We keep speaking with travellers who are craving the warm social interaction they've previously enjoyed in van parks, but are struggling to find in this COVID-impacted world. So, where can you go that still offers exemplary social experiences while making sure every guest is safe?
Berri Riverside Holiday Park in South Australia came up trumps.
Situated straight across a quiet road from the Murray River in the Riverlands region, the park has jumped right back into providing what the team knows mature-age travellers want.
From now through until December you can gather each evening around the large fire pit for toasted marshmallows and great conversation. It’s a wonderful place to learn from others all the things that the park and the area has to offer.
And without doubt one of the first recommendations will be to head straight to the park’s Reception to book on a three-hour cruise with meal along the mighty Murray. The boat is a licensed cruising restaurant with delicious dishes served as you glide along the banks of one of the most revered rivers in the world.
I’m pretty sure that the cruising restaurant will leave you wanting more, so my tip is to join in pizza night. Held every Wednesday and Saturday, the onsite pizza oven is fired up and for a small fee you’ll receive pizza dough, Neapolitan sauce and mozzarella cheese. You supply whatever other mouth-watering morsels you want as toppers and then the expert pizza-cooking staff will tend your pizza inside the inferno until it is golden and ready to eat. Mmm, I’m dreaming about a goats cheese, porcini mushroom, prosciutto and rocket combo.
Need a little exercise after the pizza binge? Berri Riverside Holiday Park has you covered with one of the best nine-hole mini golf courses in Oz. Set within the eight acres of beautiful botanical gardens, there is no doubt that this new course will both challenge and delight. Tip: Beware the winding water course, because it’s wicked!
Exhausted after swinging that club? The park’s kiosk coffee shop is for you. Sit back and relax with a Mahalia Coffee alongside some freshly baked scones with strawberry jam and cream. The kiosk also sells popcorn (which is perfect for their occasional movie nights), soft serve ice-creams, old fashioned milk shakes, cold drinks, sweets, pasties and pies.
This park really is pushing the boundaries to create stays that are memorable for all the right reasons. Think Palazzo Versace-level customer care on a budget right on the Murray. It is nothing short of spectacular!
If that isn’t enough to entice you to made a beeline for Berri, then here are a few more awesome aspects guaranteed to have you reaching for the car keys:
· Pet friendly
· 128 powered sites including nine drive through
· Two pools – one with lagoon-style entry
· Camp kitchens and four BBQ areas
· Tennis (hire fees apply)
· Bocce and giant games (fees may apply)
· Bike tracks and walking trail access
· Innovative events when appropriate, such as special occasion and market days.
South Australians have been lucky enough to have this park all to themselves for the past little while, but with the SA border due to re-open to many on 20 July I think it is about time they shared the love.
To make that love go round the park has a Grey Nomad Special - a voucher on arrival that will give you two free nights for a future booking (dates and conditions apply) including two free pizzas and two free coffees. Can’t beat that deal!
It’s all so impressive, and yet possibly the most impressive part is that this park is community owned. That’s right, the Berri Community War Centre owns the park and all its features, even the beaut cruising restaurant.
If you’re ready to book then click here. Otherwise, explore their offerings more here.