G’day Group plans to invest more than $200 million in regional Queensland ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with expansion projects planned across 12 of its Discovery Parks and Resorts properties.
The Australian regional accommodation provider, which is majority owned by Australian Retirement Trust (ART), announced the investment as ART’s Board and senior leaders meet in Townsville this week. The planned projects are intended to increase accommodation capacity, upgrade visitor facilities, and support tourism activity in regional communities ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games.
The investment includes a $20 million upgrade at Discovery Parks – Townsville. According to G’day Group, the project will add 30 cabins and 30 sites, as well as new visitor facilities. It follows a $5 million investment recently completed at the park that added 18 cabins.
G’day Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Grant Wilckens told The Hotel Conversation that demand for holiday parks and resorts was increasing as Queensland prepares for higher visitation associated with the Games and other events.
“We have invested more than $110 million across regional Queensland over the last three years including the acquisition of eco-tourism destination, Habitat Noosa, earlier this year,” he told The Hotel Conversation.
“Significant developments across our Queensland properties including at Discovery Parks – Fraser Street and Discovery Parks – Rockhampton, have not only improved our parks for guests, but also generated around $215 million and 1,720 full-time jobs in broader economic impact.”
The Townsville expansion is expected to increase the park’s accommodation capacity and provide additional facilities for visitors. Wilckens said the investment would build on the park’s recent expansion.
“Our $20m upgrade of Discovery Parks – Townsville will include 30 new cabins and 30 sites, plus new visitor facilities, building on a $5m investment we’ve recently completed which delivered 18 new cabins. Together, these upgrades will expand the park’s accommodation offering and increase capacity to support growing visitation to the region for major events and local attractions.”
“We are excited to develop new and expanded offerings in regional Queensland to welcome both local and international tourists ahead of the 2032 Games.”
Additional investment is planned at Discovery Parks properties in Bargara, Mackay, Coolwaters – Yeppoon, Noosa, Airlie Beach, Tannum Sands, and Lake Tinaroo, as well as across the company’s Queensland Discovery Workstay portfolio. Discovery Parks – Bargara in Wide Bay and Discovery Parks – Coolwaters near Yeppoon in central Queensland are among the holiday parks identified for further expansion.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the planned developments highlight the potential for regional accommodation providers to increase capacity ahead of major events while upgrading existing assets.
The projects also demonstrate how institutional investment can support expansion across established holiday park portfolios, particularly in markets where operators anticipate increased visitor demand.
ART Chief Investment Officer Ian Patrick told The Hotel Conversation that the investment reflected the fund’s approach to backing established operators while contributing to regional economic activity.
“Our investment in G’day Group shows how our long-term investments can support experienced operators to expand and improve their regional assets, particularly in sectors like tourism where we see strong long-term demand,” Mr. Patrick said.
“The expansions aim to drive jobs and opportunities in these North Queensland regional areas, bringing benefits for communities and our members.
“We will continue to seek ways to invest at scale for our members’ best financial interests and the broader economy.”
G’day Group has expanded its Discovery Parks network from three Western Australian parks in 2004 to more than 100 owned and operated parks across Australia. The group also operates G’day Parks, a network of more than 250 independently owned and licensed parks.
The investment comes as Queensland prepares for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will take place in Brisbane and involve venues and communities across the state.
For regional parks, the event provides a longer-term planning horizon for accommodation capacity, infrastructure and visitor services, although individual project timelines and investment amounts across the 12 properties have not been disclosed.
ART, which was founded in Queensland more than a century ago, manages more than $375 billion in investments on behalf of its members.
As of July 1, 2026, the fund held more than $8 billion in shareholdings of Queensland-headquartered companies and assets across public and private markets, including more than $5 billion in major infrastructure assets and more than $3 billion in Queensland-based ASX-listed tourism, property and other companies.
