Want to escape the winter chills but not sure where to go? We’ve got you covered.
You may have heard of Holiday Haven before, with 12 incredible holiday park locations down the stunning Shoalhaven Coast in New South Wales. But did you know that all of the 12 parks are within walking distance of the ocean, lake or river? With such a bounty of beautiful locations to choose from, and several that have received esteemed awards (more on this later), it’s hard to pick just one to do a deep dive on. But we want to show you the choice on offer so you can decide which park and its amenities is best suited for you and your family.
Dime a dozen
Spanning the Shoalhaven region on NSW’s south coast, Holiday Haven is made up of 12 unique parks — each chosen for its natural beauty based on location. The Shoalhaven is a unique natural and cultural environment with rich Aboriginal history playing a vital role in making this region so special. The region gives you the opportunity to experience some incredible native wildlife, and impressively, it has been identified as having beaches with some of the whitest sands in the world!
Huskisson Beach serenity
Just a two-hour drive from both Sydney and Canberra, the dozen Holiday Haven locations offer breathtaking beachfront, lakefront and riverfront properties with countless amenities guaranteed to have something for everyone. Whether you’re escaping for a family holiday, romantic getaway, weekend break or a road trip along this stretch of the NSW south coast, there’s no doubt a Holiday Haven park to suit your exact needs.
The table below shows the 12 locations (from north to south through the Shoalhaven region) and their unique features:
Some of our faves
As mentioned, it’s hard to pick just a few Holiday Haven parks to do a deep dive on, so we attempted to cover them all in the table above so you can easily visually compare what each park has to offer. But to get you kickstarted on planning your next adventure along the Shoalhaven, we’ve selected three of our favourites.
Each park offers something unique, both in terms of location — by the beach, lake or river — as well as the fantastic attractions inside the park and throughout the surrounding area. And if you plan your holiday (or holidays) to stay at all three, you’ll truly have immersed yourself in the unique and diverse beauty of the Shoalhaven region.
Shoalhaven Heads
Shoalhaven Heads (Image Peter Izzard Photography)
This stunning, multi-award-winning park is great for families, those travelling with pets, and features nearby BMX pump tracks, beaches, restaurants … and just about anything else you could wish to do on a coastal holiday. Bordered by Seven Mile Beach and the Shoalhaven River, the unique accommodation options include self-contained waterfront cabins, riverfront powered sites and the Dunes complex.
Culburra Beach
Family camping at Culburra Beach
This beautiful park is also often referred to as an ‘angler’s paradise’, as it is conveniently located at the mouth of the Crookhaven River which is a famed location for some of Australia’s best deepwater and estuarine fishing. Accommodation options include three-bedroom cabins, family cabins and a variety of camping sites. Please note this is not a pet-friendly park, but as you can see on the table, there are nine other parks that happily welcome your four-legged friends.
Burrill Lake
Aerial view of Holiday Haven Burrill Lake
This small park packs a punch. The absolute water frontage is perfect for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and boating (with its own boat ramp) … and is close to fabulous local eateries and markets in Ulladulla. Accommodation options include fully self-contained spa cabins or a choice of powered camping sites. Please note, while this is a pet-friendly park most of the year, pets are not permitted during peak times or school holidays.
The Holiday Haven team takes great pride in all three parks and hopes to see them awarded accordingly in the future.
Awards
The Holiday Haven brand is synonymous with quality, as is proven by their awards in the industry. The team is proud to be the recipient of the ReviewPro Bronze Award for ‘Caravan Park of the Year’ for their Holiday Haven Currarong location. Presented at the Caravan Industry Association of Australia gala at the Gold Coast conference, this national award is particularly impressive as it is based exclusively on guest reviews and data — aggregate data pulled from Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor and so on.
Currarong (Image Peter Izzard Photography)
The Holiday Haven team is also immensely proud to have employee Chloe Traunter be nominated in November 2022 for the Caravan Industry Association of Australia Award of Excellence for ‘Employee of the Year’. Chloe is now managing the Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach location, where customers continue to be in awe of her dedication.
Out & About with Kids magazine also named Holiday Haven as a finalist for Best Holiday Park group in Australia for families, with Holiday Haven Culburra Beach and Shoalhaven Heads both earning places in the top 10 Best Parks in NSW (number five and nine respectively) — a testament to their endless devotion to customer service.
There’s plenty to keep the whole family busy at Ulladulla
Best time of year to visit
While the Shoalhaven region is known for being beautiful all year round, visiting in the summer months allows you to have the best pick of water activities, including swimming, surfing with a local surf school, paddleboarding or kayaking (BYO or hire is available at selected parks). Once you’ve had your fill of the water, explore the area on foot or bike, or perhaps head out for a round of golf with great views.
Holiday Haven Swan Lake has something for everyone
Summertime fun at Burrill Lake
If you plan to visit in the wintertime, where the weather can get quite wet, there are still plenty of enjoyable activities to keep you and the kids happy. Wet weather activities include visiting local landmarks and museums such as the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, entertainment venues such as the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre and the Shoalhaven regional art gallery.
Foodies and coffee-aficionados alike will love the array of amazing cafes and restaurants on offer in the area. And to truly indulge in the local flavours, head to one of the nearby wineries for a tour and tasting.
Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley (Image Peter Izzard Photography)
The Shoalhaven region is one of Australia’s premiere spots for whale watching, and winter is a great time spot these ocean giants. Humpbacks, southern rights and a variety of other species (including orcas if you’re lucky) can be spotted from May through to November, so be sure to bring your binoculars along or join one of the region’s many whale watching tours.
Get back to nature at Bendalong
Holiday Haven membership
If you love Holiday Haven parks and want to benefit from your loyalty, then become a Holiday Haven member today. Membership benefits include 10 per cent off all bookings (up to $40 per stay), complimentary late checkout (subject to availability) and exclusive members-only offers and specials.
Please note that member benefits are not available during peak periods — enquire with the relevant park prior to booking your stay to find out more.
Snowy River Owners Meetup at Lake Tabourie (Image Josh Brnjac Photography)
Lake Conjola barbecue amenities
The future
The Shoalhaven region is a thriving centre of natural and cultural experiences. There are countless local markets with local growers, makers and food stalls, not to mention several food and beverage festivals which always delight locals and visitors alike.
Some upcoming festivals include the Huskisson Beer & BBQ Festival, held at Huskisson Park on 22 June 2024, and the Kangaroo Valley Craft & BBQ Festival, held on the weekend of 14–15 September 2024.
We hope we have provided you with enough information to choose a location best for your needs, and to explore everything the Shoalhaven region has to offer.
White Sands is a gorgeous coastal getaway
More information
Holiday Haven
PO Box 42
Nowra NSW 2541
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