The 5 best caravan parks in Hobart

Set amongst beautifully landscaped grounds with expansive tree-top views, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the country at Discovery Parks Hobart. Cabins (some allowing pets) and caravan sites (some with ensuites) provide a comfortable spot to rest your weary head after a day of onside fun. Activities include a kids’ playground and giant bouncing pillow, sports facilities and mini golf. In the evening, head to the barbecue area to cook a meal under the stars and strike up a conversation with fellow travellers. If cooking isn’t on your agenda, a short walk will land you at the Risdon Brook Hotel, where you can enjoy a hearty counter meal. The surrounding bush doesn’t give away the fact you’re just a 15-minute drive from downtown Hobart, a ten-minute drive to MONA, and a scenic half-hour drive away from The Agrarian Kitchen.

For a glamping experience that ticks all the boxes, NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park offers stargazing safari tents complete with private outdoor baths and treetop views. This luxe option is more like a canvas-sided cabin and has an indoor electric fireplace (all the ambience, none of the work), making it the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a Tasmanian whisky or gin (allow us to recommend McHenry Brewing cellar door a short drive away). Cabins and grassy sites are dotted amongst 40 acres of native bushland hugging Stewarts Bay. You might spot a dolphin or two, and twitchers will be delighted with the local bird life. By day, guests can explore the self-guided convict trail or expend some energy on the pump track. As the sun goes down, fire up the pizza oven, throw a log on the fire pit and soak up the location. 

Located among towering gum trees with plenty of green space to explore, Barilla Holiday Park offers cosy cabins, generous caravan parking and relaxing campgrounds. Both the young and the young at heart are well looked after with a kids’ playground, 19-hole mini golf course and on-site Thai restaurant. While the little ones let loose, kick back and relax at the barbecue zone or well-appointed camper’s kitchen, perhaps with a fresh dozen of Pacific oysters from just down the road. Close to Hobart Airport and just a stone’s throw from the historical Coal Valley wine region, the park is perfectly positioned for those looking to sample some of Tassie’s beautiful cold-climate pinots or even take a day trip to Port Arthur Historic Site. Back at camp, keep your eyes peeled for curious bandicoots and pademelons.

For beachfront accommodation that won’t break the bank, Snug Beach Cabin and Caravan Park is a perfect escape for you and your furry friends. Go for a swim, throw out a fishing line or launch your boat right out front. The landscaped gardens offer views back towards kunanyi / Mount Wellington and over the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and are a peaceful little spot to sample fresh Tassie lobster from the Margate Wharf while you take in the serenity. For a picturesque day out head for Mewstone Wines cellar door, immerse yourself in nature at the gentle Snug Falls walk, or take the ferry to Bruny Island to sample local cheese, honey and oysters. By night you can cosy up to the log fire (Snug by name, snug by nature), or throw a snag on the communal barbecue thanks to Snug Butcher’s delicious local produce. The park offers a range of accommodation options, from one-and-two-bedroom cabins to powered and unpowered camping sites and spaces to suit all lengths and styles of caravans and camper trailers.

Situated on nearly 30 acres of farmland, the Huon Valley Caravan Park provides a wholesome farm stay option in the heart of Tasmania’s apple country. Private riverfrontage and sandy beach access are great for swimming, fishing and launching a tinny or kayak on the majestic Huon River. Daily farm activities introduce you to the locals – including cows, sheep, ducks and even Tasmanian devils – as part of a conservation effort to protect the species from extinction. Don’t miss feeding time! Dogs are allowed on leash throughout the site, and a barbecue area and camp kitchen make self-catering a breeze. From here, it’s well worth a trip to the Grove of Giants to walk amongst the largest stand of old-growth blue gums in the world, explore the quaint town of Cygnet, or head to Hastings Caves and thermal pool for a wholesome road trip. Fuel your adventures with pastries, pies and coffee from Summer Kitchen Bakery, just a ten-minute walk away. You won’t regret it.