Barnacles — Restaurant in Queensland

We went over the Christmas period, so we do understand the centre would have been inundated. We purchased to feed the dolphins but there were so many people we were squeezed in like sardines, in long lines and saw that people were being treated as though they were on a conveyor belt and just pushed through. The ladies were demanding and controlling, (sometimes with very good reason from silly people they were having to deal with) but it still didn't make a very good experience for even the sensible people. We decided to eat only and not feed the dolphins. There was no issue getting our money back. Customer service is very poor, there appears to be very little awareness of it, or that it applies to them.

There is one menu at the entrance of the cafe. How can management not see how this would be disastrous? Why would you want customers standing at the door, often with their kids to decide what they want for breakfast? So, as most would expect, it was too crowded to be able to see the menu. Because of it, many guests didn't even see it and were at the till deciding what they would have. This frustrated the woman at the till and she rolled her eyes and huffed with contempt mostly. How dare anyone add something last minute to the order. She was not professional at all. I understand that menus can't be tabled for the wind blowing them over and into the water and heaps more reasons, but embedding them into tables or several places to view the menu should be considered.

The lines and cut offs were also very poorly thought out. Those trying to get to the cafe to order had to wade through the people waiting to feed the dolphins as well as people trying to return back to their tables after ordering. Staff had to firstly make there way through families trying to decide what to order, then had to make their way passed the dolphin line and people trying to get to the cafe etc etc etc as well to distribute meals to the correct table. One staff member was even seen to mouth the 'f' word whilst trying to wade through without spilling food. Again not very professional and not very customer service oriented.

Customers were only being herded along the lines and ropes provided to them which were really badly thought out. We will never go back. The food was as you would expect from a cafe. It was enjoyable but not memorable. Oh, even the toilet sign gave mixed messages. I came to the area being 5th in line. I was at the front of the line in 30 seconds flat because the very first message noting that it wasn't a public toilet sent the first four in line away believing they couldn't use it! After noting with them to read further that Barnacles customers could use it, they were so flustered and confused that they walked away anyhow. Good for me, I was busting but not for the experience that these people had...

Let's be honest, it's not a 'Centre' per se. You're not going to see marine scientists in white coats analysing dolphin data. It's more of a shack next to a public toilet with a few old lady volunteers dishing out one small fish per bucket. The old chap at the beginning of the 'adventure' asks if you want to see the dolphins for $5 or feed them for the hefty price of $10 for one fish! For those of you going to have just a coffee at the Barnacles DC, just say you want a coffee. The actual 'seeing' of the Dolphin involves going down to the beach part and standing in front of the Dolphin and taking a piccie! If you don't want to get up close and personal, or if you don't want to feed the dolphins, then just say you're here just for the coffee. I gave this a 3 star review because the old guy didn't explain what the 'seeing' the Dolphin meant. I could go out any time on my jetskis and see dolphins without paying for it! In the end, it's your choice. A point of entertainment is the old lady on the pier who, bless her soul, does not realise that her actions to scare away the ever present cormorant birds that seek, often successfully, to swipe the fish from the hands of unaware customers trying to feed the dolphins. We spent more time taking bets on when she was going to fall off the pier through an accidental overstretched in an over-enthusiastic token gesture to justify her role! My father and I were also entertained by the secret hand gestures that the ladies used to communicate with each other, an interesting combination of ticks, farts, whistles and granny stares! Don't get me wrong, the kids will love it, but for more aware folks like myself, I think I'll pass on a...

Deeply disturbing! If you care about animals, don’t support these people.

While watching the feeding, a British volunteer working with the dolphins exited the water & grabbed a wild bird by the neck. The bird was not in the water, was not interfering with the dolphins or ‘the show’. When strangled, the bird became deeply distressed & was put in a cat cage.

The contradiction of such action is appalling & needs to be addressed.

3 volunteers / employees were asked about the incident. The following justifications were stated:

They’re a nuisance They grab the fish out of peoples hands They attack children It’s Government regulation

The bird was clearly in distress. If the eco system surrounding dolphins is dangerous for humans, then humans should not be allowed in close proximity.

If volunteers cannot be humane with all animals, they certainly should not be working with animals. These animals are WILD. They are not in an enclosure. The people are the problem, not the animals.

I was attending the viewing with a friend from Canada who was excited to view animals in the wild. I did not feed the dolphins & left feeling quite distressed & worried. No volunteer or staff showed any remorse or compassion for the bird.

This is a classic case of what happens when you commoditise nature; the animals are no longer treated with respect & humans interfere as if they know best.

Don’t support this business. Go & be in nature & if you happen to encounter dolphins then take it for what it is. This clearly isn’t a safe environment for children & the staff are...