12 caravan parks in QLD and the best local attractions

With beaches, rainforest, reef and islands, Queensland is a caravan and camping nirvana. Here’s where you should go.

BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park

Helensvale, Gold Coast

BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park

as never looked more inviting. Situated across the road from Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild, kids will adore the dog-friendly park’s central location.

Little ones don’t need to venture far to get their kicks, with a monster water park, heated lagoon pool with slide and kids paddling pool on site.

Choose from powered or unpowered sites, one- and two-bedroom cabins and villas, luxury three-bedroom creekside retreats, pet-friendly studio cabins and motel-style accommodation. The spacious two-bedroom villas and terraces are big enough to hold a family up to six people and boast modern kitchens and spacious dining and lounge areas.

What’s more, a new amenities block features a large, clean and well-lit camp kitchen, barbecues, showers, large-capacity laundry, a parents’ room, baby baths and facilities for the disabled.

Along with the usual holiday park offerings like a jumping pillow, there’s an exciting range of new outdoor activities such as foot pool, bocce, frisbee golf and an off-road remote-control car track, ensuring hours of fun. For nature lovers, the park is home to several koalas and the occasional visiting kangaroos – there is even a creek where you can catch a fish or two.

Things to do nearby

Hit up Australia’s biggest and best theme parks or soak up the stunning scenery of the Gold Coast.

Read: The best things to do on the Gold Coast with kids

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Airlie Beach, Queensland

Set among 10.5 hectares of beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, just four kilometres from the main street of Airlie Beach, this award-winning escape is a destination resort that’s packed with family fun, and offers easy access to the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.

With brilliant accommodation options from budget to spare-no-expense luxury, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort lures happy families back over and over again. And it’s no surprise, with the resort also boasting Airlie Beach’s biggest lagoon-style resort pool with three water-raining mushrooms, twin slides, a rejuvenating bubble seat, shaded kids’ wading area and poolside massages.

There’s also a mammoth water park with 13 water slides, 18-hole mini-golf course, an adventure playground, a full-size floodlit tennis court, basketball, volleyball and table tennis, plus pedal karts, an animal park and open-air movie nights. If that’s not enough, there’s a supervised Kids’ Club for four- to 12-year-olds on Saturdays and during school holidays.

As a winner of more than 40 tourism awards, plus taking home gold at the prestigious Qantas Australian Awards in 2012 and 2018, the family-owned BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is loved by guests for its excellent position, consistently friendly service and innovative accommodations, activities and facilities for families.

Explore… Take the time to explore the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands by boat or seaplane.

Read: One week exploring Airlie Beach

Brisbane Holiday Village, Queensland

The family-owned and -operated Brisbane Holiday Village is located just 15 minutes south of Brisbane City and 20 minutes north of the iconic Gold Coast theme parks, making it one of the most central and luxurious caravan parks in the Brisbane area.

Spread over 13 hectares with well-kept tropical gardens, the park offers the perfect place to relax while the little ones take advantage of quality resort-style facilities. Kids will love the huge range of family-friendly facilities, including a large resort-style swimming lagoon, kiddies’ splash-pool with water fountains, 18-hole mini-golf course, multi-purpose sports field, 350-metre bike track, children’s playground area, tennis court, table tennis, barbecue area, free Wi-Fi, photo booth and daily lorikeet feeding. There’s also a fully licensed on-site restaurant and convenience store open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Book direct with Brisbane Holiday Village and receive 10 per cent off daily rates, a free family game of mini-golf and other exciting vouchers to use during your stay.

Accommodation options range from luxurious, self-contained two- and three-bedroom Holiday Cabins to spacious powered, unpowered and ensuite sites for tents and caravans.

Nearby… The on-site tour desk can point you towards the very best of Brisbane’s must-see attractions, sporting venues, shopping centres and main events. Click here for the top 20 things to do with kids in Brisbane

BIG4 Sandstone Point Holiday Park, Greater Brisbane

You can get the best of the sun, sand and sea just a stone’s throw from BIG4 Sandstone Point Holiday Park‘s stylishly appointed villas with a stay on the shores of Pumicestone Passage. With a ginormous swimming pool and its very own water park complete with an 800-litre tipping bucket, the park provides entertainment in spades. Bring your own tent and make the most of the barbecues and fire pit, or enjoy a little bit of luxe on your stay in the family safari tent complete with private alfresco dining area.

Drop by … Bribie Island for secluded beaches, lush national parks and a paddleboat trip made extra special by the pods of dolphins that often pass by.

BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort, Airlie Beach

Looking for a back-to-nature approach on your next Queensland escape? Check in to BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort, just five minutes from beautiful Airlie Beach. Previously Flametree Tourist Village, this family-owned and -run caravan park is a nature lover’s dream, set on 2.8 hectares of shady tropical foliage just next to Conway National Park with plenty of wildlife – possums, brush turkeys, curlews – for the kids to make friends with.

This relaxed and friendly atmosphere is only made better by the family-friendly facilities on site, including a pool, stunning barbecue areas, a jumping pillow, go karts and a camp kitchen. If you’re visiting during the school holidays, take advantage of the special kids’ club so you can enjoy some well-deserved R&R while your little adventurers keep busy with games and activities. Best of all, this tropical oasis is pet-friendly.

There are villas, studios, apartments and a host of powered and unpowered campsites to choose from, as well as 10 brand-new Eco Lodges and Deluxe Eco Lodges. These self-contained two-bedroom retreats sleep up to six with air conditioning and beautiful mountain views to enjoy.

Do… BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort is just minutes from Shute Harbour, the gateway to the 74 islands of the awe-inspiring Whitsundays. Ask the park’s friendly and experienced staff about tours and bookings.

Read: The Whitsundays family-friendly travel guide

Agnes Water Beach Holidays, Discovery Coast

Beachfront at Agnes Water, you won’t find a better location than this. Wake up to the sound of the waves, go for a surf, pop into town for a bite to eat and take the kids to the nearby playground to make new friends.

Make time … to snorkel with turtles at Lady Musgrave Island on the always colourful Great Barrier Reef.

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, Cairns

A splash park, giant jumping pillows, mini-golf, playground, indoor play centre, multiple pools, trikes, an outdoor cinema, restaurant and gym make Cairns Coconut easily one of the best holiday parks for families not only on the East Coast but also in Australia.

Make time … for a day on the Great Barrier Reef with family-friendly Sunlover Reef Cruises.

Habitat Noosa, Sunshine Coast

A holiday park with a bush vibe, Habitat Noosa offers families a great mix between comfort and wilderness. There are glamping tents and grass sites on the large property, and mobs of kangaroos welcome you in the mornings.

Drop by … Noosa for a surf, swim and stroll down the boutique- and cafe-lined Hastings Street.

Read: 23 family-friendly things to do on the Sunshine Coast

Mission Beach Camping and Caravan Park, Tropical North Queensland

The back-to-basics but the perfectly poised Mission Beach Camping and Caravan Park is a few footsteps from one of Australia’s best stretches of sand: Mission Beach. Replete with Instagrammable palm trees, you’ll undoubtedly park your ‘van and never want to leave.

Drop by … the Rotary Splash Pad at Wongaling Beach. It’s perfect for tiny tots and little ones.

Nobby Beach Holiday Village, Gold Coast

Looking to escape to the iconic Gold Coast? This is the place to be. Just 20 minutes north of Gold Coast Airport and smack bang in the middle of all the theme parks, Nobby Beach Holiday Village is the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy a holiday where you can do as little or as much as you like.

With public transport on your doorstep, it’s easy to explore all the attractions that make the Gold Coast a family favourite. Walk across the road and immerse yourself in Nobby Beach’s fabulous cafe and dining precinct, which will have you savouring flavours from all corners of the globe.

Within the park itself, you’ll find two heated pools, a 35-metre mega water slide, an undercover playground, free Wi-Fi, a mini-mart, laundry facilities and a state-of-the-art camp kitchen.

Families can relax in a range of accommodation, from ultramodern two-storey Garden Penthouses sleeping up to 12, to simple studios and powered sites. With every creature comfort you could possibly imagine, the park is a dream destination for a family escape.

With affordable options for all styles and budgets, choose from four-bedroom penthouses, two-bedroom villas or a studio. The park also offers powered sites for campers.

Explore… Visit the theme parks on the Gold Coast, ride the waves at Burleigh Beach, or just hang around Nobby Beach for great food and surf. There is an amazing range of restaurants available right across the road.

Coolum Beach Holiday Park, Sunshine Coast, QLD

With consistent waves and glassy waters, Coolum Beach is the quintessential Australian surf beach, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than staying on absolute beach frontage at the Coolum Beach Holiday Park.

Sites with direct access to the patrolled surf of Coolum Beach make this park one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular camping and caravan destinations and families with a four-legged friend won’t miss out either: the park also accepts dogs on application. Choose from powered sites, as well as one- and two-bedroom villas.

Make time… Hit the beach, take a walk along the headland or climb Mount Coolum.

The park is within easy walking distance to shops and restaurants, as well as the Coolum Beach Surf Club (great for bingo nights) and the Coolum Beach Bowls Club.

And as if the world-class surf wasn’t enough, there’s plenty of dry-land adventure to go around too. Stroll along the headland boardwalk, go for a spot of early morning fishing, cycle along the designated bike paths, take your pick of two nearby golf courses or walk to the top of Mount Coolum and take in the spectacular views across the Sunshine Coast.

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Noosa, Sunshine Coast

For some fun in the sun, escape to BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Located in the tranquil riverside town of Tewantin, the park is just a short drive from the Hastings Street shopping precinct, Noosa Main Beach and Noosa National Park.

From the resort-style pool to the jumping cushion, games room and giant outdoor movie screen, you’ll never be short of activities that will keep the whole family entertained.

The park boasts a range of accommodation to suit families of all sizes, from one-bedroom studios to three-bedroom villas that sleep six. Caravanners and campers are kept happy as well, with a range of powered and ensuite sites available, as well as a camp kitchen and barbecue facilities.

Explore… While there’s plenty to do within Tewantin and Noosa, the park is a perfect base for adventures further afield as well: both Great Sandy National Park and the attractions of the Sunshine Coast – such as the Big Pineapple and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium – are just around 40 minutes away by car, and can easily be done in day trips. Or just drive around the area to discover some of Australia’s most iconic sand, sun and surf.

This article originally appeared in Caravan & Camping with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.

Which park is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

Main image: Boiling Pot Lookout, Noosa © Queensland Tourism & Events