Halliday Bay Resort

The grounds and golf course looked beautifully maintained, and Tina was lovely. The place has a lot of potential, though I wonder if we'd have had a different experience camping or caravanning. Our cabin, which I understand may have been individually owned, could barely be locked. We had to shake the door and pull the lock in and out several times to get it to catch. The kids' beds were tiny Murphy-style bunks that they'd have needed help climbing onto, and we had to find sheets and make the beds ourselves. There was no bathroom exhaust fan, so we left doors and windows open to manage the steam, even though it was quite cold that week. There was just one small decorative soap. Getting in and finding reception was confusing too. There's a sign, but you have to wander through the caravan area to find the bar. Honestly, we were really disappointed. The online photos were nothing like what we found in the cabin.

Tina was friendly and helpful whenever we spoke. We paid $55 a night for a powered beachfront caravan site with water, which is toward the high end, though the location made it worthwhile. Public toilets are about 400 metres away, and there aren't any on site. Golfers get one round a day included. It's only nine holes, but the different tees let you play 18. We didn't stay in the rooms, but they looked a bit run down. The place needs a lot of TLC, and I imagine bringing it up to a good standard would cost a huge amount. I hope they can get funding to update it, because it could be amazing.

The food was delicious and came out on time. We pre-ordered Saturday night's meals on Friday, and everyone was happy with how smoothly it went. The restaurant and bar are open Friday and Saturday from 4pm for happy hour drinks. We stayed with friends in our caravan in the unpowered part of the RV park, and loved the location. The golf course was fantastic and a real challenge for us social golfers. I'd definitely recommend the food and the location.

The owners responded quickly to my concerns, and I appreciate that. Still, I was frustrated to find the washing machine full of water and unable to power on, no toilet paper because of a leak under the bathroom basin, and broken bedroom lights and fan switch. The outside light was broken too, so I couldn't unpack my car. These things should have been checked before the cabin was made available. I'd booked at the last minute after the busy Easter break ended Tuesday, with the Anzac Holiday coming up. I had a ten-hour drive ahead and was hoping to reset and wash clothes. I chose a cabin over a motel for the laundry and kitchen, and the peaceful scenery and nearby beach were part of the appeal.