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Reports by:- Max Sydney

NSW, Bonny Hills, BIG4 Bonny Hills Holiday Park

Date of Stay: May 2016 Rating: 5
This park adds to the attraction of being right by the beach with an excellent range of facilities and attractions. Our ensuite site had artificial turf over the whole area, making it very pleasant for walking barefoot, and outdoor sitting under the awning is just so much more comfortable. The ensuite unit was best equipped of any we have used, and spacious. At 4 30 pm we received an email from the park managers - happy hour was on at 5 pm in the barbecue area, with live entertainment for two hours. There was a good number of people there, despite it being away from busy times, and quite a few young families. The park is well laid lout, with big sites, wide roadways and a host of family oriented facilities eg wtaer park, jumping pillow etc. We could only stay one night, but reckon we will be back some time.

NSW, Umina, NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park

Date of Stay: May 2016 Rating: 4.5
This park was a favourite of ours for many years, but after NRMA took it over, we gave up going there as it had a neglected feel and was looking quite run down. However on the recommendation of a family member we gave it a try, and its obvious that NRMA is giving it a try! The Long Term vans are all gathered into a separate area, and most of the exiting sites are in the process of redevelopment. Our new ensuite site was just opened, and the ensuite unit is a good size and well equipped and stocked. The only bit that's different from most parks is that the space for your car is on the opposite side of the van from the door, increasing the journey to get anything out of the car and as we were doing, packing things in the car because its the last night of the trip and we leave the van in storage. None the less, the site is ample, level and has a slab for the awning.A major new pool complex is being constructed this year, and once all the newly laid out sites are finished it will be a very pleasant park indeed.

NSW, Armidale, Armidale Tourist Park

Date of Stay: April 2016 Rating: 4
This park is set in a pleasantly wooded area, and has amazing gardens as well as well tended grounds, with sites generally easily accessed. The tiny ensuite unit on our site was nonetheless tidy and in good order. The arrival area near the office is a bit congested with two or three simultaneous arrivals, and we waited outside the park on its dedicated entry road.The welcome was warm and efficient, and the three amenity blocks all working and clean, including good laundries. We enjoyed our three night stay there.

NSW, Moree, Gwydir Carapark

Date of Stay: April 2016 Rating: 4
This park is cheap and cheerful, with the major value added of four hot pools and one large cold water one. We have been going for some years now, but did not get there in 2015. The major additions since our last stay are a much needed new office with more space, and an extra area with larger powered sites than most of the very narrow existing ones. We thought it would be quieter in April than the popular winter time, but had not reckoned on arriving on the Thursday before Anzac weekend and did not know they had a large group of travelling golfers! Checking in was a bit slow, but in very trusting style the receptionists asked us to come back later to pay! We did - $200 for a powered site for seven nights. Amenities blocks are busy but generally well kept, but in one of them the lights went out several times in the week, so we either took a torch or headed for another block. The pools are well set up and popular, but because they are large we were able to use the ones we selected each time. Unlike most parks, they have a wash bay for cars and caravans, another bonus - especially as fruit bats love the tress around the park and tend to be messy if you park under one of them. Grassed areas, gardens trees etc are all well maintained, and the dump point that I complained about in an earlier post has been upgraded and is much more pleasant to use.

NSW, Gunnedah, Gunnedah Tourist Caravan Park

Date of Stay: April 2016 Rating: 3.5
This small, level and neat park is walking distance from the main street of Gunnedah, and well signposted. Our phone booking had been lost in the recent change over of managers, but we were able to get a requested site close to the toilet block. We were given some useful information about the town and spent much of the next day exploring it. Sites are concrete slab with well tended grass in between, the amenities blocks and kitchens etc are in good condition and clean, and the showers separated from the toilets is a feature I like. We enjoyed our two day stay there.

NSW, Bathurst, BIG4 Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park

Date of Stay: April 2016 Rating: 4
We have used this park for many years, mainly as an overnighter on the way out or back from trips, but this time, like the last was for almost a week. For the first time, we took an ensuite site, and found it excellent value for money. The site is large, with dense dividing hedges on each side, a good flat site, and the ensuite is a good size and well appointed. The park facilities are good, with a camp kitchen and barbecue area, pool and kids facilities, as well as a big laundry in good condition and from previous trips nice big amenities. There is plenty of parking on arrival, the welcome is warm and efficient, and the park staff keep the whole place in good condition. Some may be intimidated by the terracing of the park, meaning a steep drives between levels, but the sites are level and access is easy to each. One evening we had lost a couple of coins trying to get a barbecue working, so rang the office and someone came straight away and corrected the problem and retrieved the lost coins for us. Recommended for one night or a longer stay in an interesting area.

NSW, Junee, Junee Caravan Park

Date of Stay: February 2016 Rating: 4
This is a pleasant, well grassed caravan park, located by a lake and only 15 minutes walk to the centre of Junee. The welcome was warm and efficient (we were in a group of 35 couples and the paperwork was all ready as we came in). The sites are well maintained, the amenities, while a bit elderly, are clean and well maintained. The pool and camp kitchen are in good shape and very usable. There is lots to do in the town and surrounding area, and the park is a good base.

ACT, Canberra, Alivio Tourist Park - O'Connor

Date of Stay: February 2016 Rating: 4.5
We went to this park for the first time, as reports on this site have shown an improving rating over the past few years, and our long term preferred park does not have the Ensuite Sites we now need. Sure enough the park showed much evidence of spending on upgrading - cabins, amenities blocks (someone told us the amenity block near us was "state of the art" and certainly our ensuite was very well appointed), pool and recreation areas. Our only reservation was that the bitumen surface of our site was broken along one side, and it needed care to access the steps to the ensuite. The staff are friendly and helpful, the layout of the clothes drying area is well designed, the laundry is very well equipped with big machines, and the cafe was popular. We liked the bird life and the huge nature park with walking and mountain bike trails right next door. You do need a GPS to find the park too.

NSW, Sydney, Lane Cove River Tourist Park - North Ryde

Date of Stay: February 2016 Rating: 4
This park is not far from where we live, but is great if we have to come back to Sydney in the middle of a trip when we have a reason to be in Sydney for appointments etc. We stayed two nights, and reckon its the place to go for visitors to Sydney. A bus stop and a station are close by, the Lane Cove River National Park is a real oasis in the big city (great walks too), and its just off the M2 freeway. The office was busy, but I was served quickly, and staff were friendly. Don't try to arrive without a booking - the place was full both nights. The roadways throughout the huge caravan park & camping areas are well sealed and sign posted, and the four amenities blocks, the pool, the camp kitchens and barbecue areas attractive and well maintained. The dump point is ok but not as user friendly as the blue ones most commonly used now, and there are no ensuite sites.

NSW, Hallidays Point, Secura Lifestyle Happy Hallidays Holiday Park - Diamond Beach

Date of Stay: February 2016 Rating: 4.5
We reported on this park about 2 years ago, and noted that one of its characteristics was that it was family run. The park is well kept, this time we had an ensuite site, which had a well maintained and equipped bathroom. The level of staff enthusiasm and energy, the warmth of welcome and condition of everything is the same. The only thing that has changed is that it is no longer a Top Tourist Park, so effectively the price has gone up by 10%, so I guess something has changed! Ignore the Top Tourist logos on the signs pointing to the park.