Published on: 23 March 2026
There was a time when pulling into a caravan park meant a patch of dirt, a power pole and a bloke mowing grass somewhere in the distance. Trentham Waters in Mildura? Yeah… not quite.
Soft-launched earlier this year, this new Murray River development is blurring the line between caravan park and full-blown resort and it’s got RV travellers squarely in its sights.
A caravan park but not as you know it
Trentham Waters Mildura still ticks the essentials you’d expect from a caravan park on the Murray. You’ll still get powered sites, brand-new (and beautiful, I might add) amenities blocks and river access.
But then, it just keeps going with the extras. We’re talking drive-through sites (the largest up to 276 sqm), private ensuite sites, a palm-lined lagoon pool and splash park, an on-site restaurant and full resort access for site guests.
So yes, you can still roll in with the caravan or motorhome but you’ll be doing it alongside villas, cocktails and a 48-metre pool.
Drive-through sites for the win
Now, most of us can park the RV when we have to, even if it takes a few goes at getting it right. However, many of us (okay, me) would also prefer to just drive through into the perfect spot due to the anxiety of reversing a caravan in front of an audience.
For starters, Trentham Waters doesn’t actually have tight caravan spots; they’re all decent-sized. But more importantly, there’s also a bunch of drive-through sites. They’re all flat and they’re all designed for larger vans, motorhomes and caravans. Got a big rig? No worries, there’s room for you as well.
Luxury has crept into RV travel (and not everyone hates it)
Parks like Trentham Waters are part of a growing trend and while some will say, “that’s not real caravanning”… plenty of travellers are quietly loving it. Because after a few weeks (or months) on the road, a proper pool for the kids is a sanity saver, a decent meal on-site is a win and a private ensuite (should you choose to book an ensuite site) is a real treat.
This style of holiday park isn’t trying to replace traditional holiday parks, it simply gives travellers another option when they feel like levelling things up for a few nights or would like a week away somewhere special.
Mildura might be the surprise you didn’t know you wanted
Mildura is probably not your first choice when thinking of your next RV trip, but hear me out on this one. The region has a lot going for it.
The Mildura region itself has plenty to occupy RVers of all ages, including two attractions by internationally celebrated artist Bruce Munro, who has transformed the Mildura Wentworth landscapes with two art installations, Trail of Lights and FOSO (Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra).
Combine this with big skies, a warm climate, nearby national parks, easy access to the Murray River and now… a destination-style park worth planning a trip around, and I think Mildura could be a great alternative to your usual coastal holiday destinations.
Built by a team that knows a thing or two about going fast
The project comes from former Supercars champion Rick Kelly and his wife Elysia, who’ve swapped race tracks for riverbanks but clearly kept the same attention to detail.
The goal? Build something that actually adds to the region, not just another place to park up. And judging by early reviews, they might be onto something.
So… is it worth checking out?
If you’re chasing bush camping with no one around for 50km… this probably isn’t your scene.
But if you don’t mind a bit of comfort mixed into your trips, or have a partner who likes the finer things in life (like a caravan ensuite site), or maybe you just like the idea of parking up somewhere that feels a bit different, then yeah, this one is one to keep on the radar.
