Top 10 Caravan Parks For An East Coast Australia Road Trip

Looking at motorhomes for sale to finally take that east coast Australia road trip? From the relaxed tropical vibe of Cairns to the vibrant city life of Sydney, Australia’s east coast offers one amazing experience after another.

1. NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park - Port Macquarie

• Address: 1 Munster St, Port Macquarie, NSW
• Price: From $41 a night
• Pet friendly: Yes

With its family-friendly, welcoming atmosphere, the Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park prides itself on offering all the ingredients for happy family memories. Mum and dad will have plenty of time to relax with the kids kept busy and active in the resort-style swimming pool. The family dog is welcome here too, there’s even an onsite dog wash! For fun nearby, head to Billabong Zoo, Koala Hospital, or book a whale-watching tour.

2. Reflections Holiday Park, Byron Bay

• Address: 1 Lighthouse Rd, Byron Bay
• Price: From $60 a night
• Pet friendly: No

Just a 10-minute walk from the vibrant coastal town of Byron Bay, Reflections Holiday Park offers a relaxing oasis of calm and quiet. Everything is super handy here, just park up and walk into town to dine at one of the award-winning restaurants or cafes. Enjoy a peaceful walk along Clarkes Beach – you can even take in a surfing lesson or two!

3. NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort, New South Wales

• Address: 2 Short Point Rd, Merimbula
• Price: From $41 a night
• Pet friendly: Yes

Heading along the Sapphire Coast? Plan a stay at Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort. Sitting on a headland overlooking the ocean, this caravan park is a paradise for families. The kids will love every minute with a splash park, swimming pool, bouncing pillow, playground, tennis court and more. There’s plenty to see and do nearby too. Visit the Merimbula Aquarium and the Potoroo Native Animal Sanctuary and check out the great walking tracks, markets, and beaches.

4. NRMA Shellharbour Beachside Holiday Park, New South Wales

• Address: 1 John St, Shellharbour, NSW
• Price: From $51 a night
• Pet friendly: Yes

With waterfront camping, a wood-fired pizza oven, and Shellharbour Ocean Pool just metres from the park, Shellharbour Beachside Holiday Park is hard to beat. And because the best family holidays include four-legged members, dogs are welcome. Take the opportunity to learn to surf at one of the nearby surf schools. Or if you fancy trying to catch your dinner, try fishing at Lake Illawarra. And for a great family day in the great outdoors, explore the natural beauty of Macquarie Pass National Park.

5. Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Queensland

• Address: 25/29 Shute Harbour Rd, Airlie Beach, Queensland
• Price: From $71 a night
• Pet friendly: Yes

Beware, as soon as you drive your motorhome into BIG 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, you’ll want to extend your stay! This amazing holiday park is a destination in itself, especially for families. The kids will be kept well-occupied all day long with a huge water park including 13 waterslides! There’s also mini golf, tennis courts, an outdoor cinema, and even an animal park. Mum and dad are taken care of too. Leave the kids in the good hands of the babysitting service and head off for a poolside massage followed by lunch at the poolside café.

This slice of Australian paradise is surrounded by nature at its finest. And there are plenty of ways to see the sights including a Segway Tour through the Conway National Park rainforest.

6. Big 4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut

• Address: 23/51 Anderson Rd, Woree, Queensland
• Price: From $276 (4 nights minimum)
• Pet friendly: Yes

Just seven minutes’ drive from Cairns’ CBD, BIG 4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Holiday Park is an 11-hectare tropical oasis. The kids will be kept well occupied with the onsite splash park, lagoon pool, jumping pillows, adventure playground and more.

Dogs are welcome here too, there’s even a dog agility park for your best friend to enjoy! And when you need a break from all the activity at the holiday park, there’s plenty to see and do locally. Explore the Daintree Rainforest on a Billy Tea Safari.

Enjoy the art exhibitions at the Mainie Aboriginal Art Gallery. You can even go ziplining over a crocodile pond at Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome.

7. NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort - near Coffs Harbour

• Address: 104/134 Eggins Dr, Arrawarra, NSW
• Price: From $36 a night
• Pet friendly: Yes

Wake up to the sound of birdsong and lapping waves at the Darlington Beach Holiday Resort. This idyllic campground is set within 110 acres of beachside rainforest. From an early morning surf to a sunset sandcastle contest, there are endless ways to enjoy the refreshing salty air! And when you need a change of scene, hire a bike or go-kart and explore the holiday park. Keep the kids active and challenged at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy! Yep, the kids can go full ‘survivor’ mode with a four-part survival and adventure program! You’ll probably meet a few of the locals here too, including black cockatoos and curious wallabies!

8. Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort

• Address: Mill Beach, Banyandah St, South Durras, NSW
• Price: From $38 a night
• Pet friendly: No

Surrounded by a national park and with total beach access, Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort is a truly special spot. There are natural wonders waiting around every corner. Shuck your own Clyde River oysters, fresh from the water. Meet the local kangaroos – there are loads! And enjoy time out as you immerse yourself in nature in the surrounding Murramarang National Park. There’s plenty more to do nearby too including a visit to Mogo Zoo or Birdland Animal Park. You can even try panning for gold at the Gold Rush Theme Park.

9. BIG 4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island

• Address: 24 Old Bridge Drive, Phillip Island, Victoria
• Price: From $49 a night
• Pet friendly: No

Escape to an island sanctuary at Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island. This relaxing beachfront holiday park is just five minutes’ walk from shops, cafes, and restaurants. One of the awesome highlights at Phillip Island is the penguin parade. Wander the boardwalks after dark to see throngs of Little Penguins waddle home across the sand at dusk. If you love chocolate – and who doesn’t? – be sure to visit the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory. See a giant one-tonne block of chocolate, a two-metre chocolate statue of Michelangelo's David, and a 12,000-piece chocolate mosaic of Dame Edna Everage! There’s even a chocolate waterfall!

10. NRMA Eastern Beach Holiday Park

• Address: 42 Eastern Beach Rd, Lakes Entrance, Victoria
• Price: From $46 a night
• Pet friendly: Yes

Get ready to make some amazing family memories at the Eastern Beach Holiday Park. From a heated swimming pool and go-karts to a pizza oven and live music nights, the whole family are well catered to. Bring your fishing gear and try to land a snapper, enjoy local bushwalks, or head out on the water in a kayak. There are some great restaurants nearby to choose from too including Sodafish and Floating Dragon.

How to prepare for your east coast road trip

Inspired to start planning your Australian road trip? Here are a few tips to help you get the most from your campervan holiday.

Become a member of CMCA

The Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) is Australia’s largest RV club with over 70,000 members. Think of it as a social club for motorhome owners! The CMCA has lots of great benefits, including:

• A monthly subscription to The Wanderer Magazine
• Low-cost accommodation options
• Access to discounts and membership advantages
• Participation in club events nationwide
• Annual membership is just $44 (plus a one-off $16.50 joining fee).

Download the thl Roadtrip app

Before you set off on your Australian road trip adventure, it is a good idea to download the thl Roadtrip app. This handy app is loaded with useful tips for preparing for your campervan trip including:

• The location of nearby dump stations, supermarkets, public toilets, and more.
• Campsites and holiday parks closest to your GPS location.
• Maps that do not require internet connection to access.
• Real-time road alerts
• Plus, you can chat with and learn from other campers in the motorhome community.

Start your east coast road trip with Apollo RV Super Centre

So, there you have our top 10 campsites and holiday parks on Australia’s east coast.

Now that you’re all set with a list of great places to stay, it could be time to think about buying a campervan with Apollo RV Super Centre.

Apollo RV Super Centre’s RVs are made especially for Australia’s unique road conditions. From two-person campervans for couples and singles to six-berth motorhomes for travelling with family and friends, Apollo RV Super Centre has an RV for every traveller.

And if you’ve got questions about which motorhome is best for you, just ask our Apollo RV Super Centre motorhome experts. They can show you through our range of new motorhomes and Apollo RV Super Centre ex-rental campervans for sale.

After talking with one of our team, buying an RV feels a lot less overwhelming and you’ll feel more confident about making the right choice. Contact us via phone or email or pop into one of our nationwide Apollo RV Super Centre dealerships.

Keen to know more about RV ownership? Check out more of our helpful blogs.