Six city-fringe stays that make visiting family (and sightseeing) easy
When visiting friends and family in urban areas, there isn’t always space for you to park your RV on their property, particularly in urban areas. Here are six urban parks that make life easy in and around big cities, whether you’re visiting family or just looking for an urban escape.
BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park
Only nine kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, and close to public transport, you can be at all of the city’s cultural and culinary attractions in no time. Whether you’re in town to take the grandkids to the Melbourne Zoo, watch the tennis at the Australian Open or see a football game at the MCG, this park is an excellent base for your urban visit. When you are on-site, the family can visit you with loads to do for kids, including a swimming pool, spa, playground, movie room and games room.
265 Elizabeth Street, Coburg
Visit: BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park
BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
With a tropical pool, a water splash park with more than 300 metres of water slides, a playground with four zones for children of different ages and abilities, and a camp kitchen with an oversized TV, the family will want to come to you if you’re visiting the Gold Coast. There’s also Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, or Wet’n’Wild just outside the door, and Seaworld is a few minutes’ drive down the road, and, of course, you can explore all of the world-famous beaches along the coast. Pets are welcome at this park, too.
66-86 Siganto Drive, Helensvale
Visit: Gold Coast Holiday Park
Discovery Parks Hobart
This park is surrounded by nature. Mt Wellington/Kunanyi presides over the town, and there are beautiful views from your campsite. There’s much to see when visiting Australia’s southernmost city, from the Salamanca Markets on a Saturday morning to waterside fine dining restaurants and fish and chips on the docks. Soak up some culture at MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art; learn how history lives on in the heritage-listed buildings of the CBD, or head out to Port Arthur, a short trip out of town, to immerse yourself in Tasmania's convict history.
673 East Derwent Hwy, Risdon Vale
Visit: Discovery Parks Hobart
Discovery Parks Swan Valley, Perth
Located in a quiet spot right in the middle of the Swan Valley wine region, this urban park is excellent for wine lovers. Join a tour or self-drive around Western Australia’s oldest wine region, tasting the renowned verdelho, chenin blanc, shiraz and fortified wines. For beer lovers, there’s also an ale trail with brewhouses galore. Families will love visiting Caversham Wildlife Park or spending the day at one of Perth’s glorious beaches that look out onto the Indian Ocean. On-site, you have a swimming pool, a movie room and shared social spaces for all to enjoy.
91 Benara Road, Caversham
Visit: Discovery Parks Swan Valley
BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
This park has spacious and shady sites, set amongst tropical foliage. From here you can drive to the centre of Cairns and the markets, waterfront restaurants and cultural attractions of the city in seven minutes. This destination is perfect for exploring the region’s major attractions – the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and Atherton Tablelands – but it’s also a fantastic place to settle in and stay for a while to enjoy the weather. Onsite there’s a splash park, waterslides, café and even a dog agility park for your furry travellers.
23-51 Anderson Rd, Woree
Visit: Ingenia Holidays
Discovery Parks Lane Cove, Sydney
Sydney is a big, busy city so being able to find a holiday park only ten minutes from the CBD is a little miracle. Discovery Parks Lane Cove is on the edge of the Lane Cove National Park, which offers hiking and cycling trails, forest therapy walks, gorgeous picnic spots and even boating and waterplay on the river. Sydney's bright lights, theatres, restaurants and bustling shopping malls are a 10-minute drive away or 20 minutes on the train network. There’s also a swimming pool, playgrounds and Wi-Fi, but the wonderful thing about it is that it has the best of both worlds –access to native Australian bushlands and urban attractions.
13 Plassey Road, Macquarie Park
Visit: Discovery Parks Lane Cove
