2025 CPAQ Awards

The finalists are in – and they’re extraordinary!

We’re thrilled to reveal the 2025 CPAQ Award Finalists, a group of incredible individuals and parks that represent the very best of our industry. Their passion, creativity, hard work, and commitment to guests and community is exactly what makes Queensland parks so special.

This year’s nominations were truly outstanding. One of our volunteer judges summed it up perfectly:

“While the standard of nominations for the CPAQ Awards is always high, this year I felt all the nominees were deserving of credit, and it made assessing a clear winner very hard! Well done to all the nominees… they should all be commended for their contributions.”

~ 2025 CPAQ Awards Judge

A massive thank you to our dedicated judging panel for generously volunteering their time to ensure the process remains robust, fair, and independent.

Now — let’s meet the finalists!

🎉 Individual Award Finalists

  • Terry Colvin – Mission Beach Camping and Caravan Park
  • Felisse Dela Cruz – Boreen Point Campground
  • Scott Easdown – Talledbudgera Creek and Kirra Beach Tourist Parks
  • Darci Lawson – Weipa Camping Ground
  • Matthew McDonald – Broadwater Tourist Park
  • Lachlan Sole – Noosa North Shore Campground
  • Victoria Torti – Broadwater Tourist Park
  • Tracey Walker – BIG4 Caloundra & BIG4 Maroochy River

🎉 Park Award Finalists

  • BIG4 Caloundra
  • BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
  • BIG4 Maroochy River
  • Broadwater Tourist Park
  • Burleigh Beach Tourist Park
  • Burrum Heads Beachfront Tourist Park
  • Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat
  • Charleys Creek Chinchilla
  • Country Style Holiday Park
  • Esk Caravan Park
  • Etty Bay Cabins and Caravan Park
  • Jacobs Well Tourist Park
  • King Reef Resort
  • Kirra Beach Tourist Park
  • Kookaburra Park
  • Millmerran Village Caravan Park
  • Stanthorpe Holiday Park
  • Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park
  • Tasman Holiday Parks – South Mission Beach
  • Turtle Sands
  • Weipa Camping Ground

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order

And the Awards…

Simon Warner Memorial Young Achiever of the Year Award

Do you have a young team member who’s making a real difference in your park? The Simon Warner Memorial Young Achiever of the Year Award shines a spotlight on the industry’s rising stars of our industry—those under 30 who bring passion, innovation, and dedication to their role.

Proudly Sponsored by
MHIA Insurance

Employee of the Year Award

Every great park has that one team member who makes all the difference—the person who goes the extra mile, takes pride in their work, and brings a little extra magic to the guest experience. The Employee of the Year Award is all about recognising the hardworking, dedicated individuals who keep our parks running smoothly.

Proudly Sponsored by
Caravan Industry Association of Australia

Team of the Year Award

A great park isn’t just about the location—it’s about the incredible team that keeps everything running smoothly and makes every guest feel at home. The Team of the Year Award celebrates those outstanding teams who go above and beyond, working together to create unforgettable experiences and a thriving business.


Gordon Harris Turnaround Award

Have you transformed your park into a thriving, successful business? The Gordon Harris Turnaround Award recognises parks that have taken their business from struggling to standout, achieving real, measurable success.


Ray Fitton Award for Innovation

Got a bold idea that changed the way your park operates? The Ray Fitton Award for Innovation is all about celebrating park operators who think outside the box and bring fresh, game-changing ideas to life.

Proudly Sponsored by
DA Christie

Refurbishment Award

Big or small, every upgrade makes a difference! The Refurbishment Award celebrates park operators who have invested, proving that even the smallest improvements can have a major impact on guest experience and the park.


Tidy Park Award

A clean, well-maintained park isn’t just a nice touch—it’s a game-changer for guest experience! The Tidy Park Award recognises parks that take pride in their presentation, ensuring spotless facilities, well-kept grounds, with consistently high standards and a welcoming atmosphere every single day.

Proudly Sponsored by
Hygiene Systems

Good Corporate Citizen Award

Caravan parks are more than just places to stay—they’re part of the fabric of their local communities. The Good Corporate Citizen Award recognises the parks that go above and beyond to make a real difference, whether through financial support, community events, or ongoing local initiatives.


Outstanding Host Award

Exceptional service isn’t just a bonus—it’s what keeps guests coming back! The Outstanding Host Award recognises caravan parks that go above and beyond to provide warm, welcoming, and memorable hospitality to every guest, every time, from a friendly check-in to thoughtful guest interactions.


WTF?!? Award

Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is—the What the F#@$! Award! Every park has those moments—the kind that make you shake your head, laugh (or cry), and wonder “Did that really just happen?” This award is all about celebrating the weird, wild, and downright unbelievable things that happen in our industry.

and, new this year…

Memorable Moments Award

If your park goes above and beyond to create memorable guest experiences, now’s the time to showcase your efforts! Enter our newest award and share the special activity you undertake to deliver standout moments that keep guests coming back for more.

Proudly Sponsored by
Newbook

Ron Chapman Award for Excellence

The Ron Chapman Award for Excellence celebrates outstanding guest experiences and operational excellence, as recognised by the people who matter most—your guests. This award is determined solely by ReviewPro’s Global Review Index (GRI), making it a prestigious and data-driven recognition of industry-leading service and reputation management.

Named in honour of Ron Chapman, a CPAQ Life Member and industry icon, this award reflects his lifelong dedication to raising standards and championing excellence in the caravan parks sector.

There is no need to nominate for this award, simply work hard to achieve exceptional guest satisfaction, operational excellence, and consistent service delivery across the year,

Ron Chapman

Tips to Make Your Award Submission Stand Out

Winning an industry award is about more than just ticking boxes—it’s about telling a compelling story and showing the impact of your efforts. Here are some key tips to help your submission shine.

Be Clear and Concise

  • Judges read multiple submissions, so make sure yours is easy to understand and gets straight to the point.
  • Use bullet points and short paragraphs to make it readable.
  • Avoid jargon—write as if you’re explaining your story to someone outside the industry.

Provide Specific Examples

  • Don’t just say, “We provide great service”—show how with real stories!
  • Share guest experiences, challenges you’ve overcome, and unique initiatives.
  • Use before-and-after comparisons where relevant.

Example: Instead of saying “Our park has improved cleanliness”, say “Since implementing a new cleaning schedule, our Booking.com rating for cleanliness has increased from 4.2 to 4.9 stars, and guest reviews now frequently highlight our spotless facilities.”

Use Measurable Results

  • Judges love data! Back up your claims with hard numbers.
  • Where possible, provide guest review scores (TripAdvisor, Booking.com, ReviewPro), occupancy or revenue increases, guest retention or repeat bookings, Net Promoter Score (NPS) improvements and other specific metrics

Example: “Guest complaints about our amenities dropped by 75% after our refurbishment, and our TripAdvisor rating for facilities improved from 3.8 to 4.7 stars.”

Showcase Innovation and Problem-Solving

  • Awards aren’t just about what you do—they’re about how you stand out.
  • If you’ve overcome challenges, explain what they were and how you tackled them.
  • If you’ve tried something new, highlight why it was different and what impact it had.

Example: “When we noticed guests struggling with check-in times, we introduced a self-check-in kiosk. Within 3 months, check-in wait times dropped by 60%, and guests frequently mention the ease of arrival in their reviews.”

Tell a Story

  • Make your submission engaging by sharing the journey behind your success.
  • Take the judges on a before-and-after transformation—whether it’s a park refurbishment, a service improvement, or a community initiative.

Example: Instead of saying, “We raised money for a local cause,” say “When we heard that the local wildlife shelter was struggling after the floods, our team organised a charity weekend, with 10% of all bookings donated. Guests loved getting involved, and we raised $5,000—enough to help fund medical supplies for injured animals.”

Make Use of High-Quality Supporting Evidence

  • If photos, videos, or supporting documents are required, choose wisely.
  • Ensure photos are clear, high-quality, and well-labelled (e.g., before-and-after shots).
  • If providing reports or letters, highlight the most relevant sections.
  • If your images are too large to email, either use a service like tinypng.com to reduce the size of the image, or use a file transfer service like wetransfer.com to send the images through

Example: Instead of uploading 10 generic guest reviews, choose 3 that clearly praise your park’s key strengths.

Include Guest and Team Testimonials

  • A glowing guest review or staff comment adds a personal touch.
  • Where possible, quote guests, community partners, or staff who have seen the impact firsthand.
  • If your award category includes guest letters or supporting evidence, choose the most compelling ones.

Align with the Award Criteria

  • Read the questions carefully and make sure you’re addressing exactly what’s asked.
  • Judges score based on specific criteria, so stay on topic and answer each part of the question.
  • Use the full word count wisely—don’t submit short answers when there’s room to explain more – but also, don’t exceed the word count or you will be marked down.

Use Passion to Your Advantage

  • Show the enthusiasm and heart behind what you do!
  • Why does this matter to your business, your guests, or your community?
  • Judges appreciate submissions that feel authentic and driven by passion.

Example: Instead of “We focus on guest experience”, say “We believe every guest should leave feeling like part of our park family. That’s why we greet everyone by name, celebrate guest milestones, and have staff personally check in with long-stay guests to ensure they’re comfortable.”

Proofread Before Submitting

  • Double-check for spelling, grammar, and clarity.
  • Get someone else to read it—a fresh pair of eyes can spot things you might have missed.
  • Ensure all supporting documents are correctly formatted and uploaded.

Final Thought

Put Effort into Your Submission!

The best entries aren’t rushed—they’re well-thought-out, structured, and supported by great evidence. Even if you don’t win this year, a strong submission sets you up for future success and recognition in the industry. Take the time to craft a compelling, well-supported story—your hard work deserves it!

Contact Us

Questions about the CPAQ Awards?

Get in touch with the CPAQ Team by emailing awards@caravanqld.com.au

We look forward to welcoming you to RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in May for the announcement of our winners!

~ CPAQ Team