Take the kids out on an adventure and escape the urban, concrete jungle by exploring the world of Mother Nature. Camp with the family and experience firsthand the wonders of native wildlife and flora, while you embrace the magnificent natural surroundings that make up this great nation. From bush to mountain and sea to red plains, an amazing family escapade awaits.
Here are some of the top campsites in Queensland that you and your family won’t regret calling home these holidays.
Discovery Holiday Parks in Emerald
Only an hour away from Blackwater is where you’ll stumble upon the Discovery Holiday Parks in Emerald.
This quaint town acts as the ultimate hub of Central Highlands, and is the gateway to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most impressive sapphire gem fields.
Here, you’ll find Lake Maraboon, located a mere 20 kilometres away from Emerald, where excellent swimming, watersports, and fishing awaits. Home to the famous Red Claw Crayfish, you’ll definitely want to bring some nets to impress the kids with a big catch.
When it comes to the camping grounds itself, the Emerald Historic Railway Station is only 2 kilometres away from the park, and the Emerald Botanic Gardens is only 3 kilometres away from the park.
There is a great range of accommodation including economy ensuite rooms, economy non-ensuite rooms, family rooms, dual rooms, and more. The parks also boast an impressive heritage-style dining hall, free-to-use barbecue pits, a gym, laundry station, a restaurant on-site, free WiFi, making the Discovery Parks camping grounds a great place to camp when in Emerald.
When in Emerald, take on the opportunity to feast like kings at the local favourite, Maraboon Tavern. Featuring a dedicated children’s playground to keep the kids busy while you sit back, relax, and sip a cold one while watching the game on the large screen, a meal at the Maraboon Tavern is a must for the family.
The Maraboon Tavern menu is impressive, with fresh seafood dishes and premium meats to local pub meals and fresh garden salads, there’s something for everyone. Oh, and don’t forget about the great range in the kid’s menu, priced at only $9.90 for a big portion of spaghetti bolognese, chicken nuggets with chips, ham and cheese pizza with chips, fish and chips, or grilled chicken with rice.
Emerald Tourist Park
Another spectacular camping site in Emerald, the Emerald Tourist Park is probably the most popular camping grounds in Emerald, with over 254 positive reviews on Google, and an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Owned by a local family, the Emerald Tourist Park offers a sense of warmth and welcome that can only be portrayed when dealing with those who are truly invested in the place. A stay here promises exceptional hospitality, friendly faces, with a saying that you come as a tourist, stay as a guest, and leave as a friend.
The range of accommodation is spectacular, offering deluxe villas, self-contained cabins, and powered sites, and unpowered sites for your camper trailer, caravan, or tents. With pubs, clubs, cafes and the shopping centre only 300 metres away from the camping grounds, the location is also central and ultra convenient.
Emerald Tourist Park promises clean amenities, a camp kitchen, a laundry area, free barbecue pits, free WiFi, and occasional community fire pits and live entertainment. The camping grounds are pet friendly, offering a great atmosphere for the whole family.
NRMA Bowen Beachfront Holiday Park
For those travelling further North in search of some warmer weather or beachfront views, setting up camp at the NRMA Bowen Beachfront Holiday Park would be a great way to kick off the holidays.
Ideally located at the top of the Whitsunday coast, the camping grounds overlook the beautiful islands that make up the Whitsundays. Known for great hospitality, diverse local produce, fresh seafood, and an amazing time by the beach, a stay at the NRMA Bowen Beachfront Holiday Park will not disappoint.
Offering great accommodation options from cabins and villas to caravan sites and camp sites, your options are aplenty depending on your needs. Fantastic features and facilities include shaded barbecue spots, pedal go-kart hires, refuse stations, a saltwater swimming pool, a laundry station, free WiFi, a fully equipped camp kitchen, gas refills, outdoor cinema, and so much more.
With eight beaches to walk, explore, swim and snorkel in, your kids will be kept very busy these upcoming holidays.
By camping in Bowen, you’ll also get the opportunity to feast at the Grand View Hotel, an iconic establishment where the movie “Australia” starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman was shot. Oh, and the meals there are sensational, with the seafood being locally caught and produce fresh from the local markets.
Banner image credit: Outbackqueensland.com
