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" />Some of my best Christmases have been spent camping with my family and friends. When our children were young we would put all of our camping gear into a trailer and tow it to many of the great coastal areas over the border into Northern New South Wales or to one of the islands just off the coast of the Gold Coast.
Although it was a mission preparing for our camping trips and then setting up the tent, erecting camp stretchers, pumping up air mattresses and unpacking clothing and food, it was fully worth the effort once everything was done. You could kick back and relax and forget about all the stress of the hectic lead-up to Christmas.
Woody Head is near the village of Iluka in Northern New South Wales and is only a 200 kilometre drive from the Gold Coast. The grassy campsites are all unpowered but are suitable for tents, camper trailers, caravans of campervans. There are coin operated hot showers, toilets, drinking water, BBQ facilities, picnic tables and a shop that sells a few necessities located at the office.
It’s a great place for a family holiday, with a protected sandy beach that’s ideal for swimming and fishing, a boat ramp and the spectacular rock platform. We loved exploring the rainforest in the National Park and shallow reefs around the campground.
Rock Pools at Woody Head
On the southern side of the Clarence River, just a hop, skip and jump from Iluka, is the popular family holiday town of Yamba. It boasts 3 caravan parks that are either located on the river or nearby the beach. We stayed at the Calypso Yamba Holiday Park that is only a short stroll into town and has riverfront access as well a nearby beach.
Our children were never bored, particularly if they had other children to play with. Their entertainment for the holidays included everything in or around the ocean and estuaries. They would be surfing, paddle-boarding, snorkelling, fishing and building sand castles from sun-up to sundown.
Hickey Island beach in Yamba
One of our favourite camping spots was at South West Rocks, near Kempsey, in Northern New South Wales. Here we camped at the Horseshoe Bay Holiday Park that is right near Horseshoe Bay Beach. As well as having a great safe little bay for children to swim in there was also an estuary for fishing, swimming and snorkelling.
Standing high on a narrow headland 5 kms south of South West Rocks, sits Smoky Cape Lighthouse which is surrounded by the stunning coastal scenery of Hat Head National Park.
Views from Smoky Cape, South West Rocks
Only a short drive from South West Rocks, is another fantastic campground at Trail Bay Gaol. It’s idyllic location in the Arakoon National Park, on Front Beach and near the old gaol ruins, makes it an extremely popular family camping spot.
Front Beach at Trial Bay
For something a bit different we’ve tried lakeside camping at Lake Moogerah near Boonah, around an hour’s drive west of the Gold Coast. Lake Moogerah Caravan Park is a private campground right on the lakeshore, with grassy powered and unpowered tent and van sites.
You can drop a line from the shore and there are fishing dinghies, kayaks, and paddleboards for hire. Otherwise bring your own power boat or jet ski and go water skiing or wake boarding on the lake. Otherwise the adults are only too happy to relax and unwind on a comfortable camp chair and read a book or drift off to sleep in a semi-hazy state.
We’ve spent a few Christmas or Easter holidays camping at Lake Ainsworth Holiday Park in Lennox Head, just south of Byron Bay in Northern New South Wales. All campsites are within a one minute walk to the tea tree Lake Ainsworth and under a five minute walk to Seven Mile Beach, which is a patrolled beach adjacent to the caravan park.
Shores of Lake Ainsworth
Late afternoons at Lake Ainsworth would generally entail enjoying a few refreshments with other campers and swapping stories of the day’s activities. Followed by a BBQ dinner.
One of the best places we have camped includes the beautiful Moreton Island just north of the Gold Coast. You can load your 4WD vehicle up with your camping gear and drive onto a vehicular ferry at Redland Bay across Moreton Bay to the island and camp anywhere along the oceanside of the island.
There are fifteen shipwrecks on the bayside of the island at Tangalooma that have created an artificial reef to attract coral formations and marine life such as wobbegongs, trevally, kingfish yellowtail and an array of tropical fish.
There really is no better way to keep the children entertained than an island, beachside or lakeside camping holiday.
Do you have memories of camping during the Christmas holidays? Where are some of the best places you have camped?
Kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. She is married with two adult children and lives on the Tweed Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Kathy enjoys living life to the fullest and loves to keep fit and active by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some of her interests include reading, photography, travelling, cooking and blogging! Kathy works part-time as a freelance writer but her real passion is travelling and photographing brilliant destinations both within Australia and overseas and writing about it.
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Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
December 18, 2014I’m not a great camper. There is a nice place called Keelbottom Creek around here where I camped a few times. It’s in the middle of nowhere. I’d much prefer the conveniences afforded in an established campsite I think :) Love the retro photos Kathy.
Kathy
December 18, 2014The photos are very retro! I was almost too embarrassed to share them. I do have very pleasant memories of camping with the kids. Those days are done and we now have the comfort of a caravan with all the mod cons. Thank God!
Kim Acedo
December 19, 2014Great pictures. Fun going on that journey with you! Like Michelle who commented above, I’m not much of a camper either, but I admire those who KNOW how to camp and it looks like your family does!
Kathy
December 19, 2014We enjoyed many Christmases and Easter breaks camping with our children. Now they are grown up they no longer wish to holiday with us which is a shame. These days we camp in the comfort of a caravan which is much more civilised!
Rae Hilhorst
December 19, 2014my biggest regret was not camping more when the children were younger, they were the best holidays. I love your photos, you are such a beach babe, wish I was xxx
Kathy
December 19, 2014Ha ha – Beach Babe! I wish I was. Back in my day maybe. Camping was such great fun when the kids were little. I really miss those Christmases. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Rae xx
budgettraveltalk
December 20, 2014We definitely have lots of camping memories Kathy. Moreton Bay would be lovely, I have not heard of South West Rocks before. We have camped at Peregian Beach (before they got rid of the caravan park), Airlie Beach, Lucinda, Bivouack Junction (Charters Towers), Fong On Bay on the Atherton Tablelands, Malanda, Several places on the Burdekin River, Magnetic Island. Mostly with a big group of friends and their kids. Really good fun. We would cook great roast meals in the camp oven too :) Thanks for reminding me!
Kathy
December 21, 2014You have certainly enjoyed a lot of camping Jan. It’s a great way to holiday that is not only cheap but keeps the kids entertained. We have many fond memories as you saw. This Christmas will be one of the first in a while that we are not going camping in our caravan. :)
Marian@The Living Well in Retirement Challenge
December 20, 2014We holidayed in a true blue beach shack at beautiful Coffin Bay on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. It came complete with wood stove for cooking, a long drop dunny out the back and minimal creature comforts – but what wonderful memories I have of those holidays! We still holiday at Coffin Bay – but in much greater comfort these days! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kathy!
Kathy
December 21, 2014Marian, we loved Coffin Bay when we were touring around Australia. It would be an ideal place to camp, particularly in the National Park. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas too! :)
Red Nomad OZ
December 23, 2014South West Rocks and Lennox Head are favourites of mine! I remember a few camping holidays as kids, but now we do it in as much style as our 1983 Jayco Dove camper trailer lets us!! It’s a great experience for kids – but dare I say, an even BETTER one for adults??!!
Kathy
December 23, 2014We had a Jayco Eagle after we sold the tent and we loved camping in it. However we felt we needed a caravan with an ensuite for our 6 month tour around Australia and we were very comfortable indeed in our 16 footer New Age van. Camping is the best experience and I say to all the people who only travel 5 star “you don’t know what you are missing”!