Drives and road trips

Nestled within gorgeous surrounds and with a generous expanse of river frontage is a NSW holiday resort that oozes the wow-factor…

Publish date: March 2020

The small Mid North Coast NSW town of Bulahdelah was once regularly bypassed by travellers driving along the Pacific Highway before transforming itself into an alluring holiday destination.

And it’s just become a whole lot more appealing.

The reason? The opening of the dazzling, brand-new BIG4 River Myall Holiday Resort.

We sat down with the resort’s owners, Gary and Kim Ekert, to learn all about a first-class leisure accommodation facility where nature meets luxury.

What’s been involved in getting to opening?

Heaps! To say it’s been a challenge would be an understatement. The planning and approval processes were quite drawn out; just over four years.

But the upshot was that it gave us an even greater opportunity to speak to lots of caravanners, campers, and nomads for inspiration and ideas about the features they looked for when choosing a holiday park.


With that information, as well as our own ideas on how we wanted to present the resort, we commenced the biggest project of our lives so far.

We were fortunate enough to have a great crew of workers, including our two sons, and sub-contractors over the 18-month build time to get the park to a point of opening. We are very proud of the end result.

Briefly, how would you describe the resort?

Spacious, brand new, and with modern amenities. And it’s all roughly three hours north of Sydney in a great little town.

As soon as guests reach our entrance, we want them to be wowed and for that feeling to remain as they venture throughout the park.

Tell us more about the resort’s location?

We are set on 20ha with over 1km of river frontage on the Myall River. We are situated on the upper reaches of the navigable section of the waterway.

Myall River is suitable for many types of vessels. There is around 40km of waterway downstream of the park to Port Stephens.

Midway are the Myall Lakes, made up of five lakes totalling 10,000ha of coastal lagoons, the largest natural freshwater system in coastal NSW.

These waterways are ideal for canoeing, kayaking, small sailing craft (masts under 12m), large cruisers, and water-skiing.

What type of experience can park guests expect?

Nomads can make themselves at home in our large, comfy lounge area that adjoins the camp kitchen. It is set in peaceful surrounds with great views overlooking the boardwalk and waterway.

Meanwhile, families can enjoy many activities to keep children entertained without having to put their hands in their pockets.

What are some resort highlights?

There are ample activities for all ages. We have a resort-style pool with a waterslide, a jumping pillow, a full-size tennis court, and an airconditioned games room with a pool table, table tennis, and a cinema area.

Away from the entertainment precinct, there’s a large, modern camp kitchen featuring all the facilities required to create a tasty meal in airconditioned comfort and with plenty of tables and chairs.

For guests who want to sit back and relax or mingle and meet others in a nice relaxing atmosphere, we have just the place. Our lounge area is set up exactly for that; round tables and chairs for cards and games, tea or coffee at sunrise, or wine and cheese at sunset.

We have a large, comfortable loungeroom setting suitable for both couples and big groups. Our camp kitchen lounge area is surrounded by a huge deck with tables and chairs, all of which overlooks a natural inlet off the river, bordered by our accessible boardwalk.

Could you outline the accommodation range?

BIG4 River Myall has large sites – 10m wide x either 13m, 14m, or up to 22m deep. All have water and metered power and sullage points.

In addition, we have five cabins with one of them being accessible. They are all deluxe style, with dishwashers, induction cooktops, microwaves, and very comfy beds and furniture.

What are the park’s pet-friendly offerings?

Pets are more than welcome on our large sites. Dogs just love the river for a swim, and we are happy for owners to take them for a run in the paddock.

We have a K9 dog wash for guests’ convenience to keep their pets clean and fresh after a swim.

What is there to see and do nearby?

There are so many things to see and do in Bulahdelah and the wider Barrington Coast area. Here are some excellent day-trip experiences:

Nature outings

  • Myall Lakes National Park: Water leisure abounds thanks to a bounty of beaches. Don’t miss the Grandis picnic area, home to NSW’s tallest tree, or the stunning views enjoyed from Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse at Seal Rocks.
  • Alum Mountain: Combines history with scenic walks that lead to lookouts.
  • Wallingat National Park: Blends variable landscapes best admired from the Whoota Whoota lookout.
  • Devils Ark, Barrington Tops: Mainland Australia’s largest conservation breeding program for Tasmanian devils.
  • Barrington Tops National Park: Part of the extraordinary Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Includes the popular Gloucester Falls walking track.
  • Ellenborough Falls: Stunning horsetail feature. One of the southern hemisphere’s longest single drop waterfalls.
History/culture

  • Bulahdelah Courthouse Museum: Passionate and informative volunteers share the town’s past in a circa 1886 building. Open Saturdays only.
  • Wootton Historical Railway Walk: A scenic 6km track just north of town that follows remnants of a heritage logging railway.
  • National Motorcycle Museum of Australia, Nabiac: Massive private collection of motorcycles, vintage toys, machines, and related memorabilia.

Other

  • The Island Action Sports Complex, Nerong: An impressive and huge motorbike riding centre.
  • Coastal Brewing Company, Forster: Family-owned microbrewery with a wide selection of tasty beers.

Lastly, why did you want your resort to be in the BIG4 network?

We felt that BIG4 represented the same ideals that we had in mind for the park.

The BIG4 brand is well-known and has a reputation for quality, fun, and creating precious family memories.

As a brand-new park, we wanted the public to know instantly the standard that they could expect when trusting us to spend their valuable time here.

SEE MORE OF BIG4 RIVER MYALL HOLIDAY RESORT HERE.

Related Parks