7 Batemans Bay caravan parks you should set up camp at

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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Batemans Bay’s location smack-bang between Sydney and Canberra has long made it a great place for a family holiday in a caravan.

For many of us who live in Sydney or Canberra, a childhood summer would often be spent piling everything into the car for a holiday at one of the Batemans Bay caravan parks. It’s the ideal spot to come together to connect with the great outdoors and each other on the NSW South Coast.

Staying in a Batemans Bay caravan park remains an exercise in nostalgia. It’s also a very budget-friendly Australian holiday for the family. It’s where you will see those most magical signs of an echidna or wombat crossing. You’ll see kangaroos grazing on the grass around your caravan. And wake up to birds chirping and the sizzle of eggs on your neighbour’s barbecue.

Be it a BIG 4, a holiday beach resort or a tourist park that can accommodate the in-laws in a comfortable cabin, it’s time to turn back the clock.

 

1. BIG4 Batemans Bay at East’s Riverside Holiday Park

Families who see signage for a BIG4 holiday park know to pull off the highway. But it’s worth noting that a bit of forward planning is required to secure a square of concrete for your caravan at this popular holiday park located on the northern shores of the Clyde River.

a couple al fresco dining at BIG4 Batemans Bay at East's Riverside Holiday Park
Have a picnic facing the water at BIG4 Batemans Bay at East’s Riverside Holiday Park.

You’ll find the skies mostly blue and empty by day, and clear for stargazing at night from your accommodation at BIG4 Batemans Bay at East’s Riverside Holiday Park. Expect to see kangaroos bouncing about over the manicured lawn. The many cafes and restaurants and attractions of Batemans Bay and the Eurobodalla Nature Coast are also on your doorstep.

a balcony with chairs and a table at BIG4 Batemans Bay at East's Riverside Holiday Park
Stay in a waterfront bungalow at BIG4 Batemans Bay at East’s Riverside Holiday Park..

Choose between waterfront condos, bungalows and cabins, some of which have spas. There are sites for caravans close to the water, so you can enjoy being lulled to sleep by the soundtrack of the river rushing by. There are no facilities for tents. Batemans Bay also has a range of different accommodation options to suit if your family goes all Meet the Griswalds. 

a couple sitting in a foldable chair at BIG4 Batemans Bay at East's Riverside Holiday Park
Sit back and relax by the side of the river.

Facilities: Some cabins have ensuites, others have access to clean bathroom and laundry facilities. There’s also a camp kitchen, BBQs and a recreation lounge.

Address: Wharf Road, Batemans Bay

2. Pleasurelea Tourist Resort

Pack your fanciest fleece and Goretex jacket so you can get up early and go fishing from your conveniently located caravan site at Pleasurelea Tourist Resort.

Fishos from around Australia converge here to take advantage of the resort’s proximity to world-class reef and deep-sea fishing. even has its own fishing and cruise boat, the Jean Marie, and offers half- and full-day fishing charters and packages to suit.

Pleasurelea Tourist Resort in Batemans Bay
Book a cosy cabin for the ultimate comforts.

See the silhouettes of kangaroos in the pink of dawn standing like quiet sentinels welcoming visitors to the new day. The distinctive scent of eucalyptus and beautiful bird whistles will inspire you to get out and explore your surrounds while road-tripping around the NSW South Coast.

Pleasurelea Tourist Resort in Batemans Bay
Accommodation here offers everything you’ll need.

Accommodation includes luxury spa cabins, family cabins, affordable family accommodation, powered ensuite slab sites, spacious powered caravan sites and large grassy tent sites. There is also a cabin called K9 for visitors who want to bring their fur babies during the low season.

Pleasurelea Tourist Resort in Batemans Bay
Laze by the pool in the sun.

Facilities: The Scrumptious restaurant is a convenient place to dine. It’s licensed so there’s no need for a designated driver. There is also a heated swimming pool (seasonal), grassed tennis court, BBQ areas, free wi-fi, a camp kitchen, and nine-hole mini golf is another draw for families.

Address: 483 Beach Road, Sunshine Bay

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3. BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach

Wake to the sounds of waves thudding onto the shore at Ingenia Holidays, which is just metres from Merry Beach. This truly is one of the best campsites in the country.

You’ll want to pick up a glossy brochure from companies selling caravans or campervans and start planning your road-trip around Australia after a week-long stay in Kioloa.

a spacious campsite at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach
Settle in a beachfront-powered campsite at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach.

You can zip to Batemans Bay here to enjoy brunch, check out Mogo Zoo with the kidlets, or simply get the kids to count the eastern grey kangaroos that gather here at dawn and dusk for their version of a daily convention.

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach has beachfront powered or unpowered camping or caravan sites. You can also plump for a private chalet, poolside cabin, superior spa cabin, family cabin and two-storey presidential haven.

a standard cabin with a cosy sofa and tv at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach
The standard cabin comes with modern amenities.

Facilities: There is a new playground, a resort-style pool, a skatepark, a camp kitchen, laundry facilities and with not a lot of light pollution at Merry Beach, it’s a top spot for those who enjoy the drama of pink dawns and dark nights. It’s also pet-friendly.

Address: 46 Merry Beach Road, Kioloa

4. NRMA Batemans Bay Beach Resort

Sit with your new caravanning buddies at the end of the day and watch the sun as it sets behind you and creates a kaleidoscope of colours, from reds to pinks to purples. Walk with your eyes trained high in the trees to try and spot  koalas in the trees that surround this perfectly positioned holiday park overlooking Corrigans Beach.

You can be as social or reclusive as you like at this sprawling park, arrayed around groves of trees and spaced out throughout the manicured grounds. Tip the kids out to the playground at the first crack of sunlight and arrange to meet up at the resort-style swimming pool for some Marco Polo.  Gather with the family and your new-found friends at one of the scheduled outdoor movies, which are great for making memories.

There are nine different types of accommodation options on offer at NRMA Batemans Bay Beach Resort. If you have a caravan in tow, you can stay in a powered site with or without an ensuite, or a powered grass site. If you prefer to stay in a cabin, you’ll be spoilt for choice with a three-bedroom luxe Lakeside Cabin, two-bedroom townhouse, superior cabins and studios.

the exterior of cabins with balconies at NRMA Batemans Bay Holiday Resort
Sleep in a cabin with a balcony at NRMA Batemans Bay Holiday Resort. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)

Facilities: The pet-friendly park has a resort-style swimming pool, mini golf, tennis, and BBQ facilities available at the camp kitchen. There’s also a playground to keep the kids entertained.

Address: 51 Beach Rd, Batehaven

5. BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park

The exclusive in-park perks on offer make the BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park a popular option for families wanting to have a caravan holiday near Batemans Bay. The soundtrack of splashing water is a constant at this Batemans Bay holiday park, which is almost completely surrounded by water.

a tent with beds at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park
Bed down at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park.

Get out your binoculars during whale-watching season and see if you can spot whales motoring up the humpback highway. You’re almost always guaranteed to see kangaroos grazing next to your RV.

the campground at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park
Set up your tent next to your RV at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park.

There are powered sites for caravans by the creek and river. There are also deluxe waterfront villas, beach houses, ensuite sites, and stylish two- and three-bedroom cabins by the water.

a suite interior at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park
Stay in spacious and fully-equipped suites at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park.

Facilities: Wander around the cricket pitch, a sparkling resort pool, free canoe and go-kart hire. The park has a mix of paved and dirt paths and trails that will appeal to families and groups who enjoy an active holiday. The park screens outdoor movies over summer, has a boat ramp, mini golf, tennis courts, camp kitchen and game room.

Address: 970 Kings Hwy, Nelligen

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6. BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park

The BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park is a great example of the kind of set-up Aussies have come to expect. One of the best holiday parks in the country from which to spot wildlife, you can kayak from Tomakin to Mossy Point for brunch, visit Clyde River National Park, or simply curl up in your hammock with a good book.

This popular holiday park is surrounded by swathes of bushland in Murramarang National Park and far enough away from Batemans Bay to feel like you’re on a get-away-from-it-all holiday.

The holiday park offers accommodation in cabins and villas, as well as grass or slab sites for caravanning. Tiny tots will love the Toot Toot Big Red Car.

Facilities: There’s a jumping castle and giant checkers, free gas BBQs, a fully equipped camp kitchen with a microwave, toaster, oven and cooktop. There is also a book and video library, coffee and snack machine, playground, swimming pool and open-air theatre area. There are also quality bathroom facilities and a special needs bathroom.

BIG4 Caravan South Durras
BIG 4 South Durras is one of the best holiday parks in the country from which to spot wildlife. (Image: The New Matilda/Flickr)

Address: 9 Beagle Bay Road, South Durras

 

7. Batemans Bay Holiday Park

Don’t worry about unhooking the caravan. The Batemans Bay Holiday Park and Hostel is an easy walk into town, making it a popular place for backpackers, families and #vanlifers who want to stretch their money as far as possible. The trails and paths that lead around the park are designed to blend into the landscape, providing a passageway for animals and humans moving from one part of the park to the next.

The caravan park is always bustling with beachgoers and includes cabins (some of which are pet-friendly) as well as powered and unpowered sites. There are also hostel beds and dorm rooms for those travelling solo or in a group.

Facilities: There’s a BBQ area, free wi-fi, a swimming pool, playground, camp kitchen, kiosk, laundry and bathroom blocks.

Address: 49 Old Princes Highway, Batemans Bay

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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The ultimate guide to Batemans Bay accommodation
Batemans Bay

The ultimate guide to Batemans Bay accommodation

No matter what travelling style you have, there’s an accommodation for you in Batemans Bay.

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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.