Stayed there in one of the beachfront bungalows for my honeymoon in 1984! Was quite a nice place with a lovely separate restaurant - at an additional charge. Had one of the most memorable seafood baskets (giant seafood tower!) there. I can still remember the details, sooo good! We used to parasail off the beach to the right of the resort (looking from front). Once, when I was dropped, as they do, my toes in the water, I saw a large shape in the water next to me and screamed for them to lift me. It was dolphins LOL. BTW, the ''backpackers'' was never backpackers in the day, I believe it was the most expensive accommodation.
Not a lot left I lived and worked there in the mid 90s as the contract dive instructor good times and memories had tin load of fun out in the staff area at night
Amazing that out of everything the cheap backpackers accommodation is what is left standing! Awesome to meet people that worked on the island and remember what it used to look like! Sam used to bring the overnight boat there as part of the Sailing trip 💙 Are you still in Airlie/prissy area? -cait
I went here when I was little around the time darasic park 3 came out and I watched it in the kids club next to the ice cream bar by the pool I love that island resort and I remember trying to run up one of those palm trees and her my angcel. I think my family went there 3 times.
Ahhhhh South Molle…. What a beautiful place. It had changed a lot since we were there…. We stayed at a bungalow next to the beach a bit further up from the main building. I remember the staff quarters!!😱😱😱. They were feral as!!! Almost 3rd world.. we walked to Spion Kop. Im sure that was “spy hill”in Russian…. Breaks my heart to see it like this…. Out of all the “resorts” Ive stayed at this was the most beautiful!! Was that V8 engine in the water off the boat ramp when you were there mate?? 👍 Hope you’re enjoying your sailing life and staying safe. Cheers 👍❤️
Yeah it's definitely a shame. They keep talking about fixing it back up but I can't see it happening any time soon. The V8 engine sounds familiar but unfortunately back in those days my favourite place on the island was the bar, One week my bar bill was bigger than my pay check, so it cost me money to go to work LOL. I am absolutely loving the sailing lifestyle and hope to keep doing it until my body says stop, and then I'll buy a motor boat LOL. -sam
The Genset was in the maintenance shed just behind the main staff kitchen building (gone now). There, it was in a sound-insulated room. It was a diesel engine from a train, a Blackstone straight 6, I think
Wow the old black stones were massive engines. I worked a tug that had a pair. There power to weight ratio was crazy l. Very heavy with not alot of power. They never gave us trouble though and for the size didn't burn as much fuel as you would think. -sam
@@sailingwiththejamess I worked there in the late 90s in the maintenance dept. I only saw them crank up the engine 1 time, there was no wind and it pretty much smoked the whole island out with thick black smoke for the first 1/2 hour lol
All over, theres: Dunk Island Great Keppel Island Brampton Island Lindeman Island Hook Island South Molle Island Long Island (Happy Bay) And probably more that I haven't listed. The one we have loved the most was Lindeman- so well kept and so beautiful 😍 🤩 -Cait
We took out kids to South Molle Island on two separate holidays to Queensland, in the 1990's We come from WA. and we absolutely loved it, we have such great memories, our kids were approx 7 and 10 then, they're in their late 30's now! My son just watched this video with me, and we started to reminisc about the place. While the accomodation wasn't anything flash the island itself made up for it! We remember playing golf, bird feeding, fish feeding (off the jetty) where tons of giant Bat fish would be waiting for bread to be thrown to them, Tennis, bush walks, seeing flying foxes, water sports, beach activities like tug of war with groups of people, they had coconut opening poles on the grounds so you could just grab a coconut and shred it and eat it as you pleased, also the wonderful entertainment of polynesian style dancers, and last but not least the buffet style meals which were always delicious. Sad to see the Island like this, I hope somebody fixes it up and brings it up to its former beauty, if they did we'd be back for sure !!
Wow the late 90,s sounds like it was a bit different to when I was there. I didn't know there was flying foxes over there! We are back in the Whitsundays know. I'll go back and try and spot some! -sam
i can see what Sam was thinking.... mmm i want this broom ;) That Jetty and pontoon look brand new, must be plans afoot. do you know anything about the tall pylons at the end of it ? cheers, Frank from Sydney..... still ( hoping for a sea change to Port Stephens.)
Yes they are new and reall nice thay you can fo ashore at any tide with that long jetty. Super awesome hikes and looking at the old resort was really neat. We heard rumours that south Molle might have been bought and looking at reopening? Port Stephens is beautiful! -Cait
Thanks for posting, I won a trip here as a company prize and brought my family for a holiday, we were in the raised units to the side and had a great view of the water. We had a wonderful time and very sorry to see it like this now.
Yes I absolutely loved working there it has amazing history for so many people. I have herd that it may be restored in a couple of yrs so we will keep our fingers crossed that it happens.
If you are thinking of regularly posting content, you should look at some kind of wind proof microphone. Not being nasty just constructive. I’m at the 5 minute mark and already had several times the wind noise overcame your content. Posting this as I watch and look forward to the rest of the episode. All the best to you all.
Thank you!!! Yes we have and notice a huge difference in the audio quality with the wind.This video audio with the winin the mic🙌🥰 Thank you! We hope you check out some of our newer videos! -Cait
My ex and I honeymooned at South Molle in March 1985 for 10 days. We had a great time we played golf, squash and loved the walking tracks and then we would spend the afternoon drinking by the pool . In the evening we had yummy food and entertainment every night oh to be young again
Wow that sounds like an awesome time. I had no idea that there used to be squash courts there. Thanks for sharing. We hope it gets restored to its former glory soon
Wow, so cool. Great Video, thanks for posting. A bit sad though. My Wife and I honeymooned on South Molle late March 93. Stayed in a little demountable type cabin way down to the right or Daydream end of the beach. Second last cabin to the end if I recall correctly. Looks like those cabins are also long gone. I have great memories of that pool, the spa area you mentioned and of course, the main dining area at the end of the pool. The bar area that is still standing was where all the nighttime entertainment was found. Singers, dancers and even the odd bingo night. Crazy to see it like this now….Can you just visit here or do you need permission from someone?
Ho Brad, As it is in a national park you don't need permission to go on the walking trails but they don't like you entering the resort area In case you hurt yourself as they may be liable. We hope to see it up and running again soon
The Chinese capital group spent millions upgrading that jetty. I don't think the resorts are ever coming back. Even Gina Rhinehart who has pockets as deep as the Grand Canyon, wasn't prepared to do anything with Great Keppel Island. Airlie Beach would work well for the backpackers. Daydream Island Resort and Hamilton Island are still going strong for people with money. The Chinese are trying to offload the island.
Heard something might be happening with the closed resort on Long Island and with the one on Lindeman Island. Would love to see Lindeman up and running again, that was spectacular to visit last year but in such amazing structural condition.
@sailingwiththejamess I don't know better than anyone else, but islands and infrastructure are hard to develop. The resort would need to be hurricane proof. I don't think anything is going to happen. Even the family that owns Hamilton Island is getting a business analysis done to possibly offload it. As I said, if a woman worth 35 billion plus can't get it done, no one will. Great video 👍
Stayed there in one of the beachfront bungalows for my honeymoon in 1984! Was quite a nice place with a lovely separate restaurant - at an additional charge. Had one of the most memorable seafood baskets (giant seafood tower!) there. I can still remember the details, sooo good! We used to parasail off the beach to the right of the resort (looking from front). Once, when I was dropped, as they do, my toes in the water, I saw a large shape in the water next to me and screamed for them to lift me. It was dolphins LOL. BTW, the ''backpackers'' was never backpackers in the day, I believe it was the most expensive accommodation.
It appears as though an investor might be looking into buying it. Would be really nice to see the resort back up and running🌟
-Cait
Not a lot left I lived and worked there in the mid 90s as the contract dive instructor good times and memories had tin load of fun out in the staff area at night
Amazing that out of everything the cheap backpackers accommodation is what is left standing! Awesome to meet people that worked on the island and remember what it used to look like! Sam used to bring the overnight boat there as part of the Sailing trip 💙 Are you still in Airlie/prissy area?
-cait
I went here when I was little around the time darasic park 3 came out and I watched it in the kids club next to the ice cream bar by the pool I love that island resort and I remember trying to run up one of those palm trees and her my angcel.
I think my family went there 3 times.
Oh wow I don't even remember the icecream bar. That would have been awesome! It's a shame how the resort ended up
-sam
Ahhhhh South Molle…. What a beautiful place. It had changed a lot since we were there…. We stayed at a bungalow next to the beach a bit further up from the main building. I remember the staff quarters!!😱😱😱. They were feral as!!! Almost 3rd world.. we walked to Spion Kop. Im sure that was “spy hill”in Russian…. Breaks my heart to see it like this…. Out of all the “resorts” Ive stayed at this was the most beautiful!! Was that V8 engine in the water off the boat ramp when you were there mate?? 👍
Hope you’re enjoying your sailing life and staying safe. Cheers 👍❤️
Yeah it's definitely a shame. They keep talking about fixing it back up but I can't see it happening any time soon. The V8 engine sounds familiar but unfortunately back in those days my favourite place on the island was the bar, One week my bar bill was bigger than my pay check, so it cost me money to go to work LOL. I am absolutely loving the sailing lifestyle and hope to keep doing it until my body says stop, and then I'll buy a motor boat LOL.
-sam
@@sailingwiththejamess 🤣🤣👍. When the night is good 👍👌
Hahaha now days I think of it as when I was young and stupid LOL
Sam
My Dad used to take us here nearly every year in the 70s and 80s
Very cool! You must have some great memories from here! What was your favourite part of the resort and Island?
-Cait
The Genset was in the maintenance shed just behind the main staff kitchen building (gone now). There, it was in a sound-insulated room. It was a diesel engine from a train, a Blackstone straight 6, I think
Wow the old black stones were massive engines. I worked a tug that had a pair. There power to weight ratio was crazy l. Very heavy with not alot of power. They never gave us trouble though and for the size didn't burn as much fuel as you would think.
-sam
@@sailingwiththejamess I worked there in the late 90s in the maintenance dept. I only saw them crank up the engine 1 time, there was no wind and it pretty much smoked the whole island out with thick black smoke for the first 1/2 hour lol
Oh wow I worked there in the early 2000, I was on the boats, I herd it was an awesome place back on the 90s.
-sam
I worked on this island in 1959.
The pictures of her back in the day are beautiful and stunning! Would have been a lot of fun to work at!
-Cait
It seems like Australia has abandoned resorts all over the place!
All over, theres:
Dunk Island
Great Keppel Island
Brampton Island
Lindeman Island
Hook Island
South Molle Island
Long Island (Happy Bay)
And probably more that I haven't listed. The one we have loved the most was Lindeman- so well kept and so beautiful 😍 🤩
-Cait
We took out kids to South Molle Island on two separate holidays to Queensland, in the 1990's
We come from WA. and we absolutely loved it, we have such great memories, our kids were approx 7 and 10 then, they're in their late 30's now!
My son just watched this video with me, and we started to reminisc about the place.
While the accomodation wasn't anything flash the island itself made up for it!
We remember playing golf, bird feeding, fish feeding (off the jetty) where tons of giant Bat fish would be waiting for bread to be thrown to them, Tennis, bush walks, seeing flying foxes, water sports, beach activities like tug of war with groups of people, they had coconut opening poles on the grounds so you could just grab a coconut and shred it and eat it as you pleased, also the wonderful entertainment of polynesian style dancers, and last but not least the buffet style meals which were always delicious.
Sad to see the Island like this, I hope somebody fixes it up and brings it up to its former beauty, if they did we'd be back for sure !!
Wow the late 90,s sounds like it was a bit different to when I was there. I didn't know there was flying foxes over there! We are back in the Whitsundays know. I'll go back and try and spot some!
-sam
i can see what Sam was thinking.... mmm i want this broom ;) That Jetty and pontoon look brand new, must be plans afoot. do you know anything about the tall pylons at the end of it ? cheers, Frank from Sydney..... still ( hoping for a sea change to Port Stephens.)
Yes they are new and reall nice thay you can fo ashore at any tide with that long jetty. Super awesome hikes and looking at the old resort was really neat. We heard rumours that south Molle might have been bought and looking at reopening? Port Stephens is beautiful!
-Cait
Thanks for posting, I won a trip here as a company prize and brought my family for a holiday, we were in the raised units to the side and had a great view of the water. We had a wonderful time and very sorry to see it like this now.
Yes I absolutely loved working there it has amazing history for so many people. I have herd that it may be restored in a couple of yrs so we will keep our fingers crossed that it happens.
My wife and I honeymooned on South Molle in 99, didn’t realise it was like this now, how sad :(
Was a gorgeous island formerly, unfortunately it shut down and then there been a few through 😔
-Cait
If you are thinking of regularly posting content, you should look at some kind of wind proof microphone. Not being nasty just constructive. I’m at the 5 minute mark and already had several times the wind noise overcame your content. Posting this as I watch and look forward to the rest of the episode. All the best to you all.
Thank you!!! Yes we have and notice a huge difference in the audio quality with the wind.This video audio with the winin the mic🙌🥰 Thank you! We hope you check out some of our newer videos! -Cait
We loved visiting South Molle, didn't know about the hike, next time we are there we will do the hike!
Yes you should in my opinion it is well worth it and not to strenuous
Charlie is so cute and happy with her mom and dad learning more than you know at young ages
Thank you🥰 We are really enjoying being able to share experiences and travels with her and watching her learn so much! 🥰
My ex and I honeymooned at South Molle in March 1985 for 10 days. We had a great time we played golf, squash and loved the walking tracks and then we would spend the afternoon drinking by the pool . In the evening we had yummy food and entertainment every night oh to be young again
Wow that sounds like an awesome time. I had no idea that there used to be squash courts there. Thanks for sharing. We hope it gets restored to its former glory soon
Wow, so cool. Great Video, thanks for posting. A bit sad though. My Wife and I honeymooned on South Molle late March 93. Stayed in a little demountable type cabin way down to the right or Daydream end of the beach. Second last cabin to the end if I recall correctly. Looks like those cabins are also long gone. I have great memories of that pool, the spa area you mentioned and of course, the main dining area at the end of the pool. The bar area that is still standing was where all the nighttime entertainment was found. Singers, dancers and even the odd bingo night. Crazy to see it like this now….Can you just visit here or do you need permission from someone?
Ho Brad,
As it is in a national park you don't need permission to go on the walking trails but they don't like you entering the resort area In case you hurt yourself as they may be liable. We hope to see it up and running again soon
The Chinese capital group spent millions upgrading that jetty.
I don't think the resorts are ever coming back.
Even Gina Rhinehart who has pockets as deep as the Grand Canyon, wasn't prepared to do anything with Great Keppel Island.
Airlie Beach would work well for the backpackers. Daydream Island Resort and Hamilton Island are still going strong for people with money. The Chinese are trying to offload the island.
Heard something might be happening with the closed resort on Long Island and with the one on Lindeman Island. Would love to see Lindeman up and running again, that was spectacular to visit last year but in such amazing structural condition.
@sailingwiththejamess I don't know better than anyone else, but islands and infrastructure are hard to develop. The resort would need to be hurricane proof. I don't think anything is going to happen. Even the family that owns Hamilton Island is getting a business analysis done to possibly offload it. As I said, if a woman worth 35 billion plus can't get it done, no one will.
Great video 👍
Haha yes I would tend to agree
-sam