Tiona Holiday Park review

With a surf beach on one side and a calm lake on the other, Tiona Holiday Park is the perfect place for water-loving families to holiday, writes Eliza Velk.

If your holiday essentials include being by the water, then you won’t be disappointed at Tiona Holiday Park on the Barrington Coast in New South Wales. Set between the shores of Seven Mile Beach and Wallis Lake, this coastal suburb offers the best of both worlds when it comes to water activities. It’s the perfect relaxing setting for families to unwind amid the great outdoors.

Pet friendly accommodation options

Whether you’re avid campers, caravanners or prefer the luxuries of a cabin, Tiona Holiday Park caters to all – pooches included. Scattered either side of The Lakes Way coastal road is a range of powered campsites, grassy and slab sites, and pet-friendly sites.

Amenity blocks are all within walking distance, as well as a swimming pool, communal kitchen and barbecue area. There is even a cathedral and a waterfront conference centre. These make the caravan park a great spot to unite extended family and friends for special occasions. If you’re travelling in large groups, you may consider The Beach House, which sleeps 10 people, or The Lake House, which sleeps eight.

Celebrating or not, the outdoor Green Cathedral – which comes complete with wooden pews framed by palms on the banks of Lake Wallis – is a beautiful sight to check out. In fact, tranquil spaces are a common theme in Tiona. Despite being only 15 minutes south of the thriving town of Forster, the ambience here is utterly peaceful. Campsites and cabins are nestled between cabbage tree palms and lush forests. They provide shade and privacy, while the open spaces at the beach and around the lake make crowds feel scarce.

Immersed in the bush

The park is all about complementing nature rather than competing with it. As such, don’t expect a water park or games room – nature is your playground. Kids can build sandcastles at the beach, play hide and seek in the trees or go swimming in Wallis Lake. The lake has plenty of shallow water, making it great for little ones who want to splash about. For the older kids, lake activities include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing and even snorkelling. Or you can grab your walking shoes and hike Booti Hill Lakeside Walking Track. It’s a seven-kilometre loop that runs through the rainforest at Booti Booti National Park and along the lake’s shores. It’s a bit of a climb, but you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views from the headland.

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Exploring the Barrington Coast

While it’s easy to while away days at Seven Mile Beach right on your doorstep, it’s also worth checking out some of the neighbouring stretches of sand. Elizabeth Beach, Boomerang Beach and Blueys Beach are all a stone’s throw away. They are great for swimming, surfing (lessons are available) and whale watching in winter. A little further south is the popular Seal Rocks, famed for excellent surf beaches and a lighthouse with panoramic ocean views.

Of course, you can also travel north to Forster and check out the main beach. Or the tranquil Tuncurry Rock Pool – a protected swimming area with flat, turquoise water. This picturesque spot is particularly attractive for families, although the beach here is not patrolled so keep watch for tidal changes. If you get tired of swimming, there are plenty of shops and lunch spots to uncover in Forster, as well as an entertainment centre and a cinema in Tuncurry. Then meander back to the park to watch the sunset over the lake – you won’t want to miss it.

This article originally appeared in Caravan & Camping with Kids magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue here.

All images © Tiona Holiday Park

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