SWANSEA LAKESIDE HOLIDAY PARK – ACCESSIBLE LAKE MACQUARIE ACCOMMODATION

We recently had the opportunity to review Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park’s accessible villa/duplex at Lake Macquarie and we were blown away by the accessible inclusions. We really didn’t think anything could come close to it in regards to accessibility, but two weekends ago we visited Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park. We stayed in a two bedroom accessible villa which was just as good as Belmont and suited our family’s needs even better. I spend a lot of time educating accommodation providers and attractions on the fact that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the needs of people with a disability, so we think it’s fantastic to see Lake Macquarie Holiday Parks offering multiple options within their various parks. Hopefully it means there’s something to suit everyone.

SWANSEA LAKESIDE HOLIDAY PARK – ACCESSIBLE TWO BEDROOM VILLA

There’s nothing nicer than staying in new accommodation, everything is fresh and sparkling clean. Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park’s two bedroom lake view villa (yes, there is a view from the accessible villa!) is spacious, has a good flow for a wheelchair user and has all the modern facilities you need for a weekend, or week, away.

The villa is equipped with air conditioning and a television in the lounge room and each of the bedrooms. Hopefully this will avoid arguments over what’s on TV and the temperature, with everyone being able to escape to their own space if need be. Or you can all blob together (see example below of ultimate blobbing) on the two comfy lounges.

The spacious bedrooms can be set up with a king size bed (as pictured) or as two single beds. AJ walked in and declared that the design was exactly what she’d like in her own bedroom back home. High praise from a teenager, but I have to agree. We loved the space, the minimal furniture, the ability to see the lake from one room and the green of the trees from the other room. We had everything we needed without clutter which is always a bonus when a family member is a wheelchair user.

Bedroom door clearance is 920mm, bed height 600mm, under bed clearance 110mm.

Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park’s accessible two bedroom villa is equipped with two bathrooms which is always handy when travelling as a family. The main bathroom is accessible and can be accessed by either bedroom.  Don’t worry, the doors can be locked to avoid embarrassing walk ins.

The bathroom is large with good circulation space and plenty of room for someone to assist a person with a disability if need be. The toilet is equipped with a backrest, there’s a height adjustable shower with shower bench, lever taps and grab rails are fitted throughout.

Bathroom door clearance 820mm, toilet height to pan 410mm, toilet height to seat 440mm, clearance under sink 660mm and shower bench height 460mm.

The Swansea Lakeside accessible villa is big on storage space throughout which is always handy. It’s often lacking in a bathroom but even in there we found shelving and room beside the accessible wash basin to store bathroom supplies or a cosmetic bag.

The Swansea accessible villa has a dream kitchen with a full-size fridge, microwave/oven combo and a single drawer dishwasher. What makes this a dream kitchen is the amount of storage, plenty for a family to do a week’s shop and have everything put away. The height adjustable cook top and cupboards are a signature feature of the Lake Macquarie Holiday Park accessible accommodation.

A portable hoist is available at the park and can be requested if you need it in your villa. I suggest requesting this when you book your accommodation to avoid disappointment.

For guests unable to reach the glasses in the cupboard above the bench, it can be lowered with an easy touch of a button. If the stove top is too low or too high, again a guest can press a button and within seconds adjust it to the ideal height for their needs.

A washer and dryer machine is neatly tucked away in a cupboard in the lounge area of the villa which also provides additional storage. On good drying days there’s a drying rack (two heights for this so it’s also accessible) on the verandah.

A second bathroom is located behind the kitchen. It has an enclosed shower, toilet and wash basin.

Sliding glass doors are heavy and often pose a problem for people with a disability. At Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park the villa has been designed with a remote control entry using a fob key that has been paired with the door to allow press button opening of the sliding doors. Once unlocked there’s a large button on the outside and inside of the door to use for opening. BJ found it a breeze which is a testament to the ease of use it offers.

Front door clearance 1050mm

We loved sitting on the wide verandah having lunch while watching the activity on the lake. Equipped with a modern barbecue it’s the perfect spot to celebrate the end of the day with dinner and a cold beverage!

You can take a video tour with me below to see a walk through of the villa.

As is usual for BJ he couldn’t wait to join the action so it wasn’t long before we were taking a walk on the level concrete path along the lake front. Everyone was super friendly giving him a wave or stopping for a chat which of course he relished.

It’s also a fantastic vantage point come sunset.

SWANSEA LAKESIDE HOLIDAY PARK FACILITIES

We think inclusion really comes into play when a destination or accommodation provider understand that it’s about more than accessible accommodation. Don’t get me wrong, we think truly accessible accommodation is essential but to enjoy all the facilities a place has to offer, we always look beyond the accommodation. At Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park it is clear it’s been top-of-mind with inclusive features integrated around the park.

A water wheelchair is available to use to access the pool.

Step free access is provided to use the water wheelchair or to walk into the water. A gentle ramp leads into the pool with rails on either side for safety.

The playground features a nest swing and a small wheelchair carousel.

Even some of the bench seating in the common areas have a space for a wheelchair user to sit comfortably.

Visit the Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park website to see the variety of accessible villas available and the inclusions in each villa.

We were hosted for our stay at Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park but as always opinions are our own and a glowing review is based on a fantastic stay.

If you require a pool hoist to access a pool, check out Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park.

We have previously stayed in a poolside villa at Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park and you can read that review here.

If you think the accommodation looks fabulous but you’re not sure what else you can do in the area, then take a look at our post on Lake Macquarie – Wheelchair Accessible Activities. 

On our most recent trip to Lake Macquarie we did a day trip to the Hunter Valley. We took part in a little retail therapy, we had an early dinner with local wine at a winery and then visited the Hunter Valley Garden Christmas Light spectacular. They have 3 million lights on display this year! It took us an hour and ten minutes to get there from Swansea so it was easily doable as a day trip. You can read our tips for a visit to the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular in our blog.