40 Culgoa Point

The view is stunning, and the location is central, with a short drive making it easy to get around. The pool is lovely, and so are the landscaping and shared spaces. The apartment itself is shabby and very dated, with things that seem about 20 years old and poorly maintained. Every window had broken shutters, which spoiled the view. Cleaning seemed superficial: marked walls, fans thick with dust, and two different kinds of toenail on the floor. It also smelled musty. The basic supplies were poor quality and there weren’t enough of them. We got the feeling the guests didn’t matter much, and the unfriendly email telling us to wash the dishes, take out the rubbish and not steal the soaps reinforced that.

The riverfront setting, quiet atmosphere and well-kept apartments are lovely, but what keeps bringing us back to Culgoa Point is the welcome. Ben and his team are warm, caring and attentive, and make the place feel special. We travel all over the world, yet Culgoa Point has become our Christmas home. We’ve made the trip a treasured tradition for many years and hope to keep doing it for many more. Coming back to the same beautiful place and being welcomed like family is incredibly comforting. It’s a place full of memories, relaxation and joy, and we wouldn’t spend Christmas anywhere else.

The facilities were really good, including the pool, gym and pickleball court. Our room had nice marina views and was close to the pool, gym and sauna complex. It was generally clean, though some spots, like the skirting boards, had been missed. The bed was okay, around a 6/10, but felt a bit overused. The location was great: a minute from nice cafes and restaurants, and about a 15-minute walk to Noosa Beach and Hastings St. For a week’s stay, two toilet rolls and two sachets of dishwasher powder weren’t enough, and there were no basics like salt, pepper or cooking oil. Apparently everyone gets the same supply for three nights, and longer stays mean buying more yourself, with no rate discount. Staff were good when they were around, but this isn’t a hotel and their hours are limited, so there’s no support if something goes wrong after hours. We’d still come back since the good points outweigh the frustrating ones.

The fridge froze all our food, which was the main downside, and watch out for the possums. Even so, I’d recommend staying here. The area is magnificent, with affordable watersports equipment, a clean pool, spa and sauna, a private beach with stunning sunsets, and buses nearby. This place would be an 11/10 otherwise.