Located on the Linear Park banks of the River Torrens, Adelaide Caravan Park has the proud claim of being the nearest park to a capital city centre in Australia.

The park and its proprietors, Richard and Margaret Davis, have an interesting history. It all began back in 1946 with Margaret’s parents opening the park on the block adjacent to their home in suburb an Hackney. Gradually they expanded, buying nearby blocks and, eventually, even the road that runs through the park until it reached its current size.

Adelaide Caravan Park, a Top Tourist Park rated at three-and-a-half stars, caters for a diverse blend of travellers, offering a mixture of 31 powered sites for touring caravans and motorhomes and a full range of onsite cabins.

“If it’s luxury you want,” Richard told CW, “our Villa cabins for two have king sized beds with all bed linen and ensuite spa, as well as DVD/VCR, reverse cycle air-conditioning and a full kitchen. “At the budget end, our En-Suite cabins will accommodate six people (queen bed and four bunks). They are complete with their own shower and toilet, reverse cycle air-conditioner, kitchen and colour TV.”

Between these two styles, other cabins called Executive, Holiday and Self-Contained provide varying levels of features. 

“The accommodation has been designed to be flexible,” Richard explained. “For example, some of the beds can be either a king sized double or separated into two singles, depending on what the visitors want.”

Travellers come to Adelaide Caravan Park for many reasons.

“Obviously we get plenty of RVers on their journeys east to west and vice versa, but our proximity to the city and some large medical centres means we host many people who are coming to Adelaide for hospital treatments.”

Other regular attractions are the Adelaide Arts Festival, the Fringe Festival, and the Clipsal V8 Supercar race

“An amazing number of our visitors are from overseas, too,” said Richard, who is well-known in the industry for his many years of service on local and national caravan industry and tourism bodies.

Amenities include a laundry, babies’ bathroom, good sized swimming pool and an attractive undercover barbecue; use of these facilities is free. The powered sites line the perimeter of the park, which overlooks the River Torrens, and there is plenty of tree shade. There’s a shop and playground just next door.

It’s a short walk from the park through the colourful Botanic Gardens to the zoo, Government House, the Festival Theatre, casino, Rundle Mall, library, museum, art gallery, Adelaide University, Ayers House, the Migration Museum, markets and shopping centres.

Public transport is easily accessible including the Bee Line bus which is free around the city centre.

The park makes a great base from which to explore other areas around Adelaide, such as the Barossa Valley and southern wineries, the Hills district and nearby beaches.

Adelaide Caravan Park fast facts

Adelaide Caravan Park is a member of Top Tourist Parks, and has three-and-a-half stars. Richmond Street, Hackney, SA 5069, (08) 8363 1566, fax (08) 8362 1989, bookings 1800 222 467, www.adelaidecaravanpark.com.au

Tariff: powered site from $28 to $31. Cabins start with a standard cabin from $79 to $91, through holiday units from $103 to $118 up to the luxurious Villa with spa, from $122 to $137. Office is open 8am to 8pm, 364 days a year.

By Ros Bromwich and James Manson, as featured in Caravan World, issue 434, October 2006.