NRMA Portland Bay Holiday Park

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to NRMA Portland Bay Holiday Park on Bentinck Street, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the star rating doesn’t tell the whole story, and this spot really surprised me in the best way possible.

The thing about Portland is that it’s not your typical tourist trap – it’s got this working port vibe mixed with some genuinely beautiful coastal scenery, and this holiday park actually gets that balance right. You’re basically a stone’s throw from the harbor (I mean, you can literally smell the salt air and hear the fishing boats heading out in the early morning), but it doesn’t feel industrial or gritty. The park itself sits in this sweet spot where you’ve got easy access to the town center – honestly, everything’s walkable from here – but you’re still close enough to Portland Bay that you can wander down for a proper beach walk without getting in the car. I actually spent most evenings just strolling along the waterfront, which beats sitting in some sterile hotel lobby any day.

What really won me over was how genuine the whole operation feels. The cabins aren’t fancy, but they’re clean and actually well-thought-out – decent-sized beds, proper kitchenettes that aren’t just for show, and surprisingly good water pressure in the showers. The powered sites are spacious too, if you’re traveling with a caravan or motorhome, which seems to be half their clientele (smart folks, honestly). There’s this relaxed, almost community feel to the place that you don’t get at bigger resorts. Kids were running around the playground while parents had a beer at the picnic tables, and nobody seemed stressed about anything. The staff clearly know their regulars – I overheard conversations about people’s kids growing up, fishing conditions, that sort of thing. It’s the kind of place where families come back year after year, and you can tell why.

Here’s the practical stuff that matters: parking’s never an issue, check-in was painless, and while it can get a bit lively during school holidays (this is definitely a family-friendly spot), it settles down nicely in the evenings. The amenities block is kept spotless, which – let’s face it – can make or break a holiday park experience. You’re also perfectly positioned for exploring the Great Ocean Road if that’s on your agenda, but Portland itself has more going on than you might expect. The local cafes are actually pretty decent, there’s good fishing if you’re into that, and the Powerhouse Car Museum is worth a look if you’ve got kids or you’re a bit of a car enthusiast yourself.

What sealed it for me was the value – an 8.8 rating makes sense when you factor in what you’re paying versus what you get. It’s not trying to be something it isn’t, but what it does, it does really well. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.