Space to Breathe
Golf clubs are often surrounded by open country, mature trees and beautifully maintained grounds. For travellers who spend a lot of time moving between towns, pulling up somewhere quiet with room around you can be a welcome change.
The idea
Wake Up Somewhere Better
Travelling Australia by caravan, campervan or motorhome means deciding where to stop almost every night.
Sometimes you just need somewhere practical.
But sometimes the place you stop can become one of the best parts of the trip.
Golf courses can offer something very different from a typical caravan park: open space, peaceful surroundings, beautifully maintained grounds and, of course, a golf course only a short walk from where you’re staying.
Instead of packing up in the morning and driving somewhere to play, you can wake up, have breakfast and be almost ready to tee off.
And when the day’s golf is done, the clubhouse might be only a few hundred metres away.
Why stop here
Why Golf Courses Make Brilliant Road-Trip Stops
Golf Outside Your Door
There’s something very satisfying about waking up knowing the day’s round doesn’t require another drive. Your destination and your accommodation become part of the same experience.
Great Value
Some golf clubs offer overnight stays at prices well below what travellers may pay at commercial caravan parks, while others package accommodation with golf or offer special rates to visiting players. Every club is different, so VanGolf helps travellers understand what is available before deciding where to stop.
Discover Somewhere Unexpected
Golf road trips have a habit of taking you into towns and regions you might otherwise drive straight through. A course you’ve never heard of can become the reason you stop somewhere — and sometimes the unexpected courses are the ones you remember most.
Support Regional Clubs
When travellers play a round, buy a meal, have a drink or stay overnight, that money goes directly into clubs and communities around Australia. For smaller regional clubs in particular, travelling golfers can be valuable visitors.
Value on the road
More Playing. Less Paying.
A good golf road trip shouldn’t mean choosing between playing more golf and blowing the travel budget.
For many travellers, accommodation is one of the biggest ongoing costs of being on the road.
Golf-course stays can provide another option.
Some clubs offer simple low-cost stopovers for self-contained travellers. Others have cabins, powered sites, onsite accommodation or Stay & Play packages.
And VanGolf Partner Clubs can offer additional benefits to VanGolf members, including golf discounts and other traveller-friendly offers where available.
Somewhere beautiful to stay, somewhere interesting to play, and potentially more money left for the next round.
The journey
See Australia One Fairway at a Time
There are plenty of ways to plan a road trip.
Golf gives you another one.
Instead of simply plotting the fastest route between two destinations, you can build the journey around the places you want to play.
A country course beside the Murray.
A coastal course you hadn’t planned on visiting.
A little regional club halfway between two major stops.
A Stay & Play course that gives you a reason to spend an extra night in town.
You don’t have to build an entire holiday around famous championship courses.
Sometimes the best golf road trips are made up of places you didn’t know existed until you started looking.
How VanGolf helps
VanGolf Helps You Find the Places Worth Stopping For
Planning this kind of trip manually can mean jumping between golf-club websites, caravan apps, Google Maps, accommodation sites and dozens of browser tabs.
VanGolf brings the golf side of the journey together.
Use VanGolf to discover courses around your route, identify Stay & Play opportunities, find VanGolf Partner Clubs and build golf into the trip you’re already planning.
Whether golf is the whole reason for the journey or just one of the things you love doing along the way, VanGolf makes it easier to see what’s possible.
Discover Golf Along Your Route
Find courses that fit the direction you’re already travelling instead of planning every stop from scratch.
Find Stay & Play Options
Identify clubs that welcome travelling golfers and see the stay information available for each location.
Spot Partner Clubs
VanGolf Partner Clubs are easy to identify and may offer member benefits such as discounted golf or traveller-friendly offers.
Build It Into Your Trip
Turn individual courses and stopovers into a practical golf road-trip itinerary.
What to expect
What Does “Stay & Play” Actually Mean?
Stay & Play can mean different things at different golf clubs.
At one course, it might mean parking a self-contained caravan or motorhome overnight.
At another, it could mean powered sites, cabins, motel-style rooms or accommodation nearby.
Some clubs offer dedicated golf-and-accommodation packages.
Others simply welcome travelling golfers who want a peaceful place to stop.
That’s why VanGolf doesn’t treat every Stay & Play location as though it is the same.
The important details can include things like:
- types of vehicles accepted
- whether bookings are required
- length-of-stay limits
- access to toilets or showers
- power and water availability
- pets
- clubhouse opening hours
- green fees
- accommodation charges
- conditions attached to overnight stays
Travellers should always check the current information and requirements for an individual club before arriving.
Explore
Stay & Play Places to Discover
VanGolf is building a growing map of golf courses, Partner Clubs and Stay & Play destinations around Australia.
Open VanGolf to explore what’s available along your next route.
On the road
The Stop Can Be Part of the Trip
When you’re travelling for weeks at a time, not every night needs to be about checking into another caravan park.
Sometimes it’s nice to pull up somewhere quieter.
Have a round.
Meet a few locals.
Grab a drink at the clubhouse.
Watch the sun disappear over the course.
Then wake up and realise you’re already exactly where you wanted to be.
That’s the kind of golf travel VanGolf was built around.
Questions
Stay & Play Golf FAQs
What is Stay & Play golf?
Stay & Play generally refers to combining a golf visit with somewhere to stay at or associated with the course. Depending on the club, that could mean onsite accommodation, caravan or motorhome stopovers, cabins, powered sites or other traveller-friendly arrangements.
Can you stay overnight at golf courses in Australia?
Some Australian golf clubs allow overnight stays, but the arrangements vary considerably between clubs. Some cater specifically for self-contained caravans and motorhomes, while others provide more traditional accommodation.
Always check the individual club’s current requirements before travelling there.
Are golf-course stays cheaper than caravan parks?
They can be, particularly where a club offers simple overnight parking for self-contained travellers, but there is no universal rule.
Prices, facilities and conditions vary between locations.
For many travellers, the attraction isn’t just cost — it’s being able to stay somewhere peaceful and scenic with golf right outside the door.
Do I have to play golf to stay at a golf course?
That depends on the club. Some overnight arrangements are specifically for golfers or require a round to be booked, while others welcome travellers under different conditions.
Check the individual listing or contact the club before arriving.
Can caravans and motorhomes stay at golf courses?
Some golf clubs specifically cater for caravans, campervans and motorhomes, particularly self-contained vehicles. Vehicle restrictions, facilities and booking requirements vary by course.
What is a VanGolf Partner Club?
VanGolf Partner Clubs are clubs that work with VanGolf and offer benefits for VanGolf members. Available offers and conditions vary between clubs, so travellers should check the current club information in VanGolf. See our Partner Club Guide.
Your Next Favourite Stop Might Be a Golf Course You’ve Never Heard Of
Plan the route.
Find somewhere worth stopping.
Play another round.
And wake up somewhere you’d actually choose to stay.
Does Your Club Welcome Travelling Golfers?
If your club offers accommodation, caravan or motorhome stays, or other traveller-friendly options, we’d love to help golfers discover you.
Learn About VanGolf Partner Clubs