NSW tops for caravan and camping trips
Older caravanners flock to east coast central region, but they're not all grey nomad retireesWhat's Australia’s number one state for road-based tourism?
It's NSW, which attracted more than one in three domestic caravan and camping visitors last year.
According to Tourism Research Australia data, NSW was the destination of choice for 5.5 million domestic caravan and camping visitors in 2025.
And who's doing most of those trips? It's the retirees, or close to retired over-55 age group which, according to Caravan Industry Association of Australia data, accounted for 59 per cent of all caravan and camping trips in 2025.
The Gen Xers, who also make up around 20 per cent of Australia's overall population, also tend to stay away longer than younger travellers, averaging four-day trips compared with 3.1 nights for those aged between 30 and 54.
More trips and more caravan park revenue
The latest tourism data also highlights that domestic travellers took 17.3 million caravan and camping trips across Australia in 2025, up 14 per cent year-on-year, with expenditure reaching $12.6 billion, or above pre-pandemic levels of $10.2 billion.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s 2026 State of Industry Report also shows caravan parks generated a record $3.3 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of 6.3 per cent year-on-year.
Of the 18.2 million nights spent camping or caravanning in NSW during 2025, the top five destinations were: North Coast (26 per cent), South Coast (17 per cent), The Murray (10 per cent), Hunter region (10 per cent) and Sydney (eight per cent).
However, busting the grey nomad stereotype, 43 per cent of domestic caravan and camping visitors to NSW during the period were in full-time employment. They also had a bit of money to spend, with the largest cohort (30 per cent) having an average household income of $100,000-$149,999.
International caravan and camping visitors to NSW also surged by 10.4 per cent in 2025, to 86,000; they spent 801,500 nights in the state (up 24.3 per cent year on year). The majority of these overseas visitors came from either the United Kingdom, Germany or New Zealand.
The road ahead
Recognised among NSW's 400-odd caravan and holiday parks in 2025 were the BIG4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park, Discovery Holiday Parks Forster and Tathra Beach Eco Camp; each winning a major award at the annual Caravan & Camping Industry Association (CCIA) NSW Awards of Excellence.
“Caravan and camping is at the heart of tourism in NSW and our sector delivers more holiday accommodation across regional areas than any other," claimed Caravan & Camping Industry Association (NSW) CEO Wayne Lange.
"It's the shared commitment of holiday park operators to continually innovate and deliver exceptional experiences that has made NSW Australia's leading caravan and camping destination.”
Meanwhile, year-to-date 2026 data is yet to be announced, although figures are likely to be down due to a reported drop-off in caravanning and fewer road trips in general, as a result of the fuel crisis.
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