Travel: Conway Beach Park, Qld

By Tony and Denyse Allsop

In April 2005, well known tourist park identities, Debbie Brown and George Pauly, purchased Conway Beach Tourist Park in the Whitsunday area and are planning to make extensive renovations to the park, commencing this season.

Debbie and George have owned Flying Fish Point Caravan Park near Innisfail for eight years, and have tripled the occupancy rate there over the last four years.

Now they have decided to sell it, in favour of coming to the Whitsunday area, to take on and improve the quiet park at Conway Beach, off the Proserpine-Airlie Beach Road. Debbie and George will be remembered most, by their many guests, for the free fish meals they put on at Flying Fish Point on Wednesdays.

Nothing will change for guests of the couple in this regard, as there is a licensed takeaway restaurant attached to Conway Beach Park, so guests will not have to go into town for their supplies.

Conway Beach Tourist Park is at the end of a quiet road and is practically beachfront. The Proserpine rivermouth is nearby, with excellent fishing for crabs, prawns, barramundi and other species available.

Debbie told CW that they intend to concentrate on guest interaction, with activities such as barbecues and plenty of Happy Hour, as this worked well in the last caravan park.

Other plans include putting in another swimming pool and making the most of the outdoor entertaining area, which includes a billiard table. A projector for film evenings is also a possibility.

Not all of the 50 caravan sites at Conway have concrete slabs, and site improvements are on the agenda, too, as well as the replacement of onsite vans with cabins. George is keen to build them himself: his vision is that of “fishing cabin-style” accommodation that will be easy to look after.

As well as its close proximity to the beach, Conway Park is situated near a national park featuring Cedar Creek Falls, which is a great place to swim, walk or just relax in the cool rainforest.

If hitting the high spots is your thing, Airlie Beach is about 30km away, however, George wants the park to remain quiet, and hopes to attract a similar type of guest to the ones he had at Flying Fish Point. Conway Beach Tourist Park will be run as a tourist park, with no long-term residents.

Debbie told CW there are some good-value holiday deals going, to attract locals in the off-season, a time when tourist parks in the area are quiet.

“We will complete a bunch of things at the end of the tourist season, ready for next year. Those plans include a new pool, another toilet block, levelling a couple of hills in the park and adding more sites – that’s for starters!” she added. “We intend to be here for many years – this is one park that will not get swallowed up by developers!”

Some of the facilities at Conway Beach Park include a swimming pool; tennis court; pool table; barbecue area; entertainment area; licensed store and kiosk; fuel and LPG refills; access to river and reef for boats; beach and bush walking. Pets are allowed on application.

CW wishes George, Debbie and daughter Tiani well in their new venture.

Conway Beach Park Fast Facts
Conway Beach Tourist Park (3-star): 10 Daniels Street, Conway Beach, Qld 4800; phone/fax (07) 4947 3147.
Owner/Managers: George Pauly and Debbie Brown
Mail Service: 659A Proserpine, Qld 4800.

How to get there:
Take the main Proserpine/Airlie Beach Road; after around 5km you will see the sign to Conway Beach on your right – it is 20km down this sealed road.