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Date of Stay: September 2018 Rating: 4.5
A very pleasant holiday at this park, starting with a warm, sincere welcome from new managers Jo and Phill. As mentioned in previous reports the facilities are excellent and very clean. The sites and gardens are beautifully kept - the freesias were flowering while we were there. We stayed on a Travel Auctions voucher; the park lists frequently with TA, making this one of the best value parks in the country. On Father's Day, Jo delivered stunning home-made cupcakes to everyone: fathers, mothers and children. A lovely gesture which made our day.
Date of Stay: July 2018 Rating: 3
Now operating as Holiday Village Portland. This park is currently undergoing extensive renovations which will provide more cabins and powered sites. Consequently, it wasn't at its best during our stay. There were only four powered sites available, grassed, but very muddy after heavy rains. The amenities were dated, but clean. Well equipped camp kitchen. No playground or pool. This park's chief advantage is location: on the main street within walking distance to shops, the foreshore, the Tourist Tram (worth a ticket), the Chinese Buffet and the lovely Botanic gardens which, I know from previous visits, display a mass of stunning dahlias during their Anzac Day observances. There were three small koalas in the trees surrounding our van. Very cute, but leaving quite a mess on the roof and the surrounding grass/mud. We paid $150.00 for a week, an excellent rate which might have been a reduction to compensate the inconveniences caused by the renovations. I suspect some of the new sites will be very tight to park on: the whole park has a closed in feel. Maybe too many cabins taking up the spaces? We shall return next year to see how things are progressing.
Date of Stay: July 2018 Rating: 3.5
This is one of our favorite parks, mainly because of its location. Easy walks to the beach and Pertobe Lake and park, with the town centre, Flagstaff Hill complex and wharf also within walking distance. Friendly, helpful staff who will, when possible, allow guests to choose their site, or change sites if the one allocated is not suitable. This applies to everyone, whether they pay full fees or use Travel Auctions. Only a few slab sites set in the area closest to the main amenities block. This is very brightly lit at night, which some people prefer. There are also many sites with little or no lighting. The train passes by the park several times a day, first departure at 6.00 am with last arrival approx: 9.00 pm (weekdays.) Also one freight train each day. Very little road noise. We stayed a full month this visit and enjoyed the full spectrum of weather from (a few) balmy, sunny days to gale force winds, rain, hail and thunderstorms. We'll be back again next year.
Date of Stay: June 2018 Rating: 0.5
We stayed here over the June long weekend. Fees are paid at the post office, where a very pleasant man gave us a key for the amenities and a few tourist brochures along with suggestions of activities in the area. As we left, he said that he would be away for the weekend and if we had any problems we would have to deal with them ourselves. We thought he was joking, but in retrospect, he was probably drawing on experience. The park is set in the council gardens, adjacent to sports areas. There are (supposedly) eight powered sites, all terribly uneven. It took forty minutes and several attempts with ramps and blocks before the van was level. The amenities block is an ancient, gloomy structure which looked as though it hadn't been cleaned in ages. The floor in the ladies' section was permanently wet from leaking pipes, the soap dispenser was broken and the light worked only intermittently. But the greatest inconvenience was that, despite signs proclaiming their new, eco-friendly solar system, there was no hot water, rain or shine, for the entire four days of our stay. For this, we paid $25.00 p/n. I wrote to the Southern Grampians Shire who own the park and outlined the deficiencies and followed up with a telephone call to ensure that the email had been received. I was assured that someone would be in contact with me very soon. That was almost three weeks ago. Penshurst is an attractive town with an interesting geological history and some lovely architecture. It deserves a park that reflects its quiet charm.
Date of Stay: June 2018 Rating: 5
What a fabulous park! Great for kids, with lots of indoor and outdoor attractions. Great for adults with as much (or as little) activity that one could want. Indoor and outdoor pools, spa, gymnasium, mini golf, tennis, playground and of course, a jumping pillow. Fully equipped camp kitchen, free barbecues and an ultra modern laundry at reasonable prices. It rained for most of the 10 days (Travel Auctions) that we were there but, with sealed roads, a slab site and amenities nearby, the weather didn't bother us in the least. All in all, one of the best parks regional parks in Victoria.
Date of Stay: May 2018 Rating: 3
A basic park at a reasonable price: $30.00 for 2A/pn powered site. Managers friendly and helpful, guiding the van onto site and providing local information. Update: The Puckapunyal tank museum is open again, Tues to Fri, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. All adults require photo ID.
Date of Stay: May 2018 Rating: 0.5
We should have suspected the state of this park when, during a phone inquiry, the manager had 'no idea about meters' with regard to van size, and the only concrete information was that powered site fee for 2A/pn was $25.00. Price good, but the park was abysmal. Mostly decrepit, permanent vans - the 'office' is in the annexe of a van - with ancient amenities and bleak surroundings. We did a U turn and checked into the park down the road.
Date of Stay: April 2018 Rating: 4
This was our fourth stay at Halls Gap Caravan Park, again on Travel Auctions/special discount rates. Beautiful park set against a wall of dramatic mountains that change colour and mood throughout the day. We chose our favorite site - don't take the steeply sloped sites or you'll need a ladder to climb into your van. Staff are very friendly and helpful, and happy to change your site if the one allocated is unsuitable. The only drawback is the old, sixties style amenities blocks. Cleaned regularly, but they would struggle to cope in busy times.
Extensive wildlife, including the elusive Gang Gang Cockatoo. The township has several restaurants, souvenir outlets and takeaways, including a great little bakery which sells a modest range of cakes, bread and pies/pasties at very reasonable prices. All in all, a great spot!
Date of Stay: April 2018 Rating: 3.5
This is a large park on the banks of the Goulburn River. Many annuals, forming a mini-village, and various cabins which were heavily booked over weekends. The powered sites are all large with shade-cloth matting and hedging between sites. Most sites are level and shaded. Three en suite style bathroom/toilets and a laundry with two machines and dryers, all spotlessly clean. These were sufficient for most of our ten day (Travel Auctions) stay, but in busier times they would be struggling to cope. Large camp kitchen with free barbecues. Dump point.
Water is untreated from the river and should be boiled for consumption. It was reasonably clear when we were there, but this might change after heavy rain. Internet is dicey (Optus) but the free WIfi was reliable and reasonably fast.
The river setting is very attractive and an excellent fishing spot. The owner showed us photos of huge trout which he'd caught there as well as monster Murray Cod from the Lake. All in all, a lovely holiday spot in attractive surroundings, managed by friendly owners.
Date of Stay: April 2018 Rating: 2.5
We have stayed here six times now. It's a convenient, quiet over-nighter during the long Adelaide/Melbourne haul. Currently under expansion, installing good power, drainage and lighting to approximately a dozen new sites. Most of the earlier comments regarding this park are still relevant, however, there are a few current issues which detract from the park's good reputation. The camp kitchen, previously clean and serviceable, was dirty during our stay. BBQs grotty and no power to any of the appliances. The toilets, also, were not as clean as usual. And no-one called in to collect site fees. This suggests a problem with management - maybe illness or such - but it detracted from the experience. It might also have detracted from the park income if any of the other eight over-nighters were less honest than we were and skipped off without paying. But despite all this, we'll be back. As they say, "It's location, location, location."
