While most parks are fully booked through summer, the winter months are good value so pack your bags, it’s Value Season and you’re in for a great surprise.

From Autumn until the end of spring it’s value season for the drive tourism industry which means many holiday and caravan parks around the country are offering great deals, special rates and much more. And not only will you get value for money, you’ll also get a pleasant surprise by Australia’s increasingly upgraded and refurbished parks that are now playing host to a new breed of drive tourists.

Throughout the summer holidays, caravan park occupancy rates are high and its often necessary to book in advance making value season a great option for people who can travel outside of school holiday dates. With less demand on sites and cabins, there’s more freedom to have flexible travel plans at this time of year. Plus the weather’s great, the roads and parks are less congested, local attractions are more accessible, and there are some great deals on accommodation.

During value season, particularly on the east coast of Australia, some caravan parks can offer discounts of up to 60 per cent on accommodation plus many offer free upgrades and fabulous deals on local tourist attractions.

And holiday and caravan parks themselves have improved, with park owners investing millions of dollars on upgraded facilities and new amenities. You can find kitchens for campers, internet kiosks, hydrotherapy spas, increased en-suite sites, and even five-star, resort facilities including pools, restaurants and surround sound theatre systems.

“There’s huge money going into parks today,” said Mr Gavin Farrell of Beachlands Holiday Park in Busselton, WA, who notes that some park owners have invested up to $250000 each for three bedroom/three bathroom on-site cabins. “Many parks are investing in infrastructure and landscaping, keeping accommodation up-to-date on a regular basis by upgrading caravans, cabins, sites and other facilities.”

Garry Hetherington of BIG4 Holiday Hub Beach Resort at Pambula Beach says that in regional NSW more people stay in caravan parks that all other forms of accommodation combined. “There’s been a massive move to the drive tourism market and caravan parks have become the accommodation of choice for an increasing number of Australians,” he said. “We’ve had prodigious growth in our business right across the board, particularly with a mass movement of families to caravan parks. That’s because no one can replicate the holiday experience that we offer.”

Like many of Australia’s caravan parks, Holiday Hub offers a range of guest activities including barbeques, outdoor movie nights and school holiday programs for kids. The activities serve to build a community atmosphere among the guests who return year after year.

Statistics released this year by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that caravan and holiday parks offered approximately 250000 holiday sites in Australia in 2003, more than any other accommodation provider in Australia. The statistics also show the annual accommodation income from parks exceeded $750 million in the same year.

Caravan park owners have also observed a new breed of Australian drive tourists whose accommodation of choice is caravan parks. “There are definitely more people touring Australia and staying in holiday parks than five years ago and there’s a great mix of drive tourists out there today,” said Mrs Shirley Steel of Esk Caravan Park in Esk in the Brisbane Valley near Toowoomba. “Just look at the growing number of caravans on the road, especially new caravan owners who are prepared to pay for upmarket tow vehicles for their latest model caravans with all the luxuries.”

Mr Stuart Livingstone, Executive Director of the Caravan and Camping Industries Association of SA, says that the industry is experiencing a great mix of tourists because of the lifestyle it affords. “Drive tourism is a fabulous, affordable way to relax, unwind and revitalise with friends and family, especially during the non-peak periods.” he said. “In an age of stressed out, overscheduled families, frequent caravan, camping or motorhome getaways encourage communication and shared activity like bushwalking, canoeing and fishing. Australia’s outdoor lifestyle has no boundaries.”

Important: Prices are supplied as a guide only and can vary from state to state. Always confirm pricing at time of booking.

This article has been provided for publication by the Caravan and Camping Industries Association of South Australia. Unauthorised use or reproduction is strictly prohibited. Article & photography is © Caravan and Camping Industries Association of South Australia and may not be used without their express permission.

The Caravan & Camping Industries Association of South Australia Inc., (CCIA. of SA) is a broad based Trade organisation which was incorporated in 1976. Its membership is made up of retailers, manufacturers, hirers, service providers, repairers and suppliers and as such is predominately aligned with businesses in or closely related to the outdoor leisure Industry.