AusLeisure

BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks Holiday Park has just kicked off work on the park’s most exciting project to date, converting an old fishing trawler into the centerpiece of a sprawling $750,000 castaway themed waterpark.

Rescued from the shores of Port Macquarie, the 16 metre fishing trawler will be transformed into a replica tall ship and the centrepiece of the new water park which BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks Chief Executive Tony Mayne, says will add even more fun for families holidaying in the region.

The new aquatic attraction will feature the wrecked tall ship partially submerged in a lagoon-style pool, a rock waterfall, two crows nests; one that is a tipping bucket and the other the kids can climb the rigging to get up to and of course an array of slides.

Construction on the castaway themed water park is well underway and Tony hopes to have it completed for this year’s Christmas school holidays.

Mayne admits the ambitious project might not be the easiest way to create a water park, but he says that’s what makes the new park feature so special, stating “swimming through and playing on, above and below this grand old lady is bound to awaken the child in us all. If this doesn’t drag kids away from their electronic screens nothing will.”

The castaway theme was chosen because it’s timeless and invokes a sense of adventure for young and old alike. Kids will relate to modern pirate movies while parents and grandparents will be reminded of great adventure classics like The Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe.

The park’s staff members have already embraced the theme and can be seen wearing pirate and period costumes as they go about daily duties, much to the children’s delight. Tony has even engaged a former movie set builder to consult on the project to make sure the water park and pirate ship look as real as possible.

Mayne adds “we want to create things that inspire a child’s imagination and let them get lost into their own fantasy, allowing them to dream in real time as if they are there, so it has to look and feel real but still be safe! The list of different consultants involved in this project is crazy.”

Holiday destinations in Australia are diverse and constantly evolving and Mayne sees that the holiday park experience has to evolve to stay current and competitive.

He explains “we already boast facilities and activities that rival most hotels and this water park is the icing on the cake. I don’t see us as just an accommodation provider, we’re creating unforgettable holiday experiences.”

It’s a vision that saw Mayne re-brand the park to Big4 Sunshine South West Rocks last year, feeding into the park’s mantra of putting sunshine in people’s lives and changing them for the better.

He concludes “as parents become increasingly time poor, our aim is to provide a fun-filled atmosphere for families to reconnect and create memories that families of all types will cherish for years to come.

“Holidays aren’t measured by campsites or cabins even though ours are awesome, how do you put a value on the joy in a child’s face and the memories you take with you. That is our purpose.”

Mayne hopes the new castaway themed experience will attract new guests to the area and further position BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks as one of Australia’s number holiday experiences in one of the country’s favorite tourism hotspots.

To find out more about wonderful holiday experiences at BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks or for more information about BIG4 Holiday Parks around Australia, visit www.BIG4.com.au.

15th August 2014 - BIG4 LOOKS FORWARD TO BIGGEST EVER NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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