6 Best Campgrounds & Caravan Parks around Mooloolaba
You're never far from the water when you're camping in Mooloolaba. Sitting on a curving peninsula surrounded by glistening water and sliced by the Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba is a haven for campers who love being out on the water. Whether it's surfing, fishing, swimming, diving, or paddling, you'll find the perfect aquatic playground a short hop from your campsite.
Despite its buzzy vibe, Mooloolaba is quite small, so you'll find only one campground and caravan park within its borders: Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park, and it's one of the best caravan parks on the Sunshine Coast. Stay here, and you can stroll to the surf-washed shores of Mooloolaba Beach, linger at an alfresco café along the Esplanade, dine at The Wharf Mooloolaba and wander to other top Mooloolaba attractions.
Can't find a space here? You'll find other great camping spots near Mooloolaba. Only a few minutes' drive north, Alexandra Headland, Maroochydore, Mudjimba, and Cotton Tree host some of the state's top campgrounds and caravan parks, and you can also check out Noosa camping spots if you're heading farther north.
Several of Mooloolaba's top places to camp are Sunshine Coast Holiday Parks, operated by Sunshine Coast Council. Others are privately owned. But all offer excellent facilities and easy access to the beach or river.
So what are you waiting for? Plan the perfect camping trip with our list of the best campgrounds and caravan parks in and around Mooloolaba, Queensland.
Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park
You can't ask for a better location. Smack bang on the Mooloolaba Boardwalk, steps from the soft sands of Mooloolaba Beach, this popular park is a favorite holiday spot. Shops, restaurants, cafés, family-friendly attractions — you'll find it all within easy walking distance of this park. When it comes to affordable Mooloolaba accommodation on the beach, you can't go wrong here.
Walk across the street, and you're at The Wharf Mooloolaba, home to SEA Life Sunshine Coast and a diverse range of restaurants. This is also the starting point for Mooloolaba cruises, and the Mooloolaba Esplanade is also only steps away with yet more restaurants and shops.
Apart from the fantastic location, this park has all you need for a relaxing holiday. Recent renovations refreshed the restrooms (with a baby change area and bath), as well as the Camp Kitchen, which comes with a fridge, toaster, microwave, and barbecue facilities.
The slab sites here are fully serviced, and Wi-Fi is included. Best of all, you'll have direct access down a sandy path to beautiful Mooloolaba Beach, one of the best beaches on the Sunshine Coast. Thanks to its superb location, this is camping on the Sunshine Coast at its best.
Address: 100 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, Queensland
Official site: http://www.sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au/holiday_parks/mooloolaba_beach_holiday_park/
Cotton Tree Holiday Park
In a prime position between the ocean and the river, Cotton Tree Holiday Park is one of the best caravan parks on the Sunshine Coast.
Water sports enthusiasts will be in heaven here. Feel like a surf? You can ride the swells along Maroochydore Beach. And if you prefer calmer waters for fishing or paddling a kayak or SUP, you have direct access to the Maroochy River from the park. Best of all, you can check the wind direction and choose the best spot for your chosen water sport — all steps from your tent, caravan, or RV. And if all you want to do is relax with a good book, you'll find plenty of shady nooks along the waterfront at this Cotton Tree caravan park.
Want to swim some laps? Cotton Tree Swimming Pool complex is also right next door.
Accommodation is varied and ranges from powered sites (some on the waterfront) to one- or two-bedroom cabins. Alternatively, you can pitch your tent on the waterfront without power. Wherever you choose to make a base, you can stroll to the water in seconds.
Cotton tree holiday park has plenty of handy amenities: barbecues, restrooms and hot showers, laundry facilities, a baby bath and change table, as well as free Wi-Fi. And if you want a break from cooking, you can easily stroll to cafés and restaurants across the road, as well as plenty of entertainment venues.
Address 2-36 Cotton Tree Parade, Maroochydore, Queensland
Official site: http://www.sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au/holiday_parks/cotton_tree_holiday_park/
Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park
True to its name, Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park backs onto the sand dunes bordering Maroochydore Beach, about a six-minute drive north of Mooloolaba. Early morning beach strolls? No problem. Surfing before brekkie? Easy! You can stumble to the sand — and the swells — from here. And depending on your site, you might even hear the surf crashing on the beach.
Another perk of this Maroochydore caravan park is its proximity to cafés and restaurants, as well as Maroochydore Surf Club and RSL in case you want to ditch the car and dine out.
Looking for activities in the area apart from the beach? Maroochydore Beach Bowls Club is a short stroll away, and you can splash and fish in the nearby Maroochy River. If you need a major shopping fix, Sunshine Plaza is just a short drive away with large department stores and tons of specialty shops and boutiques.
In addition to the powered caravan and campsites, which come with water, accommodation here includes six villas: three two-bedroom villas and three one-bedroom units. These are a great option if the weather looks stormy.
Amenities here tick all the boxes. They include a modern camp kitchen with picnic tables and barbecue facilities, restrooms with a baby bath, laundry facilities with coin-operated washing machines and dryers, and free Wi-Fi.
Insider's Tip: If possible, choose a site away from the road, as it can get a little noisy at night.
Official site: http://www.sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au/holiday_parks/maroochydore_beach_holiday_park/
Alex Beach Cabins & Tourist Park
Alex Beach Cabins & Tourist Park is only a five-minute drive from Mooloolaba. If you're looking for quiet, comfy cabin accommodation or a caravan site a short walk to the beach, this is a wonderful choice. Note, though, that the park does not offer tent camping.
Staying here puts you only 180 meters from Alexandra Headland Beach (called "Alex Beach" by locals). You're also a short stroll from Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club in case you want to dine out overlooking the beach, and you'll find plenty of other restaurants and shops nearby. Shoppers can flex their wallets at Sunshine Plaza, a five-minute drive away.
Choose from a wide range of accommodation. Adding to the 51 caravan/motorhome sites, some with ensuites, are 72 villas (two-bedroom and one-bedroom), as well as queen and double cabins. They come with all you need for a comfortable stay, including full equipped kitchens, linen, and air-conditioning.
Amenities are excellent. Kids can go wild on the rainbow-hued playground, splash in the heated free-form pool, play pool in the games room, or watch the ducks in the adjacent lily-topped pond. Adults can mingle at the large BBQ and entertainment area and use the free gas barbecues or pizza oven to cook up a tasty meal. You'll also find a microwave, fridge/freezer, and sink here, as well as plenty of prep space and seating.
Address: 21-23 Okinja Road, Alexandra Headland, Queensland
Official site: https://www.alexbeach.com.au
Big 4 Maroochy River, Maroochydore
A 13-minute drive from Mooloolaba, Big 4 Maroochy River is a favorite with families. It sits a pebble's throw across a main road from the Maroochy River.
Kids will have a blast here. They can bounce on the giant "Jump Pad," splash in the saltwater pool, cast a line in the river, zoom around on their pedal carts, or burn off steam in the playground. School holiday activities add to all the fun: Outdoor movies, crafts, games, weekly pancake breakfasts, and roasting marshmallows around the fire pit are all on the agenda depending on the time of year.
Parents also love it here. Apart from the river, the bustling city of Maroochydore sits on your doorstep with fantastic shopping, restaurants, and entertainment, and you can walk from the park to a supermarket and restaurant. Sunshine Plaza is also only a quick seven-minute drive away with every type of retail outlet you can wish for.
A major perk for parents is the van-parking service. A "marriage-saving" valet parks every caravan or camper trailer on the site with a tractor — so you can relax and unwind instead of stressing about backing into a site.
In your spare time, you can mingle around the enticing camp kitchen, or cook up a storm on the barbecues. You'll also find laundry facilities on-site.
Accommodations are a highlight here — especially if you're looking for contemporary Mooloolaba cabins. The new two-bedroom cabins book up quickly here, or you can save money and opt for an older cabin. All are comfy and cheerful, and come with air-conditioning, kitchens, TVs, lounges, bathrooms, and patios or balconies.
Prefer to pitch a tent or park your RV or caravan? The powered tent and caravan sites accommodate up to six campers.
Note that you can bring the whole human family here, but pets are not allowed. It's best to leave your fur baby at home.
Address: 1 Diura Street, Maroochydore, Queensland
Official site: https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/qld/sunshine-coast/maroochy-river-park
Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park
About a 15-minute drive north of Mooloolaba, Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park offers a quieter, more laid-back beach experience. Staying in this park puts you a short stroll from the sand, and this park is a great choice if you have pets in tow: Fido is welcome here in the tent and caravan sites upon application. Plus you'll find one of the best off-leash dog areas at the southern end of Mudjimba Beach.
In your spare time, you'll find plenty of things to do in this relaxing little beach town. Family-friendly Mudjimba Beach borders the mouth of the Maroochy River, so if you fancy dropping a line or two, you can hunt out some great fishing spots nearby.
Kids can run wild at the playground in the beachfront park, hoon around on the area's bike paths, and surf and swim at Mudjimba Beach. Kids will also love swimming in the freeform pool at Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park.
Parents will appreciate the locally owned restaurants and cafés just a short stroll from the park.
Accommodation includes a mix of powered caravan sites and unpowered tent sites, tucked amid the trees. Concrete slabs come in handy during wet weather. Prefer cabin accommodation? Three villas are available, including a two-bedroom unit, with fully equipped kitchens.
The park has a friendly feel and offers all the amenities you'll need for a relaxing stay. Cook up a meal in the camp kitchen, catch up on your washing at the laundry facilities, and enjoy free Wi-Fi with your stay.
Address: 3 Cottonwood Street, Mudjimba, Queensland
Official site: http://www.sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au/holiday_parks/mudjimba_beach_holiday_park/
Map of Campgrounds & Caravan Parks around Mooloolaba
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Sunshine Coast Camping: Once you're ready to move on from Mooloolaba, you'll find plenty of other Sunshine Coast camping spots. Noosa camping is a highlight, with everything from back-to-nature beach getaways on the Cooloola Coast to riverfront campsites and hinterland gems. A short hop south, Coolum Beach has one of the top places to camp on the Sunshine Coast, and plenty of other great places to pitch a tent nearby.
More Things to Do on the Sunshine Coast: Wondering how to spend your time on the Sunshine Coast? Surfing the breaks and hiking the trails in Noosa National Park are some of the top things to do in Noosa Heads. Head south from here, and you can explore more of the beautiful coastline and family-friendly attractions in Coolum Beach. Looking for a bit more action? Caloundra packs in plenty of thrills at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast.
