Parks Profile: BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park

Set against the backdrop of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park combines coastal appeal with forward-thinking operations.

Marketing Manager Fiona Davidson shares insights into how the park is meeting evolving guest expectations, embracing sustainability initiatives and navigating rising operational costs.

Can you start by telling us a little bit about your caravan holiday park?

Fiona Davidson (FD): Our park is located in Apollo Bay on Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road. It offers a relaxed coastal setting directly opposite the beach and is just a 15-minute walk from the town centre.

We provide a wide range of accommodation options, including three-bedroom beach houses, glamping tents overlooking the ocean, and powered and unpowered sites. We welcome families, couples, solo travellers and group stays.

Recent upgrades include our nightly sound and light show, along with a new indoor facility [pictured bottom of page] that’s perfect for events, groups or mid-week conferences, when we’re not using it for all-weather activities within the park.

We also have a strong focus on improving accessibility across the park, because everyone deserves a holiday, right? Combined with our natural surrounds – including views of the ocean and the Otway Ranges – and a growing calendar of activities and events, we aim to create an inclusive and memorable experience for every guest.

How long have you been running your park, and what’s the most rewarding part of the job for you?

FD: I started running the park in September 2003 with my husband, Adrian. We thought we’d give it 12 months to see if we liked it — and here we are still!

The best part of the job is hearing guests say at checkout, “none of us want to leave.” Hearing that is so rewarding.

What are the biggest challenges facing caravan holiday park operators today, and how are you tackling them?

FD: Rising costs and operational expenses are the biggest challenges. We’ve introduced solar systems across the park where possible and are currently trialling a new greywater recycling system in our amenities block. We’re looking forward to reviewing the financial data from this trial.

Can you tell us about any innovative services or experiences you offer to enhance the guest experience?

FD: One of our standout innovations is our immersive sound and light show [pictured below], which runs every night of the year. The show features four animated films, aired on a rotating basis, that bring the history of the area to life. It creates a unique experience that both entertains and educates guests.

It’s a highlight for families and visitors of all ages and is designed to make every evening at the park truly memorable.

Interesting. How else is technology changing the way your park runs?

FD: As we know, technology is always changing, so it’s important to change with it.

We’ve streamlined our booking system to enhance the guest experience, including communicating with guests via SMS and introducing a guest portal for payments. This helps reduce wait times at check-in.

We also control the temperature of our heated amenities building via mobile phone.

An electrical device fitted to our water meter alerts us if water usage is above normal, allowing us to quickly investigate. We then use an underground camera to locate leaks and repair any damage.

What steps are you taking to make your park more sustainable?

FD: We’ve introduced a range of sustainability initiatives, including removing single-use toiletries, installing food waste bins in all cabins and around the park and adding recycling crates to cabin decks to make recycling easier.

We’ve also increased the number of bin stations throughout the park and installed an off-site worm farm.

We encourage our guests to help us reduce our footprint and be part of our sustainability journey.

Your park is accredited through the Caravan Holiday Parks Accreditation Program. What value does this bring to your business and your guests?

FD: Being accredited through the Caravan Holiday Parks Accreditation Program shows that we meet high standards in safety, cleanliness, facilities and customer service.

For our guests, it provides peace of mind – they can trust that their stay will be comfortable, well maintained and enjoyable.

For us, it helps maintain our reputation as a high-quality park and gives our team a clear framework to continually improve the experience for everyone who stays.

The Caravan Holiday Park Accreditation Program sets the standard for industry best practice. Designed for operators who lead with professionalism, the program recognises parks committed to excellence in customer service, risk management, and business planning. LEARN MORE about how your park can become accredited.