Name: The Resort at Dolphin Heads
Address: 6 Beach Road, Dolphin Heads, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, Mackay, Queensland, AU
Price range: $98–$143 per night
Rating: 7.67

What guests think

At The Resort at Dolphin Heads, guests consistently praise the oceanfront setting, peaceful atmosphere, and lovely pool areas, while feedback on rooms, cleanliness, and on-site dining is mixed, reflecting a property with standout views but uneven execution.

Many enjoy spacious rooms and balconies with striking sea views, but others find units dated, mattresses uncomfortable, or air conditioning unreliable, and several note there is no in-room Wi-Fi. Cleanliness reports vary from clean and tidy to issues like dust, bathroom grime, pests, and odours. Service is often friendly and communication good, yet limited or closed reception and occasional restaurant closures or delays frustrate some. Expect a relaxed stay if you can accept some inconsistencies.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Oceanfront pools and landscaped grounds are highlights that many enjoy. Seating around the pool is limited, and parts of the complex feel dated.

Related guest reviews

10

Leanne

Nov 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great spot for relaxing, had to get help to find our room, staff were more than helpful. The pool was great and the ocen veiw was great. The room was clean, overall a very comfortable stay.

8

Julie

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great outlook over ocean. Pools beautiful and clean. Overall condition of property is tired and restaurant average.

8

Ingrid

Mar 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Large pool and great sea view.

8

Wayne

May 16, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We got a upgrade to a ground floor room with ocean frontage. Absolutely stoked. The beach & ocean view from the front of the propery was first class.

8

Donna

Aug 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful views. Lovely and peaceful. Some chairs or sun loungers would be nice in grassed areas

8

Shannon

Apr 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We enjoyed our short stay at Dolphin Heads Resort. The pool was amazing, the restaurant menu was extensive, food was delicious, the grounds were nice and everything within the resort is close by. Yes, the rooms are aging but we knew this before arrival. The room still had everything we needed and was clean. The beach infront of DH is all rocks but Eimeo Beach was just a few mins drive away and was stunning. It had a coffee/food van every week day, lifeguards, toilet facilities, shady areas and a park. If I am to make a suggestion to Dolphin Heads, it would be to add some more seats around the pool.

8

William

Jan 2, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great position grounds well looked after and walk straight unto the beach.

4

Paul

Feb 19, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hotel pool and surrounds were fantastic! Restaurant served excellence food at a very reasonable price. Rooms were old and in desperate need of updating, i have doubts theyd even been cleaned as the floor was filthy! AC didnt work which is very poor for Mackay and hard to find anyone at reception to have this rectified. Overall ok but AC is a must!! Ro

8

Paul

Apr 14, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great view. Tired rooms and building

8

Bronwyn

Apr 1, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Liked! Views are Amazing, pool is Beautiful, but could have alot mor seating or sunbeds! Rooms are comfortable! Dislikes! No Breakfast, poor management or not enough staff at restaurant/ bar, server mould smell entering my room & bathroom vent was overloaded with dust so ventilation fan didn't work! Cheap appliances, need more activities, shops walking distance!

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Cleanliness

Reports range from clean rooms to issues like dust, bathroom grime, pests, and odours. Housekeeping during stays is limited or absent in multiple reviews.

Related guest reviews

10

Leanne

Nov 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great spot for relaxing, had to get help to find our room, staff were more than helpful. The pool was great and the ocen veiw was great. The room was clean, overall a very comfortable stay.

2

Isaac

Feb 2, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Dirt on the bed sheets, dirty bottle left in kitchen. Ants everywhere. Shower dirty

6

Michael

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Woman’s hair on the bathroom floor on arrival. Dirty balcony tiles and no staff serviced the room throughout the entire stay.

4

Brendon

Jan 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Bed was terrible (old and warn out) screen door to outdoor area was broken (couldnt open or close) woke up to Cockroachs x3 walking all over bench

4

Kay

Nov 2, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I was extremely disappointed in this property. The reception staff were very welcoming and the grounds and outlook were lovely but the room itself was abysmal. The door handle and lock to the room were old and rusty and we could hardly open the door. The bathroom needed a good clean, the toilet was stained and the tiles in the shower were grubby as was the screen door. The shower leaked water all over the floor and the toilet seat was loose. The bathroom door wouldn’t close properly. The covered chairs to sit on in the main area were filthy so we had to sit on the bed to watch television. The bed itself was okay and the sheets and cover were clean. We had to wash our breakfast dishes- the sink provided was the same one as in the vanity in the bathroom. There was to be a $40.00 fine if we didn’t do this but no detergent or tea towel was provided! We also had to empty our bins. I guess a lot of people only rinse their dishes. Our stay was only one night so we didn’t ask to have another room. At approximately $170 a night we didn’t expect luxury accommodation but we did expect a clean bathroom! Very poor.

8

Michael

Nov 15, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

The toilet seat was not secure although it was fixed after 3 days, the bed had sagged in the middle as it probably had been used for too many romantic weekends and the floor was covered in dust

8

Sue

Aug 3, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

lovely view and place to stay is quiet. restaurant was excellent. Compliments to Chef and wait staff Room cleanliness was not that good

6

Shaun

Sep 2, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

My family and i stay at dolphin heads quiet often as we find it a very beautiful place, the staff are amazing, food is great everytime, the grounds are beautiful and well maintained. It was just the room we stayed in this last visit wasn't what we were expecting. It smelt very bad of mould then in the door frame my 1 and a half year old was running his fingers in mould. The room smelt very bad it was very unpleasant. There was dust all over the walls. The cutlery still had dry old food on the forks. When we got out of the shower our feet were dirty from floor's. Its definitely not a room for a family with little one's. We will be back it was very unfortunate with the level of cleaning that needs to be done in the room i felt let down cause every stay has always been amazing.

10

Michael

Jun 11, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

I had a balcony room overlooking the water, truly beautiful location. The room was good, fairly well maintained, clean and a pleasant place to be, especially for the rate.

8

Rachel

Jul 24, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Beautiful area and beach. Seems like every room either has a view of the pool or ocean with the sunset. No wifi, no cleaner, and not perfectly clean so loses points. Otherwise everything you need, in a beautiful location.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms vary widely: some are spacious, renovated, and comfortable with standout ocean views, while many are dated or basic, with occasional noisy equipment, sagging mattresses, or faulty air conditioning. In-room Wi-Fi is generally not provided.

Related guest reviews

10

Tina

May 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was great with a beautiful view off the balcony. The onsite restaurant & bar were amazing, the food was fantastic & the cocktails were also delicious :)

6

Morgan

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I love staying here but the mattresses in the rooms need replacing on my last night there i woke up at 4am and decide to leave after a restless sleep due to the uncomfy mattress. We had dinner at the restaurant, ive dined her before but the food wasnt good. The vegetables were so full of water it left a bit of a swamp on the plate. The crumbed steak had been keep fried and the steak bowed and excess oil was collected in the centre. Not sure what happened to the cook as the meals prior were fine. We were also the only people in the restaurant. We ordered garlic bread and one single piece come out with our mains but once we recieved the mains there didnt seem like much love was put into it for the price. Wifi would be a good addition to the rooms. I love staying here i hope they invest in decent mattresses and wifi and maybe look into getting someone else in the kitchen. They view is beautiful but guests need to feel rested. This review isnt meant to be harsh i really love the place and it has so much potential.

6

Karen

Apr 26, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The room we stayed in was very dated and original. It is in need of a renovation which a lot of the other units have had. Will be staying at Dolphin heads again but definately nog in this unit unless it is renovated.

8

Jim

Aug 30, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The sea view is stunning! Very relaxing. However the room was basic and needs updating and repairs.

10

Dominica

Aug 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Rooms are dated but the view makes up for it.

6

Glenn

Jan 5, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

First time I used a latch on the door! 2 Positives: comfy bed. Great outlook/view. Rest: dingy corridors, could hear everything around you, just old and outdated. Reception closed at 4pm (although public holiday). No nightlife, nothing to walk to, no restaurants close by, no pubs. Could be an absolute gem, but needs a lot of work.

2

Craig

Apr 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was very tied, leaking basin taps , leaking shower , the electrical panel outside the room had a 75db sound coming from it in our room, it lasted from 9pm to 4:30am the staff could do nothing to help , was the worst night in a hotel we have ever had , the restaurant and meal was ok

4

Paul

Feb 19, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hotel pool and surrounds were fantastic! Restaurant served excellence food at a very reasonable price. Rooms were old and in desperate need of updating, i have doubts theyd even been cleaned as the floor was filthy! AC didnt work which is very poor for Mackay and hard to find anyone at reception to have this rectified. Overall ok but AC is a must!! Ro

10

Carlos

Oct 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Checking in was incredibly easy. The clear instructions, sent directly to my mobile, were perfect for someone like me arriving late at night and leaving early in the morning. The room itself was very spacious with a very and a comfy bed. The view from the balcony was truly breathtaking. I'd highly recommend it as a place to spend some quiet time and just soak in the views.

10

Ayla

May 13, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

My partner and I stayed in a newly renovated room, which was gorgeous, and very comfortable. Our view was probably the least exciting, but that wasn't very important to us. We had several family members in other rooms, however, with gorgeous views right out onto the beachfront.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly and helpful, and self-check-in instructions make arrivals easy. However, reception is often closed or unavailable, making assistance and issue resolution inconsistent.

Related guest reviews

8

Graham

May 25, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff were courteous and happy to assist if needed.

10

Sonia

Mar 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly.

10

Michelle

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Check in was a breeze, the customer service from owners and cafe staff impeccable. The grounds are stunning with the most amazing views. Rooms were clean and well appointed. Can't wait to plan my next trip

2

Doug

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We only had a SMS message about our accommodation, how to enter the room and there was no internet. Some personal attendence at reception would have been nice.

6

Lisa

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Firstly, the name of the resort does not match the booking site, so made it more difficult to find. Was told the restaurant would be open for dinner and it wasn’t. Not what you want to hear after a 12 hour drive. And thirdly, no one on reception when we checked out at 8.45 am. And no drop box for the room key.

8

Jessica

Feb 23, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Communication from property was great

6

Warren

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 10 nights

I found out upon arrival that the reception has been permanently closed. I managed to find someone who runs the facility who advised that all the check-in details were sent to me by email however, this message was never received. As there were no staff available through reception, my only point of contact was through the bar. Unfortunately, the bar staff were unable to assist with my queries and requests. No Wi-fi (as advised on their web site) No service on the room for my week long stay. The pool was closed for repairs and maintenance throughout my stay there. The evenings that I wanted to dine in the restaurant it was either closed (only open Wed - Sun) or not available on a Saturday night due to a function. Location is fantastic but unfortunately let down by a very dated and understaffed facility.

4

Mark

Oct 31, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Management entered the room without knocking at exactly 10am for no apparent reason except to take the room key.

10

Carlos

Oct 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Checking in was incredibly easy. The clear instructions, sent directly to my mobile, were perfect for someone like me arriving late at night and leaving early in the morning. The room itself was very spacious with a very and a comfy bed. The view from the balcony was truly breathtaking. I'd highly recommend it as a place to spend some quiet time and just soak in the views.

8

Mark

Feb 23, 2026

·

Stayed 3 nights

No reception but lady at bar courteous and helpful

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Location

Oceanfront, peaceful setting with lovely views is a consistent highlight. A few guests reported confusing signage or name changes when finding the property.

Related guest reviews

8

Paul

Jul 31, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

great location

8

Warren

Jul 1, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Outstanding views over the southern Whitsunday islands

8

Virginia

Feb 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent ocean front property, lovely rooms. The only drawback was lack of facility to obtain food or drink. The bar was closed. The signage at the front access entrance is deceiving as the actual “Dolphin Sands’ name is not advertised, it is signposted as a different name altogether. Apparently this is currently being rectified. Will definitely stay again. Amazing location.

8

Wayne

May 16, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We got a upgrade to a ground floor room with ocean frontage. Absolutely stoked. The beach & ocean view from the front of the propery was first class.

6

Lisa

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Firstly, the name of the resort does not match the booking site, so made it more difficult to find. Was told the restaurant would be open for dinner and it wasn’t. Not what you want to hear after a 12 hour drive. And thirdly, no one on reception when we checked out at 8.45 am. And no drop box for the room key.

10

Michael

Jun 11, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

I had a balcony room overlooking the water, truly beautiful location. The room was good, fairly well maintained, clean and a pleasant place to be, especially for the rate.

6

Glenn

Jan 5, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

First time I used a latch on the door! 2 Positives: comfy bed. Great outlook/view. Rest: dingy corridors, could hear everything around you, just old and outdated. Reception closed at 4pm (although public holiday). No nightlife, nothing to walk to, no restaurants close by, no pubs. Could be an absolute gem, but needs a lot of work.

8

Shannon

Apr 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We enjoyed our short stay at Dolphin Heads Resort. The pool was amazing, the restaurant menu was extensive, food was delicious, the grounds were nice and everything within the resort is close by. Yes, the rooms are aging but we knew this before arrival. The room still had everything we needed and was clean. The beach infront of DH is all rocks but Eimeo Beach was just a few mins drive away and was stunning. It had a coffee/food van every week day, lifeguards, toilet facilities, shady areas and a park. If I am to make a suggestion to Dolphin Heads, it would be to add some more seats around the pool.

8

William

Jan 2, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great position grounds well looked after and walk straight unto the beach.

8

Annette

Jul 23, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A quiet stay with a lovely view.

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Dining

Food quality receives both praise and criticism, with some great meals but also average dishes and restricted bar options. Hours can be limited or change, and occasional closures or long waits are noted.

Related guest reviews

6

Bianca

Sep 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

. outdoors is gorgeous - pools and lawns perfect. the cafe/restaurant isn’t open sundays or mondays which is a bit crap tbh

4

Wendy

Feb 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Despite receiving an email stating that the bar and restaurant were open until 8pm, arrived at 6.30pm to find both closed and no body at reception. Very disappointed after a long drive to have to then go in search of an evening meal. A text had been sent advising that the key would be in our room door, which it was. Room as advertised, with a great view, however despite being no smoking it appears this does not extend to the balconies and meant we needed to keep the door closed to avoid the smell.

10

Carl

Aug 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

View from the room was incredible, pool area was lovely. Restaurant food was very good, loved the Neptune Chicken 😋

10

Tina

May 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was great with a beautiful view off the balcony. The onsite restaurant & bar were amazing, the food was fantastic & the cocktails were also delicious :)

8

Julie

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great outlook over ocean. Pools beautiful and clean. Overall condition of property is tired and restaurant average.

8

Angela

Aug 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautuful location, Resort bar and restaurant were little out dated.as some of the rooms as there were a few of us staying. Food was great though. Seemed a little short staffed,

8

Angela

Jun 26, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Other than a nice place the restaurant meal waiting times were ridiculous

8

Shannon

Apr 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We enjoyed our short stay at Dolphin Heads Resort. The pool was amazing, the restaurant menu was extensive, food was delicious, the grounds were nice and everything within the resort is close by. Yes, the rooms are aging but we knew this before arrival. The room still had everything we needed and was clean. The beach infront of DH is all rocks but Eimeo Beach was just a few mins drive away and was stunning. It had a coffee/food van every week day, lifeguards, toilet facilities, shady areas and a park. If I am to make a suggestion to Dolphin Heads, it would be to add some more seats around the pool.

6

Warren

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 10 nights

I found out upon arrival that the reception has been permanently closed. I managed to find someone who runs the facility who advised that all the check-in details were sent to me by email however, this message was never received. As there were no staff available through reception, my only point of contact was through the bar. Unfortunately, the bar staff were unable to assist with my queries and requests. No Wi-fi (as advised on their web site) No service on the room for my week long stay. The pool was closed for repairs and maintenance throughout my stay there. The evenings that I wanted to dine in the restaurant it was either closed (only open Wed - Sun) or not available on a Saturday night due to a function. Location is fantastic but unfortunately let down by a very dated and understaffed facility.

10

Valerie

Mar 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Restricted menu options Poorly stocked bar

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $127	2 $132	3 $143
4 $125	5 $124	6 $115	7 $98	8 $99	9 $112	10
11 $100	12 $98	13 $99	14 $100	15 $100	16 $100	17 $100
18 $99	19 $113	20 $112	21 $102	22 $100	23 $100	24 $100
25 $100	26 $100	27 $100	28 $102	29 $100	30 $99	31 $104

The Resort at Dolphin Heads

About this property

Location

Room options

Economy Studio, Garden View

Family Studio

Pool View Suite

Ocean View Suite

Guest reviews of The Resort at Dolphin Heads

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about The Resort at Dolphin Heads

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23 $113	24 $114	25 $116	26
27 $127	28 $128	29 $128	30 $114