Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort & Holiday Village: Lisa visits West Beach in the Adelaide Coast region of South Australia

Over the years, the Postcards team has taken you to some fairly out-of-the-way places for a classic South Aussie break. But not all of us have the time for a camel trek in the Flinders Ranges or a frolic with the Australian sea lions at Baird Bay on the West Coast.

Well how about a relaxing holiday in your own backyard and one that's been given the thumbs up by the Australian tourism industry?

Welcome to Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort and Holiday Village at West Beach - a recent National Tourism Award winner. Not a bad result when you consider the four-star resorts it competes with around the country.

There's twenty four hour beach access, swimming pools, games room with internet facilities, a jumping pillow for the kids, a kiosk, a licenced bistro and three playgrounds.

The nine state tourism awards gathered over a 14 years period, tell you that this place is doing something right. Adelaide Shores' Ron Shattock reckons it's come a long way from very humble beginnings.

"In 1954 the Premier, Tom Playford set aside this 135 hectares of land between the coast and the airport that was being developed at that time. He set it aside to be used for sport, recreation and tourist accommodation for the community of South Australia.

"It's grown a lot since then. It was all salt bush in those days and it was a very small caravan park. It didn't have showers. One of the first meetings of the board of the trust was asked by the people to put in showers. So they put showers in. Then the next meeting they got a letter saying we would really like hot showers."

Old Sir Tom Playford would certainly be proud of what the West Beach Trust has achieved in 53 years. Feeding the ducks down by the creek or just feeding the soul with a well earned break on the sands of West Beach, Adelaide Shores offers something for everyone.

"Some families have been coming here for twenty to thirty years and pass their sites virtually down on to the next generations of families,' said Ron.

For the budget conscious, there's the bunk house which is perfect for large school and sporting groups. It's just one of many accommodation options which include 365 powered sites, 38 ensuite sites, 105 cabins, 2 pools, 2 kitchens, 15 barbecue areas, 4 shower blocks, 3 laundry blocks and a disabled access amenity block. And that's just the caravan resort...

In the holiday village you have the choice of 30 executive suites with spas in a village setting. Perhaps you've got friends coming down from the country. This is great accommodation alternative and from here you can take them to a Crows or Power game in winter as the Footy Express comes right past the resort entrance. Or perhaps a round of golf at the resort's two eighteen hole golf courses is more your style.

The Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort and Holiday Village are located on Military Road, West Beach. For bookings phone 8355 7300.

Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort & Holiday Village
Military Road West Beach
Bookings Ph (08) 8355 7300.

Published 15th April 2007