WELCOME TO PARADISE VALLEY
COVID-19 Update
PARADISE VALLEY CURRENTLY CLOSED
Following the implementation of Stage 3 Restrictions on Regional Victoria, Paradise Valley will be CLOSED from Thursday the 6th August until Thursday the 17th of September, 2020.
Bookings welcome for future dates by emailing info@paradisevalley.com.au or by phoning our office on 03 51480291.
Stay safe and many thanks
Steven and Cheryle
Nestled amongst the gumtrees on the bank of the Macalister River, Paradise Valley is one of the state’s best campgrounds to create family memories.
Established in 1884 John Gell “answered the call of the Land” when he decided to leave Geelong and his families tailoring business. He travelled by steamship to Port Albert before continuing to the Lake Glenmaggie area by bullock wagon where John Gell used the current campground area as farmland. The Camping Park was first started in 1974.
The new owners, Steven and Cheryle, strive to recognise Paradise Valley’s history and offer you friendly hospitality in a relaxed family orientated Camping Park.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Justin Rowe
05:51 10 Mar 20
Paradise Valley Campground was recommended through a friend and I'm so glad that we went.Our group with 4 vans spent... the 2020 Labour Day long weekend in the un-powered campground.Despite being booked to capacity, there was plenty of room and we never felt squeezed in at all.The facilities are small for the number of campers, but they are kept spotlessly clean and had the best camping shower I've ever had. Steve and Cheryl were great hosts and we really appreciated their dogs-on-leads and 10 Km/h speed policies. Steve pointed us in the right direction for some firewood, but they also had wood for sale if needed.We just re-used a previous camp's fire place as requested and set up the camp around it.There is 1.5Km of river frontage and when we were there the river was high enough to float through in kayaks and tubes. Several sets of small rapids were a big hit with the older kids and adults, but a bit strong for smaller kids.Plenty of great 4x4 trails in the area to explore, or just sit in a comfy chair and watch the river flow by. We did both.We have already booked again for next year.Thanks again!read more
darren nash
01:36 27 Feb 20
Great time camping with a young family especially good to have a hot shower.
Rob D'Elsini
00:36 23 Feb 20
Such a quiet and relaxing place. I was very impressed with how clean showers and toilet were. Nice to sleep with the... sound of a stream in the background. The stars at night are very bright!read more
Andrew Williams
08:00 17 Jan 20
First time camping at Paradise Valley and not hard to see where the name came from. Great job to hosts Steven and... Cheryle for a beautiful camping ground. We had two families with four kids aged 2 to 6 and for the entire time we camped, electronic devices were not even requested. Instead the beautiful backdrop of the child friendly Macalister River entertained our gang. Already planning our Glenmaggie trip for 2021, see you then.read more
Arodi Dalpathadu
03:38 27 Dec 19
This was the first time taking the kids camping and I was a little worried prior to my arrival. However, this place is... absolutely brilliant. The bathrooms and toilets were cleaned every morning, the location is amazing and the river at your doorstep is a beautiful place for a dip. The owners were very welcoming and gave us all the information we required for a great weekend.read more
Roger Lawrence
11:28 07 Dec 19
Another campsite with aspirations to paradise, and this one get's a lot closer to the mark. So close in fact that we... decided to knock our original road-trip midway point of the Mornington Peninsular on the head, and stay here for three nights rather than one. It's always tough sacrificing "what might have been" when your mindset is road-trip. But Paradise Valley is better than our last two great campsites. By far. Better in fact, than 90% of camping I've enjoyed for over 40 years in 6 countries on 4 continents. Maybe more. What makes it so?The location is nothing short of spectacular. You have to come off the main highway, and travel far into the Gippsland countryside. All on tarred, if winding, roads. Then you drop into the valley itself down onto the McAllister River. The campground is huge, with grassy sites right on the bank of the bubbling river as it winds it's way fully 180 degrees around the site. No sites are marked. Take as much space as you need/want and sprawl lazily under trees or in the meadow as your mood dictates.There is no Internet access. No mobile phone access. Heyfield, the closest town (sic) is at least 20 mins drive away. So this does not attract the crowd looking for a cheap holiday with plenty of activities for the kids, or the young, party animals. Nothing wrong with either of those demographics of course, just this site isn't best suited to them. If, rather, you are looking to get away from the madding crowd. Interrupted by birdsong in the morning, the occasional bleating sheep, and spectacular sunsets. If you wish to be self-sufficient, and get back to camping as you remember it from childhood, with ghost stories and marshmallows around the campfire, scored by the constant burble of the river. Then Paradise Valley is for you.To top it off, there are taps (with attached fire hoses) within easy proximity of any site; a central amenity block sporting flushing toilets and the best showers I've ever had. Period. There are no (need for) security codes, and you could eat off the floors they are so clean. There is a section of the camp set aside with 12 sites for campervans and caravans requiring power. Of necessity, these sites are closer together than the camping field. Whilst we were there only one van appeared. But then, school term. I can imagine the tranquility is shattered during the high season, and without site markings this could become somewhat crowded. That would certainly lesson the appeal, but still position Paradise Valley as one of the top campsites in the country.It is so rare to find a "back to nature" campsite that has decent amenities. Either, you're in what's euphemistically termed a "holiday park" with rows of caravans like terraced council housing, or you're in the bush with composting toilets. The temptation for a campsite is to shoot for maximum revenues and cater for the cashed up caravanners, or reduce cost, aiming for the self-sufficient 4WD'ers. But occasionally, ever so rarely, you find a couple that seek to retain the unspoiled beauty of their property, and provide the facilities for families to enjoy at a reasonable price. This is one of those places. Steve and Cheryle are super friendly, and enthusiastic hosts eager to share the bounty of this Gippsland gem, not to mention their hospitality with the world.Camping is priced per person (hence the "take as much space as you want" principle. Cost is ever so slightly higher than average at $16 per person per day. But really, considering the location, the service, the amount of space you can use, the sense of freedom, I believe this is remarkably reasonable. So we are sacrificing Mornington, Nicholson, and Bright because we've found, well, Paradise.Alas, they forbid drones. This is because numpties have invaded other campers privacy causing them to complain. It is a shame, because the area is so photogenic from the air. Perhaps allowing a scheduled window, and area for flight operations would be a better solution.Access: 5Ambience: 5Cost: 5Service: 5read more
Jessica Jones
09:32 07 Dec 19
The owners are friendly and always happy for a chat and a joke. The toilets and showers are clean. The views... spectacular. The night sky, amazing. Such a big camp ground and it was great to see the sheep run through around dinner time! Thanks Steve for a great stay!read more
Ian Lowe
06:37 03 Oct 19
What can I say, but fantastic. And the Date Scones that the Head Ranger made for a welcoming morning tea had to be... tasted to be believed.read more
Hayzy Adventures
03:43 09 Sep 19
What an awesome spot. Had a fantastic weekend here. Stayed in a cabin. Basic, but had all you needed. (Was BYO bedding... & towels) will definitely come back.read more
