What a month it’s been! In May, we were honoured and overwhelmed (yes, there were a few tears) to be recognised with not one, not two, but multiple industry awards — and we’re still pinching ourselves.

Refurbishment Award
Stanthorpe Holiday Park
Caravan Parks Association of Queensland

Twelve months ago, Stanthorpe Holiday Park was a very different place. What was once a basic backpackers’ stopover with no forward bookings has been completely reimagined into a thriving holiday park — and we’re over the moon to have been recognised with the Refurbishment Award from CPAQ.

In just one year, we’ve:

  • Renovated every cabin inside and out
  • Added Australia’s first capsule bunks
  • Introduced stylish chalets to expand our accommodation offering
  • Installed wine barrel baths and a new sauna for those extra touches of luxury
  • Cleared bushland to open up direct river access for guests
  • Refurbished our bathrooms
  • Fully revamped the reception and café area into a warm, welcoming hub
  • And completed a full rebrand — transitioning from a backpacker’s base to a sought-after holiday destination

This award isn’t just about the physical upgrades. It’s about recognising the hard work, vision, and countless late nights that turned a struggling property into a place our team and guests are proud of. Every choice was made with the guest experience in mind — and to see that acknowledged means everything.

Gerry Ryan OAM Award for Innovation
Holiday Brands
Caravan Industry Association of Australia

Innovation might not always be visible to guests, but behind the scenes at Stanthorpe Holiday Park, it’s shaping everything we do. As part of Holiday Brands, our park has been part of something big — and we were thrilled to see those efforts recognised with the Gerry Ryan OAM Award for Innovation.

This award celebrates game-changing ideas that generate real value. Through Holiday Brands’ support, we’ve embraced AI-driven systems for review management and guest communication, implemented smart tech that helps boost direct bookings, and introduced tools that streamline operations and improve service delivery. It’s about building a future-ready park that serves guests better, from the moment they think about booking to long after their stay.

thl Future Leaders Award
Amanda Dempster
Caravan Industry Association of Australia

Last but definitely not least, we are overjoyed to celebrate Amanda Dempster, who was named the winner of the Future Leaders Award, presented by thl. Amanda has been the driving force behind our park’s transformation, turning vision into action and ideas into incredible results. Her passion, leadership, and refusal to settle for “good enough” continue to inspire everyone around her — and this award couldn’t be more deserved.

Thank You

To our guests — thank you for trusting us, encouraging our sometimes wild ideas, and being part of this journey. To our peers and mentors — thank you for cheering us on and leading the way. These awards are a recognition of the transformation, yes, but also of the community that believed in us.

We’re proud. We’re grateful. And this is just the beginning!

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