A winter caravan trip with children can go one of two ways. You can chase the warmth north into the tropical dry season. Or you can stay south and pick a park with a heated pool and somewhere indoors to burn off energy. Both work well with a van, as long as you book around the school holidays.

The family winter holiday destinations below cover both, from the Atherton Tablelands to Bruny Island. Every detail comes from the park's own page or an official tourism listing, read for this refresh 789101213141517. Rates and rules change, so check the booking page before you commit.

Choosing family winter holiday destinations

Start with the weather you want, because the two kinds of winter trip are a long way apart. Tourism Australia's figures make the point 123:

  • Cairns, June to August: average temperatures of 17.5 to 26°C, with low rainfall and lower humidity, which makes winter its peak tourist season 1
  • Darwin, May to October: the dry season, with temperatures from 21.6 to 31.8°C and humidity around 60 to 65 per cent 2
  • Hobart, June to August: average temperatures of 5 to 12.3°C, and overnight lows can drop to 3°C 3

Then check the park has what makes a cold or wet day easy with children:

  • a heated pool
  • an indoor play area or a games room
  • an ensuite site, so nobody walks to the amenities block in the dark

If the dog is coming, read the pet rules closely, because some parks change them for the busy weeks. NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park, for one, does not take pets in school holidays 13.

Park bench facing a timber jetty that runs out into a still lake under a golden sky
A park bench and a timber jetty on the shore of a still lake under a golden sky. Image from the earlier caravandomain.com.au site; original source not recorded.

Still choosing a van for the family? Our family bunk caravans hub compares bunk layouts and the payload a family needs, and the Tow match tool checks a van's ATM against your vehicle's towing capacity.

Book around the winter school holidays

The states do not share one set of winter school holidays, which matters when you are booking a park in another state. In 2027 they fall like this 456:

  • Queensland: Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July 4
  • Victoria: Term 2 ends on Friday 25 June and Term 3 starts on Monday 12 July 5
  • New South Wales: 5 July to 16 July 6

So in 2027, Victorian families heading north will arrive during Queensland's own school holidays, while New South Wales breaks up about a week later 456. Check the Queensland school dates and the NSW term dates against your own state's before you book.

Busy weeks can change a park's rules as well. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort does not let day visitors in during school holidays or peak periods, so friends staying elsewhere cannot drop in for a swim then 8. If Tasmania is on the list, Spirit of Tasmania says demand for its large-vehicle spaces is high in school holidays, so book the crossing early 21.

Warm winter escapes in the tropics

Up north, the middle of the year is the dry season 21. These three parks put a pool or a water park close to the van.

NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park, Queensland

NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park is a BIG4 partner park at 141 Herberton Road in Atherton, a few minutes from the town centre 7. It is eco certified and surrounded by rainforest, and its swimming pool is heated, with a wading area for toddlers 7.

  • Powered, unpowered and drive-through sites 7
  • A camp kitchen and a playground 7
  • A bike repair and wash station, handy for the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park 7
  • Dogs on selected sites, at most two per site and always on a lead 7

Its page names the Curtain Fig Tree and Lake Eacham among nearby sights, and says the park is close to the region's waterfalls and volcanic crater lakes 7.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Airlie Beach

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is at 29 Shute Harbour Road in Airlie Beach 8. For children, its page lists a water park with 13 slides and two giant jumping pillows, plus pedal kart hire and an animal park 8.

  • Ensuite powered sites and powered sites 8
  • Powered nature sites, landscaped for privacy 8
  • A swimming pool, mini golf and an outdoor cinema 8
  • No pets, though assistance animals are welcome 8

BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park, near Darwin

BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park is at 170 Whitewood Road in Howard Springs, just outside Darwin 9. Darwin's dry season runs from May to October, and the park treats May to September as its peak season 29. It suits families travelling with a small dog. Pets are welcome on its caravan and camping sites at management's discretion, they must be booked by phone, and dogs have a 15 kg limit in peak season 9.

  • Powered, big rig, drive-through and ensuite powered sites 9
  • Three swimming pools and a water park 9
  • A jumping pillow and pedal karts for hire 9

The park names Litchfield National Park and Berry Springs Nature Park among the places to explore nearby, with day trips to Kakadu National Park 9.

Coastal and lakeside parks in New South Wales

On the New South Wales coast, these two parks are built around water play, and one of them keeps it going all year 1112.

Easts Beach, Kiama

The Easts Beach park sits right on the beach at 30 Ocean Street in Kiama 10. BIG4 now lists it under BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks, and its old name was BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park 10.

Its water play area, Sunny's Aquaventure Park, operates year round 11. The water is heated, but the park warns that it can still feel cool, because the temperature depends on the air and the wind 11. Sunny's has multi-level platforms with two waterslides and a giant tipping bucket, plus an ocean-themed splash pad 11.

  • Premium waterfront powered sites and premium family powered sites 10
  • Powered sites and ensuite sites 10
  • A resort pool complex and a jumping pillow 10
  • A kids club on select days 10
  • No pets anywhere in the park 10

The Kiama Blowhole and the Little Blowhole are both on the park's list of nearby attractions 10.

Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park, Lake Macquarie

Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park is at 1 Dobinson Drive in Swansea, among trees on the shore of Lake Macquarie 12. Destination NSW's listing says the park runs school holiday activities, and there is a boat ramp nearby for anyone bringing a boat 12.

  • Unpowered sites, powered sites and waterfront ensuite sites 12
  • A solar-heated resort-style swimming pool 12
  • A splash park and a ninja park 12
  • Pedal karts and sensory rooms 12
  • A camp kitchen, a recreation room and barbecues 12

The listing also describes accessible options, including a villa with an onsite hoist, and aquatic wheelchairs for the pool 12.

Cool-climate winter in Victoria and South Australia

Further south, the drawcard is a warm pool and something to do indoors 1315.

NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park

NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park, a BIG4 partner park at 108 Clayton Street in Ballarat, is 300 metres from Sovereign Hill and about 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne, by its own count 13.

  • An indoor Playland and a sensory room 13
  • An indoor heated spa as well as a swimming pool 13
  • An adventure playground, pedal go-karts and a jumping pillow 13
  • Ensuite, deluxe ensuite and powered sites 13

Leave the dog at home for a school holiday stay. The park takes pets at the manager's discretion, but they are not permitted in school holidays 13. The same rule covers Easter and long weekends 13.

Discovery Parks Echuca

Discovery Parks Echuca is at 75 River Avenue, beside the Murray River 14. For a day out, its page suggests a paddle steamer cruise and the heritage buildings along Murray Esplanade 14.

  • A pool and a playground 14
  • A bouncing pillow and putt-putt golf 14
  • A bike and pump track, plus a ride-on train with four stations 14
  • A camp kitchen and an activity room 14

The park bans campfires from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, and outside those dates the manager can still ban them when local conditions call for it 14.

Discovery Parks Robe

Discovery Parks Robe is at 70 to 80 Esplanade in Robe, about four hours from Adelaide by the park's own description 15. The heated indoor pool is the winter drawcard, with a bouncing pillow and a games room for the kids 15. The park admits its caravan sites will test your parallel parking, which is worth knowing before you tow a long van in 15.

The page also suggests a four-wheel-drive trip through Little Dip and cycling around the township 15. National Parks and Wildlife Service SA names the park Little Dip Conservation Park: it is 2 km south of Robe, with 4WD opportunities along the coast 16.

Bruny Island in winter

Tasmania is the cold option, and Bruny Island adds a short ferry ride to the trip. Pack for it: Tourism Australia puts Hobart's winter average at 5 to 12.3°C and suggests a warm rainproof jacket and layers 3.

Captain Cook Holiday Park, Adventure Bay

Captain Cook Holiday Park is at 786 Adventure Bay Road, directly opposite Adventure Bay Beach on Bruny Island 17. Discover Tasmania's listing describes large powered sites and camping areas, along with family cabins and villas 17. The camp kitchen is fully equipped and has a wood fire, which is the place to be on a cold evening 17.

  • Kayak hire, and pedal cars for the kids 17
  • A playground and a laundry 17
  • A dump point 17
  • Listed as pet friendly, but enquire with the park first 17

The listing also points to the Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration, and to a raspberry farm about 600 m inland 17.

The ferry crosses from Kettering, a 35-minute drive from Hobart, to Roberts Point on Bruny Island, and the crossing takes 20 minutes 18. It runs 365 days a year, and you can buy tickets on arrival at the Kettering terminal 18. The service works on a queuing system, and the fare is set at the level that applies when you reach the ticket booth 19.

Coming from the mainland with the van? The Spirit of Tasmania sails from 136 Corio Quay Road in North Geelong 20. Clean visible soil and mud off the car and the van before you get there, and dispose of fresh fruit and vegetables before you travel 22. Biosecurity Tasmania keeps the full list in its guide for Spirit of Tasmania travellers, and our guide to the best caravan parks in Melbourne covers measuring the rig for the booking.

More ideas for a family trip

For ways to keep the cost of a family trip down, read our family camping tips on a budget. Our guide to caravan park and camping etiquette is worth a read before a school holiday stay, when the park is at its busiest. Whatever you book, take a printout of the park's rules for pets and campfires.

Sources

  1. Tourism Australia, Weather in Cairns, Queensland, accessed 29 October 2026
  2. Tourism Australia, Weather in Darwin, accessed 29 October 2026
  3. Tourism Australia, Weather in Hobart, accessed 29 October 2026
  4. Queensland Department of Education, Future school dates, accessed 29 October 2026
  5. Victorian Government, School term dates and holidays in Victoria, accessed 29 October 2026
  6. NSW Department of Education, Future and past NSW term dates and school holidays, accessed 29 October 2026
  7. BIG4 Holiday Parks, NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  8. BIG4 Holiday Parks, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, accessed 29 October 2026
  9. BIG4 Holiday Parks, BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  10. BIG4 Holiday Parks, BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Easts Beach, accessed 29 October 2026
  11. BIG4 Holiday Parks, Sunny's Aquaventure Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  12. Destination NSW, Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  13. BIG4 Holiday Parks, NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  14. Discovery Parks, Discovery Parks - Echuca, accessed 29 October 2026
  15. Discovery Parks, Discovery Parks - Robe Caravan and Holiday Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  16. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, Little Dip Conservation Park, accessed 30 October 2026
  17. Tourism Tasmania (Discover Tasmania), Captain Cook Holiday Park, accessed 29 October 2026
  18. Island Connections Bruny Island, Bruny Island ferry timetables, accessed 29 October 2026
  19. Island Connections Bruny Island, Ferry Information, accessed 29 October 2026
  20. Spirit of Tasmania, Spirit of Tasmania, accessed 29 October 2026
  21. Spirit of Tasmania, Top Tassie caravanning tips, accessed 29 October 2026
  22. Biosecurity Tasmania, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, Travelling to Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania, accessed 29 October 2026