Grey nomads travelling in larger rigs will be delighted to hear that one caravan park in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is investing heavily to cater to their needs.
One of the major complaints from travellers in big fifth wheelers, caravans and motorhomes is that there are not enough places with sites large enough to accommodate them. The council-owned Coolum Beach Holiday Park could be showing the way forward by converting 70 small sites averaging 64sq m to 46 larger sites averaging 100sq m each.
“These sites are in premium location within the camping grounds, as they are located closest to the beach,” said divisional councillor, Stephen Robinson. “This upgrade will meet the demand for larger, well-drained sites to cater for today’s larger campervans and motorhomes.”
The upgrades will mean power, water and sullage points for grey water at each site. Internal roads will also be sealed and, together with other drainage works, it will ensure the camping and caravan park will be an all-weather facility.
The works at the dog-friendly park, which recently had a new amenity block built, will be largely completed before the September school holidays.
Following the upgrade, facilities at the park will include 210 powered tourist caravan and camping sites, three unpowered tent sites and six villas.
“Coolum is a quintessential Australian surf beach and, like all of council’s other holiday parks at Dicky Beach, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Cotton Tree and Mudjimba, it is on beach frontage,”  Cr Robinson said. “The park is set on 4 hectares and guests have direct access to the patrolled surf, making it one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular camping and caravan destinations.”
At a time when increasing numbers of Australia’s iconic beachside camping destinations are facing an uncertain future, the $520,000 upgrade to the Coolum Park is being enthusiastically welcomed.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia said travellers loved the sense of community found in caravan and holiday parks.
“We are delighted that the new developments to the Coolum Beach Holiday Park will add value to the park for the local community and for the community of campers that come to stay throughout the year,” said spokesperson, Callie Henderson.
Perhaps the next move can be for more parks to allow non powered sites to caravans instead of only tents.
I agree with the comments below. Some parks just don’t have large sites and others have access roads so narrow that you cant get the van onto the site and tree branches are a major. You really wonder if the owners/managers ever walk through the area and actually see the problems. And I support that idea of more non-powered van sites for those of us who have on-board facilities. All we want is water and sullage and a realistic rate – often these parks only knock off $2 for a non-powered site and it is stuck in the grotty area. They moan about free campers, but too many do not make their parks attractive or affordable
Adore Coolum Beach…. Hopefully you will be greatly rewarded with patronage once finished….
How much is a site by night?
Dont kid yourselves
No council or privately owned cp would invest such sums without lifting their fees to a point that gives them a cost recovery plus plus profit increase situation.
We are at Coolum beach C/p at the moment. Earth works etc have commenced. Very excited about the new development. Congratulations to the Park management in this trying time helping the caravan public. Kept it up. Well done Greg.
Hi Dianne, while there would it be possible for you to ask for all concerned, what the overnight rate for big rigs will be?? Thanks
Plenty of parks have sites large enough (just) for larger rigs. The challenge is that the roads that access them are often too narrow (sometimes with low overhanging trees) so they are extremely difficult to get in and out of. The parks that address this will need to do little else to accommodate larger rigs. That said, this is a huge step forward.