NRMA scoops up Mon Repos resort
The NRMA has picked up the Turtle Sands caravan park, opposite Mon Repos’ Turtle Centre, conservation park and beach, east of Bundaberg.
The 5.3 hectare freehold, offloaded by a local family which has operated it since 1974, is speculated to be costing c$14 million.
A reposition is planned – with a new visitor eco-tourism complex and upgraded accommodation.
The property was offered with permission to increase the number of sites/cabins from 106 to 127. There are two residences as well.
The NRMA will also invest in protecting the significant local turtle population with initiatives including night time light controls and restricted beach access.
The acquisition comes two weeks since the travel group, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRMA – the country’s largest member-owned mutual organisation – outlaid a speculated $20m for Tasmania’s unique Lake St Clair Resort.
That asset, like Turtle Sands, is part of the buyer’s push into experiential tourism or immersion travel.
In July, the motoring group spent $27.5m on the Agnes Water Caravan Park – about 120 kilometres north of Mon Repos.
NRMA Parks & Resorts Turtle Sands
The Mon Repos Road asset will be branded NRMA Parks & Resorts Turtle Sands.
It will compete in the immediate area with a Big 4 Holiday Park (story continues below).
Caravan accommodation also exists at Bargara and Oaks Beach, suburbs neighbouring Mon Repos.
“The new Turtle Sands will offer an accommodation experience celebrating and supporting the conservation of marine turtles in their natural environment,” NRMA Parks & Resorts chief executive officer, Paul Davies, said.
“The NRMA recognises the responsibility in working adjacent to the environmentally sensitive Mon Repos Conservation Park and a comprehensive set of federal, state and local government environmental and design approval guidelines are in place for the development,” he added.
“The design and operation of the NRMA Parks & Resorts Turtle Sands Holiday Park will adopt best practice environmental standards to protect this unique location, especially during the nesting season for turtles,” according to the executive.
Tourism experience
NRMA Parks & Resorts Turtle Sands is intended to trade all year.
“The NRMA will work alongside Queensland Parks and Wildlife to carefully create a visitor experience, complementing the existing turtle night tours, which are run by QPWS [Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service] rangers between November to April,” Mr Davies said.
“The overarching vision is to create a tourism experience…destination and an intrinsically linked nature and cultural experience, also working closely with the region’s traditional owners,” he added.
CBRE’s Hayley Manvell and Paul Fraser were the agents.
Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.
