Following the catastrophic fires of December and January, most fire-affected communities in NSW and SA are back open for business and are imploring visitors to return. We reckon the caravan community should pack up their vans and heed the call. The following caravan parks are some of the best you’ll find anywhere, mostly in waterfront locations for that perfect, late Summer holiday.

WORDS EMMA RYAN

1. Racecourse Beach Tourist Park, Bawley Point, NSW

Set on 46-acres of bushland with beach frontage at beautiful Bawley Point in the Shoalhaven region, Racecourse Beach Tourist Park is the perfect spot for a relaxed family holiday or a quick escape. Bawley Point is located halfway between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay, within easy weekend distance from Sydney and Canberra. The park lays claim to the largest kids’ playground on the South Coast plus has a huge activity centre and a 25-metre swimming pool, not to mention the beach within metres of your campsite. So it’s perfect for the whole family!

Bawley Point is a quiet coastal hamlet with pristine white sandy beaches. Anglers can catch whiting, bream and Australian salmon from the beach, and board riders travel from afar for the excellent surf break. Close by you’ll find Meroo National Park and Termeil Lake for exploration on foot or by kayak. 

2. Riverglade Caravan Park, Tumut, NSW

Riverglade Caravan Park is perched on the banks of the Tumut River in the charming town of Tumut, in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. The park is quiet and relaxed, with powered and unpowered caravan sites in riverfront or bush settings. It has direct access to the river for trout fishing, kayaking and swimming.

Tumut is an idyllic mountain town with tree-lined streets and eclectic shops to explore. It’s close to Kosciuszko National Park where there are easy 4X4 tracks and historic cattlemen’s huts to discover. Yarrangobilly Caves and the attractions of the Snowy Hydro Scheme are both an easy drive away. Located just half an hour from Gundagai, off the Hume Highway, Tumut is an excellent place to break up a trip between Sydney and Melbourne.

3. BIG4 Hahndorf Resort, Adelaide Hills, SA

Located on 32 acres of park-like grounds with incredible views over the Adelaide Hills, the BIG4 Hahndorf Resort is just 20 minutes from Adelaide. It offers drive-through powered sites for larger caravans, as well as regular powered sites on its landscaped and terraced grounds. The park has mini-golf, a jumping cushion, a swimming pool and a bistro.

Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, unabashedly proud of its heritage. Its tree-lined main street offers artisan stores, lolly shops, art galleries and German-themed pubs. It’s a great base to explore the broader Adelaide Hills region, which has beautiful wineries, restaurants and parks. Differently beautiful in every season, the Adelaide Hills is especially magical in Autumn, so now’s the time to get planning that caravan adventure.

1. Tuross Beach Cabins and Campsites, NSW

Tuross Beach Cabins and Campsites proclaims itself, ‘a place so you’ll good you’ll want to keep it a secret’. And while we reckon that sounds about right, we thought we’d spill the beans so you can pen this one into your touring itinerary.

With total beach and lake frontage, the park looks straight across the ocean to Montague Island as well as over the tidal inlet and Tuross Lake. Campsites are spacious with some in beachfront locations with unobstructed views of the water.

Tuross Head is 50km south of Batemans Bay and is a postcard-perfect destination surrounded by tidal lakes, beautiful beaches and the Eurobodalla National Park. It’s ideal for fishing, surfing, kayaking, swimming, hiking or simply lazing around in the shade with a good book.

ABOVE Image credit: Kerrie-Anne Benton; Eurobodalla Coast Tourism // BELOW Image credit: Destination NSW

2. NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park, Port Macquarie, NSW

A beautifully landscaped waterfront property, NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park is centrally located in Port Macquarie, bordered by the beach, the town centre and the Hastings River. The park has powered slab and non-slab sites, plus unpowered sites, some with shade. There’s a resort-style swimming pool, a kids’ club (in school holidays) and a playground, plus it’s a short walk to the local skatepark. For fishos, there’s a number of excellent spots to dangle a line off the breakwall that borders the park.

Port Macquarie is home to the largest population of koalas on the east coast, many of which were killed or injured in the recent bushfires. Visit the Koala Hospital to see these cuddly critters up close and support those who are working to heal injured wildlife and restore their natural habitat.

ABOVE AND BELOW Image credits: Destination NSW

3. Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park, Kangaroo Island, SA 

Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park is located in Penneshaw, just 300 metres from where the Sealink ferry lands. Close to the shops, restaurants and facilities of Penneshaw, it’s the ideal base for your Kangaroo Island adventures. The park overlooks beautiful Hog Bay, which direct access to a safe, sandy beach for swimming and watersports.

Although much of the western third of Kangaroo Island was badly damaged in the bushfires, the eastern part of the island where this park is located remains unaffected and is a beautiful place to holiday. Find more information here. With much of its economy hinging on tourism revenue, the people of Kangaroo Island need their fellow Aussies to visit now more than ever.