Big4 Holiday Parks: Why We Love Them And Why You Will Too

  • Family
By Hayley Dean, ellaslist
 
We’ve stayed at a few BIG4 parks over the years. Actually, we’ve stayed in lots of other places over the years (here and abroad) as well but we always find ourselves back at a BIG4 park at least once or twice a year. Here are some reasons why we love staying at BIG4 Parks and why we think you will too:

BIG4 parks cater for everyone

From unpowered and powered tent sites to caravan sites, to sites with ensuites, to small cabins, 2 and 3 bedroom family cabins and villas – there’s a place for everyone at a BIG4 park. This is handy for people on a budget, and it’s a great option for planning big group holidays with a few other families.

We like to stay in a family cabin – they’re a good option (read: a lot more comfortable compared to camping) if you have little ones. Family cabins and villas generally have 2 or 3 bedrooms (double / queen bed in the adults room, bunks in the kids room – linen is usually provided) and they usually contain a bathroom with combined shower/bath and a small kitchen kitted out with all the basics you need for your stay (e.g. microwave, kettle, fridge, oven, pots, pans, utensils, plates and cups etc). We like to take it in turns making pancakes for breakfast (a treat!) and we love having sausage sandwiches for dinner. During the day as we spend time exploring the park we duck into our cabin to eat/pick up scooters/sweaters/drinks etc). The cabin is also really handy for managing daytime naps.

Don’t feel like cooking or preparing food? No worries, there is usually a café on site or nearby which serves fresh and takeaway food and if you’re feeling particularly fancy there are usually some restaurants nearby that will deliver!

BIG4 parks offer lots of activities

There’s always something to do at a BIG4 park. Some BIG4 parks have more activities on offer compared to others so you should check what’s on offer before you book. That said, most BIG4 parks have play equipment, a bouncy pillow, a games room and a swimming pool.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers will love the playground and the bouncy pillow. Primary school kids and teenagers will love the bouncy pillow and the go-karts (available for hire), bike riding (bikes are also available for hire but you can BYO) and the games room (the games room usually contains a ping-pong table and some arcade style games).

I feel as though I have missed something, and indeed I have --- the swimming pool! Like everywhere, not all BIG4 swimming pools are created equal. Some BIG4 parks have standard style swimming pools but some  BIG4 parks (like the ones we like to stay at) have multiple swimming pools, along with water play areas and waterslides! Water play areas (splash parks) are fantastic for toddlers and pre-schoolers. These areas are usually gated and are separate from where the bigger kids like to hang out. In terms of the multiple swimming pools, it’s not unusual for there to be a toddler pool which is not very deep and is easy to climb into. Our 4 and (nearly) 2 year-olds spend hours wading through the toddler pool! And then there’s the big pool with the water slide. This pool is usually the noisiest (but perhaps the most fun?!).

If swimming pools, bouncy pillows, games rooms and play equipment aren’t your thing, perhaps you might enjoy a game of tennis? Lots of BIG4 parks have tennis courts (with rackets and tennis balls available for hire). Or you can always explore the local area and go for a walk. The Big 4 parks that we like to stay at are all close to the beach. At the end of every day, we like to take a walk down the beach. There’s something really simple (and relaxing) about walking down the beach. 

Some of my favourite BIG4 parks**

BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park

24 Old Bridge Drive (formerly 24 Beach Crescent)
Newhaven Phillip Island VIC 3925

Ph: 1800 990 090

NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort

Sydney Avenue

Umina Beach NSW 2257

Ph: 02 4379 9444

BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park - Kiama (South Coast)

30 Ocean Street

Kiama NSW 2533

Ph: 02 4232 2124

Discovery Parks BIG4 – Pambula Beach (Sapphire Coast)

1 Pambula Beach Road, Pambula Beach NSW 2549

Ph: 02 6495 6363

** These parks are all very popular during the summer holidays and it is not uncommon for these parks to be booked out more than a year in advance, especially in the Christmas / New Year period. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in January 2019 you are probably too late but there is no harm in calling one of these parks to see if you can join a waitlist in case someone cancels their booking. And while you’re at it, you can book your holiday for January 2020!

Images supplied by BIG4.com.au

 

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