This holiday park is impressive from start to finish. The facilities and grounds are extensive, featuring 1 kilometre of river frontage for water-based activities.
Accommodation ranges from powered campsites to cabins, villas and glamping tents. For the best seat in the house, book a waterfront villa. For something unique, try the glamping tents.
Star rating: ★★★★1/2
Renmark is the kind of place you plot on the map when you're road tripping your way across the country. It rubs shoulders with the New South Wales and Victorian borders, sits on the Murray River and is the tourist town in the Riverland region of South Australia.
Naturally if you're driving through it, the best place to stay is a caravan park.
The BIG4 is one of the main ones, not least because it is a chain. Larger than most, it sits on a riverbend of the Murray River and captures an impressive 1-kilometre chunk of riverfront real estate (check out the view below).
Within its boundaries is everything from powered and unpowered camp sites to cabins, villas and glamping tents.
My family and I were invited to stay for 3 nights in a glamping tent to see what it's like.
Even though the BIG4 sits on the fringe of Renmark, it's less than a 5-minute drive to the town centre, making it an ideal spot to call yours for a few days.
It's also a hop and skip to popular tourist attractions in the area such as Paringa Bridge, 23rd Street Distillery and Olivewood Historic Homestead and Museum.
Canvassed on the outside with a zip-up door and windows to complete the camping tent aesthetic, what's hidden inside is truly special.
It's like walking into a mountain cabin. You know, the kind you see in the movies.
Wooden floorboards meet the golden glow of lights, creating an ambience of romance and warmth.
A 4-poster bed sits to 1 side while a wooden bunk-bed seemingly built into the wall sits on the other. A round wooden table invites you to sit down for a family feast while a futon calls to you to relax.
Even the kitchenette feels rustic with its wooden finishings.
The only part that feels out-of-place is the bathroom, where a plastic shower squeezes its way into the corner. It's a little odd but to make up for it there's an ornate bathtub on the balcony waiting for a warm summer's day to sink yourself into.
Not that you have to be the one to get into it, either. BIG4 Renmark Riverfront's website says it's a big hit with the kids. And by golly, they weren't wrong. My daughter kept climbing in and walking around even without it being filled.
While I can't speak of the standard cabins at BIG4, I can say this tent was something else.
Linens (including doonas during winter), towels, kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery, microwave, hair dryer, mini fridge, kettle, dishwashing brushes and liquid and even welcome tea, coffee and sugar are all included. You won't have to pack a thing.
Well, with an exception: bathroom amenities.
While mini soaps are available for handwashing, I was disappointed and caught off-guard to discover that the quartet of minis (shampoo, conditioner, body wash and moisturiser) are not.
If you're on a longer trip, you'll likely have these in your kit. If you're not, then fair warning that you'd better pack wisely.
As part of your stay you'll also be given 10% off vouchers to some of the local eats and free Wi-Fi.
Glamping tents, which sleep up to 6, start from $185 per night, which makes them one of the more expensive stays in the park.
Comparatively, a 2-bedroom cabin (which also sleeps 6) starts at $125 per night.
The only more expensive option is a 3-bedroom villa on the river's edge ($225 per night).
So why the price? Well in the end what you're paying for is something more than your run-of-the-mill room. You're paying for a bathtub on your patio, wooden decor and that camping feeling without actually having to pitch up a tent.
Sadly, what you're not paying for is a view as these tents aren't riverfront.
Is it worth it to book a glamping tent? If a unique experience is what you're after, then yes, definitely.
If you're simply after a place to stay with all the creature comforts and are on a budget however, I'd stick with a cabin.
Where do I start? If you've ever stayed at a BIG4, you'll know that it's packed full of entertainment for the little ones. Renmark's is no exception.
In the summer months, the places to be are the outdoor pool and waterpark. If you'd prefer to hit the open water, there are kayaks, canoes and paddle boats for hire.
In the cooler months, such as when we went, there's still plenty to keep the family entertained. Right by reception, you can hire pedal carts to ride around the park. It proved a popular activity for families who we waved at as they pedaled by our porch.
The modular pumptrack is fantastic for kids who've brought their 2-wheels while the jumping pillow is all-out fun.
For younger kids, the Tiny Tots Indoor Playland has a small array of play equipment. My daughter was enamored by the mini slide which was sized just right for her.
Another highlight is the outdoor cinema. It runs 2 nightly sessions with the line-up displayed on a board at reception. You can expect classics such as Cinderella and more recent films like Hotel Transylvania on the screen.
Check-in would probably have been the smoothest thing ever if we had decided to arrive before the office closed at 7pm.
Instead, we mistimed our journey and arrived just after.
We called to advise of this, which was perfectly fine. They'd leave the key and instructions at the door. However, due to COVID, there was extra paperwork to do (which I'd failed to check on my phone) so when we got there I found no key waiting for me.
Thankfully, there was a solution for this: a doorbell. Immediately the lovely Gayle appeared, who was completely understanding and super helpful.
After a flourish of the pen, we were on our way to our tent.
Check-out was infinitely smoother and was a simple drop-off at reception before we drove off home.
There's no on-site dining venue, which is a bit of a pain when you're after a quick meal and haven't done a grocery shop.
Your best options are to pop into town for food or hit up the kiosk by reception for hot drinks, slushies and snacks.
For the more prepared, there are indoor barbeque facilities at the park to cook up your own storm.
With its breathtaking riverfront, wide array of activities and prime location, BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park ticks all the boxes for a stay in Riverland - particularly if you've got little ones with you.
Book: Hotels Finder
Stephanie and her family stayed at BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park from 26-29 May as guests of South Australia Tourism Commission.
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