Caravan hire is coming to 16 NSW national park campgrounds, with bookings opening in November.
The new service lets visitors enjoy the comfort and convenience of a caravan holiday without the upfront cost and ongoing responsibilities of owning one, such as storage, maintenance and towing. It is aimed at families with young children, people with mobility challenges and first-time campers who want an easy caravan holiday but do not own the equipment.
The campgrounds sit across the Central Coast, South Coast, Southern Ranges, Sydney, Blue Mountains and Central West. They make up just over four per cent of NSW national park campgrounds, and were chosen because they have the facilities and occupancy to support caravan hire and set-up.
Local campgrounds on the list include The Ruins Campground in Booti Booti National Park, and Camp Blackman in Warrumbungle National Park.
Visitors book an existing caravan site through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service booking system. They then arrange hire directly with the approved supplier, Camplify Co, which will facilitate hire and set-up. Caravans are set up for each booking and removed afterwards.
Campers pay for the national park site and, separately, pay the operator for the caravan. The service uses existing caravan sites only, so it does not affect the number of sites available for tent camping.
Hire fees will be set by the operator. It is expected that hiring a caravan will cost an average of $165 per night.
Tent hire is also returning to The Basin campground in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The Glamping Nomad will provide a fully set-up tent for visitors who want a hassle-free stay. The service was previously available at the site from 2015 to 2024.
Tent hire at The Basin is expected to cost an average of $380 for two people for a minimum of two nights. Bookings for tent hire are open now.
“We’re making it easier for more people to experience our national parks, without the cost or hassle of owning camping gear or a caravan,” said NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Deputy Secretary Alex Graham.
“Whether it’s families looking for a weekend adventure, first-time campers wanting to give it a go or return visitors seeking a new experience, equipment hire gives people more ways to get outdoors, unwind and make lasting memories in nature.”
The new services build on existing equipment hire that already helps people take part in activities such as hiking, snow sports, kayaking and camping.
Around 1.9 million overnight stays are recorded each year across 366 campgrounds and 156 cabins and other accommodation in NSW national parks.
For more information, visit nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/supportedcamping.
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