Whether you prefer the remoteness of surf camps like WA’s Gnaraloo or the plethora of kids’ attractions at Cairns Coconut, Jennifer Ennion uncovers awesome campsites for your next camping holiday.
Lucky Bay and its sapphire water steal the limelight in Cape Le Grand National Park, but the less touristy campground is down the road. You’ll find roos among the dunes there, too, and you can surf, fish and 4WD.
2. RAC Margaret River Nature Park
Save your holiday dollars for the cellar doors by staying at this seaside bush retreat. Acquired by RAC in 2018, the property has a mix of cabins, safari tents, dorms and campsites. It’s a great base for enjoying Margaret River’s markets, breweries and, of course, wineries.
Perfect for surfing families, 3 Mile Camp at Gnaraloo is easily one of the best seaside campgrounds in Australia. It’s remote, attracts self-sufficient travellers and delivers serious swell. Non-surfers will enjoy snorkelling Ningaloo Reef and beach fishing.
A standout due to its excellent location in Karijini National Park, Karijini Eco Retreat’s accommodation ranges from safari tents to dorm-style cabins and unpowered campsites.
5. Florence Falls Campground
An absolute Top End must-see is Litchfield National Park and the best way to make the most of a visit is by staying at Florence Falls campground (4WD access). There are showers and toilets, and it’s only a short walk to the popular falls.
Whether you’re pitching a tent or in a motorhome, Ayers Rock Campground is a great Uluru option. Located within Ayers Rock Resort, it’s only 15 kilometres from “the rock”, and within reach of restaurants and galleries – and you can partake in the resort’s free daily activities.
7. Cape York Camping Punsand Bay
As you travel to the tip of Cape York, you hear rumours of the excellent woodfired pizza at Punsand Bay and after roughing it to get there, you’ll deserve a few slices and a cold one. Other reasons to stay are the pool, beachfront campsites and the short distance to “the tip”
8. BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
Far removed from the wilderness of Cape York is one of Queensland’s most impressive parks, BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut. With a splash zone, swimming pools, jumping pillows, a games room, playgrounds and a restaurant, families never have to leave.
9. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort
Giving Airlie’s resorts a run for their money is this award-winning holiday park in Cannonvale. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has large cabins and a tonne of grass sites. The family will love the water slides, toddler splash area, pool, playground and jumping pillows.
10. BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
A favourite in the Caravan & Camping with Kids office, BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park seems to always be innovating. The park’s latest drawcard is a water park so splashtastic the family may never leave the resort.
With water slides up to 10 metres tall, a tipping bucket that holds a literal tonne of water and four closed-in slides (complete with an internal light show), you and the kids will be slip-sliding to your heart’s content. Add to that the jumping pillow, dog agility park, off-road remote-control car track and frisbee golf, and you’ve got a cracker holiday in the making. Oh, and did we mention it’s across the road from Movie World and Wet’n’Wild? Because, uh, it is.
11. Secura Lifestyle Lakeside Forster
This park makes our list for its value for money in a region where campsite costs skyrocket in peak season. Families will want to make the most of the pool, playground and lake fishing.
12. NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park
For those who enjoy going bush, this Bathurst park promises to impress with a slew of new accommodation options, including studio units, two- and three-bedroom cabins and ensuite sites.
Nestled next to the Thredbo River, and surrounded by the peaks of the Snowy Mountains, the National Parks-run Ngarigo Campground is the perfect alternative to expensive accommodation in Thredbo. If you stay in summer, bring the bikes to explore the winding Thredbo Valley Track, which passes through the campground. Make sure you boil any water you get from the river.
14. Tweed Holiday Parks Kingscliff North
This cosy beachfront park has luxury cabins, spacious safari tents with ensuites tents and traditional sites, plus accesible amenities, sheltered barbecue areas and Wi-Fi.
Offering the only pet-friendly camping in Canberra, Exhibition Park is great for the entire family – fur babies included. This no-frills campground also makes our list for convenience to the CBD and attractions.
16. BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park
It’s in a prime position for learning about the Central Highlands’ gold-rush days, but there’s plenty of entertainment on site, too. Kids are front of mind with a solar-heated swimming pool, jumping pillow, giant checkers and two playgrounds.
Mention camping to a Victorian and Wilsons Promontory National Park will come up. Picture granite mountains, thick rainforest and rugged beaches. Pitch a tent at Tidal River Campground, where there are a whopping 484 sites.
18. NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park
Closeness to Port Arthur Historic Site and a cool toddler-friendly pump track are reason enough to stay here. There’s also a large camp kitchen and 16 hectares of bushland.
19. Swimcart Beach
Free campers will want to put Bay of Fires Conservation Area on their hitlists. Unhitch among the dunes at Swimcart Beach; you’ll need power and water
In the stunning Ikara-Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound offers the chance to experience the desert and learn about Aboriginal culture. Go 4WDing, mountain biking, bushwalking and hop on a scenic flight.
21. BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park
Enjoy prime riverfront location at this boat-lover’s paradise on the Murray River. At BIG4 Renmark, families will find a kangaroo jumper, adventure playground and water park that will effortlessly keep kids occupied while parents make use of the barbecues for a riverside picnic.
22. Western KI Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve
Immerse yourself in Kangaroo Island’s nature at Western KI Caravan Park, where only a few steps from your site you can expect to meet native wildlife including wallabies, koalas and echidnas.
This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
Main image Le Grand Beach Campground WA © Jennifer Ennion
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