Happy Wanderer Village, Hervey Bay QLD

Have you ever booked somewhere to stay arrived and thought “oh, heck no!”. This was us but thankfully the Happy Wanderer Village had vacancies and came to our rescue.

We had initially booked into another caravan park in Hervey Bay (who we won’t mention by name as everyone has different opinions and wish lists for a park) but chose not to stay there once we found it. It was not only out of the way way out on the point but downright run down and uninviting.

Let’s look at why the Happy Wanderer Village was a hit for us.

The facilities were fine. We had a ensuited site. This was not so much by choice but necessity. We called to see if they had any vacancy and they only an ensuite site available. In hindsight I should have asked if that was all as with kiddies it was not as helpful as you might think. We have a portaloo for the night loo runs and so having our own private ensuite was great for extra storage but that was about it as we were completely used to, and fine with, traipsing over to wherever the amenities were in a caravan park. So the ensuite was kinda lost on us, but my sister who has 4 kids swears by them.

There was a pool by the entrance and a spa. Without sounding picky it didn’t shout swim in me given that it was right by the boom gates but a pool is a pool and can’t be sneezed at. I read on their brochure they have a campers kitchen, TV room and bike and canoe hire as well….but didn’t use them or for that matter even look for them so can’t really comment on those elements.

There was a shop in the office and internet access.

I cannot knock the service from the staff at this caravan park.

They were polite, helpful and friendly.

An ensuited site it was $116 for the 4 of us. As members of Top Tourist Parks it provided us with 10% off which brought our total down to $104.40.

It is good value for the price I would say and it was central to the water and a quick drive to everything in Hervey Bay.

The park was somewhat central. We did attempt to walk to dinner the first night but that turned out to be useless as we walked and walked and didn’t find what we were looking for but it was central to the water front  (a lot more central to the other one we initially booked into that was way out in the boondocks).

To be honest it wasn’t the most pleasurable stay. It has to be said that it wasn’t the park managers, but other holiday-ers that made us feel uneasy. This is a prime example: We booked in about 1 pm-ish and quickly set up and then went exploring. We got back a few hours later. The girls were scootering along the road in front of our caravan and the one to either side of us on both sides. The youngest had fallen off and so they had stopped but they seemed to be getting the attention of all the other patrons. Then about 5 minutes after our girls had stopped these other kids attempted to start riding their scooters and were told by a gentleman to get off their scooters and stop making noise. I am all for being aware of others but I felt guilty that perhaps it was a culmination of our girls and these kids that caused the man to be so rude to the other kids and I felt sorry for them. They (and mine) were only having some harmless fun and to be honest I am of the opinion that if they are playing well and doing something constructive then all should be well. I understand there is a lot of older caravaners and that is not a problem for me and I am the first to remind the girls that they must be mindful of others in particular with their noise level but I was put off by this gentlemen. If it had been my girls I would have attempted to engage in polite conversation to come to some compromise as it is a park to be shared and enjoyed by all. You find all sorts everywhere!

It is rated as a 4 ½ star park. I would give it a 3-4 star and that is not being clouded by the incident from the other holiday makers at all, that’s not the parks fault.