A data-backed look at the holiday parks and campgrounds Australians are searching for through autumn, driven by the Top End dry season opening, Tasting Australia, the Hunter Valley Outdoor Show and the great northward grey nomad migration.
As autumn deepens and the southern states tip toward early winter, Google Trends data shows a clear shift in Australian travel behaviour. Search interest is now consolidating around three big themes: the start of the Northern Territory dry season for grey nomads heading north, a strong run of May food and wine events through Adelaide and the Hunter Valley, and the autumn shoulder-season window before snow demand kicks in.
This month’s list focuses exclusively on overnight holiday parks and campgrounds. Every location below has been selected to reflect measurable travel momentum, seasonal relevance and strong public ratings for the May travel window and into early June.
With the Northern Territory dry season now officially open, one of the year’s biggest grey nomad migrations is in full swing. May also brings Tasting Australia (8 to 17 May), the Lovedale Long Lunch (17 to 18 May) and the Hunter Valley Outdoor Show (22 to 24 May), all of which are pushing forward booking pressure across multiple regions.
Here are Australia’s top trending camping destinations for April and May.
Top 10 Stays
- BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park – Albany, Western Australia
- RAC Margaret River Holiday Park – Margaret River, Western Australia
- Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley – Cessnock, New South Wales
- Kirra Beach Tourist Park – Southern Gold Coast, Queensland
- BIG4 Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort – West Beach, South Australia
- Discovery Parks – Darwin, Northern Territory
- Litchfield Tourist Park – Rum Jungle, Northern Territory
- Discovery Parks – Jindabyne, New South Wales
- Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park – Halls Gap, Victoria
- Oasis Tourist Park – Coober Pedy, South Australia
Bonus Pick
- Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park – Coromandel, New Zealand
1. BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park – Albany, Western Australia
Why It’s Trending This Month
Albany’s search momentum is being driven by something far bigger than a single weekend. The City of Albany is hosting Western Australia’s first Bicentenary in 2026, with a full year of cultural programming acknowledging the first place where Aboriginal and British people commenced living together on the western side of Australia. That layered context is keeping Albany high in the search data well beyond any single event.
The May timing also lands in one of the South Coast’s quietest, most rewarding windows, with cooler weather, fewer crowds and the Great Southern’s national parks at their walking-best. It is the kind of stay where travellers are searching not for a long weekend, but for an extended autumn touring base.
What Makes It Special
- Year-long Bicentenary programming, the trip works any week of 2026
- Strong base for the National ANZAC Centre, Mount Clarence and Torndirrup National Park
- Cooler autumn weather suits long days exploring beaches and coastal walks
- Genuine mid-week availability before winter whale-watching demand starts in June
Quick Planner
History travellers and shoulder-season South Coast tourers.
Coastal holiday park.
Book three nights minimum, the Bicentenary program is layered enough that day-tripping doesn’t do it justice.
2. RAC Margaret River Holiday Park – Margaret River, Western Australia
Why It’s Trending This Month
Margaret River search demand is now firmly in shoulder-season mode, and that is exactly why it earns a place on this list. The big surf and wine events have cleared, summer crowds are gone, and the region settles into one of its best touring windows of the year. Travellers who waited out the autumn rush are now booking with far better availability and quieter cellar door experiences.
May also lines up with the lead-in to the Cabin Fever Festival period, the South West’s well-known winter food and wine season that begins in mid-July. Travellers are increasingly using May as a scouting trip, locking in winter bookings while enjoying a calmer first visit.
What Makes It Special
- Walking distance access to Margaret River township and surrounds
- Strong base for wineries, breweries, forest drives and the Cape to Cape track
- Genuine shoulder-season availability and pricing
- Cool, settled weather suits long lunches and longer drives between cellar doors
Quick Planner
Wine country travellers and quiet South West road trippers.
Town-edge holiday park.
Use this trip to scope out Cabin Fever Festival venues for July, the calmer May atmosphere makes for a far better first visit.
3. Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley – Cessnock, New South Wales
Why It’s Trending This Month
The Hunter Valley is in one of its strongest event runs of the year. Lovedale Long Lunch on 17 to 18 May 2026 is one of the region’s biggest annual food and wine weekends, with travellers booking accommodation well in advance to be inside the Lovedale circuit. The Hunter Valley Outdoor Show then runs at Maitland Showground from 22 to 24 May, drawing caravan and camping travellers specifically.
Both events sit inside the broader Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month and the Mega Creatures season at Hunter Valley Gardens, which extends through to early May. Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley sits within easy reach of more than 150 cellar doors, which is exactly the proximity people are searching for.
What Makes It Special
- Sits among the highest concentration of cellar doors in the region
- Cabin, villa and powered site mix suits couples, families and longer stays
- Strong base for Lovedale Long Lunch and the Hunter Valley Outdoor Show
- Easy two-hour run from Sydney for May weekend escapes
Quick Planner
Wine-region weekenders and caravan and camping show travellers.
Vineyard-adjacent holiday park.
Lovedale Long Lunch tickets and accommodation move fast, lock in 17 to 18 May before the next round of marketing pushes.
4. Kirra Beach Tourist Park – Southern Gold Coast, Queensland
Why It’s Trending This Month
The southern Gold Coast holds its position in the search data through May for one simple reason: warmth. As Sydney and Melbourne cool down sharply, travellers are searching for short flights or long drives to a stretch of coast that still delivers t-shirt weather. The Kirra and Coolangatta pocket sits in one of the most reliable autumn climates in the country.
May also marks the start of the Gold Coast hinterland’s best walking season, with cooler conditions opening up Springbrook, Lamington and the nearby Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to longer days outdoors. Kirra Beach Tourist Park has become the go-to basecamp because it offers that classic, laid-back surf culture away from the northern high-rises, putting travellers just steps from the sand while keeping the hinterland drives incredibly accessible.
What Makes It Special
- Positioned just steps from the iconic, world-class surf breaks of Kirra and Coolangatta
- Reliable May warmth and beach weather while the southern states cool down
- A quiet, laid-back coastal atmosphere that avoids the heavy crowds of Surfers Paradise
- Exceptionally dog-friendly, featuring dedicated pet cabins and a grassy play area
- Easy access for day trips to both the beach and Springbrook National Park
Quick Planner
Wine-region weekenders and caravan and camping show travellers.
Laid-back tourist park steps from the sand, with dedicated pet-friendly sites.
Catch the morning breaks at Kirra Point, then pair your beach stay with a hinterland day trip, Springbrook is spectacular in autumn.
5. BIG4 Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort – West Beach, South Australia
Why It’s Trending This Month
Adelaide is hosting one of its biggest food and drink moments of the year. Tasting Australia, presented by Journey Beyond, runs from 8 to 17 May 2026, with more than 150 events across the city and into the Barossa, Fleurieu Peninsula, Limestone Coast and Flinders Ranges. The festival hub at Town Square in Victoria Square anchors a ten-day window of strong accommodation demand right across this month.
The early to mid-May timing also lines up with the tail of the autumn touring season, when caravan travellers can pair the festival with day trips through the wine regions. BIG4 Adelaide Shores at West Beach gives travellers a beachside base just 15 minutes from the city, which is the kind of trade-off Australians are searching for as Adelaide hotel rates climb during major events.
Tip: Tasting Australia tickets for headline dinners and chef collaborations sell out fast, lock in any ticketed events before booking your final caravan dates.
What Makes It Special
- Beachfront resort-style park with strong family facilities
- Genuinely close to both the Adelaide CBD and McLaren Vale wine country
- Sits within striking distance of Tasting Australia’s regional events
- Suits travellers wanting space and amenity over a city hotel
Quick Planner
Food and wine travellers, families wanting a city-and-beach base.
Beachside resort holiday park.
Park-and-tram travel from the western beaches into Town Square is far easier than driving on festival nights.
Key Travel Drivers This Month
May officially opens the Northern Territory dry season, triggering one of the year’s biggest grey nomad migrations north.
From 8 to 17 May, Adelaide hosts more than 150 food and drink events across the city and into the Barossa, Fleurieu and Limestone Coast.
Lovedale Long Lunch on 17 to 18 May and the Hunter Valley Outdoor Show from 22 to 24 May anchor a busy month for the region.
Cooler weather, fewer crowds and quieter pricing make May one of the strongest shoulder-season windows of the year.
6. Discovery Parks – Darwin, Northern Territory
Why It’s Trending This Month
The Northern Territory dry season officially runs from May to October, and is widely regarded as the best time of year to explore the Top End by road.
As southern Australia turns colder, search interest for “Darwin caravan park” and “Top End dry season” lifts sharply, particularly from grey nomads timing their northern migration to coincide with the start of the dry. (If you are planning this route, check out our guide to the Best Holiday Parks for a Kimberley and Top End Trip to ensure you don’t miss out on a site).
May in Darwin delivers daily blue skies, low rainfall and temperatures between roughly 20 and 33 degrees, making it the most comfortable window for outdoor markets, walking, fishing and day trips to Litchfield, Kakadu and Mary River. It is also when the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and live music venues come back into full swing.
What Makes It Special
- Sits squarely at the start of the Top End’s best travel window
- Reliable warmth while southern states cool down
- Strong base for day trips into Litchfield, Kakadu and Mary River wetlands
- Suits both first-time Top End travellers and seasoned grey nomads
Quick Planner
Grey nomads heading north and warm-weather autumn travellers.
Tropical city holiday park.
Lock in May and June availability now, parks tighten quickly once peak dry season hits in June through August.
7. Litchfield Tourist Park – Rum Jungle, Northern Territory
Why It’s Trending This Month
Litchfield National Park is one of the clearest beneficiaries of the dry season opening. As waterfalls steady, roads dry out and access tracks reopen, swimming holes like Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockhole come back into reliable form. May brings the most comfortable weather of the early dry, with cooler nights and minimal rain.
Litchfield Tourist Park sits between Darwin and the Litchfield park entrance, putting travellers within easy striking distance of waterfalls and walking tracks without the long daily drive. It is also a strong example of the kind of mid-route base grey nomads search for as they extend trips beyond Darwin into the Top End.
What Makes It Special
- Genuine staging point for Litchfield’s best swimming holes
- Avoids the long daily drive from central Darwin
- Quieter and more spacious than peak-season Darwin parks
- Suits travellers wanting a more bush-feel base than a city park
Quick Planner
National park travellers and waterfall chasers.
Bush-edge tourist park.
Always check Northern Territory Parks online for current Litchfield access conditions before heading in, early dry season can still see late closures.
8. Discovery Parks – Jindabyne, New South Wales
Why It’s Trending This Month
Jindabyne sits in one of its most underrated travel windows. Search demand is now firmly in pre-snow scouting territory, with travellers booking quieter May trips before alpine pricing and crowds arrive in June. The lake is calm, autumn colour is still working its way through Kosciuszko’s higher walking tracks, and the town is in genuine shoulder-season mode.
This is also one of the strongest weeks of the year for last-call high-country walking. Cool, clear weather opens up Kosciuszko’s longer day walks without the heat of summer or the snow of winter, and Jindabyne’s lakeside parks give travellers a sheltered base for an early dinner by the fire after a long day on the trail.
What Makes It Special
- Strong base for Kosciuszko National Park autumn walks
- Lakeside setting with mountain views in every direction
- Fits travellers wanting a regional, scenery-first weekend
- Last reliable shoulder-season window before ski demand kicks in
Quick Planner
Mountain travellers and pre-snow scouting trippers.
Lakeside alpine holiday park.
Pack for genuinely cold mornings, even on a sunny May weekend Jindabyne can drop close to freezing overnight.
9. Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park – Halls Gap, Victoria
Why It’s Trending This Month
The Grampians sit in their best walking season right through May. Cooler temperatures, lower fire risk and quieter trails make it one of Victoria’s strongest autumn destinations, particularly for travellers prioritising hiking, lookouts and wildlife over events.
Halls Gap also benefits from Tasmanian school holidays running through to 3 May 2026, which sustains a steady mainland family booking lift in the early part of the month. Halls Gap Lakeside puts travellers right beside the lake and within walking distance of the township, with strong access to the Wonderland Range walks and Boroka and Reed lookouts.
What Makes It Special
- Walking distance to Halls Gap township and main attractions
- Lake views and resident wildlife on the doorstep
- Cool, settled weather suits longer hikes and scenic drives
- One of Victoria’s most reliable autumn-touring stays
Quick Planner
Hikers, photographers and autumn road trippers.
Lakeside tourist park.
Tackle the Pinnacle walk at dawn for the clearest views, the early morning light through autumn haze is well worth the early start.
10. Oasis Tourist Park – Coober Pedy, South Australia
Why It’s Trending This Month
Coober Pedy is a clear early signal of the bigger autumn travel theme: the great northward grey nomad migration. As southern temperatures drop, search interest for outback caravan parks rises, with travellers planning the long run from southern states up to the Northern Territory and Queensland through May and into June.
Coober Pedy sits roughly halfway between Adelaide and Alice Springs, making it one of the most-searched stopover points on the Stuart Highway. Its underground accommodation, opal-mining history and Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park give the stay enough weight to be a destination in its own right, not just a refuel.
What Makes It Special
- Strategic stopover on the Adelaide to Alice Springs run
- Distinctive underground stays and outback character
- Fits the start of the dry-season caravan migration north
- Cooler May weather suits exploring above ground
Quick Planner
Grey nomads heading north and outback first-timers.
Outback holiday park.
Plan a two-night stay rather than a single overnight, the Breakaways at sunset and an early-morning town walk are worth slowing down for.
Bonus Pick
Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park – Coromandel, New Zealand
Why It’s Trending This Month
Australians searching short-haul touring holidays are giving New Zealand’s North Island an autumn lift this month. The Coromandel Peninsula is one of the strongest North Island shoulder-season destinations, with Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove and Hahei all sitting within reach of a single base.
May is genuinely quiet on the Coromandel, with summer crowds well gone and winter pricing not yet kicked in. Hot Water Beach TOP 10 fits the shoulder-season brief well, with cabin and powered site flexibility and quick access to the famous low-tide thermal sands. For Australians extending an autumn touring holiday across the Tasman, it is one of the most reliable pairings for a four to six night North Island loop.
What Makes It Special
- Walking distance to Hot Water Beach for low-tide thermal sand pools
- Easy day-trip access to Cathedral Cove and Hahei
- Quieter autumn pricing without summer crowds
- Suits Australians extending into a North Island loop
Quick Planner
Australians planning a North Island touring holiday.
Coastal holiday park.
Time the Hot Water Beach dig to within two hours either side of low tide, otherwise you will be standing in surf rather than warm pools.
Planning Ahead
Top End Dry Season
May officially opens the Northern Territory’s dry season, and travel signals around Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu and Katherine all rise sharply this month. For caravanners and motorhome travellers, this is the start of the long road north, with trip planning tightening for both shorter Top End loops and the full lap toward winter.
Booking pressure builds quickly through May into June, particularly for parks near Litchfield and Kakadu’s main entry points. Travellers locking in stays now have far more flexibility than those waiting until the school holiday peak in mid-year.
Tasting Australia and the Hunter Valley Run
Adelaide and the Hunter Valley both sit in their strongest event windows of the autumn. Tasting Australia from 8 to 17 May, the Lovedale Long Lunch on 17 to 18 May and the Hunter Valley Outdoor Show from 22 to 24 May all fall inside this month, layered on top of broader regional food and wine programming.
Searches for “Tasting Australia accommodation,” “Hunter Valley caravan park” and regional wine-region stays have been climbing steadily. Travellers booking around these events are increasingly prioritising holiday parks within easy reach of festival hubs, particularly those that combine cabin and caravan site flexibility for mixed groups.
What We’re Watching for Next Month
Search signals are beginning to consolidate around a few clear June themes:
- Top End and Kimberley dry season touring stays
- Outback Queensland crossings via Birdsville and Mount Isa
- Pre-snow holiday park bookings for the Snowies
- Far North Queensland Atherton Tablelands and Cairns hinterland stays
- Hervey Bay and Fraser Coast lead-in to whale season
The biggest trend themes heading into late autumn and early winter are already clear: long-haul dry-season migrations, autumn shoulder-season pricing, event-anchored Adelaide and Hunter Valley wine-region weekends, and warm-weather coastal escapes from southern travellers chasing higher temperatures.
We will continue tracking Google Trends behaviour, holiday timing and regional travel triggers to identify which camping destinations gain the strongest momentum into June.
Catch up on last month: Missed our previous report? See where travellers were heading in March right here: Trending Stays: Early-Autumn Holiday Parks Australians Are Booking Right Now – March 2026.
