My Review of the Updated Cervantes Caravan Park (RAC Cervantes Holiday Park)

Cervantes is a small coastal town in Western Australia named after an American vessel that sank off its coast in 1844 and is now the home of many a lobster fisherman.  So why would you visit Cervantes?  Well, it is the closest town (a mere 10 minutes) to the Pinnacles Desert.  Plus it’s got beautiful beaches, great fishing and stunning wildflowers within the Nambung National Park that skirt’s around its perimeter.  But where to stay in Cervantes?

In this Article on the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park Review, You’ll Learn

• The Cervantes accommodation options
• The RAC Cervantes Holiday Park Review
  • Check-in
  • The two-bedroom villa
  • The facilities at the Cervantes caravan park
• Travel tips on visiting Cervantes including websites, location, what to pack and what to see
• The Verdict

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Cervantes Accommodation Options

If you are looking for Cervantes accommodation to visit the Pinnacles there are a few choices:

• Private holiday homes
• The Cervantes Motel 
• The Pinnacles Edge Resort 
• The RAC Cervantes Holiday Park  (formerly the Cervantes Pinnacles Caravan Park).

We choose the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park for our trip to Cervantes and the Pinnacles Desert, which has undergone a recent upgrade after RAC took over the lease of the Cervantes caravan park in late 2014.  Earlier this year (2017) new villas, camp kitchen, games room, ablution block and swimming pool were built and opened.  I have booked one of the brand-new two-bedroom villas through the RAC website.  However, you can use an online booking system* to find the best price for you.

The RAC Cervantes Holiday Park Assessment

After a two-hour drive north of Perth, up the Indian Ocean Highway, we arrive at Cervantes.  The town is small and well-signposted.  Making it easy to locate the Cervantes caravan park on the beachfront.

Check-in

Pulling into the car park that looks across the green grassy expanse to the Indian Ocean.  I dash into the bright blue front building that houses the reception desk, a small kiosk, a few tourist brochures and the SeaShells Cafe.  The lady at the reception is friendly and organised.  Our Cervantes accommodation papers are ready with a key to our villa, a map of the caravan park, WiFi login details and access codes to the ablution blocks, including laundry – should we need them.

We easily navigate the car to our villa.

The Two Bedroom Villa

As my husband, Steve unloads the suitcase, Eski/cooler and dry goods box – packed for a self-catering holiday, our son Lewis and I explore the brand new villa at RAC Cervantes Holiday Park.

We walk up three steps to the wooden deck that overlooks the pool, toddler playground, and games room.  Later, I will notice the ocean glimpses as I sit back and relax on the deck.

For now, I  step through the glass sliding doors of the two-bedroom villa into the open-plan lounge, dining and kitchen.  The floors are a sensible dark timber look vinyl – easy to keep clean for a seaside location (there’s even a broom if you need to sweep away the sand).

A small hallway leads to the main bedroom with a comfortable queen-size bed, a large mirrored wardrobe that contains a second TV, desk, spare pillows and blankets.

The second bedroom has two sets of bunk beds and bath towels for all – perfect if you have lots of kids.

Across the hall is a separate powder room/half bath – I really like that the toilet is not in the bathroom that has a large standing shower and vanity.  In the bathroom, there is a small cake of soap, little bottles of shampoo and conditioner and a hairdryer in the cupboard.

Walking back out into the kitchen I am excited to see a dishwasher, which was really handy as the previous tenant hadn’t washed the dishes thoroughly – I put the lot in the dishwasher and came back to it all being sparkling clean!  There is also a full-size fridge, four-burner cooktop, pots and pans, utensils, plates, glasses, cutlery and a few sachets of tea, coffee, salt and pepper to get you started.

Meanwhile, Steve is now sitting back and relaxing on the couch watching the telly.  He comments that the grey woven couch is very comfortable and can’t believe how spacious the Cervantes villa accommodation feels.  Not to mention the extras of ceiling fans and air conditioners.

With everything unpacked, we set out to explore the updated facilities of the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park.

Top Trip Tip: Always double check the cleanliness of the kitchen equipment before being caught out at dinner time

Facilities at the Caravan Park in Cervantes

Lewis grabs his scooter and joins the throng of kids scootering on cement paths around the pool.  We walk past one of the caravan park’s BBQs near the toddler nature scape playground.  The littlies are having a ball digging in the sand.

We peer into the new camp kitchen.  It is large, with lots of white tables and chairs, a TV mounted on one wall, two large fridges to store food if camping, gas burners, ovens, microwaves, kettle, toaster and sinks to clean up.  It is great to see that RAC Cervantes Holiday Park provides rolls of cleaning wipes at the end of the benches and BBQs – there is no excuse for not leaving your area clean and tidy after cooking.

The next building is the new games room.  Most of the kids are congregating around an old-style space invaders machine.  There is also a pool table and table tennis table.  If you want to play you just need to visit the caravan park reception and give a $5 deposit to borrow the equipment (the deposit is refunded when you return the equipment).

Just passed the reception building outside the caravan park, there is a council park.  It feels as if most of the Cervantes caravan park residents are congregated here as the sun sets over the ocean.  There are a couple of gazebos to sit back and watch the kids as they have fun.  They scooter along the paths that surround the large grass playing fields where some are kicking a football, others are at the sand volleyball courts and the rest of the kids are climbing the spider web rope playground.

Lewis easily makes friends here.  This is great because the next day (even though it’s winter) he wants to go swimming in the sparkling pool.  And he’s not the only kid.  So whilst he has a friend to play in the pool, I am able to sit out at the six-seater rattan setting on the villa deck, watch him swim, glance over at the ocean while Steve cooks on our personal villa BBQ.

It is such a relaxing family vibe at the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park.  You couldn’t ask more for a weekend getaway to Cervantes and the Pinnacles.

Top Trip Tip: There is no lifeguard at the swimming pool so watch your kids

Plan Your Visit to Cervantes and the Pinnacles, WA

Websites

• RAC Cervantes Holiday Park* – costs start at $30 for an unpowered camping site up to $275 for a 3 bedroom villa (approx. depending on dates) per night
• Nambung National Park – entry costs $15/car (as at March 2022)

 Location

• The Cervantes caravan park is located just 10 minutes north of the Pinnacles Desert
• Approximately two and a half hours from Perth
• If you need to hire a car* to reach Cervantes don’t forget to hire car seats for the kids

What to Bring

• A suitcase packed with your ultimate packing list
• A day trip bag
• Eski/cooler and dry goods box packed for a self-catering holiday
• Swimming gear including a beach towel (only bath towels are provided)

What to See

Learn all about what there is to see in Cervantes HERE.  It includes:

• The Pinnacles Desert
• Kangaroo Point and Hangover Bay
• Lake Thetis and Hansen’s Lookout
• The Lobster Shack

Get More Information on Exploring Western Australia

• Read one of these West Australian travel guides
• All our Western Australia travel blog inspirations

The Verdict

Overall we are really impressed with the RAC Cervantes Caravan Park, it is the first time we have stayed at a RAC park and it won’t be the last. RAC are exceptional at providing great facilities.

We love the games room, playgrounds, and swimming pool. Then coming back to that spacious villa in the evenings after a day of exploring is just so relaxing. What more could you ask for on a long weekend?

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DISCLOSURE:

• We paid our own Cervantes accommodation and Pinnacles entry costs.
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