These are our views and opinions on the caravan parks and campsites that we stayed on during our roadie along East Coast Australia. Our expectations and requirements may well be different to yours so please use this as a guide only. We rate each caravan park with stars to a maximum of 5 stars.
Our camper van for the trip was a Toyota Hiace Hitop hired from Travel Wheels. This was booked through RatPack Travel who are awesome.
Ellis Beach
Ellis Beach Oceanfront Caravan Park – 1 night
Pros:
- direct access to beach
- beautiful shaded pitches with mango trees
- swimming pool
- a short walk from a restaurant and bar
- great alternative to central Cairns/ city
Cons:
- next to main road
- very small and limited camp kitchen
- ablutions dated and in need of tlc
- a bit pricey
Price – A$41 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3✭
Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation Caravan Park – 2 nights
Pros:
- direct access to beach
- set in a national park where rainforest meets beach
- eco camp
- relaxed, laid back vibe
- restaurant/ bar with wood fired pizzas
Cons:
- pitches can be cramped
- basic facilities
- no mobile network coverage
- only paid wifi available
- expensive
Price – A$44 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Malanda
Malanda Falls Caravan Park – 1 night
Pros:
- direct access to Malanda Falls
- animal farm with pigs, cow, sheep, goats, small horse and poultry
- large grassy sites
- well priced
- camp kitchen basic but well equipped
- fire pits available
- good location for visiting tablelands and waterfalls
Cons:
- some pitches uneven
- no mobile network coverage
- no wifi
Price – A$28 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Etty Bay
Etty Bay Caravan Park – 1 night
Pros:
- direct access to beach
- beautiful setting
- the only accommodation in Etty Bay
- probable Cassowary sightings on the beach
Cons:
- no camp kitchen
- ablutions blocks dated and limited for the amount of pitches
- pitches a bit cramped
- no mobile network coverage
Price – A$35 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Mission Beach
Mission Beach Camping and Caravan Park – 2 night
Pros:
- direct access to beach
- great value
- free wifi at information centre 200m away
- great community atmosphere
- right next to local community Sunday market
- 2 minute walk to town
Cons:
- no mobile network coverage
- no wifi
- toilets open to public use
- no hobs in camp kitchen
Price – A$26 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Magnetic Island
Bungalow Bay Koala Village
Pros:
- woodland setting with lots of local wildlife
- well equipped camp kitchen
- only caravan park on the island
- short walk from Horseshoe Bay
- restaurant/bar/ lounge area
- freshwater swimming pool
- free rainbow lorikeet feeding each afternoon
- limited wifi available at bar area
Cons:
- ablutions poorly maintained
- no mobile network coverage
- pitches unmarked
- lack of camp grounds information provided at check in
Price – A$40 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3✭
Airlie Beach
Island Gateway Holiday Park
Pros:
- only 20min walk into town
- swimming pool and playground
- ablutions relatively new, in great condition and clean
- free wifi available limited to 500 mb (use during the day when everyone is out for better service)
- free rainbow lorikeet feeding each afternoon
- large camp kitchen
- bike hire available
Cons:
- pitch lights on electricity poles really bright
Price – A$36 per night (with 10% camper van discount)
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Yeppoon
Beachside Caravan Park
Pros:
- direct access to beach
- good value
- walking distance to town and shops
- well equipped bbq kitchen as well as camp kitchen
- large grassed pitches, most with concrete slab
Cons:
- next to the road (cars not noisy but people on early morning walks loudly chatty!)
- no wifi
Price – A$32 per night (roadside pitch)
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Agnes Water
Kangaroo Sanctuary
Pros:
- pitches in amongst kangaroos
- eco friendly camp
- well equipped camp kitchen
- quiet rural setting
- camp fees goes towards rehabilitation of kangaroos
- great recycling options
- option to have a ‘kangaroo experience’ for $10
Cons:
- only two shower/ toilet rooms
Price – A$30 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Elliot Heads
Elliot Heads Holiday Park
Pros:
- large new ablution block
- large grassed pitches with concrete slab
- direct access to beach
- well priced
Cons:
- no wifi
- camp kitchen limited
Price – A$31 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Hervey Bay/ Torquay
Lazy Acres Holiday Park
Pros:
- within walking distance to town and beach
- grassed pitches with concrete slab
- good ablution block with huge shower cubicle
- swimming pool
- good budget option considering price of beachfront caravan parks
Cons:
- no wifi
- basic camp kitchen – no hobs
Price – A$33per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Noosa
Ingenia Holidays Noosa
Pros:
- opposite bus stop into town
- grassed pitches with concrete slabs
- good wifi limited to 500mb per day
- swimming pool, hairdresser and fish & chip shop on site
- good recreation room with various games
Cons:
- pitches small
- not walkable to town
Price – A$35.10 per night with rental van discount
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Landsborough
Landsborough Pines Caravan Park (near Australia Zoo)
Pros:
- close to Australia Zoo
- clean, relatively new yet small ablutions
- well equipped kitchen but small
- separate covered bbq area with tables and chairs
Cons:
- floods easily during heavy rain
- no wifi
Price – A$35 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3✭
Brisbane
Newmarket Gardens
Pros:
- close to Brisbane city
- well located for walking tracks
Cons:
- overpriced
- some pitches include a tiled floor next to concrete slab. Totally unsafe in the wet!
- no hand wash in toilets
- basic camp kitchen
Price – A$45 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 2✭
Gold Coast
Nobby Beach Holiday Park
Pros:
- 10 minute walk to the beach
- regular shuttle to large shopping centre
- new large ablution blocks
- swimming pool with water slide and playground
- large modern outdoor kitchen
Cons:
- expensive
- out of the way
- no community feel
Price – A$47 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Murwillumbah
Greenhills Caravan Park (for access to Springbrook NP)
Pro:
- cheap
- well located for Springbrook National Park
Con:
- council estate feel – unemployed permanent residents with many dogs
- amenities in need of some tlc
- kitchen very dirty and extremely basic
- no wifi
Price – A$30 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 2✭
Springbrook NP
Springbrook NP camping grounds
Pro:
- situated in the heart of the national park
- clean outdoor bbq area
- clean composting toilets
- cheap
Con:
- no showers
- no electricity
- be aware – limited mobile coverage
Price – A$13 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Nimbin
Nimbin Crystal Tourist Park
Pro:
- walking distance to town
- ablutions very clean
- reasonably priced
- large public swimming pool
- herb garden for campers use
Con:
- park a little tired
- a few interesting characters about who definitely “lived” through the 70s
- no wifi
Price – A$34 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3✭
Byron Bay
Clarke’s Beach North Coast Holiday Parks
Pro:
- ablutions new, large and very clean
- right on the beach – perfect
- walking distance to town and the lighthouse
- couple of bbq areas and a camp kitchen
- two lounge and lookout areas
- tv room
- free wifi but limited
Con:
- pitches are cramped and small
- expensive – the most expensive on our trip to date
Price – A$55 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Red Rock
Red Rock North Coast Holiday Parks
Pro:
- direct access to beach
- ablutions new and clean with various blocks
- kitchen modern and large with tv
- resident domestic chickens named Salt & Pepper with fresh eggs available
- free wifi but limited
Con:
- isolated
Price – A$35 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Nambucca Heads
Nambucca Heads North Coast Holiday Parks
Pro:
- within walking distance of beach
- large grassed pitches
- dog bath!
- herb garden
- free wifi but limited
Con:
- camp kitchen somewhat limited
Price – A$34 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3✭
Port Macquarie
Flynn’s Beach Caravan Park
Pro:
- AMAZING wifi – unlimited and very fast
- walking distance to the beach
- rustic outdoor kitchen with hobs and hot plates
- well priced
- swimming pool and playground
Con:
- far from town
Price – A$32 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Seal Rocks
Seal Rocks North Coasts Holiday Parks
Pro:
- two ablution blocks which were new, large and clean
- indoor modern camp kitchen with tv
- across the road from the beach
- large grassed pitches
- wifi available but limited
Con:
- expensive
Price – A$46 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 4✭
Port Stephens – One Mile Beach
Ingenia Holiday Park
Pro:
- direct access to beach
- wifi available but limited
- swimming pool and playground
- promotion price fantastic
Con:
- no hobs in camp kitchen
- not in walking distance of town
- a little unloved
Price – A$24.50 (promotion – usually $35) per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3✭
Hunter Valley
Wine Country Tourist Park
Pro:
- great access to wine region
- pub and vineyard in walking distance
- nice community feel
- herb garden
- well priced for week days
- swimming pool
Con:
- park a little tired – investment needed
- limited ablutions for number of pitches
Price – $30 ($40 for weekends) per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Blue Mountains
Katoomba Falls Caravan Park
Pro:
- within walking distance of Echo Point and Three Sisters
- 20 minute walk to town
- concrete slab and grass pitches
- ablutions relatively new and clean
- wifi available but either extremely slow or non-existent
- large grass woodland setting
- camp kitchen with 4 hot plates, 3 sinks and tv room
Con:
- single electric hobs only available from reception on request
Price – A$ 41 per night
Beans-On-Tour Rating = 3.5✭
Beans on Tour 