Mallacoota's Shady Gully Caravan Park

After a long drive we were tired, and the owner was so helpful when we arrived. I was feeling a bit under the weather and we still had laundry to do, so it meant a lot when she said there was no rush to check out the next day. Laundry worked perfectly, $6 for a wash and $6 for 40 minutes in the dryer, which was more than enough. The showers and toilets were clean and nice and hot. The kitchen isn't very big, but it was clean and had everything we needed. Our powered site was spacious, with trees and greenery all around. It looked much better than the campervan parks in Mallacoota, where everyone seemed packed together and there weren't many trees. She also pointed out a short walk near the park where kangaroos and koalas can be spotted. We saw five koalas, the first ones of our trip, and were so happy! Such a lovely park with lovely owners.

It's peaceful and quiet here, with an intimate feel. Chris and her team gave excellent service, from returning calls to being flexible with sites when they could. They made us feel welcome and helped with whatever we needed, even laundry coins or pegs for later. The bathrooms, kitchen, and site were spotless.

We travelled from Sydney and Melbourne for the long weekend, but felt unwelcome, singled out, and disrespected throughout our stay. The whole experience felt discriminatory, and we wouldn't recommend the place. There were repeated complaints about parking, even though our vehicles were fully within the spaces for the sites we had booked. A neighbouring cabin guest also complained that we were occupying the shared BBQ area, though it was a common space with limited room. We were respectful and offered to share or take turns. There were inappropriate comments about our pets despite them being trained, vaccinated, and responsibly managed. We were warned about noise as early as 6 or 7-8 pm, before the stated quiet hours. Expecting complete silence from 31 people in the early evening seems unrealistic. We raised our concerns respectfully with the owner, Kris, and explained that we felt targeted and unwelcome and wouldn't return. The response was, “We don’t want you guys here, either.” That says a lot. If large groups can't be accommodated or managed properly, that should be made clear and bookings shouldn't be accepted under those conditions.

Kris welcomed us as soon as we arrived and let us pick a site that suited us. The facilities were spotless, clean and fresh. It's a beautiful caravan park, and we loved our stay. Thanks to Kris and the staff for a wonderful visit. We can't wait to come back.