Haggerstone Island Resort

Brilliant authentic island experience. Thanks so much to Sam, Anna and the extended team for a once in a lifetime experience. The food, fishing and hospitality was 5 stars. A special thanks to Ebba who took time out of her day off to show me the island.

Our holiday on Haggerstone Island was the best, and our family will be thinking about it forever. The Turners and their amazing team are exceptional hosts. The fishing is sublime, the food, without a doubt, the best I have ever eaten, anywhere in the world, their knowledge of the reef and all the wonderful completely untouched locations extraordinary (they know a thing or two having lived on it for almost 40 years), the island facilities beautiful and the conversations so very interesting. Truly, life changing, we came back home better people.

My partner and I went to Haggerstone in July 2022 for a weeks stay and it is still to this day - the greatest holiday experience we have ever had. The hospitality that was shown to us the second we arrived on the neighbouring island where the plane landed to when we stepped foot onto Haggerstone Island made us feel like we were part of a family amongst the staff and owners - Sam and Anna - the most welcoming and kindest experience into there island home. Throughout the week of our stay we felt so comfortable and truly relaxed knowing that we were so well taken care of. This holiday experience is something that I think of on a regular basis - hoping we can go back sooner than later. It is something that is hard to put into words of how unique Haggerstone is with its lush beauty of the Great Barrier Reef as well as the freshest fish you could ever have everyday for lunch and dinner. I am not the greatest “fisherwoman” but Sam gives great lessons and makes sure you get a coral trout! I couldn’t believe that Sam cooks the fish we catch directly on the boat for the lunch. All the beautiful food and snacks filled us up so nicely each day. It was a bit cool during the time of year (July) that we went and the wonderful staff provided an extra blanket that kept us warm in the Lagoon hut. I have been to other islands for holiday throughout this life and nothing will ever compare to the kindness, adventure and beauty we felt at Haggerstone. 100% recommend!!!

Downside: when booking the cost kept changing…. Up. The plane is used for transfers of family and staff and stores and I think guests pay for that hence the changes to costs. you provide your own drinks sent over by a hotel prior to your arrival. A bottle of Chivas didn’t arrive. (?) We either underestimated or indulged too much but we ran out of our white wine. We were then charged for wine left behind by previous guests!!!, The back packer staff were not trained. Some days no soap, some days no hand towels etc. There should have been a check list for them. They lay around laughing and talking with Mrs Anna Turner, while we stood at the bar. I felt sorry for them preparing food in the dark kitchen so I held a torch. Continuing downers : there was only one boat. We were picked up from nearby island airstrip. We were not dressed for fishing really and thought we woul$ go to the island. Nope. Two hours of fishing. They must have been servicing the rooms. No toilet on board so ladies had to squat on the backboard.I don’t mind roughing it but it was hard to hang on to something. Fish pieces were cooked on board and we used our fingers which was fine but to be given a spoon and all dipping into a bowl of salad was a bit off so I got a bowl out of a cupboard myself. I wa# told I was a fussy one by Roy Turner. When booking I stressed that we wanted to snorkel. The fishers got priority. Young backpacker mentioned to Roy we wanted to snorkel. He stopped the boat and said “jump over board”. I said I wasn’t snorkeling with so many lines in e water and no reef. Suit yourself! We did t snorkel. I asked Anna and she waved her hand to the water @nd she said “out there”. Clean sandy bottom, no. Nothing! She didn’t care that this was a once in a lifetime for us on Haggerstone . Roy was decidedly unfriendly as he was having troubles with the generator. Grumpy. He told me they only did the guest thing because they needed to!!, you a given a cheap little torch and walking the unswept path at night was problematical. Apparently guest steal good torches., I could go on but…. Upside, beautiful island? Beautiful accomodation. We had the top house. Beautiful food. Great fishing. We had one snorkel … absolutely beautiful. On a fishing trip. A couple of dedicated fishers who came for just that weren’t happy. Great movie produced/directed (?) by Anna’s father about the legendary mailman out Birdsville way. Privilege to see it. I would not go again. It was puzzling Re their attitude to guests. I know people who have been and loved it. Something was stressing the Turners when we were there.. our bad luck. Trip was 2019. I often think of Haggerstone and wondering how it is going.