Australia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and whilst big cities like Sydney and Melbourne are a natural draw for many, there are so many quiet, off-the-beaten track destinations that are awaiting you too! We discovered beautiful Hastings Point last year when we headed North to seek out some winter sunshine and had an amazing family holiday at North Star Holiday Resort!
Hastings Point is a sleepy coastal village in the Tweed Shire that is super laidback and relaxed, has plenty of accommodation (ranging from caravan parks all the way to some epic private rentals along the water), and beautiful beaches and waterways. We loved exploring the coastline, perfect for hiking and swimming and playing in the beautiful, crystal clear estuary. It is the perfect place for a family vacation and we fell in love with this sleepy little coastal town.
To make our winter holiday that bit better, we had a perfect stay at North Star Holiday Resort! Over the last few years since we’ve had children, we have gravitated towards staying in apartments and cabins in caravan parks. Caravan parks can have a HUGE range of quality when it comes to services, facilities and accommodation and whilst we do our research, you never know until you can experience a place for yourself!
Coastal Cottage at North Star Holiday Resort
We booked a Coastal Cottage, which was their newest renovated accommodation. These two bedroom ‘cottages’ or cabins, were decorated in a Hamptons theme and honestly felt like you were staying in a high quality apartment, not in a caravan park cabin! They were finished to a high quality, beautifully styled and really comfortable for our family of four. The first bedroom has a king sized bed with an ensuite bathroom, and the second bedroom had a queen bed with a set of bunks. The beds were comfortable, with quality linens, furnishings and towels. The cottage was also serviced half way through the week and we were provided new linen and towels.
The cottage had a small balcony/patio with a BBQ, its own washing machine and dryer (which is an absolute lifesaver when travelling with kids), a fully equipped kitchen, lounge room, three TV’s and air-conditioning/heating. The only issue we had the entire week we stayed at the resort was that when I went to use the dryer the first time it didn’t work. We advised reception and within half an hour, the friendly maintenance team had brought us a new one and installed it! You can really notice when you are travelling whether staff are treated well and like their jobs, as it really shows in their interactions around the resort and with customers. Every staff member we came across could not have been more kind or friendly, we were so impressed.
North Star Holiday Resort Facilities
Now we are travelling with kids, we try and choose accommodation that has plenty to keep our family busy! North Star was bursting at the seams with things to do! There was a Kids Club, Games Room, Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds, a Marine Discovery Centre, Tennis Courts, Swimming Pool, Kids Swimming Pool, Water Slides, Splash Park, an onsite licensed cafe (which made amazing cocktails) and an Adults Only Leisure Centre. The Leisure Centre had a swimming pool, spas, gym, day spa, hairdresser and saunas. I wish the saunas were included but that was an additional cost, but otherwise the swimming pool and spa were great too!
We spent a lot of time in the pools and at the indoor playground as it was a bit rainy during our stay. The kids were a bit too young for the waterslides, but they looked so fun! Our only slight disappointment was that the splash park wasn’t heated like the pools were – it was absolutely freezing! In the warmer months though it would be amazing.
Beaches
Australia is famous for its beaches, and Hastings Point is located perfectly to visit some of Australia’s best beaches! There’s Cabarita Beach which is located just up the road, and has previously been voted as the Best Beach in Australia! You’re also less than an hour from the world famous beaches of the Gold Coast! This epic stretch of coastline has something for everyone, with beaches for surfing, lagoons and creeks for swimming and paddleboarding and endless golden sand for building sandcastles and splashing in the shallows with the kids.
Or maybe you fancy a spot of fishing? Fishing is a fun activity for so many people, of all ages and skill levels! Anywhere along the coastline in Australia is great for fishing, and if you are in the area, you can book a Fishing charters Gold coast tour or experience and maybe even catch yourself dinner!
Final Thoughts
We had the absolute BEST time at North Star Holiday Resort and exploring the local region! Highlights were the resort and its amazing facilities, our daytrips (including to the Gold Coast, Tropical Fruit World, Husk Distillery, FARM & Co), hiking the amazing coastline and spending time at the beautiful nearby beaches! It is without hesitation that we would recommend visiting Hastings Point and this beautiful part of the world, as well as staying at North Star!
Australia has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world! I always knew how lucky we were and that one day I would want to travel Australia extensively. However, it took a pandemic for me to realise just how truly lucky we are and that I don’t want to wait to see more of our beautiful country! Some of the destinations that are on our not-to-distant future bucket list are Uluru, the South Coast of NSW and the Blue Mountains!
As we stayed in off-season (being winter), we also managed to score a really good deal where you paid 5 nights but stayed 7! Our week long stay cost $1,000 and it was money well spent, we had an incredible time and would definitely recommend a holiday to this beautiful part of Australia!
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