GUIDE BEST CARAVAN PARKS IN MELBOURNE 

MELBOURNE’S TOP 6 CARAVAN PARKS

Visiting Melbourne's bright lights can be done with your RV in tow - here's how

WORDS JANIE MEDBURY, IMAGES VARIOUS

1. Discovery Parks – Melbourne
The Melbourne Discovery Park is the perfect option for those travelling with a van who want to be as close as possible to Melbourne’s main attractions. You will be just half an hour away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can check out the Melbourne Star, aquarium, loads of trendy cafés, and some of Australia’s best shopping, including the Queen Victoria Markets. And a bonus for sports fanatics –the MCG and Etihad Stadium are close by to the park.

There are all the features you’d expect of a Discovery Park, including an activity room with games, a TV and reading lounge, camp kitchen, barbecue, playground, swimming pool, laundry and dump point. You can also connect to the free WiFi on your electronic devices. From $48 a night, you can park the van on a paved powered site, or snag an ensuite site for an extra tenner a night. Unfortunately, the park is not dog-friendly, so this one’s a no-go if you have your four-legged friend with you.

DESTINATION DETAILS
Distance from CBD: 11km / 30 mins

Getting to the CBD: You can either take the State Route 32 or State Route 8 to get to the CBD. Both routes are roughly 11-12km, and with moderate traffic should take you around half an hour. 

Address: 129 Ashley St, Braybrook, Vic 3019

GPS: -37.7977728, 144.8772372

You don't even need to leave the park to enjoy the water

2. Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park
If you stay at the Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park, you will be in prime position to explore the city and its surrounds. It’s only half an hour from the CBD, and even less than that to Melbourne Zoo, which makes for a fun family day out. Or why not enjoy a picnic on the picturesque banks of the Yarra River, where you can also throw a line in from one of the jetties or embark on one of the many trails, either via bike or simply take a stroll.  

In typical Big4 fashion, this caravan park supplies its guests with premium facilities, including a solar-heated swimming pool and spa, adventure playground and indoor playland, recreation room, modern camp kitchen, laundries with washing machine and dryer, and even a gym. There are plenty of powered, unpowered and ensuite sites to choose from, set among shady trees and manicured gardens. Note, however, that pets are not allowed at this park. 

DESTINATION DETAILS
Distance from CBD: 9km / 30 mins

Getting to the CBD: There are a few different ways you can reach the CBD from this park, with the fastest being via Lygon Street. You can also take the M2, which adds roughly five minutes to your journey.

Address: 265 Elizabeth St, Coburg, Vic 3058

GPS: -37.7676729, 144.8899714

ABOVE: The kids will have a blast in the water playground

BELOW: Plenty of accommodation options are on offer, from cabins to caravan sites 

Explore the nearby Ivanhoe Shopping Centre

You will be greeted with warm hospitality upon entering the park's reception area

3. Fiveways Caravan Park 
Situated in Dingley Village, Fiveways Caravan Park offers pet-friendly powered and unpowered sites to pull up the van or camper-trailer. You will have access to toilets, showers, a dump point, washing machines and camp kitchen. Although this park isn’t as flashy as some of the other bigger parks around Melbourne, the service is said to be very friendly and accommodating, the park is well-maintained, and in a great location central to shops and restaurants with an easy drive to the city.

Be sure to explore Dingley Village during your stay; in particular, Braeside Park is worth a visit, and it’s only 10 minutes from Fiveways. Braeside boasts a wonderful natural environment of wetlands, heathlands and red gum woodlands, making it easy to forget that you’re on the outskirts of a major city. As for fun activities, Dingley Village has plenty, including adventure mini-golf and SuperZu, an exciting indoor play park for the kids.

DESTINATION DETAILS
Distance from CBD: 40km / 45 mins

Getting to the CBD: Despite the name of the park, there’s three ways to get to the CBD, and each have tolls. The M1 is usually the fastest route.

Address: 597 Lower Dandenong Rd, Dingley Village Vic 3172

GPS: -37.887086, 144.9460839

4. Crystal Brook Tourist Park 
Crystal Brook Tourist Park is popular with travellers thanks to its peaceful, shady grounds that offer plenty of room to spread out and relax. You will have use of modern facilities, including a well-equipped camp kitchen, a covered outdoor eating area with free barbecues, and a laundry. There’s plenty to keep the kids occupied too, including a shaded swimming pool, bouncy pillow, adventure playground, and a games room complete with table tennis, arcade games and a big TV. Prices start from $39 a night for a powered site.

Located in Doncaster East, the park is near to plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and cafes; there’s plenty of surrounding parks to explore too, including Ruffey Lake Park and Doncaster Reserve. To see a treasure trove of history, visit Schramm’s Cottage Museum, just a 10-minute drive from Crystal Brook Park. Better yet, the park is only 30 minutes from some of Melbourne’s best wineries, less than an hour from the must-see Dandenong Ranges, and just 40 minutes from the CBD.

DESTINATION DETAILS
Distance from CBD: 27km / 40 mins

Getting to the CBD: Simply merge onto the M3 in Blackburn North from State Route 13, then take the Rathdowne Street/State Route 46 to Elizabeth Street in Melbourne. All up, it shouldn’t take you more than 40-45 minutes to reach the heart of the city.

Address: 182 Heidelberg-Warrandyte Rd, Doncaster East Vic 3109

GPS: -37.7810203,144.9998675

5. Werribee South Caravan Park
Werribee South Caravan Park is a recently upgraded park with 34 powered sites that can accommodate even the largest motorhomes and caravans, with sites up to 15 metres long. It’s less than an hour’s drive from the CBD, and offers competitive rates at just $33 a night during off-peak periods. It is a pet-friendly park, so you don’t have to leave the pets at home. In addition to the usual facilities, the park also has tennis courts, playgrounds, a barbecue area and laundry. There’s even easy access to one of Melbourne’s best walking trails, the Bay Trail.

When you’re not out exploring the inner-city attractions, why not take a day to see what Werribee South has to offer? The caravan park is across from some great fishing spots that have pier and boat ramp access, but if that’s not your thing, there’s also the Werribee Open Range Zoo, where you can experience an African safari-style adventure, or the K Road Cliffs, which boast magnificent views of the Werribee River. There’s also a peaceful, isolated beach – perfect for watching the sunset while munching on some delicious fish and chips.

DESTINATION DETAILS
Distance from CBD: 40km / 45 mins

Getting to the CBD: Merge onto the M1 from Diggers Road and Duncans Road/C108; take exit 3 from Citylink/M2 and continue on State Route 32.

Address: 39 Beach Rd, Werribee South Vic 3030

GPS: -37.8873383, 144.6819316

6. Frankston Holiday Park 
From $38 a night, you can stay just 50 minutes away from the city at Frankston Holiday Park on one of their pet-friendly concrete or grass sites, which are large enough to accommodate fifth-wheelers. You can make use of the park’s amenities block, coin laundry, dump point and undercover barbecue area with sink, table and bench seats. Plus, you can cool off in the outdoor pool during the summer months. The local area has hundreds of parks and reserves, with walking and bike tracks, creeks, bushlands and wetlands.

You will be just 20 minutes from the Mornington Peninsula, with its waterfront restaurants and cafes, beautiful gardens and galleries, and bays that are perfect for sailing, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking and more. Don’t forget to tour the wineries while you’re there; even if you’re not keen on wine-tasting, there are some impressive gardens and country scenery that is sure to impress, or, at the very least, offer some great photo opportunities.  

DESTINATION DETAILS
Distance from CBD: 50km / 50 mins

Getting to the CBD: Get on Mornington Peninsula Freeway/M11 in Seaford, then follow Eastlink/M3 and M1 to Kings Way/State Route 60 in Southbank. Take the Kings Way exit from M1 and continue on State Route 60.

Address: 1325 Frankston - Dandenong Rd, Carrum Downs Vic 3201

GPS: -37.9436857, 144.8059774