Discovery Parks - Swan Valley

The ants were the first thing that made the cabin feel unpleasant. They got into our food, bed, and toothbrushes, and we also found cockroaches. We had to throw away groceries. Under the couch were an apple core and a meat pie wrapper, so it didn't seem properly cleaned before we arrived. We'd paid over $300 a night for the deluxe cabin, the most expensive option, and expected much better comfort and upkeep. It was serviced just once during our 10-day stay, which added to the disappointment. There was only one air conditioner, in the living area, and it couldn't cool the bedrooms in the summer heat. My son had no fan in his room and was extremely uncomfortable. The stay was far below what we'd expected, and we won't be back.

The staff were really friendly, which earned an extra star from me. The Wi-Fi was painfully slow, about 1 Mbps even at its fastest, and the room had no dishwasher despite the photos showing one. Laundry was awkward too. Only two machines take credit cards; the other six are cash-only, and some of those weren't working. There were lots of ants in the room. Water also kept leaking onto the bathroom floor from the shower, even with the shower-room door shut tightly and the showerhead pointed at the wall.

I'd happily stay again because I liked the location, service, and atmosphere. The laundry setup is thin, though, with just one dryer at each facility. One was broken while I was there, leaving the whole park with a single working dryer, all the way at the far end. The chalets are nice, but they have no washer or dryer and are a long way from either laundry facility. The office also shuts at 4pm.

The only small thing I'd improve is the Wi-Fi reach, since the signal doesn't extend to the farthest parts of the site. Otherwise, my stay was awesome. The ensuite toilets were well stocked with good amenities, and it was peaceful in the evenings. The parks were spacious and well spaced apart, and the place felt quiet and good for children. They briefed me to drive at just 5km/ hr for the kids' safety. Over the past week I stayed at four sites rated 4.5 or higher, and this was the best one. I don't understand why its rating is now only 4.1; perhaps that's due to historical factors.