Ten camping ideas for spring that will make you want to pitch your tent now

BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks Holiday Park

With four million international and domestic visitors enjoying a caravan and camping holiday in New South Wales (NSW) in YE Mar 2017, the trend of getting back to nature on a camping holiday is certainly on the rise.

Spring is the perfect time to explore Rural and Regional NSW, with the warmer weather and longer nights favourable for camping conditions.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said the diversity of the NSW landscape and development of world-class caravan and camping experiences have contributed to a continued growth and appetite for this relaxed style of holidaying.

“Whether you’re getting back to nature or seeking a more luxurious experience, a caravan and camping holiday is an easy way to spend quality time with family and friends and enjoy the stunning landscapes and attractions of NSW,” Ms Chipchase said.

“From glamping under the stars on an immersive Aboriginal experience to escaping with the family to one of the many ‘resort style’ holiday parks, NSW is home to a wonderful array of caravan and camping options from the bush to the coast.”

Destination NSW suggests the following ten caravan and camping holiday ideas for spring:

1. Along the coast between Coffs Harbour and Yamba, Boorkoom campgroundin Yuraygir National Park is the perfect place to set up camp for a few days. Offering clifftop sites overlooking beautiful beaches, the area is great for surfing and fishing. To explore more of the Clarence coast, follow the path of the coastal emu by hiking the multi-day Yuraygir Coastal walk.
2. Beer and holidays go hand in hand, so thirsty holiday-makers will be glad to call BIG4 Wallaga Lake Holiday Park homebase. Located in Bermagui, the holiday park was the first in Australia to have an onsite brewery, as well as being the Sapphire Coast’s first micro-brewery. Renovated in early 2017, the Camel Rock Brewery at historic Allowah House, boasts an American style menu and a great range of craft beers on tap.
3. Combine luxury glamping at Tilba Lake Camp with an immersive Aboriginal cultural experience, and you will have memories to last a lifetime. Ngaran Ngaran’s new Djirringanj Dreaming Tour in the Narooma/Tilba region is a must-do South Coast tourism experience. The tour will see participants explore a range of Dreaming sites in Yuin Country and learn more about traditional Aboriginal culture on a two day experience. At night you’ll sleep under the stars in style at Tilba Lake Camp in a Lotus Belle tent – complete with queen beds, mood lighting, luxe rugs and free wi-fi.
4. Aye Matey, BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks Holiday Park is so much more than just a holiday park. While the hero of the park is their mammoth Shipwreck Island pirate ship, the resort is surrounded by National Park with accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences – from powered camping sites to brand new luxury villas with all the mod cons.
5. Escape to the Eurobodalla this spring and set up camp at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Nature Resort. Boasting a beachfront locale, this resort is perfect for the family. The kids will love the onsite waterpark, kids club, bicycles and go-karts, and you’re guaranteed to find the parents enjoying the poolside cocktail bar.
6. Caravan parks are fast becoming renowned for their waterparks, with many now boasting world-class facilities and hours of water-filled entertainment for the little ones. And then there are parks like Discovery Parks Pambula Beach on the beautiful Sapphire Coast, which is surrounded by 500 metres of beach frontage and Ben Boyd National Park. The park’s jewel in the crown is their ‘Sapphire Soaker’ waterpark – complete with two water slides, two water cannons, a six metre tall tipping bucket, aqua domes and 15 interactive play features surrounded by a 250sqm lagoon pool.
7. Offering prime beachfront access, Kiama’s BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Parkhas come a long way from its origins as a dairy farm. Now offering a range of cabins, sites and private holiday vans, the family owned park has something for everyone including an onsite massage studio and hours of fun for the kids at Sunny’s Aquaventure Park.
8. Famous for its two surf breaks, Killalea is a National Surfing Reserve covering 265 hectares and offering approximately eight kilometres of stunning coastline. With 53 unpowered camping and caravanning sites and backpacker style accommodation, Killalea is soon to star on the big screen featuring in a new Australian film, Rip Tide, directed by Illawarra local Rhiannon Bannenberg.
9. With more than 100 grape growers and 35 cellar doors, Mudgee is highly regarded as one of New South Wales’ best wine regions. Couple that with a great local food scene, heritage buildings and exciting events and you have the perfect getaway. For a spring stay with a difference, a popular pick in Mudgee is luxury eco glamping experience, Sierra Escape. Situated just twenty minutes out of town you’ll glamp in style with all the mod cons of home.
10. Providing a much needed respite for tired parents, BIG4 North Star Holiday Resort and Caravan Park at Hastings Point on the Tweed offers free kids club facilities. Fully supervised and available on weekends and daily during school holidays, the little ones will love the themed activities, outdoor movie nights and discos. Meanwhile, parents can escape to the onsite Seascape Leisure Centre for a massage, swim or beauty treatment.

For more information on caravan and camping in NSW go to visitnsw.com and visit the Sydney Caravan Camping Lifestyle Expo at Sydney Olympic Park from 3 – 6 November 2017.

*Source: International Visitor Survey and National Visitor Survey, YE March 2017, Tourism Research Australia