'I cracked the code for holidaying as a single parent on a budget.'

When you're a single parent, family holidays can be a bit of a sore point. The invites to join other families tend to dry up — not because you don't bring the vibes, but because you don't bring that male plus-one to balance out the couple dynamics.

And while solo adventures with your kids are precious, they can be expensive. Plus, there's no denying that having another grown-up around to share the load (and a glass of wine after bedtime) makes all the difference.

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That's why I decided to try something different: a holiday with another single mum and her two boys, who happen to be the same age as my sons. And let me tell you, I've cracked the code for the ultimate family holiday.

The accommodation game-changer.

First up, we booked a motorhome from Camplify. It's a van sharing community that has a huge collection of campervans, motorhomes and vans for hire for long and short trips.

Instead of shelling out a small fortune to buy your own (and then figuring out where to store it), you can hire one and get a taste of nomad life.

Meet Winne! Image: Supplied

The owners were so helpful, they took great care in showing us the set-up before we departed and were on call when we couldn't figure something out.

We rented a Winnebago motorhome called 'Winne' and we loved her. She sleeps up to 6 people, she had an awning, air conditioning, kitchen, fridge, microwave, gas cooktop, shower and toilet.

From $300 a night, it's cost-effective accommodation and the boys loved the novelty of it. It was also great if you're like me and want to have a camping-type experience, but like to sleep off the ground with sturdy walls!

Before we headed off, we picked up all our essentials at our local Coles to make sure we had quality but budget-friendly options for the weekend, too.

Commune breakfast time! Image: Supplied

Resort vibes on a budget.

We parked our home-on-wheels at a powered site at the BIG4 Bays Holiday Park - Port Stephens in Anna Bay, and honestly? It felt like we were at an accessible resort, minus the eye-watering price tag. They have powered sites available from $40 per night and the facilities were every kid's dream.

The almighty pool at BIG4 in Anna Bay. Image: Supplied

They had an awesome swimming pool with a water slide that our boys couldn't get enough of. A jumping pillow that provided hours of entertainment. This humble pillow of air was arguably their favourite thing about the holiday. There was a basketball hoop, an outdoor giant chess set, and table tennis.

They have a communal kitchen, well-maintained BBQ areas, and family-friendly bathroom facilities with lovely hot water for showers.

The infamous jumping pillow. Image: Supplied

The perfect parent-kid balance.

Here's where having another mum along was genius:

The kids had built-in playmates and we could tag-team supervision duties. Mealtimes and BBQ cooking were social events rather than solo cooking missions. After the kids went to bed, we actually had adult conversation. And it actually felt like a holiday, not just parenting in a new location.

Ladies on the grill! Image: Supplied

And what I love as a bonus about these types of holidays is how the kids make 'holiday friends'. They were running around in little packs and at nighttime too. When you're on a camp site, they can experience that 1970s' freedom and autonomous adventure in safety.

The only 'complaint'.

If I had to nitpick, our only 'problem' was that the kids were having so much fun at the holiday park, they protested whenever we suggested exploring the beautiful Port Stephens area! We did manage to drag them to the stunning local beaches occasionally, but the pool and jumping pillow had some serious magnetic pull.

When they finally agreed to going to the beach! Image: Supplied

A holiday park stay with a motorhome rental worked out significantly cheaper than traditional resort accommodation or renting a home on the beach. Plus, having our own kitchen meant we could cook and prepare our meals rather than eating out.

The verdict.

This holiday format ticked all the boxes:

For parents looking to crack the core memory-making holiday code on a budget, I cannot recommend this enough. Book a motorhome and head to a holiday park. It's the perfect blend of adventure, comfort, and companionship — without the hefty price tag.

Annaliese travelled as a guest of Camplify. All views expressed are the author's own.

Feature image: Supplied.