Your guide to Mount Gambier’s best caravan parks

hero media
Explore South Australia’s stunning Limestone Coast at an affordable price with these family-friendly caravan park options.

Mount Gambier is the second-biggest city in South Australia, but it (and Mount Gambier’s caravan parks) is widely underrated as a holiday destination. Located on the breathtaking Limestone Coast, the Mount Gambier region is a bucket-list-worthy holiday spot to visit, from taking in the lush scenery and epic sinkholes to the famous Blue Lake.

You won’t be short of activities in this wondrous region, from the numerous national parks surrounding the area to exploring the magical caves that seem otherworldly. Mount Gambier is rich with history, while also fast emerging as an exciting wine and food region, so there really is something for everyone.

If you’re road-tripping and looking for affordable and accessible accommodation in the Mount Gambier region, you’re in luck – the region is home to some well-maintained and high-quality holiday parks, suited for travellers and families of all sizes.

1. Pine Country Caravan Park

Pine Country Caravan Park, Mt Gambier
Opt for luxe glamping at Pine Country Caravan Park. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Be one with nature in the tranquil Pine Country Caravan Park . A five-minute drive from Blue Lake and its surrounds, this caravan park is perfect for those who want to embrace the fresh country air and be surrounded by soothing greenery.

The park also takes sustainability seriously, using solar power, water-saving initiatives and recycling green waste. It’s the perfect place to unwind and escape the stress of everyday life.

Accommodation options: Cabins, glamping, ensuite powered sites, powered sites, unpowered camping.
Address: 2-16 Kilsby Rd, Moorak

2. BIG4 Blue Lake Holiday Park

a huge playground at BIG4 Blue Lake Holiday Park
There is a huge playground for kids. (Image: Zoe Wighton)

Set on 11 hectares of perfectly landscaped gardens, with stunning views of the surrounding valley, the BIG4 Blue Lake park  is located, you guessed it, right on top of the iconic Blue Lake.

Pet-friendly with powered and unpowered sites, the holiday park also features a swimming pool, jumping pillow, tennis court, and basketball court. And golfing fans will love the fact that the holiday park backs onto the local golf course, giving you ample time to go out and have a swing.

Accommodation options: Bungalows (three and two-bedroom options), lakeside villa, cabins, ensuite sites, powered site, unpowered site.
Address:  LOT 100 Bay Rd, Mount Gambier

3. Mount Gambier Central Caravan Park

cabins at Central Caravan Park
Settle in a powered cabin at Central Caravan Park.

Located right in the middle of town, close to Aldi, Coles and the Mount Gambier pubs and cafes, the Mount Gambier Central Caravan Park is less than a five-minute drive to Blue Lake, as well as being a quick drive or leisurely stroll to the Umpherston Sinkhole.

With friendly staff always willing to lend a hand, and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s not a park with all the modern bells and whistles, but it’s clean, conveniently located, and known for its competitive rates.

Accommodation options: Cabins (including a three-bedroom superior cabin option), powered site, unpowered site.
Address: 6 Krummel St, Mount Gambier

4. Limestone Coast Tourist Park

Located in a quieter, more rural setting, Limestone Coast Tourist Park  is three kilometres from the centre of Mount Gambier, and within reach of 40 national parks, ancient caves, and surf beaches.

The park provides a fully equipped laundry, undercover BBQs, and a children’s playground. Tourists have touted it favourably, praising the cleanliness and overall affordable price, with all caravan sites also being ensuite sites.

Accommodation options: Deluxe units, family units, and powered sites with an ensuite.
Address: Jubilee Hwy E & Hawkins Rd, Mount Gambier

5. Kalganyi Holiday Park

Situated right at the entrance of Mount Gambier, the park is within a 10-minute drive to the famous Blue Lake and is conveniently located next door to the Mount Gambier Market shopping centre.

The pet-friendly holiday park  also features a solar-heated pool, children’s playground, a fully enclosed camp kitchen, and BBQ facilities, as well as a recreation area with table tennis and air hockey tables. It’s perfect for the whole family and keep an eye out for the friendly possums at night.

Accommodation options: Deluxe cabins, standard cabins, ensuite powered site, and powered site.
Address: Penola Rd & Bishops Road, Mount Gambier

If you’re looking to break up your Mount Gambier stay and try something different, make sure to check out our list of unique accommodation you can only find in Mount Gambier.
hero media

5 of the best Sunshine Coast day trips

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery
Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek
Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers
Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland
Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.