The slow decline in the availability of beachside camping spots has been a recurring theme of the past few decades, and the trend continues.
Foreshore camping at a popular northern NSW coastal caravan park is now being phased out … with the advent of large, luxury rigs being partially blamed.
It has been announced that sites adjacent to the beach at Brooms Head Holiday Park will no longer be available for booking after May 2025, with the move marking the first step in returning the foreshore to the broader community.
Clarence Valley Council says the park, roughly halfway between Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour, is unique in the way that most of the facilities near the Holiday Park – such as the foreshore, amenities, playground, and community hall – are community facilities available to both residents and visitors alike.
Looking for a beachside camping site? You may have to keep on driving! PIC: Cizza
Stunning! Brooms Head Holiday Park is understandably popular. PIC: Clarence Valley Council
It says there is a need for more open space and picnic facilities for day trippers to Brooms Head.
Further discussions will now be held with the community about site plans to support the Holiday Park’s future as a space enjoyed by both campers and day visitors.
The council says the sites in question were originally small and designed for simpler camping experiences in the mid-to-late 1900s, and are not suitable for the larger, self-contained RVs and caravans that now dominate camping in the 2020s. It says these modern vehicles often encroach on neighbouring sites and public areas, leading to over-crowding.
Clarence Valley Council’s General Manager, Laura Black said the decision was overdue.
“The movement of large vehicles in such a pedestrian-heavy zone, along with issues related to wastewater disposal, have raised safety and environmental concerns,” she said. “Complaints from residents and day-trippers about these impacts were frequent until the recent decision to remove sites along the foreshore, was made and communicated.”
Ms Black said camping on the foreshore had evolved over time.
“Council made the decision to reduce the availability of these sites as part of an approach to ultimately phase out camping in this location,” she said. “This decision responds to community concerns about overcrowding and large vehicles encroaching on public access to the much-loved beach and foreshore areas.”
The council says that, importantly, this decision does not prevent long-time campers from booking other sites within the holiday park, which offers 238 available sites.
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I wonder if the fact with slot of caravan parks around Australia are moving more to reducing caravan sites and replacing with cabins catering fir 4,and 6 people per cabin, a lot more ofitable
Yes I think caravan parks are becoming the new motels,i see it a lot rows of units where they had camp sites on the last visit,caravan parks as advertised were once just that camping and caravans.
Yes that’s my experience here in W.A. Are they not taking business away from motels, B & Bs etc and yet have the gall to demand the authorities close or reduce free/low cost campsites?
Sorry, you can’t blame big rigs
If the facilties can’t cater for growing needs then things need to change
The reason why things have changed is the sites in coastal areas have out priced the market forcing many of us to stay inland and avoid the coast.
Secondly there is more money in convert parks into permanent units leaving less sites for travellers
Just have camping for real campers
TENTS
GOOD IDEA!
Caravan parks with more than 6cabins should not be called caravan park they are cabins not caravans.new parks should be made just for caravans only.
Now that will come as a shock to many travellers.
Hubby n I recently returned from a 5 week stint. Pulling into a van park and asking for an unpowered tent site was often met with surprise. Seeing other tenters was often a novelty.
I’ve been camping in tents for 65 years taking kids and now grandkids. To suggest that I am not a real camper because I now enjoy the comfort of a caravan is nothing short of insulting.
To many caravans sold ours gone back to camping in tents.
PS more access to beach and national parks.
Brooms Head is my absolute favourite in over 60 years of camping. It was beautiful, unspoiled and uncommercialised. A rare treat.
I understand the dilemma for the locals and council.
Please don’t shut the campsite down entirely.
We no longer go there. Used to be great. Then the council wouldn’t allow dogs.
On top of that the local ferals would trash the toilets and steal from your annex.
We have a small pop top and camped here last year. It is a gorgeous spot but yes, like everywhere the big rigs are ruining it for everyone. We were able to camp right on the foreshore but so many larger rigs were crowding areas. Where one large rig is sited you could have parked several smaller ones. Cso sad seeing this happen Australia wide.
So your saying we can’t own a 20 ft caravan and if we do don’t park here, we all pay taxes and when I got up today it was in Australia not china
I understand the frustration of the campers that have had those sites for years. These campers are now being placed on a waiting list for other sites within the caravan park- a waitlist that is unlikely ever going to be successfully implemented due to the popularity of Brooms Head.
Caravan parks should be for caravans not fancy cabins, should you wish a cabin go to a hotel/ motel.
Please no jumping pillows,all these extras only make parks more expensive..
Could not agree more. Grey nomads subsidising families using jumping pillows? Oh my lordy, who would suggest such a thing?!
The environment and community access won’t get a look-in with other development the council will approve.
Give it time and the entire place will be taken for another use, this is just the first step.
In Australia we have 20,000kms of coastline yet councils want to claw back tiny areas occupied by caravan parks all in the name of public access.
When was a council so concerned about public access, that they bought back and demolished beachside units?
If the council considers the sites too small for big rigs double the site size reduce the number of sites available on the foreshore and charge double site fees. Simple.
Slope sites to 60⁰. Access roads can then be narrowed & reverse parking is made easier plus the sites are longer due to the diagonal length.
I have been advocating that type of design for quite some time also where possible make site “drive through”, same space and no reversing and alternate site faces in opposite direction.
We stayed at Bonney Hills Holiday Park NSW recently and some of their new sites were this type.
There are some places South Coast NSW that are basically peoples private property. Not on the beach but in or near coastal towns. Try Facebook or community noticeboards of the areas you intend to travel. Excellent alternative for self contained R.V .these places have no power and amenities ( some may have water) and will give you firewood for outdoors,so if you have your own toilet/ shower/solar it’s a cheap solution for a night or two.
It’s a shame that Australia can’t follow NZ’s example of making camping and caravanning an industry proper. With the landmass of this country, low population density it’s a disgrace that rigs of any size cannot be accommodated properly. Failure of government local, state and federal. It’s their remit to regulate and grow this space, most especially in a housing crisis..
Been caravanning for decades, and , sadly , for old buggers like me, our camping lifestyle is rapidly changing…..too many with too much gear are everywhere….they all know all the areas, because of Camps books, and technology…..getting to where there is no room for us in our modest little old outfits at our favourite places….bugger..!
Buying $200.000+ Caraven and $150.000 RAM will ruin camping for everyone .
Go smaller and go tent it will make you more happy.
Or go to 5 star hotel you are not camper you are pretender.
You’ll get old one day Michael and when you do I hope you’re still able to use a tent, but if you can’t a caravan is a good alternative to get out and see this wonderful country, I don’t know anyone that can afford $350,000 caravan and car.
My addvice to all motor home and grey nomads, bypass these towns which are taking away enjoyable rest places. Dont spend a y money in the area and they will soon learn how much their selfish attitude has cost their community
I’ve camped in Broomes Head and many other coastal recreational locations (BTW staying anywhere in a caravan or an RV is NOT camping), using tents or cabins. Yes caravans and large RVs blocking the scenic views and access to coastal environs are a problem, obliterating any sense of nature and solitude. I’m often staggered by the selfishness of these entitled few thinking shared facilities are to be prioritised for their enjoyment. Just to be clear the attitude is shared equally between ’boomers’, backpackers and your parents with children.
A bit of consideration for please. Or maybe put overnight parking for such large vehicles on the fringe of the small towns involved.
Councils blaming large rigs?? Rather farcical when up & down the eastern seaboard various councils rubber stamp 2 & 3 storey mansions right on the beachfront.
If older sites are too small there is a very simple solution. Instead of having sites at the traditional 90⁰ to access roads simply slant them to 60⁰. Sites become longer, each site no longer looks at their neighbours caravan plus access roads can then be made narrower. This all then flows to fitting in more sites on the same plot of land.
Can I say one more thing don’t vote for a government who will not help us capper vote capping fishing framers and shooters vote for freedom and bill of rights now