Foodie families are uncovering a new level of food experiences in the most unexpected places, with holiday and caravan parks ‘upping their game’ in response to the growing market of travellers looking to tantalise their tastebuds while on holidays.
The $23.9 billion Australian food tourism market is reshaping the way families travel, with research showing holidaymakers now spend more time and money on food experiences – and savvy tourism operators are bringing these experiences right to their doorsteps, or in some cases, right to their campsites.
Ingenia Holidays – operator of holiday parks and resorts across Queensland and New South Wales – has noticed the increased appetite for high-quality on-site dining, and Food and Beverage Operations Manager Todd Henderson said the face of holiday park dining was changing to meet the demands of these hungry travellers.
“Having great food experiences on holidays has always been a driver for some, and we’re now seeing this emerge in the holiday park market – with travellers from all walks of life eager to sample high-quality local produce while on holidays,” Mr Henderson said.
“Caravan and holiday parks aren’t traditionally thought of as ‘food destinations’, but many of these sites have swapped simple kiosks for fully fledged restaurants, bistros and cafes. “We’re finding the re-invention of in-park dining is an exciting time for family travellers who are after casual convenience without compromising on quality.”
Mr Henderson said the Sunshine Coast’s own Driftwood Restaurant and Bar, located on-site at Ingenia Holidays Rivershore, was popular with both resort guests and members of the public. “Driftwood is not what people expect when they dine at a holiday resort – the restaurant overlooks the pool and serves up great coffee, local craft beer, popular tapas options and full menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” he said.
“We focus on providing fresh, high quality produce, much of it locally sourced, and all set in a laid-back and friendly environment. “Travellers love that after a busy day of exploring or long day of driving they can simply set up their sites and wander over – they’ll get a really good quality meal at a reasonable price point, and no one has to do the dishes.”
Mr Henderson said the company has focused on refining its dining offerings across many of its Queensland and New South Wales parks and resorts, and now has a number of other on-site restaurants including Coconut Bistro at Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, Get Trucked adjacent to Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay, and the V-Wall Tavern and Café at Ingenia Holidays White Albatross, Nambucca Heads.
“At the end of the day we love that our guests can enjoy delicious food and share special moments with family and friends.”