Caravan parks packed on holidays | Fraser Coast News | Local News in Fraser Coast

Oscar Knight, 4, was having the time of his life at Wetside while it was almost snowing in his home town of Orange.

Alistair Brightman

ACCOMMODATION providers in Hervey Bay found the recent school holidays quiet but the region's caravan parks reported more visitors than last year.

Kevin Smith, spokesperson for tourism business group Holiday Hervey Bay, said there had been “very low levels of families visiting the area” and he described the school holidays as “a bit of a non-event”.

“I think the caravan parks did all right on the beachfront but beyond that – right through from backpackers, budget accommodation up to luxury apartments – there just wasn't the volume in the town,” he said.

Pialba Caravan Park was at 80 per cent capacity with the Scarness and Torquay parks at 85 per cent.

However, Fraser Coast council stats showed an absence of children on the beachfront parks.

Mr Smith estimated that school holiday visitor numbers were significantly lower than last year and 75 per cent worse than two years ago.

However, he said, there were good inquiry levels for the September school holidays and many regulars had already made their Christmas reservations.

“But there's a lot of time in between school holidays to survive and pay bills,” he said.

Poona Palms Caravan Park owner Don Wallace said his figures for June had risen 40 per cent.

He attributed the increase to the park becoming better known and almost nightly entertainment.

“We're already out of powered sites for Christmas and ... September school holiday bookings are very strong,” he said.

Warren March of Hillcrest Holiday Park in Burrum Heads also reported that the June school holidays – at 98 per cent capacity - were busier than last year.