Australia Restaurants, Campsites, Campervan, Hiking and more ... all the stuff we used during 5 weeks in Australia

The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road

Teresa and I spent five amazing weeks in Australia. It was our first visit, and we chose to drive the east coast—starting in Cairns/Cape Tribulation in the northeast and finishing along the Great Ocean Road near Melbourne. We spent most of the time in a campervan and treated ourselves to two gorgeous Airbnbs in Sydney and Melbourne.

This is my third post about our trip. The first post is an overview of our 5-week itinerary (link here). The second reviews the eight organized tours we took in Australia (link here).

When you’re in a country for five weeks, you end up using a lot of different services. Hopefully, this list—with reviews and a few tips—will help if you decide to plan your own trip to Australia (hint: you should!).

Campervan

Camperman Australia – Maxie 4 Deluxe (2 stars)

https://www.campermanaustralia.com/

We wanted a campervan that slept two and had a toilet, fridge, stovetop, and seating/sleeping area. The Maxie 4 Deluxe technically slept four (though it would have been incredibly cramped). We booked this model twice: once from Cairns to Brisbane and again from Sydney to Melbourne.

Let me say upfront: I would not book with Camperman again.

The van itself (a Toyota HiTop, about 15 years old) worked mechanically fine, and the interiors had been recently refitted. But the design felt like it was done by someone who had never used a campervan:

- The water tank refill spout was inside the van, sticking up through the floor by the sliding door.

- The main outlet was jammed behind the fire extinguisher, constantly knocked loose whenever we entered.

- There was no heating or air conditioning (other than in the driver’s cabin, which doesn’t run when parked).

- The layout of the eating area, bathroom, and kitchen wasted space and always felt cramped.

The van didn’t ruin our trip—it did the job—but compared to the many other campervans we saw on the road, we could have done much better for about the same cost.

Verdict: Avoid Camperman.

Campsites

Lake Placid Rainforest Retreat, Cairns (5 stars)

https://www.lakeplacidtouristpark.com/ - Excellent first campsite, spotless facilities, pool, café with meals and happy hour.

Cape Tribulation Camping, Cape Tribulation (5+ stars)

https://www.capetribcamping.com.au/ - Best campsite of the trip. Nestled in the rainforest, ocean access (no swimming—crocodiles), great pizza and beer.

Lakeside Motor Inn & Caravan Park, Yungaburra (4 stars)

https://www.lakesidecaravan.com.au/ - Pretty lakeside setting, but facilities are average. No shade on sites.

August Moon Caravan Park, Innisfail (5 stars)

https://www.augustmoon.com.au/ - Friendly owner, shaded sites under big trees, excellent facilities.

Tasman Holiday Parks, Airlie Beach (3 stars)

https://tasmanholidayparks.com/au/airlie-beach/ - Huge, crowded park, decent facilities, food trucks. Airlie Beach itself is not worth visiting.

Fraser Coast Beachfront Tourist Parks, Torquay (3 stars)

https://beachfronttouristparks.com.au/ - Beachfront, but very crowded. Facilities are clean but tired.

Noosa North Shore Beach Campground, Noosa (5 stars)

https://beachfronttouristparks.com.au/ - Beautiful beachfront sites with kangaroos. Requires a ferry, but worth it.

Ocean Beach Tourist Park, Miami (5 stars)

https://goldcoasttouristparks.com.au/parks/ocean-beach - Great location, good facilities, friendly staff.

Holiday Haven White Sands, Huskisson (3 stars)

https://www.holidayhaven.com.au/white-sands/ - Huge, crowded park, lots of kids. Facilities are fine, but alternatives are preferred.

Dalmeny Campground, Dalmeny (4 stars)

https://www.dalmenycampground.com.au/ - Oceanfront location, older facilities being renovated, excellent fish & chips nearby.

Lifestyle Villages Traralgon, Traralgon (5+ stars)

https://www.lifestyleparks.com.au/traralgon/ - Beautiful shaded sites, best camp kitchen of the trip, private bathrooms.

Marengo Family Caravan Park, Apollo Bay (3 stars)

https://greatoceanroadparks.com.au/find-a-park/marengo - Spectacular ocean views, otherwise average facilities.

Airbnbs

Sydney (5 stars) – https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/725514529384129335?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=7e13cec7-32a1-49c5-ad56-b2e7e030f11d - Great location near the Opera House. Luxurious after weeks in a campervan.

Melbourne (5 stars) – https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/51074089?source_impression_id=p3_1757614517_P3T16ndOpdr4nSBl - Stylish zen-inspired unit in Fitzroy. Funky neighbourhood vibe.

Restaurants

Corea Corea – Cairns – 5 stars - https://www.orchidplaza.com.au/stores/corea-corea.htmlWe went into Cairns one evening, and although the boardwalk was pleasant for a sunset walk, the waterfront felt like a cheap tourist trap. Our original plan was to visit the Cairns night market for shopping and dinner, but it turned out to be disappointing—filled with cheap imports and mostly fast-food stalls. Fortunately, I had saved a list of restaurants from travel blogs, and one, Corea Corea, was nearby. What a find! Located on the second floor of a mall, it’s essentially a take-out spot with tables where they’ll bring your order after you order at the counter. Most dishes are stir-fries served on a hotplate, but there’s plenty of variety. The place was packed with what looked like mostly locals (always a good sign). If you’re near the Cairns waterfront, skip the night market and eat here instead.

Big Forest Café – Kuranda – 5+ stars - https://www.facebook.com/p/Big-Forest-Cafe-100066542907311/ - Kuranda has lots of restaurants, some appealing, some touristy. Big Forest Café, tucked down a side street, was a gem. Opened by a single woman during COVID, she explained that the slow start gave her time to find her rhythm before the crowds returned. We had a delicious “burger” with a sticky rice bun and pulled chicken filling, paired with Bundaberg ginger beer—our favourite non-alcoholic drink in Australia. Highly recommended.

The Sandbar Café – Cape Tribulation – 5 stars - https://www.capetribcamping.com.au/facilitiesLocated at Cape Tribulation Camping (our campsite), the café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but we went for the wood-fired pizza served from 5–8 pm. With ocean views and indoor/outdoor seating, it was the perfect spot for pizza and beer.

The Garden Bar Bistro – Airlie Beach – 4 stars - https://www.gardenbarbistro.com.au/ - As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, we didn’t like Airlie Beach (it’s a dump), but this restaurant was a highlight. Great menu for sharing, cocktails, draft beer, and happy hour prices, plus a sunset view over the ocean. We even met a fellow Canadian working in Australia. If you do find yourself in Airlie Beach, this is the place to eat.

Relished Food + Gift – Mareeba – 5 stars - https://www.instagram.com/relished.foodandgifts/ - Sometimes you stumble onto a place and it’s a jackpot. Relished Food + Gift was ours in Mareeba. Specializing in coffee and gourmet sandwiches, it also has a small gift shop. Teresa and I both had a barramundi fish sandwich—absolutely delicious. If you’re driving through the Tablelands, make this a lunch stop.

Vue Wine Bar & Restaurant – Yeppoon – 2 stars - https://www.vuewinebar.com/ - The opposite of Relished Food + Gift—small portions, bland food, and they messed up our order. Not worth it. Skip this spot in Yeppoon.

Miami Marketta – Miami (Burleigh Head/Beach) – 5+ stars - https://www.miamimarketta.com/ - So good we went twice. A night food market with live music and a great bar, offering a variety of food vendors without being overwhelming. Fun, vibrant atmosphere with plenty of choices.

Miami Fish Market – Miami – 5+ stars - https://miamifishmarket.com.au/ - This place started as a retail and wholesale fish market, now expanded to sushi/sashimi and cooked meals. You pick your fish (we chose red snapper), cooking style (we went fried), and chips. We paired sushi and sashimi with fish and chips—perfect. A must-do on the Gold Coast.

Industry Beans – Sydney – 5 stars - https://industrybeans.com/pages/york-st-cafe - Recommended by our Airbnb host, this busy café delivered. Great service, excellent coffee, and delicious breakfast food. So good we went back two days in a row.

Little Prince Eating House & Bar – Traralgon – 5+ stars - https://www.littleprince.net.au/ - In a small town, we didn’t expect a restaurant like this. It had the vibe of Toronto’s Queen Street West—outstanding food, cocktails, and draft beer in a trendy atmosphere.

Toddy Shop – Fitzroy (Melbourne) – 5+ stars - https://www.marthandenhotel.com/ - Serving cuisine from southern India, this small restaurant was a fantastic find. Friendly service, spicy and flavorful food, and the perfect portions. Highly recommended.

Mr. Miyagi – Windsor (Melbourne) – 5+ stars - https://www.mrmiyagi.com.au/ - A trendy Japanese restaurant with both traditional and inventive dishes. The standout was the salmon nori taco—absolutely delicious. Great cocktails and draft beer, too.

Hiking

Kuranda Village, Barron Falls and River Walk – Jumrum Creek Conservation Park - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/queensland/kuranda-village-barron-falls-and-river-walk - Arrive early to secure parking and complete this 2+ hour hike. Afterward, head to Big Forest Café for lunch.

Clamshell Falls via Behana Gorge Trail – Aloomba, Queensland - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/queensland/clamshell-falls-via-behana-gorge-trail - A beautiful hike up to a waterfall, with a swimming hole at the base. It requires a bit of scrambling, but the cool, clean water is worth it.

Kulki Boardwalk, Myall Beach and Dubjji Boardwalk – Cape Tribulation, Queensland - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/queensland/clamshell-falls-via-behana-gorge-trail - More of a walk than a hike, along wooden boardwalks skirting rainforest and beach. Relaxing, but not a true rainforest experience. For that, check out Cooper Creek Wilderness.

Tea Tree Bay via Fairy Pools – Sunshine Coast, Queensland - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/queensland/tea-tree-bay-via-fairy-pools - One of our favourites—mixes beach walking and coastal climbing, with ocean views the entire way. Walking out to the Fairy Pools was a highlight.

Mapleton Falls Loop – Mapleton, Queensland - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/queensland/mapelton-falls-loop - A solid workout and a beautiful trail.

Purling Brook Falls – Springbrook, Queensland - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/queensland/purling-brook-falls - A scenic loop trail to the falls.

Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach – Sydney, New South Wales - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/new-south-wales/bondi-beach-to-coogee-beach-walk - One of the most famous beach walks. Bondi itself is overhyped, but the coastal views are spectacular. Do it one-way, have lunch in Coogee, and bus back.

Munyunga Waraga Dhugan Trail – Booderee National Park - https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/morning-hike-at-munyunga-waraga-dhugan-trail-bc7f621 - A challenging but rewarding hike.

Caves Beach Loop – Jervis Bay - https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-caves-beach-loop-e382f91

White Sands Walk – Jervis Bay National Park - https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-white-sands-walk-6a12d7e - A famous but worthwhile beach walk.

Glasshouse Rocks via Narooma Cemetery – Narooma - https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-glasshouse-rocks-via-narooma-cemetery-325eaea - A short but very scenic hike.

If you have questions or want travel tips, feel free to contact me at thethirdperiod.ca@gmail.com.