Be inspired by these great holiday ideas for 2018… CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY IN OUR ONLINE MAGAZINE WORDS JANIE MEDBURY WE LOVE Crystal Creek Caravan Park, Mutarnee, Qld Enjoy the cool, fresh waters of Crystal Creek in Mutarnee,…
WORDS JANIE MEDBURY
Crystal Creek Caravan Park, Mutarnee, Qld
Enjoy the cool, fresh waters of Crystal Creek in Mutarnee, Queensland, where you can slip and slide down the natural rock water slides ‘til your heart’s content, or cast a reel in from the boat ramp. The best time to visit is during the wet season when the water flows fresh down the falls. Situated alongside the creek is Crystal Creek Caravan Park, an hour north of Townsville, which offers large drive-through sites and spacious powered sites surrounded by tropical gardens. There are 36 powered sites from $30 per night and unlimited unpowered sites, as well as cabins. There’s a clean amenities block, an indoor camp kitchen with a TV area, a pool and barbecue area, laundry facilities, and a shop and service station. You’ll be in a prime location for birdwatching, hiking and, of course, swimming.
Blackwood Mineral Springs & Caravan Park, Blackwood, Vic
Blackwood Caravan Park is the ideal place from which to explore the Lerderderg River and Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve.
Blackwood, once a thriving gold mining town, is now a small, quiet community that offers a place to reconnect with nature, whether that means discovering native flora and fauna as you explore the bushwalking tracks, such as the 3.2km loop walk to Shaw’s Lake starting at Blackwood Mineral Springs, or enjoying a picnic by the water using delicious local produce.
The dog-friendly caravan park offers powered and unpowered sites that are suitable for caravans, tents, campervans, buses and motorhomes – there’s even an onsite rental caravan. You will have access to the toilets, barbecues, camp kitchen, playground and picnic tables.
Ingenia Holidays Albury, Lavington, NSW
Ingenia Holidays Park is easily accessible off the Hume Highway, right near the stunning Murray River and Lake Hume. It’s ideal for an overnight stop if you’re travelling the Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne route.
The park offers pet-friendly accommodation, including powered drive-through and ensuite caravan sites, and beautifully landscape powered and unpowered camping sites. Here you will find a swimming pool, playground, barbecue, laundry facilities and dump point. Just 10 minutes’ drive from the park is the Murray River Canoe Hire, where you can join a half or full day tour or hire a canoe or kayak to explore the Murray River at your own pace.
The family will love visiting the Albury Botanic Garden, where you can see more than 1000 native and exotic plants and enjoy a picnic. Kids will love playing in the Children’s Garden, among the life-size dinosaurs, fairy temple and troll cave.
Avoca Dell Caravan Park, Murray Bridge, SA
For a family holiday filled with a variety of fun activities set in the beautiful country landscape of Murray Bridge, Avoca Dell Caravan Park is the perfect place to plant your rig.
Overlooking the Murray River, the park has powered caravan and campsites from $35 per night, where you can use the fully enclosed air-conditioned dining room, undercover barbecue area, the coin-operated laundry, the children’s playground, and boat ramp – oh, and there’s also an
18-hole mini golf course.
You can fish or enjoy water sports on the Murray or engage in a whole host of land-based activities, like the Rail and River Heritage Walk. A trip to Monarto Zoological Park or the local ten-pin bowling alley will keep the kids entertained, while mum and dad will enjoy Willow Point Wines or Barossa Valley.
Gumleaves Bush Holidays, Little Swanport, Tas
Escape the big smoke at Gumleaves Bush Holidays, where you can relax amid 400 acres of natural bushland. This bush
haven can be found on Tasmania’s sunny east coast at Little Swanport, less than a two-hour drive from Hobart.
This well-established, family-owned park caters to individuals, families and large groups with their selection of cabins, camping and caravan sites that will fit any caravan or camper-trailer. The park has an undercover barbecue hut, a communal fire place, free hot showers and flushing toilets and a whole range of on-site activities, including rowing, kayaking, bushwalking, tennis, deer feeding, rope courses, a mini golf course and an adventure playground.
Purchasing a Family Park Pass will gain you full access to these activities during your stay. For those who want to venture out of the park, you can visit the Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park, or catch a ferry over to Maria Island National Park.
Cheynes Beach Caravan Park, Cheynes Beach, WA
Cheynes Beach Caravan Park provides a beautiful beachside holiday in a pristine, untouched region. Just 45 minutes from Albany and Porongorup,
Cheynes Beach is a protected cove with crystal blue waters, surrounded by thick green foliage and granite boulders.
Anglers will find themselves in a prime location to catch salmon, in addition to other fish like herring, skippy and King George whiting. The park has 35 concrete-slab caravan sites, six group sites and 29 large, grassy tent sites – all powered. You’ll be sharing space with a whole range of wildlife, including quenda, ringtail possum and many rare bird species, like the western whipbird.
There are plenty of things to do in the area, whether you’re into water-based activities like swimming, snorkeling or surfing, or land-based adventures like 4WD driving, bush walking or rock climbing.
During the season, try spotting some whales at Cheynes Beach, where they’re known to come right into the bay.
