BIG4 Toowoomba Holiday Park

Reception was always friendly and helpful, and the site itself is in a quiet area. The pool, playground and jumping pillows were amazing for the kids when I brought them. But both times I stayed, the cabins were filthy. Cups hadn’t been washed, there was hair all over the linen, and the toilet seat was sticky with hair and a yellow substance. The shower wasn’t much better, even though we had a “we’ve serviced your room” card that same day. It could be a good place to stay if they put a little love into cleanliness.

The place itself is amazing, and the woman who first started there was incredibly kind. The people who replaced her were much less welcoming, apart from one young woman. A lot of food went missing from the refrigerators. I’m not accusing the establishment, but they did nothing to check the security cameras for the thief, and the camera in the common room is completely useless. They often ask when you plan to leave, which makes you feel as if you’re in the way. I hope you get the young woman at reception.

We had to call the emergency number several times after the office closed at 5:00 pm before we got help. After repeatedly asking for the cabin to be cleaned, we were eventually offered a partial refund. We were made to wait until 4:00 pm to check in because of “cleaning,” despite the advertised 2:00 pm check-in, and the cabin was still filthy when we arrived. There were bugs, dirty furniture and a dirty fridge, plus hair and toothpaste in the bathroom sink. No amenities were provided, and only one bed was made, with no linen for the others. A nearby cabin left in the middle of the night with their children because of a cockroach infestation, which was extremely concerning. Dogs roam freely around the park, and dog waste was left around the grounds. Staff were rude and dismissive, and the property wasn’t as advertised. The lack of hygiene, service and basic standards makes this a place to avoid. Photos show the bathroom floor, cord of hair dryer, a baby wipe after wiping the floor in the living space, and a stained couch.

The park is mostly permanent tenants, which meant the pool was full of resident kids all day every day we were there. With six to eight kids and their inflatable toys, the small pool was taken up, and the same people had the sun loungers all day. A group of older kids on their computers occupied the common room, and wherever we went it felt like every head turned at once, as if we were intruding. I felt uncomfortable and unwelcome on the grounds much of the time. The permanently tenanted cabin across from ours had flashing Christmas lights on all night, illuminating our cabin from only about three metres away. The location is great, with the main sights and activities within 15 minutes. It’s an old park with old facilities, so don’t expect anything fancy, but for the price we were happy with our pet-friendly ensuite cabin. It had what we needed and was clean enough. I don’t blame the park for how the permanent tenancy situation is, but I wish I’d been able to enjoy our stay more. If you just need an affordable place to sleep while you explore, I recommend it. If you want somewhere to relax more often, I wouldn’t.