Holiday parks that are mini theme parks
Summers spent barefoot and salty, madly pedalling around holiday parks and only pausing to devour an ice-block are a beloved part of any Aussie childhood. There’s so much adventure to be had up and down the stunning NSW coast, from the long beaches of the far north to the sparkling inlets in the south. These incredible parks take the easy-going thrill of a family escape and dial up the excitement with kid-pleasing amenities that bring holiday dreams (and memories) to life.
You’ll see the aquamarine bends of North Star’s covetable waterslide only seconds before you hear the squeals of delight as a procession of beaming kids hurtle into the pool. This splash-tastic holiday park on the Tweed Coast’s Hastings Point is all thrills and a few strategic chills to keep the adults equally entertained. With an incredible water park set in a tropical landscape, a wildly fun kids club, games room and playground, pint-sized holiday-makers won’t know where to start their adventures. Meanwhile, parents can take a moment to recentre with a treatment at the onsite adults only spa, a hit of tennis or a plunge in the ocean or crystalline tidal creek nearby. The whole family will enjoy a trip to the park’s state-of-the-art Marine Discovery Centre to learn about the region’s endemic sea creatures.
Perched riverside an hour’s drive from Coffs Harbour, guests can jump into a kayak and push straight out onto the water at this Wooli holiday resort set amid the Solitary Islands Marine Park. NSW’s third-largest marine protected area, the park is encompassed by the beautiful Yuraygir National Park, which unfurls from Yamba down to Red Rock. When nature’s playground isn’t beckoning, the resort’s certainly will. Onsite, the kids (and plenty of adults) will make a beeline for the cheekily named ‘Wooli Wedgie’, which takes the title of Australia’s longest resort waterslide at 120-metres long. For those not quite up to the Wedgie, a smaller slide, splash park and three pools will enthral for hours. For excitement on dry land, there’s a playground, mini golf, moonlight movies, the Wooli Warrior ninja course, and the inflatable Cliffhanger with a nine-metre drop that’s sure to keep excitement levels high.
A good time go-to, NRMA Ocean Beach on the NSW central coast is tucked between the bush and idyllic Umina Beach just 90 minutes from Sydney. Once you’ve parked your caravan, popped your tent or dropped your bags in your cabin, head directly to the resort-style heated pools to activate your holiday mode. Let the days unravel with plenty of action to keep the kids thoroughly busy, from jumping on bouncing pillows to tractor rides, a Bear Grylls-inspired survival academy and pedal kart hire. There’s also a kids club onsite for times when parents need a moment to catch their breath with a quiet coffee at the cafe.
With nothing but a strip of grass between you and the beach, BIG4 Easts Beach in the NSW South Coast hotspot of Kiama is the stuff of summer holiday dreams. The ocean-adjacent, 35-acre escape is perfect for flitting between the sparkling sea and Sunny’s Adventure Park, which features two slides, a splash pad and a shaded area for tiny tots. Parents may draw straws to supervise at Sunny’s, leaving the other to slip away to the resort pool and assume position on a submerged sun lounge. When it’s time for a break from the midday heat, retreat to Little Monkey Play Corner and Games Room, the Krazy Kidz Club or the shaded bouncing pillow to burn off any excess energy.
Shipwreck the kids at this park just an hour north of Port Macquarie. They’ll relish the pirate life at the park’s Shipwreck Island waterpark, where they’ll scramble along nets, whiz down slides, climb a giant skull and lose themselves in a boat-size maze. If they’re still ravenous for adventure, send them along to the Bear Grylls Survival Academy or explore the sparkling coastline and cycle through laidback South West Rocks on an e-bike. There’s also mini golf, a playground and games room.
You’ll never hear the words ‘I’m bored’ while staying at this far north coast holiday park set on the Clarence River in the cool coastal enclave of Yamba. That goes for both adults and kids alike. While the town’s beaches are a bike or car ride away, the river provides plenty of water-based activities, from paddling out to throwing a line in or pushing a boat out from the private onsite jetty. Although, it will require some persuasion to draw the family away from the incredible waterpark that features a billabong slide for the kids and a swim-up bar for the adults. Waterlogged charges can dry out by spending time on the bouncing pillow, tearing around the pump track, playing mini golf or pedalling through the park on a go-kart. It’s all your holiday goals achieved in one family-ready stay.
This South Coast gem sits within the beautiful Beowa National Park and is tucked neatly behind pretty Pambula Beach. Here your days are soundtracked by the rolling waves and perfumed with a softly salty breeze. This stunning spot is perfect for unwinding as a family with unfettered beach-access, resident native fauna, hiking trails and pristine lakes nearby. When you’re not interacting with the Sapphire Coast’s restorative landscape, there’s plenty to do at the park. Soak the kids at the water park and resort-style pool, send them off for a round of mini golf or kit them up with a tandem bike or pedal kart to run laps around you and the park.
