Discovery Parks - Forster

We loved the water park and pool area, absolutely fantastic, and the pedal carts were really fun. The park is right on the river, lovely for walks or fishing, and just a short drive from town, so it’s nice and quiet. Great staff, very family friendly, with a cafe on site and beautiful new cabins that were clean and spacious. Honestly, it’s the best spot for a family holiday. Can’t wait to come back!

The cabin’s lagoon views were beautiful, and it was close to the surrounding bush. That also means daily spiders, bush rats and lizards; they come onto the verandah, and the huntsman spiders can turn up in some unpleasant places. The deluxe cabin was clean, tidy and well laid out for four. It had a king bed in the main bedroom, two kind singles in the second, and both rooms had air conditioning. All the beds were comfortable and we slept well. There’s plenty for kids here: the splash pad and pool are must-visits, plus a jumping pillow, playground and pump track. The splash pad is awesome and you can spend hours there. It felt cold at first, but once wet we were fine. It stopped working one morning, apparently due to a pump issue, then was running again a couple of hours later. There’s little to no seating for adults watching, and no shade over the splash pad. The pool has a large shallow end for little ones, mostly shaded by a cloth, and several chairs for sunbathing or keeping an eye on the kids. It’s set to 31 degrees and feels too hot on a warm day, so the cooler splash pad helps. The jumping pillow is near the entrance, by the powered campsites, and has a sandy edge to soften a fall. But there’s no shade, and it gets too hot to use in the sun. The camp kitchens are well laid out, with big-screen TVs, several fridges, dishwashers and air conditioning. The cafe does breakfast and light lunches, as well as cold drinks and snacks. You can sit indoors or mostly under cover outside. Prices are like any other cafe, though a few orders can mean a 30 to 40 minute wait. We had trouble with the BBQs: twice, the one we were using lost heat and wouldn’t relight, leaving food half cooked. We had to finish it in our cabin. The one next to it wouldn’t ignite at all. Management said they’d fixed them, but the same problems came back the next day, and other people were complaining too. A serious concern was the park’s 5 km speed limit. Early one morning we were walking with our baby and two toddlers when a cafe staff member drove at what looked like 50 km and nearly hit us. She was going too fast, then turned and reversed into a parking spot quickly, as if she were late. Management didn’t seem concerned when we reported it. The cabin power also went out at random. We waited for someone to come switch it back on. I’m not sure what caused it, but it was fixed. The park looks to have had a major renovation recently, with lots of new attractions and amenities. There’s river access too, so you can bring your own boat or hire a pedal boat or kayak.

We found a spacious holiday park right on the Wallamba River, which is great for water sports. The cabins were immaculate and the service friendly, with lots to do. We were lucky to visit during the holidays, when the kids had plenty of free activities to keep them entertained. It’s only about a 10-minute drive to Forster and Tuncurry beaches and shops. I was very surprised by what we came across at the end of the road, just off the main access into Tuncurry and Forster.

The people around us made the place feel welcoming and friendly, just what the families here needed. We even left the pool for a call to play with slime, and the kids and adults were happy and having fun. The splash park and pool are fantastic for little ones, and they’re not small. Our deluxe cabin was clean and tidy, with air conditioning in every room. We asked for extra towels and got them without fuss, thanks to the delightful Penny. The park is clean and well maintained. There’s a cafe on site for morning coffee, bacon and egg rolls, or pizza in the evening. The lake view is picturesque, with cows in sight. My husband kept his promise to book us a family holiday, and he picked a perfect spot for our kids. Staff welcomed us when we arrived. To the owners, you’re running an amazing park, and thanks to the staff for all your hard work.