Top Merimbula Caravan Parks For An Old-School Getaway

It’s time to literally park your travel plans with a stay in one of the following Merimbula caravan parks.

Merimbula caravan parks offer a lot more than just places to park your van. In fact, like a lot of Australia’s campgrounds and van parks, Merimbula caravan parks feature some of the best beachfront accommodation in the entire country.

According to Tourism Research Australia, caravan holidays are making a comeback after COVID-19, with spend at an all-time high of $10.5 billion in June 2022. Perhaps it’s due to #cossylivs (cost of living) pressures. Or nostalgic memories of road trips.

Whatever the reason, the excitement of sleeping in a caravan kitted out with retro vibes is real. And don’t worry. If you don’t have a caravan, motorhome or home on wheels, you can also opt to stay in a cabin. We won’t tell your righteous #vanlifer mates. Here are some of the best caravan parks and campgrounds in and around Merimbula.

1. Discovery Park Pambula

Caravan parks and campgrounds have come of age, with many batting the concept of roughing it into the long grass and gleaning loyal followers while doing so. A stay in a caravan distils a summer holiday down to the basics where clear skies and lazy days beside the beach feel like life’s greatest luxuries.

an aerial view of Discovery Park Pambula — Discovery Park Pambula is just a stone’s throw away from the beach.

Hidden away within the northern tip of Beowa National Park, guests of Discovery Parks Pambula are reminded that relaxation doesn’t need a wi-fi password. Within walking distance are secluded hiking trails, rugged bays, surf beaches and twinkling lakes. Accommodation options include deluxe and superior cabins and spacious powered and unpowered sites.

a kangaroo at Discovery Park Pambula — Meet resident kangaroos at Discovery Parks Pambula Beach.

2. NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort

The NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort has broad appeal whether you’ve got a caravan in tow, want a simple grass site to camp out with the kids or prefer a swanky spa villa with ocean views. While kids will love the heated resort-style pool and water park, parents will also appreciate the food trucks serving pizzas on Friday nights.

an aerial view of NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort — Soak up tropical vibes at NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort.

The holiday resort is like a mini master-planned city with million-dollar views and a range of accommodation such as the accessible clifftop cabins near some of Merimbula’s best beaches. There’s also the three-bedroom Beach House with a spa, The Escape, which has an outdoor bath and sleeps eight. And the two-bedroom ocean-view Spa Villas and new glamping tents. Hire an e-bike and head to one of Merimbula’s many marvellous bars and restaurants.

a bathtub at NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort — Dip in your private outdoor tub.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

3. Merimbula Lake Holiday Park

The beauty of camping or towing a caravan around the Sapphire Coast is that you can go at your own pace, as there’s a lot to see and do in and around Merimbula. You’ve got the esky packed with snacks and fizzy drinks, a couple of beach balls and a cricket bat, some fishing gear, and surfboards.

What more do you need? The pet-friendly Merimbula Lake Holiday Park has extra-large powered and unpowered sites with lots of space for guests to spread out and watch the play of light on the water. The park’s colour scheme is all blues and greens, the surrounding bush brimming with birdsong. Get amongst it. Adventure awaits. It’s one of the best Merimbula accommodation options on offer.

4. Tween Waters Merimbula

Activities are strictly optional at Tween Waters Merimbula on the Fishpen Peninsular, adjacent to Merimbula Beach. Do as much or as little as you like at the Merimbula caravan park which also has cabins, a new motel, and campsites.

While the holiday park is close to the foodie-focused town centre, just a short walk away, it also has a BBQ area, recreation room, pool and bouncing cushion to keep everyone in the family happy. Oh, and bring your doggo; the park is pet-friendly. Want to make your getaway even more off-grid? Tween Waters is renowned for being a great place to kitesurf over summer.

5. Tasman Holiday Parks Merimbula

For many of us, childhood memories revolve around camping, barefoot beach hikes, and being immersed in nature under canvas or in a camper with those we love. While Australian caravan parks these days offer more elevated accommodation options, the idea is still to keep our holidays pretty pared back.

Despite being minutes from Merimbula, Tasman Holiday Parks Merimbula feels very secluded. Camp out under the stars or stay in a family-friendly cabin, cottage, holiday unit, bungalow or villa. The park is tucked away near a pocket of pretty bushland. Not feeling all that adventurous? You can hang out in the heated indoor pool and spa. Or challenge the kids to a game of giant chess or checkers.

6. Tanja Lagoon Camp

Although Tanja Lagoon Camp is closer to Tathra than Merimbula, it’s worth the short trek. Spend the morning picking up goodies along the Gourmet Coast Trail which meanders around Merimbula, Bermagui, Narooma and Batemans Bay. Then plug Tanja Lagoon Camp into your satnav and beeline to your luxury safari tent on the edge of a wild, coastal lagoon.

guests enjoying the Tanja Lagoon Camp luxury accommodation with Navigate Expeditions — Beeline to your luxe safari tent at Tanja Lagoon Camp. (Image: Destination NSW)

Staying here is a community-minded decision as the luxury safari tent accommodation treads lightly on the earth with just four self-contained safari tents, two eco cabins, and a communal meeting place for groups.

an aerial view of Tanja Lagoon Camp, Merimbula — Stay at Tanja Lagoon Camp in the middle of an oasis. (Image: Destination NSW)

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

7. Kangarutha Farm (Tathra)

Expect fresh white linen, and views across paddocks stubbled with native grasses and filled with kangaroos at one of the pretty bellbird glamping sites at Kangarutha Farm, just five minutes from Tathra. There are also a small number of rustic bush camps and paddock sites dotted around the farm, hidden on a sprawling property amid dense bushland.

an aerial view of Kangarutha Farm (Tathra) — Kangarutha Farm (Tathra) is dotted with rustic bush camps and paddock sites. (Image: Jessica Taunton; Navigate Tourism)

It’s all about location at the farm, which is overlooking a dam just a 20-minute drive from Merimbula. Hiking and biking are two of the most popular things to do in the area. Expect to meet some top-level Lycra-clad adventurers who come here to connect directly to the Tathra-Kalaru bike track and Tathra’s many hiking trails.

two people sitting by the bonfire and drinking wine — Sip wine by the bonfire. (Image: Jessica Taunton; Navigate Tourism)

HOT TIP: Merimbula doesn’t really have camping spots outside of the caravan parks. If you want to look further afield the best spots are all in the National Parks. Gillards, Aragannu, Bournda and Saltwater are favourites, although they are not that close to Merimbula.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

7 Merimbula caravan parks and camping spots for an old-school getaway