What is glamping, and what’s in the tent?
Glamping is a tent somebody else has already put up, furnished and heated, with a real bed made up inside it. You arrive with a bag rather than a boot…
Family holidays are changing. Once it was parents and children in one tent or van. Now, more often, it is grandparents, adult children and sometimes even the family dog, all sharing the same destination but with space to unwind in their own way. Across Victoria, this new style of multi-generation travel is reshaping how families take their breaks. It is relaxed, flexible and allows everyone to enjoy the same trip without living on top of one another. Marysville Holiday Park has become one of the clearest examples of how this works in practice. Marysville sits in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, around ninety minutes northeast of Melbourne. The park itself is set beside the Steavenson River, lined with towering mountain ash and walking distance from cafés and shops.
The layout makes shared holidays easy. Glamping tents are grouped on one side of the park, offering quiet space for couples. A short walk away, the pet-friendly cabins and powered sites cater for larger groups. Between them are shared areas such as barbecues, picnic tables and a playground where younger travellers tend to gather.
It is not unusual to see three generations staying together here. Grandparents might relax in a riverside cabin, parents in the Lyrebird glamping tent and children playing between the playground and the riverbank. The family still spends mealtimes and outings together, but everyone has their own corner to relax.
As one recent guest wrote in a review, ‘We booked both a glamping tent and a cabin, which worked perfectly for our family. Mum and Dad had their own retreat, and we were just a few steps away with the kids and our dog.’ Tourism Research Australia has noted steady growth in multi-generation and family-group holidays since the pandemic, as families look to reconnect in ways that balance togetherness and personal space. Visit Victoria’s Family Holidays insights show that regional destinations with flexible accommodation types such as cabins, villas, glamping and caravan sites are performing strongest among domestic travellers.
Marysville fits this model perfectly. Parents can book a two-person tent for a romantic night away while still being close enough to help with breakfast or take the kids for a walk to Steavenson Falls. Grandparents can join without needing to navigate steep paths or stairs, and the pet-friendly cabins mean four-legged family members do not have to stay home. Imagine a long weekend in the Yarra Ranges. The grandparents arrive first and settle into a cabin overlooking the river. They bring the family dog, happy to stretch its legs on the park’s walking paths. An hour later, the parents check into the Lyrebird glamping tent. They unpack a bag, pour a glass of wine and sit on the deck listening to the sound of the river. The children are already at the playground, running between the swings and the games room.
Dinner happens together around the park’s barbecue area with laughter, stories and a shared dessert under the stars. Later, the grandparents turn in early, the children fall asleep in the cabin and the parents walk the short path back to their tent where lantern light flickers through the canvas.
It is a scene repeated often here. Small comforts, shared space and a rhythm that suits everyone.
• Layout designed for variety: Cabins, glamping tents and caravan sites are all within walking distance of each other.
• Pet-friendly cabins: Families can bring dogs, while glamping remains couple-only for peace and privacy.
• Proximity to nature: Steavenson Falls, Lake Mountain Alpine Resort and river trails are minutes away.
• Shared facilities: Firepits, camp kitchens and picnic areas encourage connection across generations.
This flexibility is part of what makes Marysville one of the most adaptable caravan parks in Victoria. It is a place that welcomes everyone without compromising comfort.
Beyond the park, Marysville itself feels built for family time. The main street has cafés that welcome children and pets, while nearby attractions such as Bruno’s Sculpture Garden and the Marysville Lolly Shop add simple, nostalgic touches to a weekend away.
For those wanting something more active, the trails around Steavenson Falls and the gentle river tracks near the park make easy walks for all ages. In cooler months, Lake Mountain offers snow play and in summer it transforms into a wildflower plateau. The appeal of this kind of shared escape is longevity. Each generation experiences the same trip differently. Quiet mornings for grandparents, mountain walks for parents and playground adventures for children. Everyone leaves with the same set of memories.
It is the kind of trip that becomes a family tradition, repeated with new faces and the same easy rhythm each year. Marysville’s mix of glamping, cabins and open space is what makes that possible. Yes. The glamping tents are designed for couples, but they sit just a short walk from the family cabins and caravan sites, making it easy to combine both. Dogs are welcome in selected pet-friendly cabins but not inside the glamping tents. This keeps the area peaceful while still allowing families to travel with pets. Yes. The park is flat, accessible and close to the town centre, which makes it easy for grandparents and less mobile guests to enjoy. Steavenson Falls, Lake Mountain, the playground in Gallipoli Park and the local café strip all offer something for different generations to enjoy together.
