Caravan parks Victoria: Destinations worth hitting the road for

Time to load up the family Jayco, fill the tank and hit the road. It’s holiday time and we’ve got a list of the best caravan parks in the state.

Camper trailers, caravans, campervans and motorhomes have been primped and polished meticulously while Victorians endured lockdowns and uncertain border conditions over the past 18 months.

Finally, engines are whirring to life, vans are stocked and holiday parks are filling fast around the state.

Here’s a few favourite spots to pop the top of the old Jayco Starcraft before kicking back to enjoy the best of what the state has to offer.

Gippsland’s Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park.

MALLACOOTA

Few could forget the shocking images of families huddled together on the foreshore of this idyllic East Gippsland town while bushfires devastated the region across the New Year period of 2019-20.

But this holiday Mecca has risen from the ashes and locals are desperate to see visitors – many of whom have been making the journey for decades – returning this summer.

There are four caravan parks in the immediate area, but the Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park is the largest.

At almost 30 hectares in size, it dominates the area around Captain Stevenson’s Point.

Features include more than 700 sites, dozens of boat moorings, several jetties and direct access to the waterways amid the stunning Croajingolong National Park.

Denis Payton from Bright Big 4 Holiday Park is looking froward to a busy summer. Picture: David Caird

BRIGHT

Set at the doorstep of the Victorian Alps, Bright is a genuine four seasons destination for holiday-makers.

It’s one of the few towns in Victoria where you can realistically ditch the car on arrival.

It’s relatively flat despite the peaks that rise around the town and a cyclist’s paradise, with wide streets and numerous bike tour routes to explore.

And in winter, the state’s premium skifields are within an hour’s drive.

Occupying a marquee position on the banks of the fast flowing and crystal clear Ovens River, Big 4 Bright is in the heart of the town and its myriad dining and shopping options.

Big 4 offers a vast array of accommodation options – from multi-bedroom cabins to more than 50 sites for those who like to bright their own bed.

Loch Ard ship during sound and laser light show Shipwrecked at Flagstaff Hill maritime village in Warrnambool.

WARRNAMBOOL

Surfside and Shipwreck Bay Holiday Parks (formerly known as Surfside 1 and 2) dominate the Warrnambool foreshore.

The tradition of camping started here at the turn of the 20th century and continues for new waves of travellers either making this their destination or at the end of their Great Ocean Road experience.

You can book everything from quaint beachside cottages to unpowered sites ideal for backpackers among the 600-odd sites and all the mod-cons you’d expect from a modern holiday park.

The park is close to the amazing Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground, a short walk to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and close to the Warrnambool shops.

Camping city style at Notel, Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Picture: Supplied.

MELBOURNE

Few consider a caravan park experience when they journey to Melbourne, but the city and suburbs are well serviced by numerous holiday park options.

Or you could just sign on at Notel for one of the most unique caravanning experiences in the State. Six stylish Airstream caravans have been positioned atop a city car park, flanked by office towers and offering glimpses of several Melbourne landmarks.

This isn’t ‘marshmallows around the fire’ stuff.

The vans shimmer amid the street art soaked walls of this concrete canyon while the fare includes queen-sized beds, a free minibar, gourmet snacks, premier bathroom goodies and a private deck.

For those seeking a more traditional and economical solution to their city stay, check out the Big 4 Melbourne park at Coburg, just 10 km from the CBD.

Caravanning along the Great Ocean Road. Picture: Mark Smith

GREAT OCEAN ROAD

One of the marvels in many of the towns along the state’s internationally renowned Great Ocean Road is the absence of development along the beachfront.

Forward-thinking Lands Department officials denied repeated requests for development as far back as the early 1900s, leaving them to be gently crafted into a series of holiday parks and camping grounds with direct access to the stunning beaches and nearby shopping amenities. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority manages eight such facilities, which accounted for a staggering 700,000 visitor nights annually in pre-Covid times.

You’ll find these parks in Torquay, Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Lorne, Kennett River, Marengo, Skenes Creek and Wye River.

Surfers at Tidal River, Wilson’s Promontory. Picture: Tony Gough

WILSON’S PROMONTORY

It’s almost a rite of passage for a young Victorian to spend a night huddled in a tent at Tidal River as the wind whistles, the rain patters on the tarp and the seemingly-ferocious wildlife growls menacingly outside.

But an accommodation booking at the main visitor hub for the Wilsons Promontory National Park remains one of the most sought-after in the state.

And it’s all about the stay, with no town to speak of and one road in and out of the park.

You no longer need to rough it either, with award-winning wilderness retreats and group lodges that can accommodate up to 30 among the offerings.

The Tidal River Campground comprises almost 500 powered and unpowered sites just a short walk from Norman Beach or adjacent to the tranquil waters of Tidal River itself.

Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park owner Josephina McDonald. Picture: Jason Edwards

HALLS GAP

The first thing that strikes visitors making their debut trip to the Grampians is the sheer number of people that congregate around the Halls Gap shops.

Thousands flock to this iconic destination for holidays and long weekends throughout the year, but they’re spread among several holiday parks around the town.

The only time you see everyone together is when they’re grabbing a morning coffee in town. That makes the Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park slightly more attractive than the other options closer to the village.

It’s 4km south of Halls Gap and its spacious layout of more than 150 sites (along with playground, pool and communal fireplace) offers peace and privacy.

The park is adjacent to Lake Bellfield which is full of native wildlife that visit nightly.