Clarks beach Holiday Park — Hotel in Franklin

From Holiday Park to Holiday Prison Camp?

We ventured to this park expecting a tranquil retreat, but instead found ourselves under a regime so strict it made us long for the days of interstellar travel where the only rule was 'don't panic'.

Upon arrival, the promise of amenities quickly evaporated. The kitchen, besides being locked down at 10 PM, was in a state of neglect that would make even the most seasoned space traveler reconsider their next meal there. And as for the facilities, the bathrooms were more like an exhibit of human archaeology with visible remnants of past visitors that you'd rather not encounter.

The barbecue areas, which one might hope would add a bit of outdoor cooking charm, were corroded and looked as if they had been through a meteor shower. Their condition suggested they might be more suited for starting a small controlled fire than for cooking your holiday feast.

Driving after hours? You'd better have a good reason or be prepared to pay the 'gate tax' - despite management's claims to the contrary.

The pool, listed in the amenities, was as accessible as a black hole's event horizon due to weather, a policy conveniently omitted during check-in.

However, within the same week, we experienced the hospitality of other campgrounds at similar price points, where amenities were not only accessible but embraced the concept of a holiday. These places offered clean, well-maintained facilities, with the flexibility to enjoy your vacation at any hour.

In conclusion, this park seems to favor a clientele who appreciate their holidays being micromanaged and are not too particular about cleanliness or the functionality of basic amenities. For those who value autonomy, hygiene, or perhaps wish to enjoy a midnight meal or a well-cooked barbecue without playing 'escape room', better options abound.

Final Note: I would recommend looking elsewhere for your holiday escapades. As for me, I'll be avoiding this 'holiday' park like a hyperspace misjump.

Pictures taken on the morning...

Is an ok park. Dog friendly but they are picky about the breed and you are almost shunned for bringing a dog. We took our dog and when we popped out for a few hours into town we left him under our awning (fully covered) with water and food. Dog never barks would have slept the whole time. However when we came back we had a big notice attached to our caravan telling us we couldn't leave the dog at the site when we went out. No where on their website does it say this, just that he would need to be on a lead at all time. The guys came up and told us there had been heaps of complaints - unlikely! I would recommend putting this information on the website so people know. You arent allowed to walk your dog through the park at all - you have to go out a back way - nice reserve to run the dog though and right across from the beach. Pool was closed due to too much splashing??? So we couldnt use one morning after we arrived. Then it was really cloudy and gross looking so we weren't that keen to use. Had bits of junk floating around in it. Very dated. Rubbish also floating around the perimetre of the park. Lots of it, was off putting. Showers are amazing! Great pressure and was impressed to see they spray the entire bathrooms down with disenfectant each day due to covid. they always looked clean which was nice. Kitchen facilites very dated could do with an update. Really cool playground for the kids. Pool table was broken. This place is really close to the beach was too windy when we were there but nothing against the park - just a nice cyclone blowing through. Found the staff to be very abrupt and rude. Especially the reception woman. Although the guys around the park were quite helpful. Wouldnt stay there again though, didnt really...

After booking a cabin I was emailed and asked if we could move to another one so a large school group could stay closer together. We didnt mind switching as they had emphasized that we would have a small kitchen and bathroom attached. Anyway the cabin with annex attached we had been moved to (No.10) was gross. It should've been retired years ago as no regular maintenance has been done. The front step was broken, the carpet was disgusting, there was mold on most curtains and blinds, paint flaking from the ceiling, broken seals and leak patches under most windows, the oven was dirty, the veneers were peeling from the doors and pelmets, there was messy plastering on the bedroom ceiling and stains on the walls. We couldnt tell if the bottom sheets they supplied were actually fresh or not since they had dog fur on them. The only reason we didn't leave immediately was because we were gone from 8-6pm each day so didn't have the flexibility to arrange other accommodation. On checkout the lady at the desk seemed genuinely surprised at our experience. I can only imagine that perhaps she hadn't been in that particular caravan in some time, much less viewed it from the perspective of a guest. Many of the other rooms/cabins seemed tidy by comparison but this was so bad we wont...