Camping on the Gold Coast has been a popular holiday tradition for decades and as a result, there are plenty of excellent caravan parks and camping accommodation around town. From powered campsites to luxury glamping tents, self-contained cabins and safari tents, Gold Coast’s caravan parks provide a convenient and relaxing stay in some of the city's most scenic locations.
Best Caravan Parks the Gold Coast
Gold Coast Tourist Parks Some of the best spots for families to stay are the Gold Coast Tourist Parks. There are six locations across the city, on stunning waterfront locations with plenty of space to play, run, ride and paddle.
Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park
‘Tally Creek’ as the locals know it, has been voted one of the best swimming spots in Australia, and this waterfront camping spot is ideally situated right on the banks of the stunning, calm waterway. You can park your van or pitch your tent on a prime piece of real estate with waterfront views at Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park and spend your stay swimming, fishing, snorkelling, boating, paddling and kayaking.
There’s a variety of accommodation options from unpowered sites and lodging rooms with shared facilities, to 3 bedroom villas that sleep up to 9 people. With three pools (including a kid free one) a playground and tennis courts, there’s plenty to do in the park but you have access to cafes, restaurants, a nearby surf club and Burleigh Heads National Park all within a couple of kilometres.
Rates: Powered sites from $61 a night.
Location: 1544 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Burleigh Beach Tourist Park
When many people think of the Gold Coast, they think of Burleigh Heads. This iconic spot boasts one of the city’s best beaches and the headland jutting out into the ocean is a National Park, with scenic walking tracks and lookouts weaving through rainforest.
Burleigh Beach Tourist Park is literally across the road and a stay here will set you right in the midst of the laid back coastal lifestyle our city is famous for. Enjoy the simple life at this beautiful maintained park, which offers powered sites and a handful of self-contained cabins.
Spend sunny days at Burleigh Point - the elevated headland with a gently sloping hill where you can sit beneath pandanus and pine trees, watch the waves and soak up incredible views of the coastline. It’s a popular spot for picnics, playdates, sundowners and surfing. Everything you need is within walking distance including restaurants, cafes, bars, surf clubs and boutiques. Essentially, the perfect location for a Gold Coast camping holiday.
Rates: Powered sites from $62 a night.
Location: 36 Goodwin Tce, Burleigh Heads
Ocean Beach Tourist Park
Located in the buzzing suburb of Miami, this tourist park is sheltered by North Burleigh Headland and boasts absolute beach frontage. You’ll be steps away from a stunning stretch of sand where you can laze the day away swimming, surfing or strolling the shore. Climb the stairs to the lookout at North Burleigh for panoramic views of the coastline - particularly pretty at dusk and dawn.
Ocean Beach Tourist Park has 60+ powered sites and a handful of self-contained cabins, a camp kitchen and a kiosk for grocery items, ice and other essentials. Conveniently, it’s also a short stroll away from some of the Gold Coast’s best cafes, restaurants, boutiques making it an excellent homebase for a Gold Coast stay.
Rates: Powered sites from $64 per night.
Location: 22 Hythe Street, Miami
Main Beach Tourist Park
Located just to the north of Surfers Paradise, Main Beach Tourist Park is enjoys a central but serene setting. It’s conveniently close to the action, but far away enough that you can take a breather when you want to. Sea breezes, a resort style pool, fun activities for kids and beautifully maintained grounds and amenities take relaxation to the next level.
There’s a range of accommodation available from powered sites and ensuite sites for tents and campervans to self-contained cabins (studio, two and three bedroom and an accessible cabin available). During your stay, explore The Spit on bikes, visit nearby Sea World or catch the light rail to Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach.
Rates: Powered sites from $63 per night.
Location: 3600 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach
Pet Friendly Caravan Parks on the Gold Coast
No need to leave your four-legged friends behind when you go on holiday. With plenty of dog-friendly accommodation at these Gold Coast camping spots, your pet can come along too.
Kirra Beach Tourist Park
Have the best beachside camping holiday on the Southern Gold Coast with your doggo along for the fun! As one of the few dog-friendly holiday parks on the Gold Coast, Kirra Beach Tourist Park welcomes your pooch as part of the family. Almost half the campsites in this park are designated as dog-friendly and there are pet-friendly cabins with fencing too. There’s a self-service dog-wash facility to rinse off sandy dogs, a pet-friendly water fountain and a grassy park perfect for walks right next door.
Golden stretches of sand and world-class waves are a few hundred metres away, with an abundance of coastal cafes, restaurants and surf clubs close by. The beach front pathways provide the perfect environment for long walks and playing fetch.
Rates: Powered sites from $49
Location: 10 Charlotte St, Coolangatta
Jacobs Well Tourist Park
Located in a quiet corner of the Northern Gold Coast, Jacobs Well Tourist Park provides a relaxing and peaceful camping spot on the water. Boating and fishing is a popular pastime in this region as the boat ramp right outside the park provides direct access to Moreton Bay Marine Park – one of the largest estuarine bays in Australia.
Salty sea dogs are welcome as this caravan park is dog-friendly so pack your puppy for a camping holiday. Explore the sandy shores of the river with your pet on long walks then chill out in the shade and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. There’s plenty to keep the kids happy and distracted from their screens including a skate park, tennis court, basketball court and a safe swimming area with sheltered beach on the banks of the water way.
Rates: Powered sites from $55 a night.
Location: 1161 Pimpama Jacobs Well Rd, Jacobs Well
Big 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
Big 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park in Helensvale is very popular for its proximity to three major theme parks (Warner Bros Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and Dreamworld). If you’ve done them all, you’ll definitely appreciate some downtime, and this park provides plenty of ways to get it.
Fun comes first at this family friendly Gold Coast holiday park with a wide range of fun kids’ activities plus waterpark, playgrounds, a pool and a restaurant overlooking the water. Choose your style of preferred stay from caravan/ camp sites, cabins, motel rooms or safari tents. Dog friendly cabins and campsites are available and puppies can run free around 32 hectares of off-leash park.
Rates: Powered sites start from $55 a night.
Location: 66-86 Siganto Dr, Helensvale
Best Campsites on the Gold Coast
Camping at South Stradbroke Island
One of the Gold Coast’s best kept secrets, South Stradbroke Island is a small island 2km across The Broadwater from the mainland. You can access it from the northern suburbs of Paradise Point and Runaway Bay by boat, water taxi, jet ski or kayak.
South Stradbroke offers secluded beachside camping at three campsites on the island - South Currigee, North Currigee and Tipplers. You’ll have to pitch a tent and ferry all your camping gear with you because there is no car (or caravan) access at ‘Straddie’. There are self-contained cabins available at South Currigee and Tipplers which make for a convenient stay.
While the campgrounds have basic amenities and Tipplers has a licenced café and kiosk, it’s back to basics st South Stradbroke which is why people love it so much. No cars, no crowds, no traffic… Just a sky full of stars, perhaps a crackling campfire and the soothing rhythm of waves lapping at the shore.
Wildlife is abundant on the island and with boating, fishing, surfing and beach walks are the main forms of entertainment. Explore the pristine white sand dunes, miles of secluded beaches and melaleuca wetlands.
Rates: Unpowered sites from $33
Location: South Stradbroke Island, Gold Coast
Springbrook National Park
If you’re keen on back to basics bush camping, Gold Coast’s Springbrook National Park is the place to pitch your tent. The Settlement camping area is a small campground in the Hinterland with 11 campsites and you’ll need to book your camping permit online before you go to secure your spot. (Note: large caravans won’t be able to access The Settlement due to a steep ascent).There’s no power or showers at The Settlement but you won’t be completely roughing it - there’s drinking water, toilets and a cooking shelter with electric BBQs (fires are prohibited). What you will find is an incredible experience, completely immersed in nature. The stars shine bright, the wildlife is abundant and you’ll wake to a noisy morning chorus from native birdlife.
This beautiful Gold Coast camping spot provides easy access to many of the region’s walking tracks and waterfalls including the Purlingbrook Falls walk and the Warrie Circuit.
Rates: $7.25 per person per night, or $29.00 per family per night
Location: Carricks Road, Springbrook National Park.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
If bush camping is your cup of tea then head up to this mountain top Gold Coast camp site set at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat - mountaintop hideaway where nature is on your doorstep and wildlife are waiting to meet you.
Set on the edge of Lamington National Park, this special spot offers stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape and nature based experiences like guided bird walks, waterfall hikes and and a unique elevated Tree Top Walk through the forest canopy.
There are Safari tents and powered and unpowered sites for camping as well as spacious and modern camp kitchen, a firepit and communal gathering areas - the perfect spot for a sundowner. Note that the steep and winding road up to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and the campground itself are not suitable for caravans. (NB: O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat offers a range of accommodation including lodge rooms and luxury villas.)
Rates: Campsites start from $27 a night mid-week, safari tents from $105.
Location: 3582 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra
Binna Burra Lodge
Set on the edge of a World Heritage Listed wilderness, Binna Burra is a special spot to reconnect with nature. While there’s a range of accommodation including luxury apartments and tiny homes, camping options include bush campsites and a limited number of powered drive-on sites for small caravans. (Again, the drive up is steep and winding so be sure to asses before you set out towing a caravan.)
There are also simple safari tents, and call kinds of campers have access to BBQs, fire pits, clean toilets and hot showers. The nearby Tea House is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and sells basic supplies.
You’ll wake to the raucous sound of birdsong and enjoy stunning views across the ridges and valleys of the Hinterland from this special spot. Some of the best bushwalking tracks in Queensland are on your doorstep so be sure to pack your hiking boots.
Rates: Unpowered sites start from $30 a night, safari tents start from $75 a night.
Location: 1040 Binna Burra Rd, Beechmont
Gold Coast Holiday Resorts
NRMA Treasure Island
Choose from a camping or caravan sites, cabin or villa and settle in for a guaranteed good time with an onsite splash park, kids’ club, mini golf, pedal cars, tennis court, playgrounds and four resort style pools. The kids will be endlessly entertained and there are outdoor movie nights, games and organised activities too.
The licenced onsite bistro serves up family-friendly meals, with cocktails on offer for parents in holiday mode. Whether you're after a relaxing family break or an action packed adventure holiday, NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort is the perfect place.
Rates: Powered sites start at $87 a night.
Location: 117 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters
Nobby Beach Holiday Village
As central as it gets, this popular spot in Miami offers caravan and camping sites as well as self-contained villas, cabins, houses and studio apartments. The stunning coastline and beachfront bike path is a short 5-minute stroll away and you’re right across the road from Nobby Beach dining precinct, which boasts some of the best cafes, bars and restaurants in the region.
You’ll be well catered for at Nobby Beach Holiday Village, with two heated pools, a huge water slide, children’s playground and a fully equipped camp kitchen and BBQ area. A stay here makes having a great time on the Gold Coast so simple with good fun, great food and Gold Coast’s smorgasbord of experiences all at arm’s reach.
Rates: Powered sites from $50 a night.
Location: 1 Hillcrest Pde, Miami
Gold Coast Glamping
Nightfall Camp
Set in the stunning foothills of Lamington National Park, Nightfall Camp is a pioneer of the luxury glamping movement. This luxe experience offers an indulgent outdoor getaway where literally everything is taken care of (and there’s not a portaloo in sight).
These tents put the glamour in glamping with all the mod-cons you could wish for, curl up with a book by the rotating fireplace inside your architecturally-inspired safari tent. Take a long soak in the vintage twin bathtubs overlooking the sprawling hinterland beyond, or enjoy a leisurely sleep-in in your king sized bed. They’ll even prepare all of your meals using locally sourced, organic produce, cooked over the fire and delivered straight to your door (or tent if you will).
Rates: From $985 a night (all meals included).
Location: 3009 Christmas Creek Rd, Lamington
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.