Your adventure list is about to get a lot longer with these eight lesser-known destinations in NSW. Eva and her Mum Bernadette have given us the inside scoop on where we’d rather be – basing their travels around idyllic stays at Reflections Holiday Parks.

 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

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These holiday parks are a launch pad into nature

It’s a blessing and a curse to live in a country with so much nature. It’s all over the place! It also seems like every week I hear about a cool hike or campground or waterfall that gets promptly added to my never-ending bucket list (such a tough life).

Get ready to start planning your next holiday to one or all of these eight lesser-known destinations in NSW. And there’s a twist! All these epic spots feature a stay at a nature-based Reflections Holiday Park.

Now, if you don’t normally associate holiday parks with adventure, I’ve got news for you. Not only are these beautiful spots to stay, they’re all about providing a convenient launch pad to epic outdoor adventures for everybody, no matter what your experience or ability. And who doesn’t love that?

Country NSW

1. Copeton Waters

 

 

The leafy Copeton Waters park in western NSW is nestled into Copeton Waters State Park four hours west of Coffs Harbour. It has all sorts of accommodation from wheelchair-accessible cabins to unpowered bush camping spread across a 900-acre stretch of bushland on the Lake Copeton Waterfront.

If you’re a keen freshwater fisher, this place is like a dream come true. You can fish from the banks or use one of the three boat ramps to launch into the lake and spend the whole day in search of that elusive Murray cod! Even if you’re not a fisher, there’s heaps to keep you occupied from waterskiing to kayaking to mountain biking to hiking, there’s a tonne of ways to find adventure and wear yourself out before chilling out in front of the campfire.

2. Burrinjuck Waters

 

 

The lake at Burrinjuck Waters, two hours from Canberra, is another haven for fishers and watersport lovers. You can fish or launch a kayak literally from the front of your campsite or underneath your cabin balcony, and the sunrise and sunset over the Brindabella Ranges is honestly breathtaking.

Tackle part of the iconic Hume and Hovel Track which runs right through the campground. This section of the track leads up Carrols Creek to a gorgeous little swimming hole before continuing all the way to Yass (if you’re super keen for a multi-day hike!).

A huge array of birds and wildlife come into the park from the adjacent Burrinjuck Wildlife Nature Reserve, so if sitting back and letting nature entertain you is more your thing, there’s no better place for it!

@evadavisboermans

3. Wee Jasper

 

 

Our tour guide at Careys Limestone Caves at Wee Jasper told us, ‘It takes 20 years and 1.5 hours for Canberrans to get to Wee Jasper’. But it’s easy to see why this underrated gem is a firm favourite with those who are in the know.

The caves here are spectacular and the guide, Geoff, is a classic character worth a visit in his own right for his quick quips and wealth of knowledge.

The nearby Reflections Park is a true nature-based campground nestled along the Goodradigbee River with easy walking access to fishing spots, hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls, and swimming holes. Even though it gets chilly in winter, you won’t want to go to bed with the sun because once night falls, the sheer volume of stars that appear overhead is mesmerising.

@evadavisboermans

Coffs Coast NSW

4. Scotts Head

 

 

Scotts Head is a sea and salt lovers paradise. The sites in the Reflections Park are nestled just behind the sand dunes of main beach so you can wake up and walk straight onto the beach for a day of surfing, fishing or swimming in crystal clear water. It’s also pet friendly so your pooch can come too!

If the beach gets too hot, nearby Yarriabini National Park is a perfect place to cool off with a rainforest walk, a picnic, and a bit of birdwatching.

If you want to try something a little different, jump on a Storytime Paddleboard experience with Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours to discover the picturesque and culturally significant Coffs Creek, about an hour up the road.

Mid-North Coast NSW

5. Bonny Hills

 

 

This low key coastal village is (another!) underrated gem and the preferred surfers accommodation provider in the Camden Haven Area. The surrounding stretch of coast has some of the most iconic surf breaks on the Mid North Coast, and the beaches stretch for miles and miles so you can walk and swim to your heart’s content. 

If you’re into mountain bikes or want to give it a crack, Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park is only ten minutes away with a huge network of trails for bikers of all abilities. 

Perched on top of the headland is Reflections Bonny Hills. The perfect spot to catch the sunrise over the ocean and watch the whales migrate along the coast in winter.

6. Jimmys Beach

 

 

Jimmys Beach Holiday Park might only be an hour from Newcastle, but it feels like a whole world away from everyday life. The park is nestled in at the base of Yacaaba Headland, sandwiched between two stunning beaches. With the waves of Bennetts Beach on one side and the protected waters of Jimmys Beach on the other, you’ll never be stuck looking for a beachside activity to occupy you!

From the eastern end of the park, head along the track to the top of Mt Yacaaba to take in the view of the coast and mountains.

It’s also the perfect launch spot to explore nearby Myall Lakes National Park, where you can hike the lake shores or cruise the glassy waters in a kayak.

South Coast NSW

7. Eden

 

 

According to locals, Eden has the best whale watching in all of Australia. While that’s a huge call, I think if I was a whale and I saw the spectacular safe haven of Twofold Bay, I reckon I’d hang out there as long as I could! 

Eden Reflections Holiday Park is in prime position, right in the middle of Twofold Bay with a lake on one side and the beach just out the front directly across the road, the perfect place to spot frolicking whales in the bay. 

Nearby Beowa National Park is another great place to catch the blowhole waterspouts while walking along stunning cliffside tracks or swimming in perfectly protected beaches.

8. Bermagui

 

 

The woman at the reception of the Bermagui Reflections Holiday Park excitedly told me on arrival that, ‘Bermagui has a little bit of everything!’, and she was absolutely right.

A huge perk is that the park is perched right up on the headland only five minute’s walk from the iconic Bermagui Blue Pools where you can swim, soak up the sun, and watch whales and seals from the rocks.

There’s also hiking, coastal walks, amazing rock formations, surfing, dog beaches, kayaking, fishing and (in my humble opinion) the best bakery on the South Coast all within a 15 minute drive.

@evadavisboermans

So when booking your next work trip, friends camping weekend, family reunion or couples getaway, drop these names in the group chat!

Reflections Holiday Parks have the creature comforts to keep any traveller happy, from your active nephew to your knitting nanna to your city slicker friends. Plus, they provide a launching place to get everyone outdoors, no matter their camping experience.

 

Explore Reflections Holiday Parks

@evadavisboermans

Feature photo by @evadavisboermans

Additional images supplied by Reflections Holiday Parks