Hotel profile: K'gari Beach Resort

The remote K’gari Beach Resort is a hotel, pub, restaurant and bakery all in one, plus it’s home to some of the best doughnuts in the state.

Light, beach decor, just a minute’s walk to K’gari’s famous 75 Mile Beach and one of the best bakeries you’ll find in Queensland. Hands down, K’gari Beach Resort is the idyllic home base for a secluded beach getaway.

Formerly known as Eurong Beach Resort, the resort is only accessible by 4WD – like much of the island – making it a rather peaceful place to be year-round, especially during off-peak season. Enjoy stunning beach views, explore K’gari’s 4WD tracks, try your luck at fishing and spot some of the local wildlife.

Location

car driving along 75 mile beach on k'gari — 75 Mile Beach is on your doorstep. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

You’d be hard-pressed to even find somewhere to pitch a tent closer to the iconic 75 Mile Beach. Of course, beauty and serenity often come at a cost, and in this case, that cost is accessibility.

While Kingfisher Beach Resort does offer bus transfers from its ferry to K’gari Beach Resort, you really do need to have your own 4WD or join a tour to explore the full island. Having said that, this place is so serene with everything you need in one spot – that I couldn’t blame anyone for wanting to settle in and relax here, and here alone.

Style and character

Think coastal grandma chic. Rooms are simple and colour palettes match the beach, ocean and forest surrounding the property. Each room features a print of local photographer (and tour guide) Peter Meyer‘s works to really add to the sense of place.

It’s almost like a (very) small coastal town here, with simple but inviting accommodation, a bakery, restaurant and pub all on the property.

Facilities

Pool

A large, lagoon-style swimming pool forms the centre of the resort. Perfect for cooling down after a day of exploring.

Outdoor BBQ

Make use of the public outdoor barbecue to sizzle up your catch of the day, then eat it in the provided (and shaded) pavilions.

Tennis court

If racing along the very straight 75 Mile Beach isn’t enough to cure that competitive streak, challenge your holiday-mates to a match on the tennis court.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Housekeeping

Towel changes and amenity checks are provided on the third day of every stay, while full housekeeping services (including linen changes) are provided on the seventh.

Rooms

Resort Rooms

bed in K'gari Beach Resort Resort Room — The coastal-inspired rooms have all the basics covered. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Simple but cute is the name of the K’gari Beach Resort room game. Relax into the beach holiday vibe in one of these coastal-inspired rooms.

Each room features a queen and king single bed, sleeping up to three people. You’ll also get your own deck or patio to take in the view and a full bathroom. Air-conditioned rooms can be purchased for an additional fee and are subject to availability – otherwise, you’ll need to make do with a ceiling fan.

King Rooms

K'gari Beach Resort king room — Add a TV and air con. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

For groups of two, opt for a King Room, featuring a king bed, air conditioning and heating, a big screen television, a balcony or patio, an ensuite bathroom and a microwave so you can reheat your leftovers from McKenzie’s on 75.

Food and drink

McKenzie’s on 75

Serving indoors, outdoors and even by the hotel pool, pop in for a casual buffet breakfast from 7am to 9am every morning, or head over later in the day for a lunch buffet or signature house-made pizzas. From 5:30pm, the dinner menu offers up classic pub grub with burgers, steaks and salads. And let’s not forget dessert. They also offer a kids’ menu at night.

Of course, you can always just pop in for a snack or a cold beer and cocktails.

Eurong Bakery

Who knew some of Queensland’s best doughnuts were hiding out at one of its most remote bakeries? This is where you would find me for lunch every day of my holiday. Besides the doughnuts, find a range of hot and cold pastries, muffins and freshly made sandwiches ready to be eaten at the bakery or taken away on your day’s adventure.

Open daily from 7am to 3:30pm, it’s a very cute place to spend some time. Be transported right back to your childhood days of begging your parents for lunch and/or treats at the end of a family beach day – but this time you don’t need permission. It’s open, simple decor is inviting, and its coffee and milkshakes will invite you to linger longer.

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General Store

Forgot some essentials? Find everything from groceries, meat and fresh produce to resort wear, maps, ice, and fuel at the General Store. It’s open daily from 7:30am to 6:00pm.

Experiences

Island tours

aerial of people swimming in Lake Mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Dive into the unique colours of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Join single, two- or multi-day tours guided by passionate locals and designed to immerse you in the island’s unique ecosystem and cultural stories.

Pack in all the iconic sights – picturesque Lake McKenzie, Pile Valley rainforest, Eli Creek, the historic Maheno Shipwreck, the colourful sands of The Pinnacles and 75 Mile Beach – into one day. Or take your time to visit these spots and more at a more relaxed pace. Add in hidden gems like Lake Wabby and the Champagne Pools (with overnight stays at K’gari Beach Resort included in the price).

Private 4WD tour

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — Go your own way with a bespoke tour. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

If you can, this is my absolute top tip for exploring K’gari when you’re not confident to hit the sandy tracks on your own (this option is for a maximum group of four people). It’s not just about being alone on the tour – although it is a bonus – it’s about the freedom to create your own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who will have plenty of stories and expertise to give context to what you’re looking at. It’s also about stopping at the icons between the waves of tourists, and only going where you really want to.

Access for guests with disabilities?

It would be difficult to get around the resort and K’gari Island with mobility issues.

Family-friendly?

kids looking over hotel room balcony at k'gari beach resort — Kids are welcome here. (Image: Courtney Atkinson)

Absolutely, although K’gari Beach Resort is more about families making their own fun in nature, rather than Kingfisher Bay Resort, which has extra entertainment on site.

Details

Transfers are available from Kingfisher Bay Resort (where the K’gari ferry docks), but for exploring the island, you’ll need a 4WD.

Address: K’gari Beach Track, K’gari Island
Website: Visit eurong.com.au
Contact:(07) 4120 1600
Cost: Rates start at $183 per night.

Cruise Whitsundays’ famous Reefworld has undergone a complete transformation – here’s why it has become one of Australia’s most extraordinary places to spend the night.

Imagine sleeping under the stars or beneath the sea, snorkelling vibrant coral gardens, and enjoying a dining experience that wouldn’t feel out of place at a top restaurant – all from a pontoon moored on the Great Barrier Reef. In a country that excels at extraordinary, immersive travel experiences, the reimagined Reefworld in Queensland’s Whitsundays has joined the upper echelons.

Cruise Whitsundays has unveiled an extensive transformation of Reefworld, its pontoon permanently moored at Hardy Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

First opened in 2019, Reefworld is home to the famous underwater Reefsuites – Australia’s first underwater hotel – and was originally designed as a dual-purpose pontoon for both day visitors and overnight guests.

Now, it has been transformed into an overnight-only experience, giving guests exclusive access to the pontoon and the reef, with more space, greater comfort and a more immersive way to experience this unique environment.

The transformation forms part of Journey Beyond’s $40 million investment in responsible reef tourism in the region.

Read on for eight reasons to book a stay at the reimagined Reefworld now.

1. A scenic cruise through the Whitsundays

cruise whitsundays boat on Great Barrier Reef Adventure tour — Start with a cruise of the gorgeous Whitsundays.

Your journey to Reefworld begins with a scenic cruise through the Whitsundays: dark-green islands daubed on an endless expanse of blue. Welcome to Ngaro Sea Country.

Departing Port of Airlie, Daydream Island or Hamilton Island, a high-speed catamaran with priority boarding for Reefworld guests will whisk you across the Coral Sea to the outer reef.

From next year, a new 35-metre catamaran will join the Cruise Whitsundays fleet, featuring an exclusive-use lounge area reserved for Reefworld guests. Snacks and refreshments are available onboard.

Depending on the time of year, migrating humpback whales may pass you on your journey.

2. A sense of arrival

aerial view of new cruise whitsunday reefworld pontoon — Watch as your home on the reef rolls into view.

Around two hours after leaving Hamilton Island, the Reefworld pontoon shimmers into view on the horizon.

As you sail closer towards Hardy Reef – where the pontoon is permanently moored – your home for the next 27 hours comes into focus, including the plush new beds where Reefsleep guests will spend the night. Anticipation builds for the unique experience to come.

The everyday world slips away as you alight the catamaran and step onto the pontoon. Now exclusively reserved for up to 36 overnight guests at a time, it has undergone an extensive transformation.

The sense of space, peace and quiet is palpable as you’re welcomed with a cold non-alcoholic drink. Dab your brow with a refreshing cold towel and take in the stillness – interrupted only by the sound of flying fish slapping the water’s surface.

From the moment you arrive in the late morning, the whole place is yours to enjoy. Reefworld has been redeveloped with considered spaces designed to help you make the most of your downtime.

On the lower deck, you’ll find a bar serving tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, alongside comfy lounge areas where you can sit back and take in mesmerising reef views.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxed in the knowledge that you don’t have to leave again until tomorrow afternoon.

3. Elevated food and beverage (including quality coffee!)

cruise whitsunday reefworld food offering — Indulge in an elevated food and beverage offering onboard.

Elevated food and drink is central to the new Reefworld experience. The all-inclusive offering focuses on high-quality regional dining.

A seafood buffet lunch might include Hervey Bay scallops grilled in shell with garlic and herb butter or line-caught reef fish baked with lemon thyme oil.

A signature three-course dinner paired with premium Australian wines might dish up an entrée of Whitsunday blue swimmer crab wontons with smoked salmon caviar in a butter sauce, a main of Queensland grass-fed beef-eye fillet, and a tropical coconut and pineapple confection for dessert. Dietary requirements are catered for (notify team at time of booking).

A hot breakfast buffet offers a selection of cooked favourites, smoked salmon, cheeses, and yoghurts, fresh fruit, toast and cereals.

All-inclusive beverages include bottled beer and cider, soft drinks and Australian wine including sparkling. Or choose from a range of premium spirits and cocktails such as the 74 Islands Limoncello Spritz, made with a liqueur crafted right here in the Whitsundays.

Perhaps the biggest boon of all? Barista-made coffee, available from 6.30 am. Only in Australia could you order an oat flat white in the middle of a coral reef.

4. Snorkel one of the GBR’s most diverse reefs

guests snorkelling the great barrier reef at cruise whitsunday reefworld — Dive into the Great Barrier Reef.

Reefworld sits above Hardy Reef, one of the most biologically diverse outer reef systems in the Great Barrier Reef. Exploring it is a simple matter of popping on a mask, snorkel and flippers and slipping into the water straight from the pontoon.

Being in the outer reef means the water is clear, and marine life is abundant: here you could spot giant trevally, Māori wrasse, clownfish, parrotfish, nudibranch and giant clams, as well as vibrant coral gardens.

Snorkel at your leisure over two days. Prefer to stay above the water level? Head to the underwater observatory or join an optional semi-submersible guided tour, and you might still spot the resident two-metre-long Queensland grouper, George, doing the rounds. Or Crush, one of 12 resident green sea turtles.

5. A luxurious sleep under the stars

cruise whitsunday reefworld pontoon reefsleep beds — Spend the night in one of 16 spacious, four-poster beds.

At the heart of the reimagined Reefworld is its elevated Reefsleep experience. On the upper deck are 16 spacious, four-poster beds, replacing the earlier swag-inspired accommodation and giving up to 32 guests the chance to sleep under the stars with increased privacy and added comfort.

With names like Parrot Fish and Spotted Ray, each Reefbed is of its place and has everything you need: not least a queen-size bed with premium linens, decked out in coastal shades befitting the location. USB charging ports, reading lights and fans provide extra convenience and comfort. The beds are set up as daybeds in the afternoon, then turned down in time for sleep.

Double-layer canvas and mesh flaps allow you to customise your experience and exposure to the elements: zip up for maximum privacy and shelter or leave wide open to stargaze as you drift off to sleep.

Come morning, enjoy the luxury of watching the sun rise over the reef from the comfort of the covers (if facing east).

6. Refreshed underwater Reefsuites

Reefsuites room at reefworld — Let the locals form your bedroom view.

Reefsuites is Australia’s first underwater hotel and remains among the most unique stays in the country – if not the world. Its two suites have had a glow-up as part of Reefworld’s transformation, but the floor-to-ceiling underwater views of the Great Barrier Reef remain unchanged.

Choose between king double or twin single sleeping configurations, with premium bedding and a glass-walled en suite in each suite. This is your front-row seat to the marine life of the reef in all its nocturnal glory.

7. A sensational sunset and canapés session

cruise whitsunday reefworld guests enjooying sunset canapes — Wait for sunset at Australia’s best bar.

There’s even a designated new spot for sunset canapés. Could this be Australia’s best bar? That’s what you will be asking come evening, as you gather on the upper deck for a Sunset Canapés session.

Reefworld’s refreshed design includes a designated space for this very ritual. Grab a drink at the bar – bubbles, perhaps, or a G&T with locally produced gin – and pull up a stool to settle in for one of the most spectacular sunsets you’ll ever see.

Nibble on a chef’s selection of light bites as the sun puddles into the molten Coral Sea, bathing the entire pontoon in a glorious glow. It doesn’t get more golden hour than this.

8. Extras: the adventure continues

tour leader preparing scua diving gear at cruise whitsunday reefworld — Choose from a range of extra activities to help you keep exploring.

And that’s not where the adventure ends. Your Reefworld stay also includes access to the underwater observatory and a guided semi-submarine tour, plus a complimentary guided snorkel safari led by expert reef guides. For those looking to do even more, add-ons include scuba diving and scenic flights over Heart Reef, available at an additional cost.

As part of Cruise Whitsundays’ investment in reef tourism, nearby permanent Heart Pontoon has also undergone a significant refurbishment, further enhancing the visitor experience.

The details

Reefworld is open now as an overnight‑only pontoon, exclusively for Reefsleep and Reefsuite guests. Stays start from $895 per person for Reefsleep and $1495 per person for a Reefsuite, based on double occupancy.

Book an unforgettable sleep out on the Great Barrier Reef at cruisewhitsundays.com.

K’gari Beach Resort has a bakery that’s hiding Qld’s best doughnuts

The remote K’gari Beach Resort is a hotel, pub, restaurant and bakery all in one, plus it’s home to some of the best doughnuts in the state.

Location

Style and character

Facilities