We check in to four different holiday parks to discover all the region has to offer.
Families are spoilt for choice in northern NSW, with a swathe of waterfront campsites. emily toxward checks in to four Tweed Coast Holiday Parks properties to see what the fuss is about.
Kingscliff Beach
Boasting spacious and luxurious cabins, new amenities and direct beachfront access, it’s obvious why Tweed Coast Holiday Parks’ Kingscliff property was awarded Best Holiday Park in NSW by the Caravan & Camping Industry Association (CCIA). But it’s not just the million-dollar views and three-bedroom cabins you’ll love; the entire park has been refurbished and is immaculately kempt.
Powered sites have synthetic grass and there are beachfront sites (some with ensuites), a camp kitchen, sheltered barbecues and an ocean that will lull you to sleep. A plethora of cafes and restaurants adorn the main street of this popular seaside town, and you can hire a bike to explore it.
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Head slightly inland and you’ll find Cudgen Creek, a local favourite for stand-up paddleboarding and swimming. There’s also a playground for when kids tire of the water.
Pottsville South
Located on picturesque Mooball Creek, kids can swim in waist-high water, fishers can catch dinner and barbecues can be enjoyed waterfront at Pottsville South Holiday Park. This park ticks all the boxes and a $2.8-million revamp saw it win the CCIA Best Holiday Park North Coast in 2017 (under 100 sites).
It has eight new cabins, a refurbished amenities area and an improved entry to make it more caravan friendly, as well as new boom gates for security, giving visitors peace of mind. With the non-patrolled beach just a short walk away, this park hits the spot with surfers, swimmers, kayakers and anyone else who loves water activities. Ensuite sites and double slabs are also available.
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For delicious coffee and fare, visit popular Pottsville Pantry. All dietary needs are catered for, and I recommend the eggs benedict, as well as the waffles with fresh fruit and cream.
Boyds Bay
A hit with parents and kids alike for its all-ages playground, swimming pool with slide and direct access to Terranora Creek, this park has a range of sites and waterfront cabins. Pack your kayak to enjoy a sunset paddle or use the park’s boat ramp and fish-cleaning table.
Unpowered sites are located in a grassed area close to a creek entrance and there’s a range of budget and luxury cabins, as well as barbecues overlooking the water and an outdoor gym. The Gold Coast’s muchloved southern beaches are an easy 10-minute car trip away.
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For a night off cooking, catch a courtesy bus and head to Seagulls Club, where there is a supervised kids’ play area, entertainment and a selection of restaurants, including a buffet.
Fingal Head
Located on an isolated peninsula, this direct beachfront park has a range of air-conditioned waterfront cabins, ensuite caravan sites and even ‘surfari’ tents, plus the usual campsites. Offering a unique luxury camping experience, the surfari tents sleep four, have all the expected amenities and include a private deck.
Kids will love the patrolled but quiet beach, and don’t be surprised if kookaburras wake you or brush turkeys roam your site. There’s a kiosk, sheltered barbecue areas, a gated playground and plenty of room for bikes. You’ll love the roaring ocean and the star-studded sky that’s free of light pollution.
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If you’re a keen fisher, head to nearby Fingal Head for rock fishing. The spot is renowned for plentiful luderick, bream and tailor.
Fast fact
The Tweed Coast partially sits in a green caldera, the vast crater of the extinct Tweed Volcano that’s now covered in rainforest and farmland.