Palm Bay Resort - Whitsundays, Queensland

Carl

The service was exceptional, and the food was absolutely fantastic—definitely some of the best we had during our entire trip to Australia. The resort itself is stunning, offering a truly relaxing and luxurious experience.

One thing to note: we visited in January–February, coming from the Northern Hemisphere, and didn’t realize it was the rainy season here. While it didn’t ruin our experience, I’d recommend checking the weather beforehand to set the right expectations.

Overall, an incredible place to stay—highly recommend!

L S

We spent 5 days at Palm Bay. It was really lovely! We had welcome drinks on arrival, and our bags were taken up to our room for us. A real white lotus moment as we arrived by boat to the island! We stayed in the hibiscus suite which was authentically decorated and had the most amazing views. The beds were lovely and comfy and it was clean with good air con. The island itself is so secluded so a 5 day escape was just enough. We filled it by relaxing, having drinks by the pool and the sunset bar which was just outstanding of an evening to watch the sun go down. The resort had kayaking for free which was a lovely touch. Were from the U.K. so not sure what Australian holidays are like, but September weather was cloudy with bouts of hot sunshine and hot weather which was just perfect as it seemed quiet time of year. We took a day trip with the paradise explorer which could be booked directly with the hotel. Would definitely recommend! Staff were lovely and friendly. Only thing I think could be improved would be the food and a few more bits and pieces in the shop. The food was clearly all so fresh but I think as the it’s the only available restaurant on the island, improvement in the quality and cooking would make this resort a place of perfection.

Florie Lafon

The island is stunning, with lush vegetation and wildlife that made us feel like we were in the jungle. We loved the food—it was delicious and filling—and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The small gym was a nice addition for staying active, and overall, it was a very relaxing 5-night stay. We enjoyed doing many activities, including snorkelling, walking, spending time by the pool, and appreciating the free-roaming animals on the island.

However, there were several downsides. We specifically chose this island for snorkelling. The water was cloudy, and we saw mostly dead corals. Staff provided little guidance on the best snorkelling spots or times, leaving us to figure it out ourselves. I don’t recommend the island for snorkelling. Water access was also inconvenient, with only small bottles in the room and refillable water available only at the main restaurant, rather than in multiple locations around the island. Safety was a concern, as there were no lifeguards or staff looking out. There were no first aid kits near the beaches. Additionally, activities like paddleboarding and tennis were unavailable, which was not mentioned prior to booking.

For Christmas, there was no music or entertainment, which made the day feel like any other, and this felt very odd for an island getaway. We also ordered a dessert platter for Christmas, but it was changed without any communication, which was frustrating. During happy hour, the cocktails seemed to lack alcohol, which was disappointing. Facilities like outdoor showers and daily room cleaning were missing, which was surprising for a 4-star resort.

Despite these issues, I’m giving 4 stars because, overall, it was a very relaxing stay, and we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful environment, great food, and variety of activities.

Aaron P

The island resort offered tranquillity and comfort. It’s the perfect romantic destination. My wife and I were married on Long Island 20 years ago and returned to renew our vows. This is our first time at this resort and we loved it. The views were spectacular, the accommodation was great. Bed comfortable. ||The staff couldn’t be more accommodating. ||The food was delicious. However a change of menu from time to time would be nice. ||Happy hour cocktails on the sunset deck was perfect but a change of cocktails every couple of days would be nice. ||The resort WILL RELAX you, there’s no TV which at first shocked me but we loved it in the end. Enjoy the island you need it. ||The transfer from Shute Harbour from Phil Island transfers was great, recommend Heart of the Reef airport transfers as they collect you from Shute Harbour and the others didn’t. Unless you pay highly for it. ||Thank you to Mercedes, Joanne, Jamie and the rest of the team. We will return for sure.

Cassandra Cowdroy

Just stayed for 3 nights, best decision ever, we didn't want to leave!! Staff were amazing, food was great anddelivered very quickly. Cocktails by the pool were amazing and happy hour was a vibe!!

If your looking to relax and chill kid free this is it!! We will definitely be back. ✨️

Paula G

We stayed for 3 amazing nights in October 2023. I have just come back to the website to look at booking again. After seeing some of the negative reviews I felt I had to post our review from October. We had the most amazing time. Our Bungalow was so clean , fresh, spacious and quiet. The food was amazing and the staff were super friendly. I know people are entitled to their opinion, but please don’t be put off by the very few negative reviews. Prices were very comparable and having the solitude from the outside world was just what we wanted and needed. We have recommended Palm Bay to many friends and will definitely be returning. Taking the boat over and back was very easy and not expensive. Just make sure you don’t waste one of your days waiting for the afternoon boat. We stayed the night before in Airlie Beach so we could catch the morning boat and spend the whole day on the island. This is a fantastic, special island to have a mini or week long holiday. We loved it.

Tove G

Stayed here with my husband, my best friend and her husband after her wedding. The stay was perfect and the rooms are beautifully located on the beach. The rooms are comfortable and clean with nice beds and a wonderful shower.||The resturant food is was fantastic and well worth the price. And in the early mornings we saw whales, turtles and wallabys||What made the stay a 5/5 was the kind and helpful staff. I had plenty of questions and requests leading up to the stay and they managed to fix it all! I really wanted my friend to have a perfect trip and she surely did. Would absolutely recommend this resort!!

Leon H

A few words come to mind, Paradise, magical. Staff are fantastic. Food is delicious with huge portions. We stayed in hibiscus room. The views are amazing, but if you have problems walking then it can be a bit of a challenge to get to the room. You soon forget the chalenge when you open the doors to the room. We had cockatoos visiting us every morning. A suggestion i'd like to make to management is binoculars in the hibiscus rooms would be amazing, to help viewing the whales during whale season. We were lucky to get to see some whales when we were there. The room comes with a fridge which is great. We requested a microwave and staff organised a microwave for us. Again staff are helpfull and are lovely to talk to. Also a shout out to island transfers watertaxi from Shute harbour to Palm bay resort. Phil and his team are amazing.|Loved our stay and defenitely will come back one day.