Travel: Binningup Beach Caravan Park, WA

The local caravan park epitomises this village-like lifestyle, being set in a hollow protected from strong sea breezes and shaded by mature trees. Wood-fired pizzas from the park's onsite cafe add to its homeliness.

Buying Binningup Beach Caravan Park not only provided new owners Martin and Judy Andrews with income during their semi-retirement, it also provided an outlet for their horticultural interests.

"We were familiar with the area, having shared a holiday home here for 25 years," Martin said. "We bought the park in March 2002 and left manager Ian Drinkwater in charge. After selling our nursery supply business in December 2003, we moved here permanently.

"The park was rundown and had a bad reputation, so we set about improving things, using our knowledge of horticulture to brighten up the grounds and increase the number of grassed sites," said Martin.

The Andrews separated the office from the cafe - which they had leased out - cleaned up the ablutions, refurbished the onsite vans, added a fish-cleaning station and rebuilt the broken down barbecues. Judy used her gardening experience to nurture flowerbeds and pot plants around the park, which not only improved its appearance, but also generated interest and conversation among guests.

Binningup is set on three levels, with mainly semi-permanent and onsite vans and cabins in the upper area, close to the ablutions: old yet clean and with piping-hot showers. The middle section is centred around two solid-fuel barbecues, with caravans positioned around them off a circular driveway. This promotes a social atmosphere, especially when the
fires are lit, and mobile gas barbecues are available for guests to use while they mingle.

Lower still is a shady camping area near where we spent two nights in the new Western Homestead caravan.

Apart from Martin and Judy's warm hospitality, there is a nine-hole, grassed golf course and a country club with two bowling rinks - one turf, the other synthetic - which the public are welcome to use for a fee.

The beach and boat ramp are on your doorstep, pets are allowed and parents can let their children roam free on secure grounds where traffic is restricted - and all this is only two hours from Perth!