Tasman Holiday Parks – North Star

Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of holiday parks along the Australian coast, and honestly? Tasman Holiday Parks – North Star surprised me in the best way possible. You pull up to this place on Tweed Coast Road in Hastings Point – which, by the way, is this little gem tucked between the madness of Byron Bay and the Gold Coast – and it just feels different. More relaxed, I guess. The kind of place where you actually hear the ocean instead of traffic.

What really got me was how they’ve managed to keep that proper holiday park vibe without feeling run-down or chaotic. You know what I mean – some of these places either go too fancy and lose their soul, or they’re just… well, a bit rough around the edges. This one hits the sweet spot. The sites are actually spacious (you’re not hearing your neighbor’s every conversation), and they’ve got this mix of powered sites, cabins, and even some glamping options that don’t look like they were thrown together last weekend. I stayed in one of their cabins during school holidays – usually a nightmare time – but the layout here means it never felt overcrowded. There’s proper space between everything, mature trees that actually provide shade, and the facilities are clean without being sterile.

Here’s the thing that’ll make or break your stay though – the location is absolutely killer. You’re literally a two-minute walk to Hastings Point Beach, which locals will tell you is one of the better surf breaks in the area when it’s working. But even if you don’t surf, it’s just a beautiful stretch of sand that doesn’t get the Byron Bay crowds. The kids’ playground sits right where you can keep an eye on things while having a coffee, and there’s this general store on-site that actually stocks decent stuff – not just overpriced tourist junk. I mean, you’ll still pay more than Woolies, but they’ve got fresh bread and the basics covered. The real insider tip? Drive five minutes south to Pottsville for your big grocery shop, or head north to Cabarita – both have proper supermarkets and Cabarita Beach is worth the trip anyway. Check-in was smooth, staff seemed to actually know the area when I asked about local spots, and parking’s never an issue. Only minor gripe – the wifi can be a bit patchy in some spots, but honestly, isn’t that kind of the point of a beach holiday?

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