Do you consider yourself a bit of a green nomad? You’ll probably prefer to stay in eco-friendly caravan parks, which are becoming increasingly popular around Australia. Here are some of the best.
What Makes A Caravan Park Green?
Generally, eco-friendly parks follow sustainable environmental initiatives such as energy efficiency, waste minimisation, water management and guest education.
Look for the ECO Certification logo when you’re planning your holiday destination or even just choosing a place to spend the night.
- The standard ECO Certification logo means the business is committed to sustainable practices and provides high quality nature-based tourism experiences.
- The Nature Tourism logo indicates a minimal impact on the natural environment.
- The Respecting Our Culture logo indicates the business respects and reinforces the living cultural heritage and cultures of Indigenous communities.
Some of the best:
Fowlers Bay Eco Park on the Eyre Peninsula is not only environmentally friendly, but also naturally sustainable. The power to all sites, amenities and kiosk is supplied by a hybrid solar system consisting of solar panels, batteries and a backup diesel generator. The water is also naturally obtained through rainwater and from a Sand Dune Aquifer, pumped over two kilometres to the park by a windmill and solar pump.
Gluepot Reserve in South Australia’s Mallee is a biodiversity conservation area with unique flora and fauna, including 18 nationally threatened species of birds, 53 species of reptiles and 12 species of bats. You do need to be completely self-sufficient, because while there are toilets, there are no shower facilities. It’s accessible only to small-to-medium sized caravans in dry weather.
Capricorn Caves near Rockhampton in Queensland offers a bush setting with caving, wildlife and paleontology sites full of ancient marine and fauna fossils. Sites are powered and pets are not allowed.
Wharncliffe Mill is a bush camp in the heart of Margaret River. It’s not a traditional caravan park, but does have powered sites, hot showers, flushing toilets and a camp kitchen. They generate their own power, harvest rainwater off the old mill and have state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facilities. They’ll happily educate guests about the natural environment and sustainable living.
BIG4 Peppermint Park Busselton. Named after the native peppermint trees, this park is nestled within eight hectares of natural bushland, but is only a short 300-metre stroll to the white sands and crystal clear waters of Geographe Bay. No pets allowed.
Goomburra Forest Retreat on Queensland’s Darling Downs offers bushwalking in the Main Range National Park, bird watching, amenities and allows pets if they’re on a lead at all times.
You’ll find that most places ‘do the right thing’ by conserving water and recycling waste. We’ve singled out these eco caravan parks because they also offer an experience in sustainability.
If you’re going to turn up to an eco-friendly caravan park, you might want to check out our guide to eco caravans.
