BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Rowes Bay

🏕️ BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks – Rowes Bay, Belgian Gardens QLD

📍 Description & Location

Nestled right on Cleveland Bay beachfront in Rowes Bay (adjacent to Belgian Gardens), this holiday park offers sweeping views across to Magnetic Island and a direct, scenic coastal vibe. Bordered by shady tropical gardens, it's a perfect meeting point of seaside chill and easy access to Townsville’s Strand attractions, ferry links to Magnetic Island, and local shared pathways.

🏞️ History

Rowes Bay, named after early settler Charles Seville Rowe, carries layers of WWII heritage—Jimmys Lookout once hosted coastal defence installations. The holiday park itself grew from a classic caravan park into a modern BIG4 facility, embracing its beachfront legacy in a tropical Queensland setting.

🛁 Facilities and Amenities

• Swimming pool and children’s pool

• Camp kitchen, BBQ areas

• Tennis and basketball courts, giant chess

• Playground for children

• Toilets, hot showers, and coin laundries in multiple amenity blocks

• Onsite kiosk with gas, ice, and basic supplies

• Free Wi‑Fi throughout the park

• Free onsite parking

• Dump point available onsite

• Disabled-access bathroom available

🚐 Vehicle Access

• Entry via sealed Heatleys Parade, suitable for caravans and campervans

• Grassy, level sites with angled spaces for easy parking

• Well-maintained road conditions year‑round

• Occasional minor noise from site upgrades

Stay Information (as at July 2025)

• Powered Sites: Tariff Rate 4

• Unpowered/Tent Sites: Tariff Rate 2(Tariff Price Chart at bottom of page)

• Booking: essential during peak; recommended off‑peak

• Managed by Tasman Holiday Parks

• Site Type: Formal beachfront holiday park

• Max Stay: Not specified

• Pet Policy: Small dogs allowed on sites outside peak season; service animals accepted

• Not required to be self-contained

• After-hours check-in available via keybox

🍻 Nearby Pubs & Clubs

• A Touch Of Salt (seafood café, 2 km): popular for dinner sunsets

• Jam (casual contemporary dining, 2.2 km)

• Juliette’s Gelateria (desserts, 1.1 km): family‑friendly treat spot

⛺ Nearby Campgrounds

• Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park campground (~10 km north): bush camping with limited facilities

• Notable formal campgrounds are outside urban Townsville.

🌟 Nearby Attractions

• The Strand foreshore complex (~2 km): beach, cafés, lagoon

• Castle Hill (1.3 km): scenic walking/biking summit

• Jezzine Barracks (~1.6 km): panoramic coastal lookout

• Soroptimist and Hooper Street Parks for families and green space

🛒 Nearest Supplies

Townsville CBD (4–5 min drive): supermarkets, fuel, gas refill, medical clinic, and pharmacy. Most services open 7 days. Townsville Airport is around 4 km away.

🗣️ Reviews Summary

👍 Positive:

• Clean, modern cabins and amenities with strong hot water pressure

• Excellent beachfront location with easy access to city highlights

• Friendly staff and streamlined self-check-in

⚠️ Cautionary:

• Intermittent noise during park upgrades

• Some reports of rowdy behavior from long-term residents—quiet site preference advised

🆘 Breakdown & Emergency Info

• Emergency: 000 (police/fire/ambulance)

• Nearest hospital: Townsville University Hospital

• Fuel: local stations in Belgian Gardens and Townsville

• Mobile: Optus & Telstra 4G coverage reported onsite

• UHF Channels: Road—40, Emergency—5

• Backup water recommended during peak periods; summer stinger warnings apply

✨ Final Note

Whether you're rolling in by van or pitching a tent, BIG4 Rowes Bay delivers a relaxed tropical escape—with Magnetic Island views, a family-friendly vibe, and easy access to Townsville’s best. Book early for beachside spots, consider end-of-block locations for added peace, and pack swimwear and stinger gear. Ideal for families and coastal campers alike.