Adana CYC

Google “family camps USA” and you will find hundreds of entries.  Family camps are a U.S tradition providing families with a budget friendly all inclusive holiday with an emphasis on embracing nature and new friendships together.  Google “family camps Australia” and the offerings are scarce.  There are a few stand out exceptions.  CYC (Christian Youth Camps), an organisation that runs school holiday camps for primary and high school kids runs week long family camps optimising the use of their excellent facilities and expertise in fun during summer.  Occurring annually  at both their Phillip Island and Yarra Valley properties,  I’d experienced CYC as a young teenager so when my online searching for a family camp option revealed they were in the business of delivering them I was happy to give it a try.

Adanac CYC is a 13 acre property in Yarra Junction, a short 80 minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD.  It may as well be a world away.  For the duration of the camp my kids played under the eucalyptus and frolicked in the recreational lake, quickly making new friends.   Resident wildlife that  wandered into the camp – an echidna and a wombat were quickly surrounded by curious children but were obviously used the the human company – they shuffled off unconcerned by the attention.

Camp Adanac

The water sports recreational equipment is equivalent to that at any five star resort.  We tried canoeing, and stand up paddle boarding.  A waterslide runs down the hill into the lake at a rapid pace and kept our own resident adrenalin junkie’s dopamine pathways stimulated.  Turns on the water-trampoline are supervised for safety such that I felt comfortable taking my two year old out on it wearing a life jacket.  Other outdoors activities kept the children engaged during afternoon recreations sessions – archery, a low ropes course and flying fox among them.

Camp Adanac

As well as paid staff Adanac is staffed by volunteer leaders – the equivalent to camp councillors at USA family camps.   Their emphasis was on strengthening families – parents are given time out to enjoy the camp and beautiful Yarra Valley together.   This occurs in two blocks.  Kids attend a Sunday School like activity between 10 and 12.  During this time on some days there were adventure activities for adults – mountain boarding and flying fox.  After dinner there is a supervised children’s activity for an hour and a half. There is also facilitated family fun each evening for two hours.  None of this is compulsory though – families are free to attend as little or as much of the communal activity as they want.

Adanac CYC

The camp is unapologetically Christian and I have thought about whether it is suitable for families who don’t identify as such.   Families that are sympathetic to the Christian faith, but are not Christians themselves would feel very comfortable.  Mealtimes are communal and commenced with a simple grace however there is no religious program for the adults.   The only session provided for adults at Camp Adana was an informative session from an outside speaker on keeping kids safe online – again attendance was voluntary.  As long as parents feel comfortable having their children attend the daily devotional activity the camp is suitable for non-religious families.  I know that I will be inviting other families to attend with us in the future and am not worried they will feel out of place or pressured to be converted.

In terms of accommodation – we stayed in a family room with a queen bed and two doubles as well as an ensuite bathroom.  Rooms are minimalist but were newly renovated, air conditioned and comfortable.  Family camp guests bring their own linen.

Camp Adanac

Meals are served family style – family camp guests need to feel comfortable dining with strangers.  The best descriptor for our table mates is “unpretentious”.  We dined with stay at home parents and university professors, extended family groups and single parents.  Each time the welcome was warm and the conversation easy.  Breakfast was a standard continental buffet of toast, cereal, yoghurt and fruit.   Lunch and dinner are basic camp style meals – only one option although various dietary needs are catered to.   This was a challenge for my picky eaters however as the town of Yarra Junction is a short walk away families have easy access to other food if need be.

In short – Camp Adanac CYC is a winner.  In terms of all inclusive family vacations – at just over 800 dollars for our family of five for five nights it is the best value vacation we have had.  We will be going back I’m sure – and looking out for other family camps to try as well.

Subscribe to Bubs on the Move's newsletter to keep updated on great places to visit with kids, travel tips and giveaways.

Your information will NEVER be shared or sold to a 3rd party.