Tubing at Camp Coolamatong

I stumbled across the idea of family camps a couple of years ago.  The all inclusive model for a family escape is appealing, but traditional all inclusive resorts challenge the budget not to mention being few and far between in Australia.  Family camps offer an all inclusive package of accommodation, food and activities for the entire family in rustic camp style accommodation.  So while there may not be cocktails by the pool there is the peace of mind of knowing that meals are taken care of and there will be no opportunity for kids to complain they are bored due to the onsite structured adventure options.

The kids loved the farm animals at Campcoolamatong

Over summer I took two of my children to Camp Coolamatong on the Gippsland Lakes for a family camp with Scripture Union.  We bunked in a camp room with an ensuite and enjoyed communal dining of home-style meals with other families.  Camp Coolamatong has two distinct areas – a farm and lake camp.  Staying at the farm camp meant the children wandered out to collect eggs in the morning (and chase a few chickens) and enjoyed wide play with other kids even before breakfast was served.

The camp is on gorgeous Lake Victoria

My animal loving son couldn’t have imagined anything more wonderful than catching a ferry to Raymond Islands and koala spotting, stumbling on an echidna on our walk, and watching a mob of kangaroos each evening as he played in the farm paddock behind the camp.

The water activities at Camp Coolamatong are first rate.  Stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and tubing behind a speedboat were all included in our package.  I loved that parents were encouraged to be involved in all the water activities too (and that speedboat went fast!).

Sailing at Camp Coolamatong

The camp is staffed by paid employees and volunteers.  A Christian organisation, there was a daily devotion or Sunday School type activity for the kids.  Although the religious content of the camp will not be to everyone’s taste families with differing world views are welcome .  As we headed off from camp with a 4 hour drive ahead of us home one of the lovely volunteers ran out to our car and handed the children an activity pack to keep them entertained during the drive – this definitely has never happened when we’ve left the traditional all inclusive resorts.

No time for screens

Scripture Union runs a number of family camps over summer including one for single parent families and one especially for families with children on the autism spectrum.

If you don’t want to wait till summer Camp Coolamatong is running a number of parent and child camps (for children aged 9-15) this term:

Subscribe to Bubs on the Move's newsletter to keep updated on great places to visit with kids, travel tips and giveaways.

Your information will NEVER be shared or sold to a 3rd party.