Hidden Holiday Park Oasis in Marion

I was treated to a visit through a hideaway suburban oasis last week… taken for a tour of the Marion Holiday Park. What. A. Hidden. Gem.

I always knew it existed, but had never ventured past the front entrance there on Sturt Street.

The family-run Park is turning 35 next month, and boy are they celebrating! But more about this event later.

The Marion Holiday Park was established in 1981, and the same family still run it today- 2 generations later! Today, the Park offers its guests a world-class facility for every budget and accommodation type possible. From Ensuite Cabins to the just completed state-of-the-art Poolside Apartments, through to caravan and tent sites. I was completely blown away by the facilities and the spaciousness of the park, and the totally different vibe of accommodation areas, from the lagoon to the creek settings.

Central to the lagoon side of the park, is the huuuuuge sparkling pool, flanked by the indoor pool on one side and the ah-mazing water park on the other side. Think water slides, a tipping bucket, water spouts, and general kid heaven that will keep them entertained for four hours on end. Conveniently set up next to this area are all the lay-z-boy chairs for mum and dad to chill out while the kids have a blast.

The brand new double story Pool Side Apartments overlooking the pool are perfect for one or multiple families. You should see the ensuites in these! Conveniently, you can rent just the upper or lower accommodation, or book out both floors and use the “party door” if there are a couple of families in your group.

Then there is the more private architecturally designed Lagoon Units, which all have water frontage and private access to the lagoon pool. I’m actually thinking of hiring one of these with my girlfriends and hitting Westfield Marion, which is literally a 2 minute drive down the road, for a shopping day, followed by poolside relaxation that night! 

On the other side of the park are the contemporary, architecturally designed Retreats, set in a bush land environment, which comes complete with a creek. This quieter side of the park is perfect for a tranquill getaway amongst nature, while sitting on your private deck you would swear you were in the middle of the bush! Not the hustle and bustle of Marion road! It really needs to be seen to be believed. Kids can play in the creek or explore the nearby wetlands and generally run a muck in this beautiful bushland setting.

The fantastic thing about all the accommodation is how pristine it is. Most of it is seven years old but gosh it looks so modern. Everything has been maintained so well, both inside and out. I also love the convenience of the platters that you can purchase, like the cheese platter, barbecue baskets, breakfast basket, even a kids lollies basket. You really could arrive with no supplies and be able to order everything you need for your stay. The team really have thought of everything. 

There is so much lush greenery around the entire park, it really is an oasis in the heart of the suburbs. The accommodation and the Park itself it is very well established, and everything has been lovingly maintained both inside and out. There are so many elements that make the park so homely, like the communal herb garden that you can help yourself to, or the friendly bbq areas.

In addition to the pools and waterpark, there are various other kids activities throughout the Park. What was the old Roselands indoor tennis courts, has been transformed into a games room/indoor gym and conference room, while the second court has been left as is, so you can play indoor tennis all year-round or take the net down and the kids can run amok on their scooters and skateboards indoors. Under construction and due for completion any day (literally!) is the huge adventure playground and giant jumping pillow for all ages. There really is so much for the kids to do, there is no need to leave the Park for days.

What struck me most about the Park was that there is something for everyone and every budget. You can pitch a tent, park your caravan, rent an apartment or a private villa. Everyone, all guests, have access to the Park’s facilities, and you can even invite guests to join you for a small per-head fee.

So, back to the birthday celebrations… on Saturday December 10, there will be a massive, and I mean MASSIVE birthday party for the Park and all visitors that are booked in for that weekend are invited! Im talking food trucks, live music, kids entertainment, guest appearances from Rory Sloane and Kane Cornes, Cosi is hosting the event, and there will be loads of fun and entertainment for the whole family.