The in-park coffee van is located near the camp kitchen on weekends, school holidays and public holidays from 7.30am, pouring barista-made coffee alongside milkshakes, frappes and iced chocolates, and we loved grabbing a flat white and wandering the jetty while the river was still glassy. For self-caterers there is a large covered camp kitchen with BBQ plates, toaster, kettle, fridge and microwave, three sheltered BBQ areas dotted around the grounds, and a kiosk at reception stocked with travel essentials and treats.

For seafood lovers, Karuah’s reputation is built on oysters. Head to one of the seafood shops in town to pick up a dozen freshly shucked local oysters, some lemon, and a cold drink to enjoy back on your cabin deck or by the water as the tide turns.

When you want a classic, fuss-free meal out, Karuah RSL is the easy choice. The club even runs a free courtesy bus from the park every evening, making it effortless to head over for lawn bowls, pub classics, or Asian-fusion dishes from Bridgeview Restaurant.

If you are keen for a scenic lunch detour, take the 15-minute drive across the Karuah River to Tea Gardens Hotel. Sitting right on the water's edge along the Myall River, it is a fantastic spot for a relaxed pub lunch with river views before a easy drive back.

The park does a lot of the entertaining for you right on site. Kids will likely make a bee-line for the 20-metre jumping pillow the moment you arrive, and once they have bounced off some energy, there is a splash play area, resort-style pool, pedal go-karts, tennis court, and a games room to keep them busy for hours.

The real headline attraction is the 250-metre private jetty stretching out into the Karuah River. Spend effortless afternoons dropping a line off the end for flathead and bream, with reception even stocking frozen bait, or simply kick back and watch for pelicans and the occasional dolphin passing by. Because the riverfront is a tidal mangrove area with oyster shells, you cannot launch boats or kayaks directly from the park, but the public boat ramp at Memorial Park is just a quick two-minute drive up the road.

When you want to stretch your legs off site, take a ten-minute stroll into Karuah village, cross the historic Karuah Bridge on foot, or head to Longworth Park on the water for a dip in the tidal pool and a shaded picnic area.

For a bigger day out, Port Stephens is roughly a 30-to-45-minute drive south-east. Book a dolphin-watching cruise out of Nelson Bay Marina, or spend an adrenaline-fuelled afternoon four-wheel driving and sandboarding across the Worimi Conservation Lands at Stockton Sand Dunes.

If you prefer a slower pace, head 20 minutes north to Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest for quiet swimming beaches and koala spotting along the Myall River. For a complete change of scenery, the drive inland to Barrington Tops National Park takes about 90 minutes, rewarding you with lush rainforest walks and cool mountain lookouts.

If you are bringing a boat or jet ski, keep in mind that launching takes place at the public ramp at Memorial Park, just two minutes up the road. Most sites only fit one vehicle, so if you cannot park your tow vehicle and trailer together on your allocated pad, you can park your boat on-site and place your vehicle in our visitor car park or front street parking.