Step inside the spacious, well-appointed glamping tent and you'll realise you didn't need to bring half the things that you did. Very generous on bedding, pillows and towels, the tent is comfortable. 

However you are situated next to the toilet blocks which can get very busy and noisey between 7-9pm which can be a tricky time when you're putting the kiddies down. In our case we just turned on the portable air con which nicely drowned out the chatter as well kept the tent cool. 

The resort has three outdoor swimming pools, including a heated indoor pool and a thrilling waterslide...and in the peak season they do get busy. So much so that you'll be struggling to have enough room to swim, rather you're just getting more of a dip. 

The waterslide closes between 12-1pm, and is very popular in the afternoons, but the wait is not too long and very much worth it for the kids. 

There is one large playground with a jumping pad and a large green field which is where we spent most of our time. Again it gets very busy, and not very suited for the younger ones, however there are 3 other smaller playgrounds dotted around with one of them being fully fenced and nicely shaded during the heat of the day. 

The team at Mandalay put on events during the peak seasons. We got to experience a foam party (which was a highlight of the trip), as well as a movie night and visits from coffee and food trucks. 

They have a booking tradition that allows you to rebook the same accomodation every year. You just need to commit before you check out. You will also receive a discounted re-booking rate. 

Mandalay really is a must try once experience if you have young kids. You may love it, you may not, but you may end up finding it becomes a yearly pilgrimage like so many other families who frequent there. 

They also offer chalet and campsite accommodation options. For more info visit https://mandalayresort.com.au/.