on the places we stayed, if it is helpful. We also wanted to let you know about a great hotel / restaurant we found in the Blue Mountains called Echoes. I recall that we were scrambling to find a place after Lilanfiels canceled to refurbish and thought I'd let you know about this fabulous accommodation option.

Thank you again for helping us to plan a trip of a lifetime. We will certainly contact you when we are able to return Down Under!" Michele M., San Francisco, USA (21 May 03)

• "Hello Zoe, Our holiday was great! We had a very nice time and except for the weather in Sydney we had everyday sun. Heron Island was the best and it was a pity to leave there so soon. We 'd like to go back one day. The plane to Cairns was half an hour earlier then the schedule so luckily we went on time to the airport and we could catch the plane just in time.

Port Douglas was also nice although we didn't like the hotel that much. It was too big for us. We really like more smaller places. What was also not so nice is that they didn't clean the house everyday. Except by paying ofcourse. Port Douglas itself was a very charming city which we 'd liked very much. It was good to stay in Port Douglas and not in Cairns because this was a too big city and to far from the reef.

Sydney was also great. Ths sunbus didn't arrive at first but everything was arranged very quickly after a phonecall. Thank you very much for the good arrangements and I hope to send you a picture as soon as possible. Regards," Saskia G., USA (29 Apr 03)

• "Hello Kylie, I'm finally home after my extended travels in Australia. I just want to tell you the trip went great! I couldn't have done it without you. I'm still so impressed that you could put together a detailed, seamless month-long itinerary in just 3 days - given my last minute decision to travel to Australia.

Not only was your advice indispensable to me but I shared many of your suggestions with fellow travelers. They all asked how I came by such "inside" information being a first-time traveler to Australia. Of course I took all of the credit (kidding.) I said I have a Travel Agent in the know.

Here are some trip Highlights --

1) Sydney - The Russell Hotel was the perfect location. I'd stay there again.

2) Wilson Island Experience was the best. Without any hesitation I would recommend this resort 150%!!!!!!!!!!!

3) I was able to travel stand-by on a Helicopter to Heron Island for a little more money than taking the ferry. That one really impressed people. It worked just like you said it would.

4) Renting a car in Tasmania and buying a National parks pass is the only way to go. Americans not used to driving on the left will find Tasmania a great practice ground.

5) The Autopia - Great Ocean Road tour was perfect for me. It cost less than the "fancy tour" and actually covered more sites.

6) I did get a few free room upgrades I'm assuming for being a Globenet traveler at the Cairns Queens Court and Cradle Mountain Lodge.

I plan to return to Australia in June or July 2003 and will call you to arrange my next trip. This time I will try to give you more than 3 days notice. Thanks for everything. I'm your Biggest Fan!" Marcelle S., USA (13 Apr 03)

• "Hi Jo, Everything went well with the arrangements you made for us. All that you planned went according to plan, and we thank you for the fine time we had at Heron Island. Attached are some pictures for you. I guess every guest filters their experiences through expectations and past vacations. For Heron Island it is a mixed bag. We definitely enjoyed the time there, especially the snorkeling, nature talks, and viewing the turtle egg laying. The dive crew and marine center are really first rate.

However, a few things to be aware of:

This is a bulk resort, so individual attention and service are minimal. Didn't see the GM once during the visit. Would have thought that he/she would make the guest rounds. This attitude permeates the place.

It is a pay as you go kind of place. Everything costs extra. While fine in and of itself, given the inability to really see much off the beach, I found that the charges for things like daily snorkeling could have been handled better on a package basis, or all-in basis.

For corporate visitors who need daily email connections, this is not available except through an internet terminal that will hook into the WWW. For those of us that need a phone line to access corporate systems, this is a real draw back. Little interest in solving this by the staff.

Food was adequate, but again could have been more creative and less buffet-ish. Really, with only 200 guests, I fail to see why they can't run a menu based restaurant. Maybe a limited menu, but menu the same. It just would take some creativity.

You've got to realize that the number of birds on this island is a defining point. One cannot sleep at night without ear plugs!

I still don't understand why the resort feels the need to have a nightly band that no one listens to. Because we had a room nearer the bar, we were graced with band sounds until 11pm at night. I would guess that most people go to the island for nature and quiet (at least the number of people listening to the band at night seems to show this). The movies under the stars drew many more people. I am really tired of fighting thumping bass into the evening.

If you are serious about watching the turtles at night, a red light or LED flashlight is a must. Something that is not highlighted anywhere, but is the difference between stumbling around the beach and actually seeing something. Anyway, all said and done, we had a fine time, and thank you again for your help. Warmest regards," Eric Z., Shanghai, China (8 Apr 03)

• "Hi Zoe, We are back from our trip and I want to thank you for all the help you gave us with our arrangements and give you our impressions of the places where we stayed for future reference for other customers you may have.

Everything went really smooth, thanks again: the Le Royal Meridien in Bangkok is a superb! hotel and the suite we got was incredible - and shopping was great.

The Four Seasons Sydney is a nice hotel too but the room felt like a closet (small) after the Suite at The Royal Hotel in Sydney ; the Savoy in Hobart was also very nice but the rooms seem to be connected via the air vents and we knew when someone was cooking fish in another room and/or smoking in another room - great stay there anyway.

Peppers Convent at Hunter Valley was too old for our tastes but I can see why other people might like it - it seemed overpriced to me. The Clarion Powerhouse in Brisbane was great and they were very nice in holding our bag while we were in Heron Island.

The Novotel in Palm Cove was just fine too, millions of Japanese were constantly embarking and disembarking from huge buses to stay at the hotel. We just loved our stay in Australia and we had a wonderful time with our friends on Stradbroke Island where they rented a house for a week.

Zoe, thanks again for your help, I'll make sure to call you next year when we go travelling again." Tony D., California, USA (8 Feb 03)

• "Hi Jo, I've been meaning to write you and thank you for all your help getting us into Heron Island on such short notice. We had a wonderful and all the transfers and reservations you made for us went flawlessly. Thank you for all your help and all your attention to detail. Next time we visit we'll definitely call you to handle the entire trip! Cheers!" Joe W., Littleton, USA (5 Feb 03)

• "Dear Kylie, Just a quick note to let you know that my family and I had a wonderful time on Heron island (snorkelling, swimming, tennis, food and watching turtles lay eggs) - thank you for all your help. All the best for 2003," A.H., Sydney, Australia (20 Jan 03)

• "Hi Zoe, I have been meaning to email you since we got back. We had a wonderful time at Peppers Palm Bay resort and turned out to be the longest staying guests so far!! - We were upgraded to a buree which was great as the cabin was just too small to stay in for 12 nights. We loved the retreat and it was perfect for what we wanted - not commercial at all. The staff were absolutely fantastic and we spent quite a bit of time with them - the food was excellent as well....

Thanks again for organising the trip - we will definitely go back to the Whitsundays, but not in stinger season (Nov - May). We are really interested in looking at Heron Island... Thanks again Zoe and I will definitely recommend you as an agent. " S.M., Sydney, Australia (10 Jan 03)

• "Hello Kylie, Without a shadow of a doubt Heron Island was the best holiday of my life. In simple terms, the accommodation was great and to boot when we arrived they upgraded us to a better room. Then we discovered the food which was outstanding and could be taken anywhere. Next the plunger coffee, a real treat on the beach.

The staff kept saying "sure we'd be happy to..." to anything, they found us a CD player, then they had the first bbq of the season and the staff made friends with us. We had fantastic music bya talented guitarist each nite. We went diving and snorkelling and swam with manta rays, sharks and even three turtles. We had massages, played chess, read books and had a picnic... we had to keep pinching ourselves. Then we found turtles laying eggs! The temperature and weather was perfect, the water was 26 degrees, like a bath.

The downsides were: The room tab made buying cocktails, trinkets and dive trips way too easy- we both put on weight cos the food was so good- the coffee plunger was quite heavy to carry to our room... do you suspect I'm grasping at straws trying find bad things?

Thanks so much for your help, you made the bookings a breeze, everything went perfectly to plan and despite my fears of "this has got to go wrong" it didnt ! Thanks a million, have already been raving about your service to all and sundry," N.M., Sydney, Australia (5 Nov 02)

• "Dear Shelley,Thanks for all your arrangements they worked out really well. Some feedback:

1. Heron Island Thought is over rated - rooms nice - food very good. Trip out on the launch was awful - 90% of the passengers were sick!! Birds overpowering, noise, smell, etc I would only recommend to divers and bird watchers

2. Tropical Queensland was great. Loved the Reef House at Palm Cove - superb! Daintree tour was excellent. Escort was great. Lunch very good. Itinerary just right. Only thing that was disappointing was the river cruise part - no crocs because the water was too warm! The guide on the river boat was not good at all.

We also took the trip to Kuranda - the SkyRail and the railway were both good. Thanks again for your help in making our vacation a success. I thought your "on line service" was great." A.S., Vancouver, CANADA (15 Oct 02)

• "Sonia, I wanted to thank you again for arranging our trip to Heron Island. It was absolutely fabulous. The only thing I would change was the weather. For us it was really too chilly (mid-Winter)to snorkel much, even with full wet suits. (We did go once.) Going in the semi-sub was easier, even for hardened snorkelers like ourselves. This wasn't too disappointing, since we have other opportunities to snorkel on this trip and the other aspects of Heron (especially the nature walks and the food at the restaurant) were worth it alone. Thanks again" L.H.. Los Angeles, USA (13 Jul 02)

• "Hi Jo, I just wanted to tell you that we are back from Australia and had a wonderful time on Heron Island. Everything was great and we wanted to thank you for making all the arrangements. The turtle rooms were perfect and the food was fabulous. Again, thank you so much for all the attention to the details." P.F., Anaheim, USA (14 May 02)

• "Hi Kylie, The trip was great! Sooooooo relaxing and the best thing was, it didn't feel like it rocketed past. Seven days was just perfect. And the water was excellent.

Brampton Island and the activities offered were really good, but... Over all we'd give Brampton a B+. We'd go back, but there are other islands we'd do first.

Heron Island looks great after the refurbishment, so Annette and I will be keeping our eyes open for special deals. The change to our flight itinery was great, saved us a lot of sitting around in airports. Annette just hated all the landing and taking off. She doesn't like flying much.

Thanks for letting us know the changes, some people we were with didn't even know they'd been changed until they tried to book in their luggage early and the guy said "You're on the flight that leaves in a few minutes" (Flight Centre). Thanks for your help Kylie, it was much appreciated. I hope this info is helpful."C. & A.B (2 Apr 02)

• "Zoe Just wanted to let you know that Diane and I have returned from a perfect, fabulous trip to New Zealand and Australia. The arrangements you assisted us with to Heron Island and Cairns went precisely as planned. Everything was wonderful. Your help is greatly appreciated. If I can send a testimonial to your boss, please let me know." G.M., Potomac, USA. (14 Dec 01)