'Have come a long way': Why you need to stop overlooking this Aussie holiday staple
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If you haven't stayed in a caravan and holiday park since you were a kid it's time you did again. The parks have come a looong way since back in the day.
I should know. I'm a fan and have just come back from one.
I applied my trademark two-hour weekend driving rule and headed to Kiama on the NSW south coast.
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There are plenty of holiday park options in and around Kiama but I chose Kendalls on the Beach a few minutes drive or 20-minute walk from the town centre.
Kendalls is right on the beach as advertised. Step out your front door of the beachfront cabins and boom you're good to go.
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Unfortunately, I booked late and couldn't get a beachfront but got a 2-bedroom garden spa on the next line back. This was a big, roomy cabin. Full-size kitchen, spa, laundry facilities, air conditioning, two big lounges and two TVs.
Outside was a deck, 7-piece outdoor setting and a barbecue. All this for the price of a hotel room.
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As advertised the beachfront cabins are in fact, on the beachfront. Supplied/John Walsh
We stayed in a 2-bedroom garden spa cabin one row back. Supplied/John Walsh
For a family on holidays a cabin is a no-brainer. Our place had a double master and four bunks in the second bedroom.
You can cook meals at home which is a huge saving for a family if the alternative is to eat out three meals a day. The savings also apply if you're a couple and it means you've got a lot more space to stretch out than at the motel down the street.
Kendalls also has caravan sites if you prefer BYO accommodation plus powered and unpowered tent sites.
Our place had a double master and four bunks in the second bedroom. Supplied/John Walsh
Things to do in Kiama
OK, base sorted. Time to see what Kiama offers these days. It didn't take long.
Kendalls is right on the Kiama Coastal Walk which runs for 20kms from the Minnamurra River to Werri Beach in Gerringong.
I used the path to get into town and it's a very scenic walk. Saw a migrating whale and lots of locals and visitors getting up their steps.
The Kiama Coastal Walk is an easy way to get into town and see the sights. Supplied/John Walsh
The famous Kiama Blowhole is five minutes walk up the hill from town. It's the big ticket attraction and even on a pretty calm day it still delivered a few good wooshes of water and selfie opportunities.
john walsh kiama Supplied/John Walsh
Lunch. Kiama is an old fishing village so seafood seemed to make sense. I did some Googling and came up with a fish 'n' chip shop called By The Sea on the main drag, Terralong Street.
Take-away and eat in. I had grilled barramundi and chips for $18 which has to be at least half what you'd pay in a restaurant. Perfectly cooked fish and golden, crispy chips.
Kiama is compact and easy to get around. Nice mix of cafes and boutiques, a few pubs and the Kiama Leagues Club right in the middle of town. Local enough to not feel touristy and touristy enough to accommodate visitors.
Having resisted driving all day it was time to get in the car and have a look at the surrounding attractions.
Gerringong
Twelve-minutes drive further south is the pretty little town of Gerringong. A little run of shops and cafes topped off by The Hill Bar & Kitchen on the crest of the hill on Fern St with views across to Werri Beach and another perfectly-positioned holiday park if you prefer a spot quieter than Kiama.
Gerringong is also a noted whale-spotting location and they've even built a dedicated whale watching platform on the headland.
The Hill Bar & Kitchen on the crest of the hill on Fern St had views across to Werri Beach. Supplied/John Walsh
Gerroa
Five minutes further south is Gerroa. There's no town centre as such but Gerroa's main attraction is stunning Seven Mile Beach which, true to its name, is actually 12-kilometres long.
As you might have guessed there's also another holiday park in a prime location at the mouth of the Crooked River just behind the beach.
But the one place everyone wanted to tell me about was the Gerroa Boat Fisherman's Club.
Views across to Seven Mile Beach and as you'd expect a reputation for great seafood headlined by the Surf & Turf, a $48 wonder comprising a 300g rump, garlic prawns, fresh prawns, salt and pepper squid and chips.
Five minutes further south is Gerroa. Supplied/John Walsh
Bombo
I finished up sightseeing duties the next day with an eight-minute drive north of Kiama to Bombo Headland Quarry Geological Site which features some spectacular rock formations.
I'd been to Kiama many times before and didn't know this existed. It's a bit of a walk in from the car park but worth the exercise.
I did not know Bombo Headland Quarry Geological Site existed. Supplied/John Walsh
Still had time, though, for one last seafood meal. This one at Cargo Fish & Chips on Kiama Wharf which is obviously a locals' favourite judging by the pelicans which wandered in looking for a feed.
Last tip. If you don't want to drive, this part of the world is exceptionally well serviced by trains from Sydney. Kiama, Gerringong and Bombo all have stations which isn't something you often see outside the capital cities.
If Kiama's not an option for you don't worry there are plenty of excellent holiday parks within easy driving range of wherever you are reading this.
John Walsh travelled at his own expense.
John was Executive Producer of the TV travel series Getaway from 1999-2024. You can follow John on Instagram @thegetawayexpert.
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