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What you may not know about BIG4 Holiday Parks

Date Posted:25 September 2020 

Our friends at BIG4 Holiday Parks recently celebrated their 40^th birthday.

So, we thought we’d have a chat to them to find out what has happened along the way.

And we uncovered some interesting facts…

BIG4 began at a dinner party

Well, sort of. In 1979, four Ballarat-based caravan park owners and their partners met for dinner – thus explaining the company’s name – unified in a belief that they could be better as a team rather than individuals.

The owners had a common vision to create caravan parks far beyond somewhere to rest a weary head but rather places that defined the holiday experience. Forty years later, it’s clear that vision was met.

Sidenote: One of BIG4’s founders, Des Watts, received a distinguished Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his outstanding service to BIG4 and the wider caravan and camping industry.

BIG4 parks are all over Australia

While you’ll find the largest concentration in the eastern states, there are BIG4 parks spread from Busselton to Ballina. There are more than 170 BIG4s all up, found in every state as well as the NT. You can see all the locations here.

Loads of BIG4 parks accept dogs

Despite some misconceptions, plenty of BIG4 parks are pet-friendly. In fact, about 70% of BIG4 parks welcome dogs. And some even have things like agility areas, dog washes, and other canine-centric facilities.

They’ve changed quite a bit

Check out the two photos below for just one example. They were both taken at BIG4 Easts Beach in Kiama, NSW; the first sometime in the 1970s.  

The second shows their amazing water play area, which we’re told is just one of many incredible attractions at this popular park.

And while not all BIG4s have water parks – plenty do, though – all sorts of fun-filled on-site facilities can be commonly found, like swimming pools, bike tracks, and mini-golf.

There are tons of accommodation options

Along with camping and caravanning sites, you’ll find BIG4 parks equipped with the likes of glamping facilities, cabins, villas, cottages, and even accommodation for large groups.

And the locations are incredible. There are campsites that are beachfront, lakeside, and riverside, backdropped by towering peaks, nestled among native bush or garden settings, and so much more.

Not all BIG4 parks are the same

Despite a common belief, BIG4 does not own any holiday parks. All the parks are individually owned and operated but appear under the BIG4 ‘umbrella’. That is, if they meet a certain criteria, largely to do with quality.

BIG4 have put together this handy rundown that helps explain the individuality of their parks. In short, BIG4 are not like a fast-food franchise – no two parks are the same. Rather, they are best described as a cooperative of holiday parks that share similar attributes.

One of their parks was the first to create a sensory room

In a pioneering move, BIG4 Renmark in South Australia was the first Australian holiday park to install a sensory room specifically dedicated to guests on the autism spectrum. The facility opened in late 2018 to rave reviews, particularly from parents. In addition, BIG4 has developed a social script, an Australian-first in holiday parks.

Another park has its own brewery

That’s right! In 2017, BIG4 Wallaga Lake in south coast NSW turned a historical building into an on-site brewery. Cheers to that!

Keen to know more about BIG4 Holiday Parks? Head to their website here.

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