Mountain Rivers Tourist Park – Rawson

Honestly, when I first pulled up to Mountain Rivers Tourist Park on Depot Road, I wasn’t expecting much – the name screams “family caravan park” more than anything else. But you know what? Sometimes the unassuming places surprise you the most. This spot sits right in the heart of Rawson, which, if you’re not familiar with Gippsland, is basically the gateway to some of Victoria’s best high country adventures. I mean, you’re literally 20 minutes from Mount Baw Baw and about the same distance to Walhalla (that quirky old gold mining town that’s worth a detour if you’ve got time).

What actually won me over was how genuinely comfortable everything felt. The cabins – and I’m assuming that’s what most people book here rather than pitching a tent – are clean without being sterile, and there’s this relaxed vibe that you don’t always get at more polished places. The staff seemed to actually know the area too, which is rarer than it should be. When I asked about hiking trails, the guy at reception didn’t just hand me a generic brochure – he started talking about which tracks would be muddy after the recent rain and mentioned this little bakery in Erica that does amazing pies if I was heading toward the Thomson Dam. That kind of local knowledge is gold when you’re exploring somewhere new.

The location is honestly perfect if you’re planning to explore the region rather than just lounge around the accommodation. Rawson itself is tiny – blink and you’ll miss it – but that’s actually part of the charm. There’s no traffic noise, and on clear mornings you can see the mountains properly without any haze. The Thomson River is close enough that you can hear it if you listen carefully, and I spotted a few people heading out with fishing gear at dawn. Parking was never an issue (which seems obvious but you’d be surprised how many places make it complicated), and check-in was refreshingly straightforward. Look, it’s not going to win any design awards – this is definitely function over form – but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. The 8.2 rating makes sense to me because while it doesn’t have fancy amenities or Instagram-worthy interiors, it delivers on the basics really well and the price point feels fair for what you get. If you’re the type who needs a concierge and room service, look elsewhere. But if you want a comfortable base for exploring the Baw Baw plateau, checking out the old railway towns, or just getting some proper mountain air, this place does the job without any fuss.