Sport leisure and other activities

The SA town of Tailem Bend roared to life with the opening of a world-class motorsport facility in early 2018. Uniquely, this precinct is also home to an exciting accommodation option. Welcome to the action-packed BIG4 The Bend Holiday Park…

It must rank as one of Australia’s most unique holiday park experiences.

BIG4 The Bend, which opened to the public in December 2018, enjoys a location not normally associated with holiday parks.

In the case of this accommodation offering, it’s positioned within The Bend Motorsport Park, a world-class complex that has put this patch of SA firmly on the map.

We sat down with the team at The Bend to learn all about it.

Firstly, where is the park located?

We’re just a 10min drive from the heart of Tailem Bend – which explains the park’s name – and just over an hour’s drive east of Adelaide. We’re also within easy reach of the Murray River, too.

BIG4 The Bend is far from your ordinary holiday park. How would you sum it up?

We are definitely unique! BIG4 The Bend is a new holiday park that’s part of the state-of-the-art, first-class facility known as The Bend Motorsport Park.

We built a holiday park in the precinct because motorsport and camping go hand in hand. There is nothing like the sound of engines racing around the track by day and the crackling of the fire by night.

How long was this project in the making?

The project started in 2013 when the land was purchased, but the vision began years before that!


Could you tell us more about The Bend Motorsport Park? How did it come about?

The motorsport park The Bend is a world-class facility featuring a 7.77km racing circuit, as well as a purpose-built karting, drift, and rally cross circuit, a 4WD Adventure Park, and more. 

The Bend directors had a vision to create a European-style venue that caters for all motorsport disciplines in the one destination.

Inspiration for the project came from visits to some of the world’s most iconic motor-racing tracks.

There was also a desire to contribute to the promotion of motorsport at a grassroots level, where many disciplines are not available in Australia due to a lack of facilities.

Bringing high-profile events and categories previously absent from the motorsport scene in Australia is a core objective for the venue.

How many events does the motorsport park host each year?

Currently there are six major events planned for 2021, including The Bend SuperSprint, a round of the prestigious Supercars Championship.

BIG4 The Bend is the perfect place to stay during these major events as, being so close to the track, the atmosphere extends into the park. But we suggest booking as early as possible.

We also host a range of other events from car and bike racing to cycling, karting, and drifting events both at a domestic and national level.

If I’m a motorsport fan, is there anything for me to do outside of dedicated race days when staying at the park?

Visitors can enjoy lunch at our Fuel Restaurant, or drinks in our Apex Bar among a selection of unique race cars and motorbikes in the park Welcome Centre. Visitors can also:

  • Drive some of the fastest hire karts in Australia with top speeds of approximately 75km/h.
  • Experience a hot lap in a V8 Ford Mustang or two-seater Formula Toyota race car.
  • Take your own car on the circuit at unlimited speeds at selected times. Also, you may also be able to drive one of our Mustangs (selected times)!
  • Drive your own 4WD around the adventure park as part of our short-course experience with nationally accredited trainers.

And what if I’m not into motor racing – what is the appeal of the surrounding area?

There is an excellent assortment of fantastic experiences for visitors that are easily reachable from our park. Highlights include:

  • Langhorne Creek wine region: This superb area boasts some seriously tasty food and wine. Lake Breeze winery is our top tip.
  • Monarto Zoo: This is the largest open-range zoo in the world and is home to more than 500 animals.
  • Murray River: Here you can enjoy water sports such as kayaking and waterskiing as well as river cruises.
  • Tailem Bend Golf Club: It’s just a 5min drive from the park.

What about the in-park experience? What are some of the major holiday park facilities?

We have an adventure playground and jumping pillow situated within the park. We have deliberately positioned these facilities close to the camp kitchen area so that parents are able to supervise their children while sitting back and relaxing in that area.

We also have a solar heated outdoor pool and a communal big screen TV available for kids’ movies located in the camp kitchen.

Free barbecues are situated all around the park, or we can book you in for meals at our FUEL Restaurant, or relaxed drinks at the Apex Bar.

At night we have a communal fire pit, which is great for gathering to chat with fellow park guests.

Whether guests are after an adrenaline-filled adventure or a relaxing break, we offer an experience to suit.

Could you outline the park’s accommodation range?

From deluxe cabins to ample sites, BIG4 The Bend has a wide variety of accommodation.

Deluxe three-bedroom and five-bedroom cabins are fully equipped with all the essentials and more.

We also have dormitories that are ideal for groups, or various options for couples and individuals.

In addition, the park has ensuite, powered, and unpowered sites. Our unpowered sites provide an authentic bush camping experience.

Why did you want your park to be in the BIG4 network?

BIG4 has a name that people equate with quality and fun, and we wanted to be a part of that. Guests know that when they visit a BIG4 park, they have access to high-quality facilities with lots of fun and activities that will make for the best holiday memories. It made perfect sense for us to become a BIG4 park.


Book your stay at BIG4 The Bend Holiday Park now.

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