The Kooralbyn Valley

We had a lovely stay at Kooralbyn Valley Hotel and Resort. The staff were warm and easy to deal with, and the place felt comfortable without being over the top. It’s quiet, with fresh air and beautiful mountain views, and has that tucked-away feel that makes you slow down. We’d definitely come back for a weekend escape.

Our room was dated but clean and nice, and the pool was a relaxing place to spend time over Christmas. We brought our pup, which worked well. The place did have backpacker vibes, though, and the international staff all seemed fairly new. We paid nearly $750 for two nights and lunch, and it didn’t feel worth it. The buffet food itself was nice enough, but the experience fell short of the premium price. We’d prepaid and booked a table on the deck so our dog could join us. When we arrived, our table was marked outside and had no cutlery or decorations, while the indoor tables were set nicely. When we asked for cutlery, we were told nobody should be seated outside and were scrutinized as if we were lying. We eventually got to eat, but the whole situation was frustrating. We also booked the stargazing tour for Christmas night and were told to meet at reception at 6:45 for a 7:00 start. At 7:10 the rest of the group still hadn’t arrived. At 7:15 the receptionist said she didn’t know what had happened and couldn’t reach the tour organiser. We went back to our room to wait for more information, but heard nothing. I raised both issues at checkout. The staff member wrote down the details and said we’d hear back in the early new year. Nearly a month has passed with no reply. The place seemed poorly organised, nobody appeared to know what was going on, and we didn’t feel valued as guests.

This place is huge, with loads of rooms, but there seemed to be no guests. It felt creepy and abandoned, and I can’t understand how it’s still operating with so little maintenance. I’d already thought it looked wack online, but I wasn’t prepared for what we found. Dust was everywhere, the bathroom ceiling had mould, and slime mould ran from the balcony roof down to the floor. The bed smelled like feet. The basin was over carpet that never dried, and plenty of the run-down facilities weren’t open. Sounds good?

We had a great time here. The kids loved the pool and didn’t want to get out, and we had fun in the game room too. The room felt really cozy and relaxing, especially when we sat out on the balcony. Reception were super friendly, and the food at Lilies was so good. Two days wasn’t enough, so we’ll definitely be back. Thanks, guys!