Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach

The kids had a magic time, with plenty to do around the park, plus bush walks and rock walks. We also enjoyed the pool, fishing and seeing the friendly kangaroos. The place is quiet, tucked away from the highway, with spectacular natural scenery. Staff were absolutely lovely, and the amenities were clean and well maintained. We've already been back a few times this year and camped at a couple of different sites. You can call to book a site that suits your day.

The showers were the best, with loads of hot water, and the service was great. Staff helped us change our bookings and even assisted when our van battery went flat. We had a fabulous time at Merry Beach. It's become a new favourite, and we'd definitely come back.

We paid $238 for two nights expecting the beachfront view shown on the website, with those lovely grassy annex areas. Our actual view was blocked by a tree, and the ground was gravel and dirt with no grass. I've included a photo of our van, which you can't see from the beach, to show more accurately what our “waterfront” view was like, along with pictures of what the website showed and what we got. The amenities were filthy, and I heard other campers comment on the cleanliness too. The bins were overflowing. I didn't raise it with management. After feeling catfished over the site, I didn't want to spend my time on that.

The location still earns a star, but the park has become overpriced and poorly maintained after years of us coming here. The amenities, the cost, the total fire ban rule and the lack of care from staff when concerns are raised are why the other four stars are missing. Look at the other one-star reviews and the generic copy-and-paste replies from Ingenia. It's a shame to see what used to be a great place and atmosphere end up this way. Hopefully the prices come down to a more reasonable caravan park rate, and the amenities get an overhaul with more regular cleaning and supplies kept stocked.