$2.3m caravan park en route to the Flinders Ranges flips the peak-season script
A solar-powered South Australian caravan park positioned as a key stopover en route to the Flinders Ranges and the outback hiking and four-wheel-drive corridor is on the market for $2.3 million.
The Peterborough Caravan Park, at 36 Grove Street in Peterborough, is being offered as a freehold going concern, presenting investors with an established business in the Mid North township known for its rich locomotive history, about three hours north of Adelaide.
CRE Brokers agent Brenton Opperman says the accommodation asset offers a largely hands-off model, combining modern cabin upgrades, a high-quality on-site owner’s residence and an off-peak trading boom.
“One of the highlights is that it’s a counter-cyclical business,” he says.
“Its peak season runs from March through November, which coincides with travellers heading up to the Flinders Ranges and even further west into Western Australia and so on … Peterborough is certainly a stopover point for longer-haul travellers.
“If you own other caravan parks and you’re familiar with the summer season being the peak, this might be a nice counter-cyclical asset to hold.”
The town was a major railway hub in the early 20th century and remains dotted with heritage buildings from the steam era, including remnants of the narrow-gauge tracks once used by The Ghan.
Today, visitors arrive from all directions, towing caravans through scenic farmland, undulating hills and expansive outback vistas.
The caravan park sits alongside Victoria Park – a man-made lake with a playground named after Queen Victoria – and features 50 powered sites, a large camping area and 10 en-suite cabins – including three recently added tiny house-style cabins.
Guest amenities include free Wi-Fi, a camp kitchen, barbecue area, fire pit, swimming pool, mini-golf, a coin-operated laundry, and wheelchair-accessible facilities.
The offering reflects a broader shift across the caravan park sector, with operators investing in higher-quality accommodation and amenities to meet evolving traveller expectations.
Opperman says the current owners have embraced that shift.
“They’ve invested in some lovely new cabins in the last 12 to 18 months … more in that tiny home style that is really lovely,” he says.
A three-bedroom manager’s residence is also included. Opperman says its quality sets it apart from the usual offerings of basic digs and an office.
“The accommodation for the manager is much more of a home than you would normally find in a caravan park … they’ve got an actual home there, which makes it an additional feature for a potential buyer.
“It’s a superior living arrangement for whoever’s running the park.”
The business is run under management for most of the time, offering incoming owners the flexibility to either continue with existing arrangements or take a hands-on approach to further increase profits.
“[The owners] work the park one day out of four … so call it 75 per cent under management,” Opperman says, adding that the structure allows operators to “do with their time whatever they like when they’re not there”.
The current owner has held the former council-owned park since 2006.
“He’s been running it successfully for 20 years,” Opperman says. “He’s at an age where he’d like to slow down and travel a bit more. I think he’s got a pretty good life as it is.”
With more than 10,000 annual visitors to Peterborough, the park benefits from its position within a broader touring route linking the Clare Valley, Flinders Ranges and South Australian outback, and the town is a common stopover point for travellers moving between Burra, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Broken Hill and Quorn.
Opperman says the asset offers profitability alongside lifestyle appeal.
“If you’ve owned a caravan park for 20 years and you’ve done a good job running the park, you should be able to support a lifestyle of that type,” he says. “The financials do stack up.”
