I am one of the very fortunate member who was selected to trial a Big4 Holiday. My family of 5 enjoyed our weekend away at the Port Elliot Holiday Park in SA. Upon booking our holiday the staff were very friendly and to June especially who went out of her way to make sure we would have appropriate beds and cots that we required for our family of 3 boys (4,2 and 8 months). She was fantastic in making sure I had all the information I needed for our late check-in and to sleep everyone comfortable. We stayed in a 3 bedroom cottage. One double bed, 2 bunk beds in the second and a bunk bed and single bed in the third. It had a revelry cycle system to keep us toasty during our cold and wet holiday. It had a dining room with table and chairs to seat 6 and a decent sized kitchen with enough pots, pans, bakeware and kitchen utensils to get by while on holiday. A good sized fridge (with tiny milk for tea and coffee, that my boys loved drinking because it was 'holiday milk'). An oven and microwave also made life very easy. The lounge room had 2x2 seated sofas and a tv with DVD payer. The bathroom had a bath which was great for our boys to warm up in after jumping in puddles outside, it's not often you get a bath in holiday accommodation. The park is ocean front which was lovely for a walk on the beach which I unfortunately had to miss out on as I didn't feel like battling sand in my cast as I had a broken foot. The giant jumping pillow and awesome playground was a massive hit with the boys and they would have played there all day if the weather allowed. Although we didn't need it the park had a nice kitchen and BBQ area overlooking the play equipment and two amenities blocks. All in all we had a lovely time away aTnd the park had great facilities and very friendly helpful staff. Thank you kidspot and Big4.

As I posted earlier, my family was super lucky enough to be chosen for this trial in NSW. We picked the Big 4 North Star Holiday Resort and Caravan Park at Hastings Point. What a fantastic park, it had everything a family would want in a 'beach' holiday.

We got to stay in a Holiday Lodge that was very comfy and spacious, with the second bedroom even fitting the portacot for Mr 1yo. My only gripe with the cabin was that there was a floor mounted gas heater, of course being winter we wanted to use, however with a toddler running around we simply couldn't until he went to bed as he would have been burnt with it in plain reach and unprotected.

There are a variety of cabins available to suit anyones needs. However, we thought the prices were not very affordable (Holiday Lodge $180/n for 2A 2C in JUNE) but pretty much suited the calibre of park, cabins and facilities. Its kinda the case of you get what you paid for, in this case you pay more to get more.

The facilities were awesome (again pay more, get awesome facilities). Unfortunately a lot of the facilities were not suited to Mr 1yo which is understandable, he did have a good time in the baby playground and on the playground slide with daddy. However, we were really looking forward to taking him in the ball pit in Neptunes castle only to get there and find out Mr 1yo wasnt allowed due to health regulations against nappies and kidlets in training (toilet), that was a huge bummer as he has a miniture ball pit at home and would have loved it.

List of 'keep busy' facilities includes:

• 2 seasonally heated pools (yes we got in, Mr 1yo LOVEs the water)
• Water slides into the heated pool
• Sammys adventure lagoon (awesome for big kids, but not heated, Mr 1yo was scared of the bucket)
• Seascape Leisure Centre and Day Spa (didnt venture in there but from the outside it looked fantastic).
• Marine Museum
• Neptunes castle - Indoor play centre and kids club (fantastic for 3-4 and above)
• Outdoor playground (again more for the 4+)
• Games room (with pool, arcade games etc as well as a locked babys playground with a few toys)

Great location with both the beach and river within walking distance from the park.

All in all a fantastic park and great holiday location. Would definitely go back when bub is older (and if we can afford it).

Thanks so much to Mums Say, Kidspot team, the friendly staff at North Star and Big 4.

My family was lucky enough to be chosed for this trial and we went to the Big 4 holiday park called Taunton Farm Cowaramup near Margaret River WA.  It is a working farm so it was lovely to see the green countryside as well as various animals.  The kids were able to help feed the animals at 5pm in the afternoon which they enjoyed and there were ducks that wandered around the grounds and visited on numerous occasions hoping for some bread. 

Right from my very first call to book the accomodation, the staff were very friendly and helpful.  I didn't have any problems making the booking and the lady was quite excited that I had chosen them to visit out of all the Big 4 parks in WA.

We had a 2 bedroom cottage which was spacious, comfortable, very clean and had linen included.  It had a kitchen with complementary tea/coffee, dining table seating 6, lounge, tv/dvd player and good split system heating which was nice as it was a cold night when we arrived.  There was a queen size bed in one room and 2 bunk beds in the other.  The lounge in the living area also folded out to a bed so the cottage could easily accomodate 4-6 people.  There were also 1 bedroom and larger family cottages available as well as caravan and camping facilities.  The cost is usually $115 - $155 for the 2 bedroom cottage which we stayed in.  Linen can also be hired if extra is needed.

The kids playground was fantastic including a massive jumping pillow which the kids went on as much as possible.  The kids would love to go back there again!

The other plus was it is only 15 minutes drive from Margaret River and we also drove to Augusta which was lovely.  There are many attractions including wineries, chocolate factory, ice creamery, cheese tasting, crafts etc all within a walking distance or a short drive away.

We had a quick but lovely weekend at Taunton Farm and we'd love to go back as it's the perfect place to take kids

Congrats to all the families who got to check out the BIG4 Holiday Parks, it sure sounds as if you had a ball!

Well I am writing this while on the last day of my holiday away at the big 4 caravan park as part of the trial. I thought it best to write it now while it is all fresh (and the baby is asleep and my boys are out fishing with Daddy)

After a rocky start with the Big 4 we chose not knowing anything about the offer (they had to ring head office to double check, this is mentioned in a previous post) But from then on it has been smooth sailing.

We chose the Treasure Island resort on the Gold Coast. Just a 10 minute drive from Movie world etc. It is a 5 minute walk to the factory outlet shops at harbor town but we have hardly had to leave the caravan park there is so much to do. There is a creek that runs around the back and it has its own boat ramp and they have been catching fish. There is a jumping pillow, 2 playgrounds, 2 heated pools and a spa (and yes even in the cold of May it was warm enough to swim) a bistro that looks out over the jumping pillow so you can eat in peace, you can hire go carts, mini golf and tennis and a few other things.

We also got a promotion of free internet acess in our cabin through RACQ who owns this park so that was good (using it right now)

On check in everything was explained in detail and we got lots of brocures etc. The cabin itself is adequate. Really could do with a freshen up, it is all brown, brown timber floors, brown timber look wallpaper, brown blankets, brown curtains, brown doors and cupboards so a lick of white paint would make a big difference. But it is clean, tidy and well stocked with sheets and towels, dishwashing liquid, toaster, tea and coffe things, electric frypan and mini fridge. All we had to do was bring our pantry stuff and the cold stuff.

I do think it is a little over priced for a basic cabin (1 double bed and 3 bunks) at $140. I have stayed at a similar size hotel room in a similar bracket for only $85 in peek and this is $140 in off peak. Admitantly the hotel didn't have jumping pillow and pools etc. So the difference is obviously that if you want to have a holiday and spend time at the caravan park and enjoy its features then you pay the money, if the room is just a place to dump your stuff and sleep while you enjoy your adventours around the city then stay in a hotel room.

I would definatly come back here again, it is a great park, but I wouldn't be spending the money on the cabin, I think it is over priced. I would look into my options with a caravan or even camping. 

But as for service and facilities I am very happy and would happily recommend to others. Only downfall is that it isn't within walking distance to the beach.

 

http://social.kidspot.com.au/public/album_photo/d2/d2/02/2ce02_09c6.jpg?c=8ac4

I have to agree with bpdenton, I have had the same experience. The selected caravan park lady, Tanya, was fantastic but had no idea what I was talking about and I had to give her the contact details of the marketing person so she could see what the go is. All is now sorted and we are booked for the 15 June. Bit of a dissapointment so far with the delay in the letters and then the lack of communication from head office to the individual parks, but I am sure once we get there it will be a fantastic break away!

Finally received the letter and rang the caravan park that I chose to book and they had no idea what I was talking about. I had to scan and email the letter to them then they contacted head office to find out if it was all legitimate and eventually got back to me. I can't say sofar I have been impressed with the organisation from head office but the lady booking us in was very nice. Hopefully the holiday itself goes smoothly next weekend and I will update then.

Email sent!!