When you’re planning a holiday, the best experiences can sometimes be found close to home (or your home away from home!). Many of our holiday parks are much more than just somewhere to sleep for the night, playing host to a range of unique experiences that you can enjoy without even needing to set foot outside of the park. Read on for our list of favourite parks to make you say ''I wouldn’t expect that in a holiday park!''.
SPLITTERS FARM, QLD
Farm life
Splitters Farm, a 160-acre property bordered by Splitters Creek and adjacent to the Burnett River, offers a rural camping and boutique farm stay experience. This working farm is home to rescued barnyard animals and native Australian wildlife, including wallabies, platypuses, and over 150 species of birds. Visitors can get involved with hands-on farm activities such as branding cattle and candling eggs, ensuring a memorable and transformative stay. Splitters Farm provides a refreshing escape, where guests can unwind, feed ducks, collect eggs, and enjoy the simplicity of farm life.
Credit: Splitters Farm
DISCOVERY PARKS - AIRLIE BEACH, QLD
Rainbow Lorikeet Feeding
For the animal lovers, Discovery Parks – Airlie Beach is an Australian wildlife haven as the ‘locals’ regularly pop past to say ”G’day”. See kangaroos, wallabies, possums, goannas, scrub turkeys, parrots, and the dazzling rainbow lorikeets. Head to the pool area at 8am every morning, where the park team feed the beautiful and friendly rainbow lorikeets. All park guests will have the unforgettable opportunity to feed these beautiful and playful birds. Up close, you can see their bright red beaks and colourful plumage—just amazing!
ASHMORE PALMS HOLIDAY VILLAGE, QLD
Exotic Bird Collection
Ashmore Palms Holiday Village is home to Australia’s largest private collection of South American macaw parrots, with stunning varieties including a rare Lutino macaw! Stroll through the tropical lagoon area and along the manmade rainforest walkway, where you’ll find aviaries housing colourful macaws. With a healthy diet and good care, these amazing parrots can have a life span of up to 100 years! There are also also aviaries housing Australian native birds and other parrots, who have a special diet consisting mostly of fresh fruit, nuts, and vegetables, prepared daily by Ashmore Palms’ dedicated Bird Team.
TASMAN HOLIDAY PARKS - ROLLINGSTONE, QLD
Barramundi Catch and Release Lakes
For the fishing lovers, you can’t go past Tasman Holiday Parks - Rollingstone. With three catch and release lakes located in the park, you can pick a spot to settle down and see how many barramundi you can reel in. All fish must be returned to the lake after catching, so you might be lucky enough to catch the biggest barra you’ve ever seen! You can even book into a lakeside site so you can wake up and take just a couple of steps outside, ready to start the day with a catch.
ANCHORAGE HOLIDAY PARK, NSW
Stillwater Wellness Day Spa
Treat yourself and add a little luxury to your next holiday at Anchorage Holiday Park by indulging in a range of treatments at the on-site Stillwater Wellness Day Spa. With a range of treatments available including remedial, relaxation, deep tissue, sports and pregnancy massages with their fully qualified therapist, as well as facials, you will leave feeling refreshed and relaxed. Wind down after a busy day of beach activity, and book into the spa for unequalled calm.
FOSSICKERS TOURIST PARK, NSW
Gem Fossicking
The Tamworth region is historically renowned for its gold, gems and mineral discoveries, and all sites at Fossickers Tourist Park have access to the Peel River for fossicking. Gold can still be found in the area, usually in the sand and gravel at the river’s edge, as well as precious gems including sapphires, zircon, crystal, and prase. Head to The Gil Bennet Rocks, Gems and Minerals Collection in the Nundle Visitor Information Outlet, which houses one of the finest collections in the world.
Credit: Fossickers at Nundle - Gil Bennet, Rocks Gems & Minerals Collection
GUNDAGAI CABINS & TOURIST PARK, NSW
Weighbridge
If you’re into practical park features, then check out Gundagai Cabins & Tourist Park’s weighbridge! It’s important to make sure you know your vehicle’s towing capacity, as well as your caravan’s aggregate trailer mass (ATM) to make sure it’s legal and safe to be towing. Gundagai Cabins & Tourist Park is the only park in Australia with a weighbridge so you can “stay and weigh” to ensure your rig complies with weight restrictions, which is a definite added bonus for caravan and heavy vehicle guests.
DISCOVERY PARKS - PAMBULA BEACH, NSW
Kangaroo visits
This destination on New South Wales' Sapphire Coast offers a wide range of cabins, spacious sites for caravans and tents, and frequent visits from kangaroos. There are plenty of in-park activities for kids, including a playground, mini golf, a waterpark, indoor and outdoor pools, and an award-winning kids club. Adults can relax in the spa or enjoy a meal at The Broken Oar Bar & Grill. Nearby attractions include Beowa National Park, local markets, and the Magic Mountain Adventure Park.
DISCOVERY PARKS - LAKE BONNEY, SA
Water Trampoline
Situated right on the foreshore, Discovery Parks – Lake Bonney is a water lover’s dream! With so much to keep you and the kids busy all year round, a real highlight of the activities is the water trampoline. The kids (and kids at heart) will have endless fun bouncing into Lake Bonney from this giant inflatable.
SPEAR CREEK HOLIDAY PARK, SA
Working Sheep Station
Set on a 21,000-acre working sheep station adjacent to the Flinders Ranges, Spear Creek offers a memorable holiday experience for all campers. Nestled among 600-year-old river red gums, this park features walking trails with views of Spencer Gulf and is home to diverse wildlife, including three kinds of kangaroos and 85 bird species. Operated by fourth-generation farmers, come and experience a one-of-a-kind getaway with bushland campsites. If you are not into camping, there are bungalows and shearer’s quarters up for booking.
Credit: Spear Creek Holiday Park - Facebook
DISCOVERY PARKS - COFFIN BAY, SA
Emus
Centrally located on the Esplanade in Coffin Bay, the Coffin Bay Caravan Park has plenty of local wildlife calling the park home. From western grey kangaroos with patterned faces to emus with their chicks, as well as a friendly willie wagtail, you never know just quite who you’re going to bump into! Surrounded by national parks and just a stone’s throw from the beach, enjoy getting back to nature at Coffin Bay Caravan Park.
LARRIMAH WAYSIDE INN, NT
Native Animal Zoo
The Larrimah Wayside Inn is much more than just accommodation! Check out the free Native Animal Zoo while you’re there—the inn’s former owner rescued many injured wildlife and rehabilitated them back to good health. Check out saltwater crocodile Sneaky Sam, Ray the croc, the aviaries with a range of birds from cockatoos and parrots to owls and hawks, Redman the roo, wallabies Winnie and Lucy, as well as emus and a collection of snakes!
Credit: Larrimah Wayside Inn Facebook - Sam the croc
RIVERVIEW TOURIST VILLAGE, NT
Katherine Hot Springs
A visit to the Top End isn’t complete without checking out the Katherine Hot Springs, located a short stroll from Riverview Tourist Village on the banks of the Katherine River. These natural thermal springs are made up of a number of pools which have an average temperature of 25-30 degrees Celsius. Enjoy a picnic on the large, open grass areas shaded by beautiful native vegetation—it’s the perfect spot to relax.
Credit: Katherine Town Council- Shaana McNaught/Tourism NT
KIMBERLEYLAND WATERFRONT HOLIDAY PARK, WA
Gummy the Crocodile
Kimberleyland Waterfront Holiday Park is nestled on the banks of Lily Creek Lagoon in the East Kimberley region. Surrounded by nature and native wildlife, check out the rare finch aviary, which houses stunning rare Gouldian finches, star finches, and painted firetails. However, one of the most popular residents of Kimberleyland is toothless freshwater crocodile, Gummy. He is estimated to be nearly 60 years old, and he loves if you take a selfie with him during his daily appearance on the foreshore!
Credit: Kimberleyland Waterfront Holiday Park - Gummy the croc
