Tasman Holiday Parks – Bright and Amberlee Woodlands Estate have been recognized as Victoria’s leading tourist and residential parks at the 2026 Caravan & Residential Parks Victoria (CRPVic) Awards.
The awards were presented at the YMH CRPVic Gala Awards Dinner at Marvel Stadium last week, bringing together park owners and their teams, industry suppliers, government representatives and other industry leaders to recognize achievements across Victoria’s tourist and residential parks sector.
Among the regional award recipients was Tamina Bettess of Bushman’s Rest Caravan Park, who received the David Pratt Unsung Hero Award. Bettess was recognized for more than 12 years of service to the park and the wider Mildura community, including volunteering and fundraising activities as well as her work with guests, residents and colleagues.
The award highlights the role that park employees can play beyond day-to-day operations, particularly at regional properties where parks can have close connections with surrounding communities.
For operators, employee engagement and community involvement can contribute to relationships with local residents and visitors while supporting the broader role of parks as tourism businesses.
Apex RiverBeach Holiday Park received the Elizabeth White Green Park Award for its approach to sustainability. The park has invested in solar energy, water conservation, native landscaping and waste reduction, with the initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint while accommodating continued visitor growth.
The recognition comes as sustainability initiatives increasingly form part of campground and holiday park operations, particularly in areas such as energy use, water management, landscaping and waste. For park owners, the award also illustrates how environmental measures can be incorporated into ongoing property operations rather than treated solely as standalone projects.
The 2026 CRPVic Awards covered both tourist and residential parks, reflecting the range of businesses represented by the organization. While the awards recognize individual parks and employees, the event also provided an opportunity for industry participants to acknowledge operational practices and contributions to the Victorian parks sector.
For tourist park operators, the results point to several areas that can influence business performance and industry recognition, including staff contribution, community engagement and practical sustainability investments. These areas can also affect the guest experience and a park’s long-term operating approach as businesses respond to changing visitor expectations and resource costs.
According to River 1467, the 2026 awards were announced in August, with the gala dinner serving as the main event for this year’s CRPVic recognition program.