SEVEN MILE BEACH HOLIDAY PARK

Where: Gerroa, New South Wales

Highlight: All-round water sports

Details: Surf, fish, kayak, paddleboard or swim — it’s your choice in this water lover’s paradise. Stay beachside or riverside, with the Seven Mile Beach National Park forming a leafy backdrop. Rent kayaks, paddleboards or fishing rods, while pedal carts, bikes, and fire pits are also available for hire. There’s also an adorable pet farm onsite containing goats and a talking cockatoo. Otherwise, bring your own: pets are welcome outside school holiday periods and long weekends, and there’s a doggy wash bay for a spot of pooch pampering.

More info: kiamacoast.com.au/seven-mile-beach-holiday-park/

An excellent caravan park is worth its weight in gold. Image: Peter Izzard Photography

NRMA DARLINGTON BEACH HOLIDAY RESORT

Where: Arrawarra, New South Wales

Highlight: Water-based activities

Details: This is a park where boredom is impossible. The water park’s dual water slides, giant tipping bucket, and water play fountains promise to keep the kids cool, while parents can relax at the nearby cafe. Other must-do experiences include riding the pump track, archery, lawn bowls, and playing a round or two at the golf course. For even more watery fun, the surf breaks of Arrawarra Beach are on the doorstep. Creative minds will adore t-shirt, scarf, and drink-cooler making classes. Those with bundles of energy to burn can have a go at hula hooping, scavenger hunts, and volleyball. And the best part? Much of the play happens outdoors to make the most of the resort’s spectacular nature-based setting, situated on the pretty Arrawarra Beach among more than 44 hectares of coastal forest.

More info: nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/darlington-beach/

A Cape Otway local

BIMBI PARK

Where: Cape Otway, Victoria

Highlight: Koalas and kangaroos just off the Great Ocean Road

Details: Bimbi means ‘place of many birds’ in the local Indigenous dialect, but it’s a furrier variety of the animal world that sets Bimbi Park apart. The surrounding manna gums are home to one of Victoria’s largest koala colonies, midway along the Great Ocean Road. Onsite there are climbing walls, playgrounds, and a mini golf course. E-bike tours start and finish here and the park hosts pizza-making nights. Then there are walks to rugged Southern Ocean Beach and the Cape Otway Lighthouse — built in 1848 and still the oldest operating lighthouse in Australia.

More info: bimbipark.com.au

Mountain bike trails at Alivio Tourist Park

TUMBLING WATERS HOLIDAY PARK

Where: Berry Springs, Northern Territory

Highlight: Outdoor cinema

Details: Less than a 30-minute drive from Darwin, the park is the gateway to the Top End’s wildlife, thermal springs, and pristine waterfalls. It’s also only a five minute drive from Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs Nature Park, and Barramundi Adventures, and just an hour to Litchfield National Park. There are 100 shaded, grassy powered sites, as well as a saltwater swimming pool, large camp kitchen, barbecue areas, and a licensed restaurant, cafe, and garden bar. Guests staying at the park can enjoy numerous complimentary activities, including movies under the stars (dry season only, five nights a week), local bush tucker presentations, freshwater croc feeding, and Sunday markets. There are walking trails along the Blackmore River and you can fish for barramundi in the park.

More info: tumblingwatersholidaypark.com.au

ALIVIO TOURIST PARK

Where: O’Connor, Australian Capital Territory

Highlight: Mountain bike park and city access

Details: Caravan parks don’t always have to be located beside beaches or rivers for families to get their kicks. Not only is Alivio conveniently a short drive away from family favourites such as Questacon and the National Zoo & Aquarium, but it’s also surrounded by 38km of mostly beginner-level cross-country mountain bike trails inside the Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve. There’s also a large swimming pool and water play area, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, and playgrounds. Add a state-of-the-art camp kitchen, five barbecue areas, dine-in or takeaway restaurant and bar, a laundry facility, and Alivio makes a great base from which to see Canberra.

More info: aliviogroup.com.au

You can be close to the Gold Coast theme parks

BIG4 GOLD COAST HOLIDAY PARK

Where: Helensvale, Queensland

Highlight: 317m of water slides

Details: Firstly, there’s a multilane body slide, then there are four aqua tube slides, a compact slide, a giant tipping bucket, and a resort-style swimming pool. Throw in a jumping pillow, frisbee golf, table tennis, bocce, foot pool, and an offroad remote-control car track. Add them all up and the kids will never want to leave. But if that’s not enough, this is the closest caravan park to the Gold Coast theme parks. Across the road are Movie World, Wet’n’Wild, Outback Spectacular, and Topgolf. Game World is next door, and Dreamworld and White Water World are just down the road. Pets welcome.

More info: big4.com.au/caravanparks/qld/gold-coast/gold-coastholiday-park

Get the kids out and about

RIVERS EDGE WILDERNESS CAMP

Where: Lonnavale, Tasmania

Highlight: Trout fishing in the Lonnavale River

Details: Rivers Edge is a throwback to simplicity — a place where families can enjoy nature without all the bells and whistles of modern-day caravan parks. The kids will love running around outside, with ample space to kick a ball, play cricket, take a walk, hook a trout, or jump in a swimming hole. Bring the bikes or play a few rounds of disc golf. There are barbecues and outdoor settings, and the Huon Valley doubles as Tasmania’s food bowl and craft centre with studios and galleries abound.

More info: riversedgecamping.com.au

The beautiful waters of Monkey Mia

RAC MONKEY MIA DOLPHIN RESORT

Where: Monkey Mia, Western Australia

Highlight: Dolphins at your doorstep

Details: Located inside the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, this is where successive generations of wild dolphins have been wading into the shallows to be hand fed. The resort underwent extensive renovations in 2018, with recreation facilities including two outdoor pools, a kid’s wading pool, games room, playground area, and tennis and volleyball courts. Kayaks and snorkelling equipment are available for hire and you can fish in the bay. There are 120 caravan and camping sites to choose from, plus a restaurant and bar, barbecues, camp kitchen, laundry, and general store.

More info: parksandresorts.rac.com.au/monkey-mia/

A great base to explore the Barossa Valley

DISCOVERY PARKS BAROSSA VALLEY

Where: Tanunda, South Australia

Highlight: Splashtacular water park

Details: The water park here is one of the best — it’s got three water slides, a huge tipping bucket, and numerous splash zones, one of which is powered by a model horse spraying water from its nose. Playgrounds, jumping pillows, weekend movie nights under the stars, cookie decorating classes, and colouring competitions up the fun quota. And adults will lick their lips at being so close to the epicentre of Australia’s best-known wine region.

More info: discoveryholidayparks.com.au/caravan-parks/southaustralia/tanunda-barossa-valley

It’s the simple pleasures

BIG4 WEST MACDONNELL

RANGES HOLIDAY PARK

Where: Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Highlight: Monster water park and outdoor pool area

Details: Want to explore the Red Centre? This is your place to do it from. Kids will be entertained with multiple pools, a waterslide, jumping pillows, playground, climbing pyramid, pedal karts, basketball courts, BMX track, bike hire, and TV and games rooms. Parents will enjoy the convenient facilities, with camp kitchens and free gas barbecues to light up after a long day of exploring the nearby West MacDonnell Ranges National Park. Be sure not to miss out on the free pancake breakfasts each Sunday morning. Fuel and gas refills are available onsite.

More info: big4.com.au/caravanparks/nt/alice-springs-surrounds/macdonnell-range-holiday-park

Fun for kids and adults alike is the key to an amazing family holiday

COBBOLD GORGE

Where: Forsayth, Queensland

Highlight: Electric boat gorge cruises

Details: In 1993 a cattle station owner motored around a bend in his backyard creek just south of the Savannah Way. He stumbled onto an unknown treasure — a 160 million-year-old gorge with sheer sandstone walls. The actual gorge is so narrow that the guided tours are done on custom-made boats with an engine on each end because there isn’t enough room to turn the boats around. You can spot a croc or catch a barra, and thanks to the opening of an incredible glass footbridge in 2019, visitors can now enjoy Cobbold Gorge from above and below. Cobbold Gorge Village facilities include an infinity pool with swim-up bar, licensed bar and bistro, aqua golf, free kayak use, and guided interpretative walks.

More info: cobboldgorge.com.au

Exploring Cobbold Gorge

RACV COBRAM RESORT

Where: Cobram, Victoria

Highlight: Riverfront location

Details: Murray River caravan parks attract guests year-round thanks to an idyllic climate. There is so much to keep children busy here — facilities include a playground with giant jumping pillows, a recreation room with DVD hire, tennis and basketball courts, BMX tracks, fishing, a putting green and countless walking tracks. Work out in the gymnasium or relax on sun lounges on the deck overlooking the vast outdoor pool. Children particularly enjoy the mushroom waterfall and the rock water fountain in the lagoon-shaped pool. During winter, guests can enjoy the surroundings of the 25-metre indoor pool and spa. The region is home to gourmet produce, river cruises, and plenty of magnificent golf courses.

More info: https://www.racv.com.au/travel-experiences/resorts/cobram.html

Walking tracks are one way to solve the problem of excessive energy

Category: Destinations
Written: Mon 01 Nov 2021
Printed: November, 2021
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