Aussie families choosing holiday parks over rentals as prices skyrocket
Holiday parks are back in fashion as Aussies reject sky-high vacation rental prices, with some holiday hotspots demanding tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re yet to book your Christmas trip, it’s not too late.
NSW
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A four-bedroom home in Yamba will set you back close to $20,000 a week, a three-bedroom cottage 150m from the Kiama coastal walk is $5,000, and in Palm Beach a two-bedroom apartment with beach views will cost $10,000 for the Christmas week.
As holiday house rental prices reach eye-watering new heights, caravan parks, camping grounds and cabins have seen a surge in popularity after the pandemic.
Some parks are so popular that families wanting to repeat a great Christmas holiday need to book for next year as soon as they leave, to secure a stay.
If you haven’t gotten in yet you might be too late.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said cost-of-living pressures and international uncertainty had seen more Aussies turning to their holiday parks — even as rates increase.
“For the summer Christmas period across the whole national network we are at about 70 per cent capacity already, but the most popular are fully booked,” Mr Khoury said.
“It’s been an expensive year so people are staying local … we really want people to book now because we don’t want people to miss out.”
Accommodation Australia NSW manager Stacey McBride said some hotels were reporting double the occupancy rates for the Christmas period compared to this time last year.
Kellyville mum Sarah Perry has been going to holiday parks for the past six years, and even though rates at some of her favourite parks have doubled recently she still keeps coming back.
“It’s a good way to disconnect and what’s so great about going during the Christmas holidays is you get to keep it simple and it’s more about quality time,” Ms Perry said.
“The sites have gone up a lot in cost since Covid, but it’s still a far more economical option for a family of five.”
She said caravan parks were so popular you needed to book well ahead even for a normal weekend, which made spontaneous getaways difficult.
“We know many guests that book their next Christmas holiday the day they leave to make sure they don’t miss out,” BIG 4 Holiday Parks CEO Sean Jenner said.
“We have so many guests who grown up together in our parks, staying in the same places with the same group of family and friends year after year.
“Now, those same kids are all grown up and building on those traditions with the next generation. It’s very special to see and something truly unique to holiday parks, you won’t those same special moments happening at a resort or home stay.”
But for families who fear they may have left their plans a little too late, don’t despair — there are still some hidden gems to be found if you look outside the more popular destinations.
Beachside Coffs Harbour Accommodation has vacancies for large families wanting that picturesque Aussie beach holiday, while Lake Macquarie has plenty of holiday rentals, hotels and retreats with Christmas availability.
If you’re looking for more of a luxury option, the Hunter Valley is perfect for wine lovers, with availability at the Rydges, Hunter Valley Retreat, Chateau Elan and Oaks Cypress lakes.
Other towns with good Christmas availability include Dorrigo and Bellingen on the North Coast, Wagga Wagga and Albury Wodonga in the Riverina, and Orange and Mudgee in the Central West.
REPORT REVEALS TOP TRAVEL SPOTS
The idyllic shores of Byron Bay have kept it the top regional tourist destination in the country, but a first of its kind report has revealed Dubbo as the new destination bringing in young travellers.
The DSpark report, commissioned by Tourism and Transport Forum Australia, analysed mobile phone movement across the country to discover where we are travelling after Covid.
Looking at December 2022-May 2023 compared to before the pandemic, the report found visitation to central NSW had increased 9.4 per cent, with young people the biggest visitor increase, of 11.4 per cent for under-30s.
“It’s encouraging to see that growth in central NSW … Dubbo is a really interesting package for people and lots of us have never been there,” Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said.
“Post-Covid we saw an understandable surge in visitation when people couldn’t go anywhere else — what’s heartening, and I think in some instances surprising, is that even though people can still travel overseas, we are still seeing a significant growth in regional destination appeal.
“People have genuinely rediscovered a curiosity of their own country.”
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson said leaning on the visiting friends and family market had allowed the region to grow its day-trip visitors by 114 per cent in the past year.
Central NSW came in at number nine in the most popular destinations, with the NSW north coast, NSW south coast, Queensland’s Gold Coast, NSW’s Hunter Region and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast reaching the top five.
The report found most regional travellers stayed in their own state for an average of three nights.
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