G'Day Group acquires four Breeze Holiday Parks in $40m expansion
Australia’s largest holiday park operator, G’day Group, has acquired four regional caravan parks in Victoria, the Northern Territory and Western Australia from smaller rival Breeze Holiday Parks in an off-market deal worth more than $40 million, taking its Discovery Parks network to more than 100.
Discovery Parks, the company’s regionally focused, owned-and-operated holiday park business, says the figure includes planned upgrades to the former Breeze holiday parks at Halls Gap, the Grampians, Katherine River and West Busselton.
The move further consolidates the country’s fragmented holiday park sector, with institutional investors increasingly targeting regional tourism assets offering multiple accommodation types and long-term growth potential.
G’day Group, which is majority owned by Australian Retirement Trust (ART), says the investment is expected to generate more than $50 million in annual economic benefit and support more than 420 full-time jobs in the three states.
G’day Group founder and chief executive Grant Wilckens says the deal marks a milestone for the business, bringing the total number of Discovery Parks and Resorts to 101 across the country.
“We are incredibly proud of this milestone, which reflects 22 years of commitment to regional Australia,” he says.
Its portfolio includes major tourism destinations such as Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory, Rottnest Island in Western Australia, and El Questro in the Kimberley.
Earlier this year, G’Day Group acquired Queensland’s Habitat Noosa Everglades EcoCamp in an off-market deal worth around $50 million.
Growth strategy and targets
G’Day Group has announced plans to double in size within five years.
“We are now setting our sights to double in size by 2031 with ambitions for G’day Group to become a $4.5 billion market leader,” Wilckens says.
G’day Group also plans to invest up to $250 million a year in regional Australia through further acquisitions and major upgrades to flagship Discovery Parks, including Byron Bay, Bargara, Woodman Point, Canberra and Cradle Mountain.
“From the ancient gorges of El Questro in the Kimberley to the vineyard landscapes of the Barossa, to the coastal shores of Byron Bay, we are committed to continuing to grow investment in regional Australia, with more than 16,600 jobs supported nationwide, and $2 billion flowing into regional economies every year,” he says.
Breeze Holiday Parks has evolved since its founding in 1999 from a family-owned park management company into a branded operator based in Queensland.
Following the sale, Breeze Holiday Parks is left with a single remaining property at Eildon in Victoria, on the banks of the Goulburn River and just minutes from Lake Eildon.
Each of the four Breeze parks has already been rebranded under the Discovery Parks banner.
Acquired regional assets
Discovery Parks – Katherine River in the Northern Territory features powered caravan sites, cabins and safari tents a short stroll from Katherine Hot Springs and within easy reach of Nitmiluk National Park.
In Western Australia, Discovery Parks – West Busselton offers modern cabins, powered caravan sites, a splash park and swimming pool, within walking distance of Geographe Bay and Busselton town centre, and close to Busselton Jetty and the Margaret River wine region.
Discovery Parks – Grampians offers cabins and powered and unpowered caravan sites close to Victoria’s Grampians National Park, renowned for its rugged mountain scenery, native wildlife and extensive walking trails.
Nearby, Discovery Parks – Halls Gap is located in the heart of Halls Gap village, within walking distance of cafes, restaurants, breweries and shops, while providing easy access to Grampians National Park.
Wilckens, a board director of the South Australian Tourism Commission and former chair of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, says that despite the company’s rapid growth, its focus remains on helping Australians create memorable holiday experiences.
“What we are most proud of are the experiences we help provide for the millions of Australians who continue to make Discovery Parks a part of their travel, creating memories and discovering more about their own incredible backyard,” he says.
Michael Weaver, general manager for mid-risk assets at ART, says the fund is proud to support G’day Group’s expansion while making regional Australia more appealing for visitors and delivering strong returns for members.
“We believe long-term ownership provides businesses with the confidence to invest, grow and innovate, and G’day Group’s success is a great example of how super can support local communities and economic growth,” he says.
There are no interruptions to existing bookings, with upcoming bookings available via the Discovery Parks website soon.
The acquisition reflects the broader shift underway across Australia’s tourism accommodation sector, in which travellers are increasingly paying premiums for immersive, nature-based stays that combine hospitality, wellness and experience-led travel.
