Review – We Check in to Moar Gut Family Nature Resort, Austria
Some places really make you quietly rethink what a family holiday can actually be. Moar Gut, which is nestled in the Austrian Alps and family-run by the Kendlbacher family since 1995, is definitely one.
Overview
With just 46 suites, an on-site organic farm, riding stables, and what might be the most impressively conceived children’s facility I’ve encountered anywhere in Europe, this is a resort that has thought deeply about what genuinely discerning families need.
We arrived as a family of three – myself, my wife, and our daughter Cora, who has just turned one – for a four-night stay.
We left wondering how we’d ever go back to a normal hotel.
The Spa
The spa is larger and more varied than you might expect with multiple saunas, steam rooms, indoor and outdoor pools. What struck me most was how uncrowded everything felt.
A particular point of distinction is the Lillee Baby Spa. Treatments are designed specifically for babies and young children – think gentle massage, calming touch therapies and sensory experiences tailored to tiny guests. Older children are also catered for, with age-appropriate massage treatments available. It is one of very few spas in the world to take the wellness of its youngest guests quite so seriously.
I booked myself in for a 50-minute aromatic massage (€110), delivered by a Hungarian therapist whose English was minimal but whose technique was excellent – exactly the right pressure throughout, the sort of treatment you feel the benefit of for days. My wife had hoped to book a facial on our final day, but the therapists were fully booked by that point so it’s worth scheduling early.
The Children’s Nature Centre (Kinderhof)
The 1,000m² children’s nature centre is where Moar Gut truly sets itself apart. Divided into several distinct zones, the Kinderhof is built from all natural materials. It encompasses a theatre stage, a painting studio, a cosy reading nook, a cinema, and a golden ball pool filled with, I’m told, 40,000 organic balls.
In another building across the road, there’s an indoor trampoline hall, and a gaming room with an interactive reaction wall. It is, in short, magnificent – and it all feels very new.
Professional childcare runs from 9am to 9pm, covering children from 30 days old through to teenagers. Cora has just turned one and is going through a particularly clingy phase, which meant we did pop back a couple of times when she needed us – but on the whole the staff were warm, attentive and entirely unruffled.
And then there is Guusti. Moar Gut’s mascot – a white chicken of considerable charisma – appears on the children’s towels, bibs, baby bedding, and in various other places around the hotel.
But his finest hour arrives each evening at 7pm, when Guusti himself makes his rounds, high-fiving every child in sight. One evening, he led a small procession of delighted children down to the private cinema for an impromptu singing and dancing session on the little stage. The children went completely wild. It was joyful, slightly absurd and utterly charming.
The Farm & Outdoor Life
Moar Gut’s organic farm is home to cows, horses, goats, chickens, alpacas, and the resort’s beloved donkey Benjamin. Children can sponsor individual animals, receiving personalised name signs and certificates, allowing them to build a lasting connection to the place.
One morning, the three of us set out on a hike up to a mountain hut called Paulhütte, which was just over an hour on foot, with a reasonable climb involved. The resort lent us a Deuter baby backpack carrier for Cora, free of charge; she was thrilled with her elevated vantage point. I was somewhat less thrilled by the gradient plus ~10kgs on my back, but the views of snow-capped peaks and the valley below made it worthwhile. We had a much needed sugary Coke at the hut, which is up there with the best Coke I’ve ever had.
While we just did the one hike, the resort has direct access to over 250km of hiking trails and 40 mountain huts, many with playgrounds. For families who love the outdoors, this is a genuinely exceptional base.
Beyond hiking, families can also enjoy skiing and pony riding in winter or tennis and cycling during the warmer months.
We stayed in Suite Löwenzahn – named, like all suites here, after an Alpine wildflower. It was well-designed and entirely suited to family life without sacrificing an ounce of luxury.
Everything throughout the hotel feels new, high-quality and considered; there is none of the slightly worn-around-the-edges quality that can creep into even well-regarded family resorts.
Our suite came with a separate children’s room with a cot, two singles and a pull down bunk bed. A small shelf held a couple of children’s books, though both were in German; one English title would have been a welcome addition. The bathroom was well-equipped for families: a fold-down changing table and baby wipes provided. We did run out of nappies mid-stay, but the front desk had some available – €13 for a pack, which felt fair enough. There was also an adorable little children’s dressing gown, which was great for the pool.
One minor caveat: the rooms ran a little warm, even on the coolest setting, and we found ourselves sleeping with the doors slightly ajar. That meant we could hear the cowbells as we tried to drift off but it was a small price to pay for the setting.
To Eat
Food at Moar Gut is taken seriously and executed with genuine care and attention.
Breakfast is a generous help-yourself affair, with staff circulating to take orders for eggs and, as I discovered on our penultimate morning, barista coffee and matcha. The waffles, for what it’s worth, are exceptional. A daily in-house newspaper outlines the day’s activities, the eggs of the day, and various other activities you can do. It’s a small touch that helps guests see what’s on offer.
Lunch is relaxed and informal: sit where you like, help yourself to a substantial buffet with plenty of choice for adults and kids. Dinner is more structured – a proper menu of starter, soup, main, dessert and cheese – with a buffet alongside and an à la carte option available for an additional supplement.
The food was, on balance, excellent. A perfectly cooked sous vide steak was a particular highlight, while the banana, peanut and chocolate dessert deserves special mention. Not every dish reached the same heights, but the overall standard was high and the kitchen’s willingness to accommodate family life was genuinely impressive. At every meal, the team would clear and wash Cora’s suction plate that we’d brought from home and place it back neatly for the next sitting.
Who Is It For?
Families with children of any age who want a genuinely high-end nature retreat without compromising on comfort, cuisine, or the wellbeing of the adults. Moar Gut is one of very few resorts that succeeds in making everyone in the family feel genuinely catered for, not merely accommodated.
Final words
We arrived as a family in mild need of restoration. We left as a family that had actually, properly rested – which, with a one-year-old in tow, felt something close to miraculous. Guusti dancing with the children, a Coke at the top of a mountain, a terrace drink in the Alpine dusk: Moar Gut deals in the kind of memories that don’t fade quickly. It has earned its reputation as one of Europe’s finest family wellness destinations, and then some.
Wir kommen wieder.
Getting There
Moar Gut Family Nature Resort, Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Austria. The nearest airports are Salzburg (approx. 1 hour) and Munich (approx. 2 hours).
Address: Moar Gut, Moargasse 22, 5611, Großarl, Austria
Rates
Double rooms from €600 per night; luxury suites from €1,450 per night – including gourmet full board and professional childcare. Note that the minibar is charged separately.
To book, visit: moargut.com
Words by Sam Shead