Skip to Content

This website uses modern construction techniques, which may not render correctly in your old browser.
We recommend updating your browser for the best online experience.

Visit browsehappy.com to help you select an upgrade.

Stay 4, Pay 3 this May & June > 

BOOK & SAVE

Get to know our 2026 Award Winners

It was an epic night of celebrations at the 2026 Caravan Parks Association of Queensland and Caravan Industry Association of Australia awards, with several parks and team members recognised for their contributions across guest service, community impact, cleanliness and unforgettable experiences. These awards reflect the passion, care and hard work our teams bring every day – and the meaningful moments they create for guests. Here’s a look at the well-deserved wins.

Outstanding Host Award

Winner: Broadwater Tourist Park

Broadwater Tourist Park staff members at the CPAQ awards night, smiling and holding their award plaque.

Broadwater Tourist Park took out the Outstanding Host award for a second year in a row, highlighting its consistently exceptional guest experience. The team lives by a simple idea – people remember how you make them feel – and it shows in every interaction. From personalised service to thoughtful touches and a welcoming vibe, guests feel genuinely cared for. Supported by strong leadership, training and a positive team culture, Broadwater continues to set the standard. The results back it up too, with Net Promoter Scores above 80% and strong repeat visitation. Congrats Team Broadwater!

Employee of the Year

Winner: Laura Nicholls, Burleigh Beach Tourist Park

Laura Nicholls was named Employee of the Year, recognising her standout leadership and genuine care for her team and guests. Starting as a Front Office Receptionist at Burleigh Beach Tourist Park just over three years ago, Laura quickly stepped into the Park Manager role and hasn’t looked back. She’s helped boost the park’s visibility through creative social media and led the team through the challenges of Light Rail Stage 3 construction with clear, guest-first communication. Known for her supportive leadership style and ability to bring people together, Laura has made a real impact across the park. Her positive energy and authenticity truly set her apart. Congrats Laura!

Congrats to our two Employee of the Year finalists – Mikey Shepheard from Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park and Nat Brown from Kirra Beach Tourist Park.

Good Corporate Citizen

Winner: Broadwater Tourist Park

Broadwater Tourist Park also took home the win for Good Corporate Citizen, thanks to its strong culture of giving back. The team has created a range of initiatives that bring staff and guests together to support meaningful causes.

From raising more than $41,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation through Containers for Change, to supporting Dementia Australia and the Cancer Council through regular fundraising events, Broadwater’s commitment is wide-reaching and heartfelt. The park also supports food recovery programs including OzHarvest and a food waste initiative with the City of Gold Coast, while partnerships with local businesses help strengthen community ties. Their Red Cross Blood Buddies program has even helped save 75 lives.

What makes it special is the personal connection behind many of these efforts, with team members turning their own experiences into positive action that inspires others to get involved. Well done, Team Broadwater!

Memorable Moments Award

Winner: Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park

Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park won the Memorable Moments Award for its Halloween weekend event. Since launching in 2021, it’s grown into a much-loved tradition where guests are part of the experience. Families decorate their sites, dress up and take part in trick-or-treating across the park, creating a fun, community atmosphere. It’s not just a great weekend – it keeps guests coming back, with an 78% repeat booking rate. It shows that the best experiences aren’t just created for guests, but with them. This frightfully-fun weekend is worth the hype!

Tidy Park Award

Winner: Kirra Beach Tourist Park

Kirra Beach Tourist Park staff members at the CPAQ awards night, smiling and holding their award plaque.

Kirra Beach Tourist Park has won the Tidy Park Award for the second year in a row, showing just how seriously the team takes cleanliness. A strong “clean-first” culture runs throughout the team, with staff empowered to act quickly and keep standards high. Tools like real-time QR reporting help issues get sorted fast, keeping everything spotless – even during busy periods. The results speak for themselves, with cleanliness scores above 99% and strong guest feedback. Congrats Team Kirra!

ReviewpRro People's Choice Caravan Park of the Year

Bronze Winner: Ocean Beach Tourist Park

Ocean Beach staff members stand near the park entry sign, holding their award.
Figure: Image from 2025 award presentation.

Ocean Beach Tourist Park took home Bronze in the ReviewPro People’s Choice Award, based entirely on guest reviews. It marks the park’s third year in a row placing in the top three nationally – following Silver in 2024 and Gold in 2025. This award is all about what guests think, making it a strong reflection of the experience the team delivers every day. Known for their friendly, personalised service, Ocean Beach continue to foster loyal guests who return year after year. Well done, Team OB!

National Awards – Individual Finalists

Future Leaders and Rising Star Awards

Figure: Matt and Brooke accepting their Good Corporate Citizen Award.

A special shoutout to Broadwater Tourist Park’s Brooke Turner and Matt McDonald, who were named finalists at the Caravan Industry Association of Australia Awards. Brooke was recognised in the Future Leaders Award (Under 40 years) category, while Matt was a finalist for the Rising Star Award – both incredible achievements at a national level.

As emerging leaders in the industry, Brooke and Matt are already making a strong impact through their passion, leadership and commitment to guest experience. Their recognition highlights the depth of talent within the Broadwater team and reflects the next generation of leaders shaping the future of holiday parks. It’s a fantastic result and a proud moment for the whole Gold Coast Tourist Parks group!

Posted: May 25th 2026

Archive

What our guests are saying

google

Lyn Heiler

Jacobs Well

Absolutely love this park..called on Friday morning to book a site..parked up same afternoon..the little shopping centre across the road was very handy, the...

google

Neels

Tallebudgera Creek

Lovely peaceful place to stay on the waterfront!

Kim

Jacobs Well

Absolutely fantastic view, very relaxing, Sandy and the team are very friendly. We highly recommend are stay if you are looking at time out