can anyone suggest a nice caravan park on the north nsw coast

hi muma,
i'm from this area. all the caravan parks between yamba and byron are top shelf, as this is a premium tourist area. they have to be to survive. get a motoring assoc. handbook for individual details. yamba, evans head and ballina are on good rivers that might offer better fishing options for kids.

regards peter

Hi Muma,

A couple of hours south of Yamba is beautiful Stuarts Point also. Has a nice caravan park right on the Macleay River and a short walk over the bridge to the beach. Has a bowling club and local shops, tennis courts etc all within walking distance of the park.

The fishing is good and theres mud crabs also. You only have to walk a few metres from your van to fish. The little ones would also enjoy feeding the local pelicans.

Stuarts Point is a quiet village but not as touristy as Yamba & Evans Head. Very relaxing !

Pat

Hi Muma,

I can't personally recommend any parks, but I came across this web site recently. It has reports/assessments from those who visit the parks. It includes thinks not found in the usual guides ie. site sizes, cleanliness, noise levels, staff friendliness, water/sullage access. Looks like a really handy site - hope it helps.

Cheers,
Jezza.

Hi Muma,
Bryon bay has a couple of parks on the ocean, one within distance of town,
Ballina which is about 15-20 minutes south of Bryron has a couple of parks on a lagoon which is tidal through a rock wall which follows the river out to the ocean, so here you can have fishing in the lagoon, in the richmond river or walk the wall out to the ocean. At ballina the older park is called Shaws Bay CP not sure what the new one is called.
And as they said Yamba is good value.
If your interested, Byron is only 1 -1/2hr from the theme parks on the Gold Coast,- Movie World, Dreamworld , wet and wild and Seaworld
Col

gid'ay muma
we really liked brooms head,spotless amenties,right on the beach,turn right at maclean.
regards toohey.

Stuart's Pt is a lovely spot. Picturesque site on the Macleay River. Also nearby, Scotts Head. Not quite as far north as Byron etc, but good, unspoilt, old fashioned spots not ruined by commercialism. Further north would be marginally warmer and plenty to choose from Yamba up to the border.

Gday
You may wish to check out a place called Cresent head, which is not quite up as far as yamba, but a few kms up from Port Macquarie.
You can get a beach permit and drive between pt macquarie and south west rocks, we stayed at a family owned farm called "Lawriedan" (spelling) it is quiet, close to the beach (accross the road) animals welcome, or the main van park at the cresent head beach.
Have a great time choosing.
Andrew

hi muma,
havent stayed at the fishing haven but, its further out of town than the others and i think not as new its on palmers island so on the river.
the blue dolphin is a top park but at the price you quoted seems over the top. easts calypso park is in a quiet part of the river right in town not as flash but i've stayed there and everythig is within walking distance.
most of the major parks are in co-ops, big 4, top tourist etc and for $20 for 2 years uou get 10% discount.

regards peter

DOZER, where's that "Lawriedan" site??? Sounds interesting. Partiularly if you can take your snarler with you.

That Blue Dolphin site had our kids drooling when they saw the double-page ad in an old NRMA (remember when we got them free?) site directory. At $60 per night in school hols....................does look good if that's your kind of site. But they do target the kids market.....and then some.

mama,
I have spent 20 years up and down the coast surfing and still havent been everywhere - yet. My favorite spots North of Sydney are:
1. Rainbow beach caravan park (4*) or Bonnie hills cara pk (cheaper but better view); Good surf, Flagged swimming - REALLY IMPORTANT' (had to save a few people in my time all over NSW/QLD) park is right on beach, lots of shade, 2 beaches south to New Haven beach with breakwall surfing and Flags for safe swimmingand river fishing bowls club for a meal out; 2km inland to town of Lauriton.

2. Second the motion for Stuarts Point/Scotts head - very nice - great cara park great views.

3. Sawtell council CaraPark; (just before Coffs - 200 m from ocean beside clear flowing creek - fishing for the kids or plenty of beach as well. Patrolled and very safe swimming next beach north - island to explor. Take the tracks leading down to it at the top of the hill - in the park - to the creek; wade across to unspoilt 10km of beach for a surf/walk/fish; rockpool swim at the beach; drift down the creek on the outgoing tide and hop out at the surf (which is pretty good there but not patrolled for the kiddies- rip usually bad beside the rocks!; drift in later if you time it well and hop out onto white sandy shore and banksia lined track up to the park. Park entry gives free access to 50mtr pool in the park. walk to cinemas and cafe strip for a nice night out. Shhh- dont tell anyone.

4. Red rock - north of Coffs is a great camp site and a few local beaches - south - to explore. safe swimming for the kids - good fishing at the creek entrance on a little beach.

5. YAmba is more commercial - excellent surf - jelous local contingent - Turners is a greay beach there at the sea wall for kids that is the 'other' camp site in town and here you have the river right behind you and a walk to the beach - Blue dolphin will mean a drive to the beach every time.

6. Byron - oooh aaahhh - not - over rated for my liking and over crowded.

7. Evans Head is cute and has good facilities and patrolled swimming.

8 Last but by no means least - My favorite - Lake Ainsworth Cara Park at Lennox Heads. Lots going for this one !! Park is right on a Tea-tree fresh water lake - swimming great- hire catamarans - surf great and patrolled swimming. can get onto the beach and head north for 10 Km- no permit required - entrance off road beachside of the Lake. Free gas BBQ's - open fire places - grass park on edge of lake - glorious sunsets across lake - walk to cafe strip and grocer/buther shops etc - Mexican/thai/vege/fish/chinease/ restaurants - Try 7mile cafe - $$ excellent food but pay more. Beach walk south to the Head and a track running all the way out along the Head to watch some of the besty surf on the coast as well as hang gliders and great whale watching from on top of the Head. Drive for 10 min past 4 other great beaches to Ballina for a commercial fix if you want. See Richmond river mouth there - more great surf beaches. Pass Shellet beach on the way and find at the southern end the best cafe/restaurant position I have ever seen. Great breakfast there whale watch from your seat. Up the Hills to beatiful rolling green pastures to Teven and Alstonville.

Cant say too much about this place - the BEST - trust me you will Love that park and the kids will have a ball in the lake. (great surf salt wash off stop on the way back to your camp.

Onsite cabins available, powered; unpowered sites (right beside the lake)
Oh- watch out for market day - ask the managers - they flood the track between the park and the Lake for a day - but thay are fun too - just dont expect to sleep in that day !

Good luck.
Magoo