Staying at a caravan park in school holidays is holiday heaven for your pre- and primary-school aged kids. It’s a safe space to roam, there’s plenty of potential friends, as well as a range of play equipment and/or organised activities.
We found the Big 4 Bright caravan park to be all this and more, with a peaceful and convenient location by the river, only a short walk to the cafes, parks and shops of Bright township.
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Beautiful Bright
Bright at Easter is peak season, but it still felt tranquil and slow-paced compared with home.
Situated in the flat, lush Buckland Valley, surrounded by soaring mountains like Mt Buffalo and Mt Hotham, Bright is famous for its annual transformation into a carpet of autumn colour. And, at only 3.5 hours north-east from Melbourne in the Alpine High Country, it’s ideal for a long weekend.
We came down from Sydney (7 hours) for a week, so that I could relive all the Easters I spent here as a kid. But, despite the drive time, we all fell in love with Bright and the little villages nearby and could easily return on a regular basis.
Autumn is definitely gorgeous, but winter in Bright means easy access to the snow, while summer would be the ideal time to enjoy the Bright Splash Park, water sports and the slides into the river.
For a wonderful Big 4 park closer to Sydney, we love Big 4 Umina Beach Caravan Park.
Big 4 Bright Caravan Park
Bike-riding is huge in this area. The flat valley is perfect for family bike rides along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, while keen cyclists and mountain bikers head for the nearby mountains.
Staying at the Big 4 caravan park means the kids can get up and out and ride their bikes endlessly around the park, while you have a slower start to the day. The pace in the park is laid-back with far more bikes than cars, so it feels like a very safe environment.
Bring your bikes with you or hire them from the bike shops in town.
Check prices for your stay at Big 4 Bright here.
The kids outside our cabin
Warm reception at Big 4 Caravan Park Bright VIC
From the moment we arrived the reception staff were wonderfully welcoming and professional. They’re never short of a sightseeing or activity suggestion and there’s a wall of games and DVDs available to borrow for free if you’re enjoying a quieter day in.
Other people’s toys are always more fun than your own, so our kids loved perusing everything available and making their choice of a badminton set, soccer ball or boardgame. In winter you can even get toboggans!
Reception at Big 4 Bright caravan park
Bike riding around the caravan park
Bright cabins are perfect for families
Bring your caravan, tent or campervan if that’s your style or stay in one of the onsite cabins. There’s a wide range available with up to three bedrooms, from a Standard Cedar Cabin to a Luxury Two Storey Mountain View Spa Townhouse.
Our Premium Two Bedroom Villa was somewhere in between and suited us perfectly. The kids loved the two sets of bunk beds in their bedroom, our queen size bed was very comfortable and it was super convenient to have our own kitchen, even though we only used the fridge and microwave.
A huge modular couch meant we could all chill out together in front of the tv and a large dining setting was handy for spreading out the pizza boxes!
The front porch of our cabin was a very pleasant spot to relax
The Two Storey Townhouses looked very snazzy
Family-friendly facilities at Big 4 Bright Holiday Park
Big 4 Bright is not a vast park with a water park or jumping pillow, but it is a lovely green, peaceful oasis, and is only a 5 minute walk to the Bright Splash Park and adventure playground at Howitt Park.
The picturesque Ovens River that the park borders is home to water sports like kayaking and swimming, with shady walk/bike tracks along its banks and suspension bridges to cross it.
Within the park is a small playground, the SkyDeck and several more undercover deck and BBQ areas. No matter where your cabin is there is sure to be a deck nearby to sit in the fresh air on a comfortable lounge and enjoy a BBQ dinner or glass of wine.
The SkyDeck is an elevated indoor/outdoor space with an open fire and comfortable seating. Perfect for some adult time while the kids are racing around below.
Playground at Big 4 Bright Holiday Park
Get comfortable at the SkyDeck
Undercover decks and BBQs are dotted throughout the park
Undercover decks and BBQs are dotted throughout the park
Undercover decks and BBQs are dotted throughout the park
Fun activities within the park
During school holidays there are organised activities for kids and families. Play games like badminton or Finska, go on a nature walk or enjoy the sparkling country night sky at an Astronomy session.
But our favourite activity was the Wood-fired Pizza Night. Once a week mobile wood-fired ovens arrive and this slick operation churns out delectable pizzas, ideal for an easy dinner after a big day exploring Bright. Put in your order, head back to your cabin and get a text when it’s ready. Too easy!
Convenient and picturesque location
Location is our number one consideration when choosing holiday accommodation and Big 4 Bright’s is fabulous. Key for me is not having to get in the car every time you want to go somewhere.
Take a leisurely walk along the river, past the Bright Splash Park, parkland and playground to endless wonderful cafes and shops. My morning coffee was from Ginger Baker, the kid-friendly Bright Brewery is not to be missed and Blackbird Cafe serves delectable all-day breakfasts.
In the opposite direction is a secluded walking/bike track called Cherry Walk. Well signposted with a gorgeous vista around every corner, I enjoyed a jog down this way one morning. A bit on the slow side because I kept stopping to take photos!
Out the River Gate from the Big 4 park and this is the path along the Ovens River towards Bright township.
And this is the Cherry Walk in the other direction
See the full range of Bright accommodation cabins here.
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