Finding wheelchair friendly accommodation in the mid-range price bracket is often difficult. Those in the upper range and newer properties are more likely to have accessible accommodation. But not everyone can stretch their holiday budget that far so it was refreshing to find Edgewater Gardens (a mid-range property)has wheelchair friendly units.
One of our regular Facebook followers, Sharon, is a manager at the property. Sharon has been keeping me up to date with The Bay Push which is establishing an all-inclusive, all-seasons playground at Corrigans Reserve at Batehaven. Edgewater Gardens is close to Corrigans Reserve which is home to a Liberty Swing (wheelchair swing) beach matting and beach wheelchairs. Hearing all about The Bay Push I was keen to visit Sharon and to check out Edgewater Gardens.
Edgewater Gardens has two wheelchair friendly apartments. One was free for me to check out so I jumped at the chance.
The one bedroom apartment has water views from the lounge and from the outdoor courtyard.
The combined lounge and kitchen area is spacious making it easy for a wheelchair user.
I opened the high kitchen cupboards (yep, I have already disclosed I’m a sticky beak) and was pleased to find them empty. All the crockery is stored at an accessible height. You’d be surprised at how many wheelchair accessible properties we look at where everything a visitor would use the most is out of reach of a wheelchair user.
There is no room for a wheelchair to fit under the sink in the kitchen but the bench is designed to be at wheelchair height.
The double bed lounge folds out for additional bedding
It is refreshing to have a view from a wheelchair friendly unit and the view out to Casey’s Beach is lovely.
The king size bed takes up most of the bedroom meaning that there is only space on one side to transfer from a wheelchair to the bed (left side).
The bathroom is fitted with grab rails, there is ample room to transfer from a wheelchair to the toilet, a hand-held shower is installed and a shower chair is available for guest use.
There is a ramp at the front door and on the door leading out to the courtyard for smooth entry and exit.
Parking for the one bedroom unit is right at the door meaning there isn’t far to wheel or walk and everything is level.
It is fantastic to see a property with equipment for guest to use including a shower chair, mobile hoist and over the toilet chair. The two bedroom unit has a ceiling track hoist.
Although the beach over the road is not wheelchair accessible it is only a five minute drive to Corrigan’s Beach where the Sandcruiser or the smaller Sandpiper can be borrowed from the Clyde View Holiday Park (free to borrow but you do need to book). If you are unfamiliar with the beach wheelchairs you can read more about them here.
An exciting development at Edgewater Gardens is that Sharon has been successful in applying for a grant to install a pool hoist chair. It is hoped this will be installed by March 2016.
If you’d like more information on Edgewater Gardens you can check their website here.
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