Diamond Island Resort & Penguin viewing

The dinner was really nice, especially the Korean options, and we had a lot of fun as a family. It’s easy to get to the beautiful white sand beach, and the penguin watch at night was complementary, which we couldn't believe. We saw lots of animals, including sheep, rabbits, wallabies and especially penguins. The reception lady and owner were both very nice. It’s not a luxury hotel, but it was the highlight of our trip. We’ll definitely come back.

Seeing the little penguins was great, especially since it was included with the stay. They cross right through the property, and later in the evening we even saw one arrive and pass our room. But the place fell short in a few areas. It was clean, though dated, with scratched kitchen benches and a general need for TLC. We only really saw one lovely, friendly staff member, who seemed to handle everything from check-in and serving tables to housekeeping and the penguin experience. For the price, I felt the property could have been tidied up, including taking away the garden gnomes. I probably wouldn't stay again, though I didn't hate it.

Getting to the beach and penguin nests was incredible, though we didn't see any penguins because they were in their moult cycle. The restaurant had a great selection and the meals were great. The unit's interior was older but there were no issues, and the bed was very comfortable with lovely linens. There are very steep stairs up to the two bedrooms, and the bathroom is downstairs, which made getting around at night difficult for older people.

The free penguin viewing at dusk was the highlight. Staff had red torches to help us see the penguins coming up from the beach onto the property's lawn. We were given a large room on the top floor, with an unbeatable view. I can't emphasise enough how good it was. Everything was spacious and comfortable, and the bathroom was huge with a spa bath. Surprisingly good, given the Google Maps rating. The place had some faults: cobwebs in a few corners, windows that weren't very clean, and milk in the fridge that was two months expired. My young child drank it without checking, but luckily didn't get food poisoning. I suspect the upper floor room had been unoccupied for months, as the other occupants were retirees and seemed to be in ground floor rooms. I highly recommend it if you can overlook those minor issues.