Happy campers - Apollo Motorhome Holidays

SCHOOL HOLIDAY GUIDE
Advertising Promotion
Happy campers
First-time fishing
at a riverfront
campsite in Yamba.
YAMBA
Driving distance: about 2.5 hours south
of the Gold Coast
Campground: Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort
AS soon as we pulled up at our riverfront site,
complete with private ensuite bathroom
(essentially your own little toilet/shower block
at the back of the site), we were greeted by the
neighbouring family – also Gold Coasters.
“This is your first stop? Don’t bother going
anywhere else, this is the best,” they said.
The weather wasn’t in agreement, but that
didn’t matter to the kids. From go-karts to a
giant jumping pillow, swimming pools and
playrooms, this was their idea of heaven. And
the resultant peace at our campsite was our
idea of bliss.
About 20 minutes out of town (or two hours
if accompanied by a two and four year old),
there is plenty to do in the Yamba area – from
beautiful beaches to cool cafes.
If you’ve got the time for a quick
getaway from the Goldie, take
a tour down south for some
amazing seaside towns and
campgrounds. Ann Wason
Moore tells of her family frolic
NAMBUCCA HEADS
Driving distance: about 4.5 hours south
of the Gold Coast
Campground: White Albatross Caravan
and Holiday Park
A GREEN, grassy campground on the banks
of a swimming lagoon, the natural features of
this park are enhanced by its man-made
neighbours – the pub and restaurant.
Again, private ensuite facilities are available,
fantastic kids’ features abound and there are
some great walks, which start from the park.
Make sure you venture out on the Vee Wall
and check out the colourful graffiti. From
family murals to personal tributes, it makes for
hours of entertaining – as well as a spectacular sea view.
SOUTH WEST ROCKS
Driving distance: about 5.5 hours south
of the Gold Coast
Campground: Horseshoe Bay Holiday Park
THERE’S no pool and no kids’ club…but in
this location you couldn’t care less.
This was an absolutely amazing spot that
apparently we were lucky to get into. There can
be long waiting lists to get a site at this olderstyle campground and some grey nomads stay
for months.
Set at the top of a protected bay, it takes just
moments to walk from any site to the sand. It
gives you a feeling of how it must feel to reside
on Hedges Ave…just sans the mansion.
QUALITY INGROUND CONCRETE POOLS
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We built this pool for Mike & Nicole
for only $13,750.
with
i h iin floor circulating
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endless swimming 1.5 meter water They are extremely happy with all aspects of
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IDEAL POOLS
BSA Lic.1028908
B21F27098
T
EN nights, two toddlers, two parents…
and one vehicle.
Fortunately for our family, the car in
question was not just a motorhome, but a
motor-mansion – and so our fears of a
Griswold-style family vacation were transformed into a dream holiday.
There’s nothing better than camping (OK,
this was more “glamping”) with kids – they
can run free with the packs of littlies while
the adults can drink freely with other unpressured parents. It’s win-win. Or should that
be win-wine?
Campgrounds are like a little village. A
village where every neighbour is happily on
holiday, there’s no traffic and, depending where
you go, enough entertainment for the kids to
rival a theme park. And the golden rule of
family holidays is: happy kids = happy parents.
With this in mind, we hit the road south
in five-star style, armed with our GPS as we
endeavoured to explore the coast away from
the Coast.
This pool built for Darcy at Varsity.
They are extremely happy with this pool.
Freeform pool 8 x 4 metres. 1.7 meters water
depth for $15,900.
Retaining walls suitable for
unstable land or sloping blocks.
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PHONE FOR MORE DETAILS
GUARANTEE THAT OUR CONCRETE
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For more great pools visit www.idealpools.com.au
The Gold Coast Bulletin, June 21, 2012 - play | 6
SCHOOL HOLIDAY GUIDE
Advertising Promotion
The motor mansion
The million-dollar
view from the cheapas-chips campground
at South West Rocks.
The campground is bordered on one side by
a creek that makes fun for inner-tubing when
the tide is right, while on the other side of the
bay are the rocks after which the town is
named. They make for hours of exploring and
playing in the shallow, tidal pools.
Even better, the gorgeous town sits immediately behind the campground so you’re in the
heart of the action, should you want it.
Independent restaurants, pubs and shops
mean there’s always something to do should
you tire of the sun, sand and serenity.
But the best spot of all has to be the kiosk
atop the hill, again a two-minute walk from
the campground. Sausage rolls, chips, hamburgers and ice creams…all made the way we
remembered from our childhoods, with cheap
prices to match.
WOODY HEAD
Driving distance: about 2.5 hours south
of the Gold Coast
Campground: Woody Head Camping
Ground, Bundjalung National Park
NOW this is camping. Other than a little kiosk
at the entrance, there is little to disrupt you
from nature. The amenities are well above basic
but don’t expect a private ensuite here.
But what you get is even better – campfires.
Toasting marshmallows at night-time on an
open fire beside the beach would have to go
down as the kids’ highlight.
Exploring the rocks and coastline was also
great fun and the fishing and surfing are
fantastic. Who needs a jumping pillow?
HASTINGS POINT
Driving distance: about 45 minutes south
of the Gold Coast
Campground: Big4 North Star
Holiday Resort
IF you’re looking for a quick getaway and want
to treat the kids, this is paradise.
The pool area seriously rivals Wet’n’Wild and
the location offers a variety of holiday fun.
A five-minute walk down the road, where
the river opens to the sea, is a gem spot for
fishing and beaching. While I indulged in
some sunbaking and a book, the kids frolicked in the shallow water while my husband
actually caught some fish.
Without a doubt, that was his holiday highlight.
Super Performance Centre
Kindy Gym
Gymnastics
Acrobatics
Cheerleading
Venues in
Circus
Ashmore
Nth Tamborine
Runaway Bay
18mths to Adults
Book in for our
FUN Holiday
Program these School Holidays
Week 1
25th - 29th June
Week 2
2nd - 6th July
9.00AM - 3.00PM
Extended hours available
An entire day of gymnastics
and circus fun.
Phone
5532 8429
[email protected]
www.SuperPerformanceCentre.com.au
7 | play - The Gold Coast Bulletin, June 21, 2012
TECHNICALLY, it was an
Apollo Motorhome
Holidays Eurostar Deluxe.
We just called it the
motor mansion.
Sleeping six with a fully
equipped kitchen, LCD
TV and DVD player, aircon, internal toilet and
shower, this mobile
accommodation surpassed
many stable self-contained
units we’ve stayed in.
While we were more
than a little worried about
the idea of our whole
family essentially sleeping
in the same room, the
clever design meant there
was plenty of privacy.
Our four year old slept
in the double-bed above
the driving cab, which has
windows on either side, a
relatively high ceiling and
a safety net to prevent
luggage falling out while
driving – or children when
sleeping (we called
it the Cooper
Catcher).
There was also
a curtain that can
be pulled across
the net to provide
privacy – or prevent
preschool parties after
lights out. Our
two year old
slept in the
middle bed,
another double,
which converts
to a table and
couches during the
day or
when driving.
We slept in the double
down the back (a Ushaped lounge with table
during the day) which also
has a curtain that can be
drawn for privacy, and we
were pleasantly surprised
at just how big and
comfortable the bed was.
The outdoor awning and
table and chairs made for a
great outdoor room, where
we adults could chill once
the little campers were
tucked in.
As for driving, my
husband assured me it was
easy and we three passengers were more than happy
with our seats.
The ease of having
everything to hand and the
freedom of just packing up
and driving on in our big
little home was amazing.
Check out www.
apollocamper.com for
more details.
No1 for FUN