Tasman Holiday Parks - Merimbula

We stayed for four nights as a family of five in a two-bedroom Hideaway cabin, and unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The cabin itself was extremely small, even by cabin standards. On arrival, the floors were wet and still very dirty — so much so that several pairs of socks had to be thrown away after walking around inside. This was unacceptable and made the cabin feel unhygienic from the start. The bunk beds were old, the fridge was rusty, and storing food in it did not feel hygienic. On arrival, we were initially allocated the incorrect cabin — one that slept four people instead of five, despite what had been booked and paid for. To be fair, the hotel manager did come and rectify this and provided the correct cabin. However, this situation, combined with other issues, did leave a poor impression. Prior to arrival, when speaking to reception staff on the phone due to delays caused by road closures travelling from Victoria into New South Wales, the staff member was very rude and unaccommodating. While keys were left out for late arrival, the interaction itself was disappointing. We were also staying in the park with friends and requested to be located closer together so the children could play. Despite asking about availability and flexibility, we were told there was absolutely no way this could be accommodated. This was frustrating, particularly as cabins directly next to our friends were visibly available for almost the entirety of our four-day stay. The Wi-Fi was another major issue. Although a Wi-Fi code was provided, the internet dropped out constantly. Because it rained for much of the stay and there was not much to do within the park, reliance on the Wi-Fi was unavoidable and resulted in most personal mobile data being used within the first two days. The indoor pool was advertised as heated but was actually quite cold. The spa was also not at spa temperature and felt almost as cold as the pool, making it uncomfortable to use. The park itself feels quite old and tired, with limited activities for children. On top of the already high cost of staying as a family of five, it was disappointing that the games room required additional payment just to play air hockey and other games. Given the current cost-of-living pressures, this felt unreasonable. The one standout positive was a staff member with an Irish accent who was responsible for cleaning and maintaining the cabins. She was absolutely delightful — friendly, helpful, and genuinely accommodating. She assisted with towels and was easily the highlight of the entire stay. Unfortunately, this level of service was not reflected in the reception or management staff, who were generally unhelpful. Overall, even if the park itself remained the same, improved cleanliness, service, and flexibility would have made a significant difference. Based on this experience, it is difficult to recommend this park to families seeking value for money, basic cleanliness, and supportive customer service.