Several Victorian holidaymakers who cancelled their bookings due to December's Great Ocean Road bushfires are thousands of dollars out of pocket after being refused a refund.

The fires destroyed 116 homes on Christmas Day and burned for a month before eventually being contained.

A number of people have contacted 774 ABC Melbourne to complain that the Cumberland River Holiday Park, outside of Lorne on the Great Ocean Road, had refused to refund their money despite having advised them not to visit.

Caller Tony, from Sunshine in Melbourne's west, said his family had holidayed at the park for 30 years.

He said his family was $7,000 out of pocket after cancelling this year's booking on the advice of the park.

"On the Friday [January 1] we rang them and they confirmed that it will not be opened," Tony told Rafael Epstein.

"They had been told by the emergency services [they would be closed], very likely, until the end of January, and to go ahead and book somewhere else."

The Cumberland River Caravan Park have refused to comment.

Photocopied letter 'very cold'

Luke, another 774 ABC Melbourne listener, said his family had booked a site at the park for a week from January 3.

"The roads were closed and we obviously couldn't get in," he said.

The roads reopened the next day and Luke was told his family could go and camp at the park for the remainder of the week.

"With the fire still raging out of control we thought it best not to go, to put my family at risk," he said.

Luke said the campsite has no phone coverage or internet access and thus no way to stay informed of the bushfire threat.

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Caller Roger, from Kew in Melbourne's east, said he cancelled his booking because the park's website had indicated the campground would be closed for the whole of January.

"We'd probably be out of pocket of $3,000 to $4,000," he said.

"We're pretty aggrieved."

Caller Daniel from Fitzroy said he was told the money he had paid would be credited towards another stay.

However, a photocopied letter sent out by the holiday park since informs those booked for the week of January 3 that only the first day of their booking would be refunded.

"It's a very cold letter," Daniel said.

Luke said he still had not received the refund for the first day.

He said he understood the holiday park was a business and could not provide a full refund, but said he expected better than the photocopied letter.

"We thought maybe something a bit more personal or possibly a reduced rate for our next booking," he said.

Tony said he called the holiday park after receiving the letter to complain because an employee of the park had told him to cancel the booking.

He was told the person who gave them that advice no longer worked there and that the holiday park was not responsible for the staff member giving him that information.

"That to me is unacceptable," he said.

Refund complaints divide audience

Some audience members commenting on 774 ABC Melbourne's Facebook page do not think the holidaymakers deserve a refund:

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"Bigger picture — bushfire, horrendous experience for all involved, give them a break. If you have holiday insurance maybe it's best to go through that." — Kirsty

"You all need to read the terms provided before you pay and if you don't like them, don't book." — Breffni

Others, however, were more sympathetic to the holidaymakers' complaints:

"You didn't get the service, of course you're entitled to a refund. The campsite can claim it through their insurance." — Lisa

"Definitely money back ... do you want repeat business or cheesed-off people who could go somewhere else." — Gail

Other Facebook commenters could see both sides of the story.