Ten acres  is a good size for a park with 141 sites.  It means there's plenty of room for everyone and the sites are set well back from the Princes Highway, so traffic noise is never a problem.
Tandara Caravan park is 20 years old, with a well earned four star rating.  All the sites have power, concrete annexe pads and a private ensuite bathroom.  The landscaping is excellent and there's plenty of tall tree shade everywhere on nicely level sites.

The owners are Peter and Eva Dobell.  He's a great big, friendly ex-policeman and Eva, born in Poland, is a warm and lively ex-draughtswoman.  They have run the park for the past eight years, during which time they have spent much money and effort to continualy upgrade the establishment.  They really love the life and the guests who stay with them.

If you are approaching along the Princes Highway from the west, you will find the park on your left, 6kms after leaving Morwell.  If approaching from the east, you will find it on your right, 6kms from Traralgon, on the corner of Village Avenue.  On the facing corner is the modern Latrobe Regional Hospital, with a major air and ground ambulance service at the rear.

Not only is there plenty of space for strolling, romping and ball games, but there are also many excellent facilities for guests to enjoy.  For a start, there's a well stocked kiosk at the reception desk and next door is a vast, carpeted games room, with pool and table tennis tables, video games, plus areas for indoor bowls or other social activities and plenty of chairs and tables for functions.  Eva told us it will seat 100 with ease and heating is no problem on chilly days.

Behind the office is a salt water swimming pool with a big, undercover barbecue setting and a tennis court close by.  In the reception area is a book exchange where you can swap yours for some you haven't read.  Small areas of children's play equipment are dotted about.

The laundrette is one of the biggest we've ever come across in a park of this size, with seven automatic washing machines, five dryers, sinks, ironing gear and plenty of rotary hoists outside.  Add a well made guest car park, security park entry, kerbed and made roads, an international card phone booth outside the office and a good bus service that stops outside the park at regular intervals, to travel the 2.5kms to the nearest shopping centre, and you have all the ingredients for a pleasant day or two in a green rural setting.

Each site has an individual power meter, a sullage point and water tap.  The ensuite bathrooms at the rear of each level site have a shower, toilet, vanity basin and a chair inside.  Dogs are accepted in the park, on a leash at all times and at the discretion of the park owners.

The next project on the Dobells' drawing board is a modern bunkhouse and campers' kitchen and from what we heard, it will not be too long before construction begins.   Peter and Eva are also hoping to encourage more people, particularly retirees, to settle in the park on a permanent basis in relocatable homes and are currently discussing this prospect with a Melbourne manufactured home builder.  There are good family cabins available for rental by the day or week and each of these also has its own ensuite bathroom.  They are light, bright and spotless inside, with very well maintained fixtures and fittings.  Each has its own parking bay and most are prettily landscaped. 

The bird life in this park is prolific, with rosellas galore, kookaburras and many other species.  This park is an ideal base for exploring the Gourmet Gippsland route, visiting wineries, cheese factories, delis and country restaurants.  it is also a simple and pleasant rural drive to the Tarra Bulga National Park, with its wonderful treetop suspension bridge; to the pretty old fishing village of Port Albert on the south coast; along the Grand Ridge Road, or to visit the delightful historic mining township of Walhalla.  There's also boating on the warm waters of Hazelwood Pondage 15 minutes distant; power station tours at Power Works; the wetlands at Sale and much more.  You could easily spend a week here and do something different every day.

Gwen Haslar.  ..Caravan World. (December 2001edition, page 68)

Copyright ©2005 Tandara | Sitemap
maintained by getchill designs