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[title]Have you considered a BIG4 holiday park for your next intrastate getaway? This network of roughly 180 holiday parks located all over Australia has evolved over the years to offer variable and modern facilities in some truly amazing locations. You can stay in anything from a glamping tent or retro caravan to a stylish cabin or waterfront villa. The parks have facilities like swimming pools, fire pits, mini-golf, woodfired pizza ovens and on-site dining. One Victorian park even has its own SkyDeck lounge! More than 70 per cent of BIG4 parks are also pet friendly, so forget about leaving your poor pooch at a kennel.
During a stay at a BIG4 park in Victoria you can get to know some of the state’s most beautiful beaches; ride along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail; sip wine in the Yarra Valley; go cruising in a historic paddle-steamer; and browse Australian art in one of the country’s oldest and largest regional galleries. Here are just a few examples of BIG4 stays and what you can expect, whether you’re looking for an active escape, coastal retreat, natural wonders, world-class food and drinks or a dose of arts and culture…
BIG4 Riverside Swan Hill | Photograph: Supplied/BIG4 Holiday Parks
Get active
Surrounded by Alpine National Park, BIG4 Bright Holiday Park is the ideal base for an action-packed getaway. In summer you can go hiking, biking or kayaking, and come winter the freshly powdered slopes of Mount Hotham are just a short drive away. Back at the park, be sure to hit up the pizza van for a bite to eat, or settle in for a wine at the state-of-the-art SkyDeck Lounge. Over on the border, BIG4 Riverside Swan Hill offers direct access to the mighty Murray River. Waterskiing and wakeboarding are popular pastimes, or you can go cruising on a historic paddle-steamer. Prefer to keep your feet planted firmly on dry land? Cast a line from your riverfront site, hire a bike from reception or enquire about the exclusive golf packages. Boasting pet-friendly cabins and spacious campsites, BIG4 Warrnambool Figtree Holiday Park is a true coastal oasis. It’s super close to a bunch of scenic walking trails, and if you visit between June and September, you may even spot a southern right whale frolicking in the sheltered waters.
BIG4 Aireys Inlet Holiday Park | Photograph: Supplied/BIG4 Holiday Parks
Hit the beach
Located smack-bang between the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road, BIG4 Aireys Inlet Holiday Park is the ultimate destination for beach lovers. There are surf spots galore, or you can pay a visit to the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and (what’s left of) London Bridge. And why camp when you can glamp? BIG4 Aireys Inlet has four safari-style tents available to book. Head to BIG4 Whiters Holiday Village in Lakes Entrance to soak up the sun, sea and sand in a relaxed atmosphere. The tennis courts and recently renovated pool area are fab inclusions, and don’t miss the chance to explore nearby Ninety Mile Beach – at this famous stretch of sand you can swim, fish, sail and windsurf. Back in the bay, BIG4 Mornington Peninsula Holiday Park is conveniently positioned at the gateway to the ‘Ninch. It’s got some top-notch amenities (the well-stocked kiosk is a lifesaver), and it’s close to plenty of gorgeous beaches – we love Safety Beach as it’s calm and shallow, while the Pillars at Mount Martha is serving serious Croatia vibes.
BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park | Photograph: Supplied/BIG4 Holiday Parks
Bask in nature
Set in a serene riverside valley and shrouded by large, leafy gum trees that provide a safe haven for the resident koalas, BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park is a wonderful starting point to discover Great Otway National Park – which is teeming with wildlife, walking trails and culturally significant Indigenous sites. Oh, and the park’s camp kitchen facilities will put your set-up back home to shame. Experience the best of the High Country at BIG4 Taggerty Holiday Park. You can explore the Cathedral Ranges, go four-wheel driving in Rubicon or picnic by the Acheron River. Just make sure you’re back in time to catch a movie at the outdoor cinema. You’ll feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life at BIG4 Porepunkah Holiday Park. This open, grassy park is situated directly across the road from the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, a scenic route that weaves through scrubby bushland, verdant farmland and hidden valleys. The on-site mini-golf course is a surprise perk, too – who doesn’t love practising their putt?
BIG4 Port Fairy Holiday Park | Photograph: Supplied/BIG4 Holiday Parks
Eat and drink
If you’re planning on drinking your way through the Yarra Valley, there’s only one place to stay: BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park in Healesville. You can organise for Hop It – a hop-on, hop-off bus that services all the region’s main wineries – to pick you up directly from the park and chauffeur you around for the day. Once you’ve been dropped back, you can enjoy the spoils of your trip while admiring the lush, leafy surrounds. Foodies will want to make a beeline for Port Fairy, a quaint seaside town that is quickly becoming a popular culinary destination. From the lovely BIG4 Port Fairy Holiday Park (which boasts everything from six-person cabins to powered sites with private ensuites) you can hit up all the hottest eateries, including Bottega Toscana, Lemongrass and Bank St and Co. When you stay at BIG4 Wangaratta North Cedars Holiday Park there’s a bounty of nearby gastro pubs, wineries and breweries to enjoy. Our favourite? Milawa Providore for fresh, local produce and cracking coffee. The drive-through sites and van valet service back at the park are great drawcards, too.
BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park | Photograph: Supplied/BIG4 Holiday Parks
Find arts and culture
Come for the diverse and culturally rich experiences, stay for the heated spa, library and gym. That’s the vibe at BIG4 Bendigo Ascot Holiday Park, a home-away-from-home that’s close to all the region’s attractions – like the Bendigo Art Gallery, Golden Dragon Museum and Great Stupa of Universal Compassion – while also providing all the creature comforts you could ever need. Just a 30-minute drive down the highway is BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park, a pooch-friendly retreat with a myriad of accommodation options (including a brand-new Glamtainer!). From here you can check out the beautiful Botanical Gardens, catch a flick at the Theatre Royal (Australia’s oldest continually operating theatre) or browse for a vintage bargain at the Mill. Discover the many artistic gems of Shep when you stay at BIG4 Shepparton Park Lane Holiday Park. Let the friendly and knowledgeable staff point you in the direction of the award-winning Shepparton Art Museum, or wander the streets to find Aboriginal street art, mosaic work and a herd of colourful, life-size fibreglass cows.