Caravan or Canvas? Why Victoria’s Travellers Are Choosing Both

There was a time when camping holidays in Victoria divided people neatly into two camps: those who towed and those who did not.You were either a caravan person or a camper, and there was little in between. Travel habits have changed. As more families and couples blend comfort with a taste of the outdoors, a new middle ground has emerged: parks that offer both caravan sites and luxury glamping. Marysville Holiday Park sits right at that crossroads, where one group can reverse their van onto a powered site while another unpacks nothing more than a weekend bag. Across Victoria, travellers are mixing their accommodation styles more than ever. Grandparents arrive with the caravan, kids and grandkids check into cabins, and couples take a nearby glamping tent. Everyone meets for breakfast or dinner under the same trees.

At Marysville, this pattern plays out most weekends. The park’s riverside setting makes it possible to combine several experiences without anyone feeling left out. The glamping tents offer hotel-style comfort with full linen, heating and queen beds, while the caravan sites keep that traditional road trip freedom that so many Australians still love.

It is a small example of how modern travel has evolved. The destination stays the same, but how we stay in it keeps changing. Short regional breaks within two hours of Melbourne are one of the strongest growth areas in domestic travel. That has changed what visitors expect from a holiday park. Many now look for the social energy of a campground combined with the comfort of boutique accommodation.

A powered site offers flexibility, while glamping removes the hassle. For couples, it is a chance to join family trips without committing to a van. For families, it is a way to let everyone travel at their own pace.

Marysville’s layout makes it easy. Cabins and glamping tents are within walking distance of the powered sites, so the whole group can share meals, walks and evenings by the firepit together. Caravan parks across Victoria are no longer just stopovers between towns. They are becoming small communities where travellers stay longer, cook together and treat the park itself as part of the holiday.

Modern facilities such as camp kitchens, games rooms and pet-friendly cabins have replaced the basic amenities of the past. At Marysville, the focus is on space and setting. The park sits beside the Steavenson River, shaded by mountain ash and only a short walk from the village centre. It feels traditional but now includes something for everyone. For those who have not tried it, glamping sits halfway between camping and a hotel stay. You still hear the birds, feel the cool mountain air and fall asleep to the sound of the river, but you do not need to pitch a tent or roll out a sleeping bag.

In Marysville, the glamping tents are positioned along a quiet stretch of the park. Each has its own deck, queen bed and electric heating for the cooler months. It is ideal for couples who want nature without setup or for anyone joining a larger family group with caravans and cabins nearby. The beauty of this mixed approach is that everyone gets what they want. Caravanners enjoy independence, glampers enjoy comfort, and everyone shares the same campfire.

Across Victoria, this hybrid travel style is growing quickly. Marysville captures it perfectly as a place where travellers of every style can park, unpack and unwind in the same patch of bush.

Glamping offers a pre-set tent with hotel-style comfort including real beds, power and heating. Caravanning involves bringing your own accommodation and equipment. Yes. Many holiday parks, including Marysville, offer both powered sites and glamping tents so groups can stay together while enjoying different comfort levels. Yes. Marysville’s glamping tents are insulated and heated, making them comfortable year-round even when there is snow nearby. Most are. Marysville offers pet-friendly cabins for guests travelling with dogs, while the glamping tents are reserved for couples. The drive takes around 90 minutes via Healesville and the Black Spur through the Yarra Ranges. Travelling together no longer means travelling the same way. Whether you arrive with a caravan in tow or step into a ready-made glamping tent, the goal is the same: to breathe the forest air, hear the river at night and share a few slow days with the people who matter most. Marysville makes it easy to do all of that in one place.