Crab Claw Island

Did a day trip driving from Howard Spring to Crab Claw Island Resort, took about 70 minutes, the last 15 klms is on a red dirt corrugated road, 2wd or 4wd would be ok, we let our tyres down a bit for a bit more comfort. Got there about 11am had a look around then then just before lunch a few helicopters started to arrive with day trippers doing the five pubs by chopper. The food was first class and a really good price, had a few drinks and enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s a rustic looking bali type bar overlooking the water and beach. There is a couple of smaller pools but with the breeze coming off the water it was just a nice temperature not needing a swim.

Sadly we only dropped in and were not staying. The accommodations look great, the pools looked very inviting and clean. The restaurant had great food, and a beautiful vista. We hope to be able to return and stay a couple of nights in the future. They have camping and caravan sites available also. It is a 15km drive from the bitumen on a red dirt road, but it was graded well and any car could negotiate it without issue. To get there from Darwin is about an hour and a half drive, but there is the beautiful Berry Springs on the way where we would highly recommend stopping and having a dip in the beautiful natural swimming hole.

Drove out to Crab Claw Island for lunch on Sunday, meals were awesome. Both fish & calamari meals cooked to perfection, tasty salad and crunchy chips. Food is always great whatever we’ve ordered. Fishing off the beach is great, they even have boats to hire. New large toilet ablution block & new cabins added. We’ve stayed in cabins, camped in tents and caravans and driven out for lunches over the years and always have a great experience. Recommend a visit or stay overnight. Well worth the drive and the view is spectacular.

Place is run down. Rooms are in desperate need of renovation. We had no hot water our entire stay. Not worth the money they're charging. Rooms are tiny and don't even have a TV. Staff were friendly enough. We booked 3 nights but ended up leaving after 2. Better off staying at Dundee lodge.

Crab claw island resort is with out doubt the worst resort I have ever stayed at in my life,the accommodation was pathetic,dangerous for children,unsafe ,and cramped.The meals were not well prepared,the salads were uneadable.For those of you thinking of hiring a boat,think again 300dollars a day,I can accept that,but 170 dollars for fuel and bait on top of hiring when we used less than 25 litres of fuel in total.we had to come in mid afternoon due to a faulty lowrance fish finder,the skipper offered us extra time on the boat the next day,fish finder still not fixed,l would not recommend either the resort or the hiring of a boat from this company ever again,fishing folk beware

As part of our trip and holiday in Darwin with our Northern Family [we're from the Gold Coast] our future son-in-law and daughter booked some rooms so we could do some fishing and celebrate the end of December and New Year at Crab Claw. Unfortunately our daughter fell ill on the Friday before we were due to leave and our son-in-law phoned the resort to do the right thing and cancel the booking, only to be told they would still have to pay $600, no refund! Our daughter tested positive to Covid early on the Saturday morning and was confined to bed at home as a result, so our cancellation was in the best interest of all the staff and guests at Crab Claw. Unfortunately our efforts fell on "deaf ears" with this owners and this facility has shown they don't understand or apply the understanding of Xmas and the holiday spirit. My posting is to show potential customers and visitors just what this place is like, I can't put into print what I would like to say. Totally disgusted!!

So the area itself we loved the surrounding where very peaceful and scenic and we loved having the animals walk on by every evening, the staff also where lovely and the food was good. The restaurant was quiet nice undercover and great views. The downside is it’s heavily treed in the most part of the powered section and our van was coved in tiny leaves but that’s not a massive downer! the park itself being called a ‘resort’ needs a massive facelift , the toilets and showers are old portables and outdated and not cleaned all that well truthfully, the pool or pools where old style and where not very clean but that would be due too all those leaves and dirt there also just out dated. We had a bit of rif raf that blew in on weekend and seem to think they own the place too, but that was a long weekend so I’m sure that’s not all weekends. All in all the owners need to put some $$ into it and give it a facelift 🤷‍♀️ we still enjoyed our few days nun the less.

We headed out of Darwin for a day trip to Crab Claw Island. We had lunch at the restaurant and the meals were well priced and a plenty. The view is great and the staff very friendly. We wandered around the resort and decided that our next visit north will include a few nights stay. The facilities are good, view is lovely and boats can be hired for a bit if fishing if that’s what you like. Definitely will return again.

We have been to Crab Claw 3 times over the past 3 years (we live in Darwin) and every time we go it’s fun but every time we return home I say it will be the last time I stay overnight. Why? The cleanliness of the cabins is non existent! The bar/restaurant has an amazing view and the food is incredible. The location and pools are fantastic. It’s the best place for a fun weekend away with you friends. However, the cabins are PUTRID! The first time I stayed was back in July 2021, we had a good time but the cabin was very basic and run down. The second time I stayed (Jan 2023) while I was pregnant. Bed was comfy and air con was good but the room was filthy. The most recent trip (Oct 2023) we had a baby so again we chose a cabin over camping purely for the air con. The actual cabins are so run down and we had a filthy room again. The worst parts of this stay were: - There were food stains and chunks (so not even washed and just stained) on the blanket they put on the bed. It had clearly not been washed between guests. - The toilet wasn’t cleaned and there was the precious guest poo splashes on the toilet seat! ***. - There was a half drunk open milk in our fridge. - There was mould in the bathroom on the door frames. - Spider webs everywhere in the room. - The sliding glass shower screen door was missing the middle panel. - The cabin floor hadn’t been swept or vacuumed. You could see it had dust and hair on it and felt you feet get dirty walking on it (and I’m not a clean freak). - The room wasn’t ready for our 2pm check in until after 2pm. - They forgot our meals at the restaurant, and when I let the staff member know we were still waiting he brought out the kitchen receipts to show me as though to show me I wasn’t telling the truth, and I was like, “mate, you literally took my order and payment”. Food was good when it eventually came out. Overall, Crab Claw is great for a day trip but not for an overnight stay unless you are camping. The cabins are expensive for what they are and they are actually filthy.