When you think of a beach holiday, you often think sand, surf – and sun.
But have you ever considered going to a beachside resort in the middle of winter?
We recently had a family getaway at The Retreat at West Beach Parks and it completely flipped our idea of a beach holiday on its head.
Review by Carla Caruso
Holidaying by the sea midwinter meant we got to enjoy more space and serenity at the resort (with less guests competing for the facilities), stunning sunsets, moody beach walks, and indoor cosiness. We’re winter-sun fling converts!
The Accommodation
The West Beach Parks precinct covers 135ha of beachfront land and comprises two accommodation properties, two public golf courses, sporting facilities, a boat haven, and more.
The Retreat is one of the accommodation properties in the precinct, the other being the neighbouring BIG4 West Beach Caravan Park.
The Retreat – formerly known as West Beach Parks Resort – is a little more deluxe than the BIG4, focusing more on the holiday needs of adults, as well as the kids.
There’s a variety of accommodation options available there, from beach shacks to safari tents.
Our family-of-four stayed overnight in one of its new Saltwater Shacks. Ideal for groups of five, the two-bedroom retreats include an open-plan living area, modern kitchen, and a private deck with a barbecue. It’s like a home away from home!
Nicely too, The Retreat itself is located just a 20-minute drive from the city and is conveniently positioned between Glenelg and Henley Beach.
It’s not far from the Adelaide Airport either, so you’ll hear planes overhead, adding to the ‘holiday town’ vibe.
Things To Do
Think you don’t need to pack the kids’ swimmers for a midwinter beach holiday? Think again!
The Retreat’s outdoor pool is heated to 26 degrees all year round. So, our 10-year-old twin boys still whiled away many hours in the water, even though it was 15 degrees outside. As well, the pool area has two waterslides, five cabanas, and super-comfy sun-loungers.
Also at the resort, you can hire go-karts and work up a sweat exploring the area on wheels. Other entertainment options include a jumping pillow, playgrounds, tennis and beach volleyball courts, bikes to hire, and a small gym and games room. (The latter has a few retro arcade games to play on.) Handily, there’s a laundry too.
Each night, the resort also plays movies on an outdoor screen. (It was Matilda the night we were there.) But if it’s too cold out, you can watch the film on the resort’s TV channel at your cabin instead. Or bring your own boardgames for another cosy indoor activity.
For the neurodiverse, there’s a sensory room for some time-out, as well. Included is a lamp projecting soothing ocean waves on the walls, calming music, a hammock, a crash mat, and weighted blankets and cushions.
Beyond the resort, there’s plenty to entertain you including West Beach Mini Golf, aerial obstacle course West Beach Adventure, a skate and BMX facility, the marina, and West Beach Parks Golf.
Food
After we checked in at 2pm, we got our ‘munchies’ fix with snacks from the resort’s reception.
Then, for dinner, we headed to the new $10m West Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which boasts a bar and bistro with jaw-dropping ocean views.
To get there, we exited through gates to the sand dunes, using our keycard. After that, it was a 15-minute stroll along a coastal trail to the club. (E-scooters can also be hired en-route.)
We caught a stunning sunset along the way and, at dinner, enjoyed some acoustic tunes, with live music at the club every Sunday.
Other eateries nearby include steakhouse Fuego by the Sea and the BIG4’s West Beach Eatery and Patisserie. They’re on our list for next time.
Winter beach holidays have just become our new thing!
Get all the 2024 Winter Staycation details here
Location:
Military Road, West Beach
For more information and all booking enquiries, please visit the West Beach Parks website.
All photos by James Elsby for Play & Go Adelaide
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).
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