Is the Humble Caravan Park Having a Glow Up?

Holiday parks are getting a little bit fancy. Renos at a bunch of Tasman Holiday Parks are blending nature and the outdoors with heated pools, pickleball courts, and even food trucks.

First up, a disclaimer. I know that you can have a cheaper, more ‘pure’ experience in nature by hiking, biking, or paddling out into the wilderness.

But sometimes you just want to have a proper holiday, while still enjoying the powerful elixirs the outdoors can offer. Maybe you’ve got kids now, or your job has become a bit more hectic. You could have some health issues, or perhaps you just bloody want to. Whatever the reason, I’m firmly in the ‘get outdoors however you like’ camp, pun intended.

So where do holiday parks fit in? Well, crucially, they’re affordable, which is pretty important right now, but they’ve often had a reputation for being a bit daggy. Their locations however, are often incredible, with access to beaches, hiking trails, or national parks sometimes right on the doorstep.

Enjoying access to nature in a more private kind of accommodation is often reserved for the 1%, and a pool or heated spa? Forget it.

Try getting a view like this from an Airbnb

Sooo, the glow ups?

I’ve recently been coming back to holiday parks as a pretty great option. Guaranteed space for my tent and a hot shower are a solid level up to sketchy roadside rest stops, but there’s more in the works.

Tasman Holiday Parks has just announced major upgrades to four of its parks: Yallingup Caves in WA, Racecourse Beach in NSW, and Miranda and Papamoa Beach in NZ. Yep correct, they’re not just in Tasmania (there is one in St Helens though).

Yallingup Caves Holiday Park is located within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, just up the road from the famous Injidup Natural Spa and other gorgeous parts of the WA coast. It’s also close to Ngilgi Cave, whose name comes from the Dreamtime stories of the local Wardandi people. The park (which isn’t part of the national park) is getting a brand new pool and five new cabins to meet evolving expectations from guests.

‘[People] want to reconnect with nature, with family, and with themselves in a setting that feels both authentic and comfortable’, said Nikki Milne, CEO of Tasman Holiday Parks.

Over in NSW, Racecourse Beach is building a ‘leisure precinct’ complete with new spas, an outdoor cinema, all-weather pools, and new BBQs. A big part of the focus seems to be on making these parks nicer places to be year-round, not just at the peak of summer.

The communal chill areas are getting a little bit fancy

What about across the pond?

It pains me to admit this, but we’re often outgunned by our small, chilly neighbour across the Tasman (there it is!). 

Papamoa Beach Holiday Park has gone all in on the ‘year-round wellness retreat’ vibes with a new spa and heated pool, not a bad pairing with some of the best surf in the country. You can bouge it up in fancy poolside villas or camp out for as little as $59 NZD a night.

Papamoa Beach stop it!

Or check out Miranda on the Coromandel Peninsula. Upgrades to the thermal hot pools are happening this winter, and a new pickleball court and an on-site food truck serving local produce are adding to the park’s aura. This stunning spot, only one hour from Auckland, is known for its gorgeous native rainforest, the Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, world-renowned wetlands, and of course, stunning secluded beaches.

Are these the comfy facilities you need to get yourself back out on a trip? Or will they convince your less crusty mates to actually come with you on your next adventure? Let me know in the comments.

Photos thanks to Tasman Holiday Parks