Discovery Parks - West Beach Parks

We spent two nights at West beach discovery park in two cabins, with four adults and four kids, and had a really good time. The rooms were clean, and there were loads of activities to keep the kids busy. Snacks and food from the kiosks were reasonably priced. We'd happily come back.

The cabin wasn’t safe or suitable for us, and we were refused a refund. We’d booked and paid for accommodation at BIG4 in good faith, but when we arrived the air-conditioning couldn’t keep the cabin habitable in the extreme heat. We also couldn’t see current electrical test and tagging on the appliances. With two young children, we raised both problems with management straight away. After discussing it with them, it was clear they couldn’t fix the issues within a reasonable time, so we had to leave and find somewhere else at short notice, at extra cost. We didn’t have a practical, safe alternative. Management still refused to refund us. The Holiday Park Manager’s written reply said: “There will be no refund for your cabin as the cabin was checked on your departure day with everything working fine in there. Have a nice day.” That felt dismissive and didn’t match what we experienced. It also didn’t address our concerns about consumer and safety obligations. Under Australian Consumer Law, we believe accommodation must be of acceptable quality and reasonably fit for purpose, and that essential services failing in extreme heat is a major failure entitling a consumer to a refund. We’re now taking the matter to Consumer and Business Services (SA) and SafeWork SA to review consumer compliance and safety standards. The state of the cabin was disappointing, but so was management’s unprofessional response, which we believe was legally flawed. Until this is dealt with appropriately, we can’t recommend staying here.

The pool was a refreshing bonus, and there were plenty of things for the kids to do. We stayed a few nights on an ensuite site. The campground is large and beautifully located, but our ensuite was cramped, dated and uninviting. The older public amenities and ensuites need renovation and better upkeep. With some work on those, the place could easily be worth five stars.

We’ve had a great time here and are planning to return for our fourth year in a row, at the end of the year. The staff are great, always helpful and ready to lend a hand, and there’s heaps for the family to do in a good location. The main letdown is the amenities blocks, which are dated and could use a makeover. The laundry needs attention too, with several machines out of order across the park during its busiest time of year. Thanks, team. See you again in December.