When you think of caravan parks, you most likely picture family holidays, kids running around and a whole lot of chaos. But for Wayne and Kylie Scholz, the owners of the Murray Bridge Tourist Park, those ideas couldn’t be further from the vision they’re creating. 2026 has been about new beginnings for the duo and their park, as they transition it to adults-only, and no, it’s not a nudist camp, not a swingers’ retreat, and not one of those places that makes you awkwardly avoid eye contact at check-in.
Wayne and Kylie took over the Murray Bridge Tourist Park back in 2013 after leaving their government jobs and relocating almost 800 kilometres to Murray Bridge. “We managed two caravan parks over two years (to find out if the caravan park lifestyle was for us) before purchasing Murray Bridge Tourist Park in 2013,” said Kylie. “Having worked in service industries, we were dedicated to ensuring our guests had an enjoyable experience during their stay, and we immediately began to make changes we believed our guests would enjoy.”
With a vision to create a modern resort-style park, they saw the “good bones” and worked to expand and upgrade the facilities, pushing it towards their final vision over the years. That final vision being somewhere guests could come to find a bit of peace while relaxing and kicking back.
“People stay in caravan parks for varying reasons. Some are staying for work, some are simply travelling through and need a place to stay for the night. Others are seeking a quiet place, and others want a fun place with entertainment for the family,” shared Kylie. “Often, there are conflicting opinions of what a park should be or should offer. Park owners sometimes struggle to be ‘all things to all people’, which has traditionally been the case for caravan parks.
“We observed these issues over the years, and in 2023, we reduced our powered sites to build new villas and began an experiment to go adult-only on our remaining powered sites. We have always actively managed our park as a ‘quiet park’ right from the beginning. We have a firm noise policy after 10pm as we believe everyone is entitled to a good night’s sleep, as we are an accommodation venue (sleeping), not an entertainment venue. We also maintained a policy of no bikes, balls or scooters in the park to minimise the chance of accidents involving children and vehicles.”
In 2025, Kylie and Wayne took a break from daily operations and travelled overseas to Southeast Asia to observe various accommodation styles, including some adult-only. During their seven months away, they were very taken with this style of accommodation and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere it provided. They immediately knew that they wanted to bring the same experience to their own guests, and being essentially almost there anyway, they thought, why not actually make it official?
With two other family-friendly caravan parks in town on the river, the switch is tapping into a whole new market. Now, they’re no longer competing with each other while filling a gap in the market. They’re a quiet and relaxed sanctuary for those travelling to or through the area, with a quality selection of reasonably priced modern accommodation and large, easy-access drive-through sites.
While you won’t find the typical jumping pillows, pedal carts, bikes, scooters or bouncing balls, you’ve got thoughtfully designed accommodation that provides larger living spaces, significantly improved privacy, relaxing outdoor spaces that have all been made with higher quality materials. Plus, being less than an hour from Adelaide, it’s a great opportunity to pack up after work on Friday and spend a couple of nights away, still getting to enjoy the fun of caravanning or a caravan park, while also getting a bit of quiet.
So if kicking back on a sunlounger with your shades on, a good book in hand or taking a lap in the pool and enjoying a drink and a barbecue sounds like your type of thing, then the Murray Bridge Tourist Park is one to add to your list.
Murray Bridge Tourist Park
Where: 315 Adelaide Road, Murray Bridge, South Australia 5253
For more information, click here.
