Krishna Village

I recently visited Krishna Village near the Gold Coast with my wife. The location itself is quite scenic—set in a valley and somewhat hidden from the outside world. However, it is close to a river that is visibly dirty, and I would strongly advise against bathing in it. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not live up to the expectations one would have from a so-called spiritual retreat. The attitude of the receptionist was particularly disappointing. She was disengaged, avoided eye contact, and continued chatting and laughing on the phone while visitors waited. It felt like a mundane job to her rather than a place meant to welcome people with warmth or mindfulness. The property in general appears poorly maintained. Pathways are unclean, and the common areas are shabby, cluttered, and seemingly neglected for a long time. The reading area was especially disheartening—books were littered around disrespectfully. The sitting and relaxation areas were overcrowded and chaotic, with barely any proper seating available. Some visitors appeared to treat the space like a public sleeping area, which further added to the disorder. On a positive note, the food is organic and vegetarian and is not bad. That said, it felt somewhat synthetic in preparation, and exceptional taste should not be expected. Overall, aside from the natural surroundings, most facilities at this resort felt rundown and disorganised. You may want to visit once to see it for yourself, but be prepared to discover many shortcomings beyond what I’ve described.

I stayed here for a month as a volunteer 6 years ago to learn more about a more spiritual/the yogic way of life & such. Everyone was very friendly & helpful guests as well as the Hare Krishnas/yoga teachers themselves. I learnt heaps about kirtan/Hare Krishnas/yoga much of which I still use in my day to day life today - constantly saying the mantras I learned to myself/in my head when I am stressed or anxious. I have since found a Kirtan group local to where I live which I will go to often. I also live a much more balanced life than before I stayed here - not so much excess, more peace & within my means & such. Truly a life changing experience, words can't describe..my life certainly changed for the better after volunteering here. Thanks everyone again!