The Coorong Island Waterfront Retreat Family Holiday

This secluded holiday home getaway had us adults at ‘water views on all sides’. And for the kids (7 and 9), the sight of alpacas, sheep and goats as we arrived meant it was off to a great start. A two-night break over the school holidays was delightful. Next time we’d definitely stay longer, because it felt like we were just beginning to properly wind down.

In this waterfront accommodation, there’s room for a much larger family or to bring some friends. Of the three bedrooms, two have bunk beds and the house sleeps up to twelve guests in total.

The immediate surrounds of the Meningie accommodation are enclosed by fencing, so it’s perfect if you want to bring your family dog. Our retriever had an absolute ball, with animals to meet, walks galore and a bit of water time. (Bear in mind, you do need to be respectful of the local birds and wildlife.) The fencing will also give peace of mind if you bring small children.

You know you’ve really escaped the hustle and bustle here, with wide open skies, and only the sounds of nature to provoke your thoughts. This truly is a holiday on your own private island – without a hefty price tag.

A ‘RV house’ Coorong cabin near the property’s entrance are your nearest neighbours. It’s amazing really that this waterside paradise is only 90 minutes out of Adelaide. We highly recommend it as an alternative to the usual beach holiday, especially if you love to feel immersed in nature rather than in other holidaymakers. We had this place all to ourselves.

The house is beautifully equipped as a home-away-from-home, including two bathrooms and full laundry facilities. These came in handy after a bit of water’s edge exploring by the kids. The kitchen has everything you could need, including a dishwasher which is a welcome sight at the end of the day. Who wants to do dishes on holiday?

We brought most of our food with us but made a dash to the Foodland at nearby Meningie for a few extras. A lot of our cooking was done on the barbecue out on the covered deck. It just felt like the best way to maximise our time in the beautiful outdoors. We were rewarded with the sight of magnificent pelicans landing on the water and we even saw what we think was a rakali (native water rat) swimming near the reeds.

To keep the kids amused, we toured the nearby Meningie Cheese Factory Museum, a charming and very ‘country’ experience packed with local history. Of course, the kids spotted the Meningie Bakery (they have an incredible radar for bakeries wherever we go), so we kept the little tummies happy with some baked treats.

Although we spent our holiday on the Coorong mostly ‘unplugged’, we were grateful for the smart TVs and internet access in the evenings. The kids were happy with a bit of screen time, and we adults could enjoy the sunset uninterrupted, with a glass (or two) of wine. Bliss.

Part river island retreat, part farm stay with animals, part beach holiday, this is like no other accommodation on the Coorong. Come see for yourself.