10 things you wouldn’t expect at a holiday park

Holiday parks have come a long way from a patch of grass, a communal barbecue and a pool to keep the kids occupied. Those simple pleasures remain, but some parks now offer experiences and facilities you would more readily associate with a wildlife retreat, golf resort or boutique hotel.

Across Australia, holidaymakers can watch marine turtles nest, play a round of golf, take their dog on holiday without sacrificing a secure yard, or plug an electric vehicle straight into their cabin.

Here are 10 things you may not expect to find at a holiday park.

Turtles nesting metres from your accommodation

At Turtle Sands at Mon Repos, near Bundaberg in Queensland, the neighbours arrive by sea.

Mon Repos Beach supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland. During nesting season, turtles emerge from the ocean after dark to lay their eggs, with hatchlings appearing later in the season.

The park offers villas, glamping tents and camping sites just metres from the nesting beach, while guided night-time turtle encounters operate through the adjacent Mon Repos Turtle Centre from November to March. Tours need to be booked separately and sightings can never be guaranteed, but there are few holiday park experiences quite like watching a tiny turtle begin its life with a journey to the ocean.

5000-year-old sacred burial site

You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to experience culture older than that of the Egyptian pyramids or Bronze Age cairns. Within the grounds of NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort, on the NSW South Coast, are two ancient Aboriginal burial sites dating back more than 5000 years.

The burial places are understood to be those of a First Nations woman and her child, and a warrior. They have been protected and respectfully restored in consultation with local Yuin Elders and members of the Walbunja community.

The sites are not a tourist attraction, but an important reminder that the land on which Australians holiday has a much older cultural history. Guests should approach the protected areas with care and respect.

Swim-up cocktail bar

Swimming usually involves leaving your phone, shoes and drink back on the pool chair. At NRMA Blue Dolphin Yamba Holiday Resort, at least one of those problems has been solved.

The NSW North Coast park has a swim-up pool bar where guests can order cocktails without getting out of the water. It is a gloriously resort-like addition to a holiday park that also has multiple pools, a water park and safari-themed mini golf.

For parents, it means the afternoon swim can come with something a little more sophisticated than a juice box.

An archery range and nine-hole golf course

Packing for NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Resort may require more than swimmers and thongs.

Set among coastal forest north of Coffs Harbour, the park has its own exclusive nine-hole golf course, along with an archery range, tennis courts and lawn bowls. Guests can try their hand with a bow and arrow in the morning and tee off later in the day without leaving the resort.

There are also resort-style pools, a water park and playgrounds for those whose sporting ambitions begin and end with keeping score.

A sauna in the Grampians

A sauna is not the first facility most people associate with a caravan park, but it makes much more sense after a cold day exploring the Grampians.

NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park has an on-site sauna as well as a heated swimming pool. That gives guests somewhere to warm up after hiking through Grampians National Park, spotting wildlife or simply experiencing one of Victoria’s brisker mornings.

It is a small luxury, but one that could make returning to the park almost as appealing as heading out for the day.

Off-leash areas for dogs

Finding dog-friendly accommodation is one thing. Finding somewhere your dog can safely stretch its legs is another.

NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park has an off-leash zone for four-legged guests, as well as an on-site dog wash for dealing with sandy paws after a beach outing. Pets are permitted on selected caravan and camping sites rather than in the park’s cabins, so travellers should check the conditions and availability when booking. Broulee Holiday Park also has a dog run for those with a pooch in tow.

For dogs that prefer a roof over their heads, NRMA Tathra Beachfront Holiday Park on the NSW Far South Coast offers a pet-friendly cottage with its own fenced yard and private deck. The secure yard means pets can spend time outside without someone permanently holding the lead.

A rooftop tennis court

Rooftop tennis might sound more like something found at a city hotel, but NRMA South West Rocks Holiday Resort has taken the game to a higher level.

Its half-sized tennis court sits on top of an amenities block, making clever use of space and giving players an elevated view across the park while they have a hit. It joins a long list of family facilities, including a pirate-themed waterpark, mini golf, pedal go-karts and a jumping pad.

A cinema under the stars

A family movie night takes on a different feel when the ceiling is the night sky.

NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park in Queensland has an open-air cinema where guests can watch movies under the stars. On the NSW Central Coast, NRMA Toowoon Bay Holiday Park turns its grassed amphitheatre into an outdoor cinema.

The screenings are a simple way to end a busy day, and there is no need to worry about anyone kicking the back of your seat. Movie programs and operating times may vary, particularly outside school holidays.

A beach shared with kangaroos and wallabies

Native wildlife is a familiar sight at many Australian holiday parks, but Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park takes the experience to another level.

At sunrise, guests can head down to the beach to see kangaroos and wallabies against the backdrop of the Coral Sea. The animals are the headline act, but they are far from the only wildlife in the area.

Ghost crabs, sand-dwelling creatures and marine life can be found around the beach and rock pools, while the surrounding national park supports a wide range of birds and other native animals. As with any wildlife encounter, visitors should keep their distance and follow the park’s guidance.

Cabins with their own EV chargers

EV chargers are appearing at more hotels, tourist attractions and public car parks, but finding holiday cabins with their own EV chargers is, as the cool kids say, a bit extra.

NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort on the Central Coast of NSW has seven cabins with dedicated EV chargers – for example, at selected Seabreeze villas.

It means EV drivers staying in the equipped cabins can plug in after arriving and wake to a charged car, without detouring to a public charging station during their holiday. It may not have the novelty of a swim-up bar or kangaroos on the beach, but for anyone arriving after a long road trip, it could be the most welcome surprise of all.