Mt Warning Rainforest Park, NSW

With miles of Pacific ocean beaches, often full of migrating whales on their seasonal run from feeding grounds down south up to their northern breeding grounds; with World Heritage rainforest at your doorstep and, if that’s not enough, also being in close proximity to several National Parks, a stay at Mt Warning Rainforest Park is, quite convincingly, all about easy access to top-drawer family adventure possibilities.

THE PARKS

If you’re a fan of exploring National Parks, the Rainforest Park is a perfect basecamp. Within coo-ee you’ll find:

• Mt Warning (Wollumbin) National Park
• Mooball National Park
• Mount Jerusalem National Park
• Mebbin National Park
• Border Ranges National Park
• Lamington National Park
• Nightcap National Park and the adjoining Whian Whian State Conservation area

When Camper was there, we managed short trips to a few of these locations, but if you have more time, there’s literally thousands of treks, walks and sites to see among these destinations. We advise you conduct preliminary pre-trip research and fill your itinerary with whatever it is your feel should be prioritised. Whatever it is, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time, completely immersed in Kookaburras, King Parrots and Azure Kingfishers.

THE COMMUNITY

The Rainforest Park is an easy drive from the Gold Coast airport, almost splitting the middle between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. It’s the perfect base from which to explore the myriad of farmers' markets and other similar events routinely organised by the many nearby thriving character-laden towns and hamlets.

Check out neighbouring Uki and Murwillumbah, when Camper was there we couldn’t spend enough time in either of these places. Both are full of shops you simply don’t see anywhere else in the country, selling locally produced arts and craft, and both spoilt with an abundance of local pubs, watering holes and delicious restaurants.

THE CLEARING

The dominating feature of the Mt Warning Rainforest Park is a carefully landscaped central clearing among the trees, just beyond the reception area. It’s been carefully created to be as unobtrusive and respectful to the environment as possible — so much so it’s barely recognisable as a man-made structure. It’s a subtle and unassuming aspect of the park that informs guests how seriously the park’s pioneering developers took when planning the initial build blueprint. A superb demonstration of ethical civil engineering, it also enables first-class stargazing at night, with the fringing treeline and distant peaks providing outstanding points of reference for for for astrophotography, which you may wish to attempt (as we did while staying there!).

THE FACILITIES

Although ostensibly an exquistely engineered eco-park that blends into its surrounding environment, the Rainforest Park packs a full list of facilities, including:

• General Store open 8am-5pm, 7 days
• Wi-Fi Zone internet connection
• Swimming pool
• Cabins
• Wilderness camping ground with amenities block
• Camping sites with fires
• Powered and unpowered sites
• Arts gallery
• Tennis court (hard court)
• Public telephone
• Hot showers
• Coin-operated electric barbecues
• Coin-operated laundry
• Camp kitchen – with tables and seating for 60 people together with fridge, microwave oven, BBQs and sinks with hot water.

THE EXPERIENCES

No two stays at the Mt Warning Rainforest Park need be the same. Whether you’re into trips to Byron Bay or the Gold Coast to walk and swim at their famous beaches, or, alternatively, want to visit and explore less well-known sites in the nearby parks, such as Minyon or Protester Falls in Nightcap National Park, both can be organised and enjoyed from the Rainforest Park — the ultimate northern NSW family adventure base!

Check out the full feature in issue #123 of Camper Trailer Australia magazine. Subscribe today for all the latest camper trailer news, reviews and travel inspiration.