There’s nothing quite like the feeling of kicking back in a camping chair, hair wet from a quick dip, sausages on the barbeque. For a quintessentially Australian summer holiday, pack your car and jump on the road straight to the coast.
These are to our favourite beachside camping spots and caravan parks around Australia. If you have more – tell us on our Facebook page.
Airlie Beach, QLD
Airlie Beach is your ticket to the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef. It boasts several major caravan parks, with jumping pillows, mini golf courses, waterslides and swimming pools galore. The best thing about Airlie is its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. So head off on a snorkelling tour or a boat trip to explore this underwater paradise.
Jervis Bay, NSW
TThe NSW South Coast is the perfect blend of bush and beach. The best caravan park is in Huskisson, a sleepy coastal town in between Sydney and Canberra with a proud shipbuilding history. Inside the Booderee National Park there are more remote camping options – I have fond memories of hand-feeding beautiful rainbow lorikeets at Green Patch campground and walking the trails at Telegraph Creek.
Rent a bike and cycle around St Georges Basin. Explore the white sands at Hyamms Beach or just chill out and relax together as a family.
Lake Macquarie, NSW
If prefer the North Coast of NSW, try Hawks Nest. Jimmy’s Beach is my personal favourite. Climb the Yacaba Spit for spectacular views. Maybe you’ll spot a dolphin or two. If you’re willing to travel even further up, you’ll land at Port Stephens, then at Seal Rocks, another popular beach spot for NSW families.
Coles Bay, Tasmania
Freycinet National Park is a triple threat – ocean, bush, and some smashing campsites. Families can also book cabins for more comfort. Hike up to a lookout with astonishing bird’s eye views of Wineglass Bay. Check out the pink granite of the Hazards at sunset and swim at a secluded, sandy inlet.
Marion Bay, SA
Marion Bay sits on the picturesque Yorke Peninsula. The Marion Bay Caravan Park has the creature comforts of home combined with the excitement and tranquillity of a bush camp. Innes National Park, in all its lush, green glory is only a stone’s throw away. Be sure to visit its lighthouse, shipwreck and walking trails. Watch out for emus as you explore the ruins of the abandoned Inneston township, once a mining hub. If you prefer, you can actually camp in the national park and soak it all up.
Yallingup, WA
What’s not to love about the Leeuwin-Naturaliste region south of Perth? Yallingup has caves, lighthouses, walking tracks and majestic granite formations. Kids will love snorkelling in the calm reef-enclosed water. Try whale-watching at Cape Naturaliste and bird-watching on Sugarloaf Rock. Yallingup has a great caravan park with camping sites, caravan spots and cabins with camp kitchens and BBQs.
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Sophie is a die-hard pasta lover, beach-goer and theatre fanatic hit hard with the travel bug. When exploring new places, Sophie loves straying from the beaten path and chatting with locals about the best places to grab a bite to eat.