With five coastal holiday parks making the very best of the natural beauty of the Clarence Coast, you’ll want to pack the tent… and stay awhile.
From epic beaches to incredible upriver landscapes, the Clarence Coast is a true camping and campervanning wonderland on the NSW North Coast. With some of Australia’s most spectacular and unspoilt locations, and less developed than nearby Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Gold Coast, the Clarence Coast offers a medley of experiences that you can enjoy beachside, riverside, mountainside and village side.
Five relaxing coastal parks will help you make the most of this vast region, and a lifetime of memories to boot. Each of the Clarence Coast Holiday Parks has a casual and low-key village vibe and their own distinctive style and character. A range of accommodation options includes clean, fresh villas and cabins, amazing beach and riverfront sites and lots of secluded bush camps so you’re all set for an easy, hassle-free family holiday or perhaps a touch of adventure under canvas.
Whether you’re a travelling retiree or a holidaying family, a keen fisherman or an avid whale watcher, a surfer or a seafood aficionado (you’re in the home of the Yamba prawn), there’s something on the Clarence Coast for everyone. Here’s where you can find Clarence Coast Holiday Parks, from north to south.
Iluka: Where great holidays happen
Iluka Riverside Holiday Park has a complete river frontage, making it the perfect destination for fishing from the riverbank or pontoon. Located right in the heart of the town, this place still feels like a tranquil hideaway. Fresh seafood is a big pick in this area, with the facilities of a camp kitchen and waterfront BBQ, you can cook up watch your catch.
Listen to the rickety boats by the seaside in Iluka.
For those who aren’t so keen on swimming, Iluka is home to the World Heritage Listed Yuragir National Park. Other amenities that the park provides is Free Wi-Fi, laundry, bathrooms, gas and ice stations and a phone. You don’t have to go totally off the grid in order to have a peaceful weekend.
Address: 4 Charles Street, Iluka, NSW, 2466
Contact: +61 02 6646 6060
Yamba: The great beach holiday
Labelled as Australia’s best town, Yamba is the ideal location with the perfect climate for beach holiday getaways. At the Calypso Holiday Park, you’ll be right along the river, only a stone’s throw away from the local eateries and attractions in central Yamba. This town has a big laid-back vibe to it, with resort-styled shopping, waterfront cafes and incredible beaches.
When you arrive, park the car in your designated spot and ditch it for the weekend. You’ve got so much available within walking distance from you. The Holiday Park is equipped with a BBQ area, playground, ensuites, laundry and a campsite swimming pool. We know where we’ll be.
Address: Harbour Street, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Contact: +61 02 6646 8847
Brooms Head: Get away from it all
If you’re looking for an absolute treasure, you can’t go wrong with a trip up to Brooms Head. The beaches along the area are perfect for surfers, fishermen and families. Brooms Head Holiday Park is a large, open-plan space with 1.5 kilometres of scenic beachfront and breathtaking views from the headland and cabins.
The accommodation ranges from spacious hilltop cabins, beachfront camping and van sites, all coming with a friendly community environment. They provide toilets, hot showers and laundry, a children’s playground, free internet and a communal BBQ area for grilling those mid-arvo snags.
Address: Ocean Road, Brooms Head, NSW, 2463
Contact: +61 6646 7144
Minnie Water: Bush camping at its best
Relax in Minnie Water in lush surrounds.
Minnie Water is the place you need to be when you just want to get back to nature. Surrounded by a quiet town with quaint beaches and vast bushlands, it makes the perfect stopover for those heading along the Yaragir Coastal Walk. The Minnie Water Holiday Park is one-of-a-kind, with its secluded site and open campfires, you’ll feel as though you’re a million miles away.
There’s an onsite convenience store so you can stock up on the essentials, a swimming pool, tennis court and a BBQ area. This place brings comfort to the heart while you can relax and rejuvenate in this quiet haven.
Address: 646 Minnie Water Road, Minnie Water, NSW, 2462
Contact: +61 02 6649 7693
Wooli: A real coastal village
Wooli is the most southern part of the Clarence Coast, just sitting only 30 minutes from the main highway. Although you can’t hear or see the bustling traffic and honking cars, this location is completely hidden at the end of a narrow peninsular. Grab your fishing rod and reel it in for some of the best fishing and seafood on the coast. Wooli Holiday Park is situated in between the river and a beach, and only minutes away from the central village. With a bowling club, restaurants, hotel and grocery stores, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Settle into any of the riverside campsites, van sites and cabins to start your vacation. Dock in at the boat ramp, do a fry up in the camp kitchen and sit around grilling marshmallows at the BBQ.
Dock in at Wooli Holiday Park.
Address: 25 Riverside Drive, Wooli, NSW, 2462
Contact: +61 02 6649 7671
Getting there
The Clarence Coast is located roughly 600 kilometres north of Sydney, which is roughly a 7 and a half-hour drive to the first stop, Wooli. Whereas from Brisbane, you’re looking at only 300 kilometres until you reach your destination, if you’re driving to the closest town, Iluka, you’ll only be on the road for 3 and a half hours.
If you’re not so keen on driving for half the day, Regional Express operates around 40 flights a week to Grafton from Sydney. You’ll still have to hop in a car and drive to your destination but it’s an improvement from before.
