BIG4 Taggerty Holiday Park

After 20 years camping at the big 4 Taggerty, I've seen the park and its management change a lot. I reckon it's in the best shape it's ever been. The facilities are clean, the cabins are accommodating, and the glamping tents are a great option for first-timers. My favourites are the ones by the river. It's a handy spot between Marysville and Alexandra, about 20 minutes from either town. Works well as a base for a trip away from home. 🏕️

Check-in and check-out were easy, and the river view was very nice. We stayed in our camper at the end of the powered-air section, which meant nobody was on one side of us. The other neighbours were very close, though, and we're used to bush camping somewhere quiet without neighbours, so we were a bit shell-shocked. We'd never stayed in a park with the camper before and weren't sure what to expect. It seems like a really nice holiday park if you've got kids.

We had a very distressing stay, and the way management handled it was deeply disappointing. My wife became severely ill with food poisoning overnight. With our one-year-old baby there, we decided not to drive away in the dark, as the road felt dangerous at night, and my wife struggled until morning. Our baby didn't sleep at all. In the morning I fed the baby and cleaned as much of the cabin as I could, despite being exhausted and caring for my sick wife. There were no cleaning products in the cabin, so I called reception to ask for something to clean the floor, but got no reply, likely because it was before 9am. I still washed the dishes and did my best with the kitchen. When my wife's condition worsened, I went to the office and apologized that I couldn't finish cleaning. The staff member said, “No worries, we understand your family situation.” I thanked them and left. Two hours later, $200 was charged to my friend's card, the one used to book for us. I contacted management again to explain what had happened, but they said “personal circumstances” weren't considered in their decisions. That lack of empathy was upsetting. I said I wasn't against paying a fair cleaning fee if needed, but after being told they understood, the $200 charge felt unfair and insensitive. This isn't about the money. It's about how little compassion was shown to a family with a sick mother and a one-year-old. We did what we could with the limited supplies: there was no mop or proper cleaning product, just a few tissues. I really tried my best. If the full $200 went to the cleaner, I can accept that; otherwise, it feels like a family was taken advantage of during a very hard time. There were also safety issues in Cabin 40. The top kitchen drawer rail, where the cutlery was, was faulty and collapsed onto my finger, injuring it. The gas cooktop ignitor didn't work, and a lighter had been left in the cabin instead, which felt unsafe in a small space with a baby. We'll be following up with Consumer Affairs Victoria about the charge and these safety concerns. I hope management reflects on this. People come to holiday parks expecting a safe, supportive place. Illness can't be controlled, but empathy can. I sincerely hope another family doesn't go through this.

The location was lovely and well maintained, and the camping area was clean and peaceful. The staff were friendly and professional, and the whole place felt tidy, safe, and enjoyable. I had a wonderful stay at BIG4 Taggerty Holiday Park and would definitely come back.