What are caravan parks in Australia?

Caravan parks in Australia offer a massive range of budget accommodation, from unpowered camping sites to en-suite cabins.

Caravan parks in Australia are, at the simplest level, cheap accommodation. Just how cheap will depend on location and just how many facilities you’re after. But Australian caravan parks rival hostels for budget accommodation, and they arguably offer more freedom too.

Caravan parks vs tourist parks and holiday parks

Caravan parks in Australia also go by different names. Sometimes they’re called tourist parks, and sometimes they’re called holiday parks. Much of this is just marketing, but as a general rule, the places that try to tart up the name are trying to get Australians to spend their holiday there.

The Mallacoota Caravan Park in Victoria. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Where caravan parks in Australia differ from UK holiday parks is the culture of travelling around in a campervan or recreational vehicle. Even those with caravans in tow can do things differently from their UK counterparts.

In the UK, caravanners pick a spot, stay there for a few days, then drive back home. In Australia there is a much bigger culture of long road trips, travelling from place to place, staying for a few days in each. This doesn’t make a great deal of practical difference, but in Australian caravan parks, there tends to be less emphasis on bars, restaurants and entertainment. There’s a higher level of self-sufficiency, and less treating the park as a destination in itself.

Outback station accommodation

Many caravan parks in Australia are independently operated, although chains such as Discovery Parks and Big 4 also run parks. There are also some on massive outback cattle and sheep stations, such as Quobba Station in Western Australia or Kings Creek Station in the Northern Territory, where the accommodation is just a sideline.

Perhaps the most bewildering thing about Australian caravan parks is the sheer range of accommodation options on offer. The most basic option is usually an unpowered site for a tent. Then come unpowered sites for campervans, and the powered sites where you essentially plug your vehicle into the mains. There are also en-suite sites, where you basically park next to your own private toilet block.

Cabins on Australian caravan parks

Not all the accommodation in Australian caravan parks is aimed at travellers with their own campervan or caravan, though. There will often be a frankly confusing range of studios, huts, cabins, chalets and cottages as well. The more plush they get, and the more facilities they have, the more they cost. Some of the more luxurious cabins can end up costing more than a room in four star hotel.

Caravan parks tend to offer value and space – they’re often in scenic spots on the coast or in forests. But convenience isn’t the strong suit. They’re usually a little out of the town centre. This is especially the case in expensive places such as Sydney and Noosa. Sydney caravan parks and the caravan parks in Noosa really aren’t where the action is.

Australian holiday parks and tourist parks aim primarily at self caterers. They’ll usually have barbecue facilities. But If you fancy dining out and bar-hopping, Australian caravan parks aren’t really designed with you in mind.