All the action from the inaugural Reflections Cadet Cup at Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills
Campfire Stories
Staging our first major event with Surfest
Projects with OzFish and Landcare Australia
BARRELS OF FUN BACK TO NATURE ON BRAND
We reveal our adventurous new look
YES, MINISTER
MP Steve Kamper visits Reflections Corindi Beach
CHANGE OF GUARD
Introducing our new Board chair and directors
ART AT HEART
The new interactive mural at Seals
MESSAGE FROM OUR
CEO
For many of us, the arrival of winter means rugging up on the weekend and standing on the sideline of a sporting field to watch a family member play, or gathering in a community group (be it sporty, arty or otherwise), to help make the coolest season of the year more enjoyable.
Reflections staff are an integral part of communities in and around our 40 holiday parks, unique properties and camp grounds, and the 45 nature reserves we care for across 25,000 acres of spectacular Crown land in coastal and inland NSW.
We believe in collective clout and we see it when our parks work with their communities for good. For example, in January our parks held a heap of fundraising events and raised more than $70,000 for Westpac Rescue Helicopter, a vital lifeline for regional communities.
Community matters and as we continue to grow as an organisation, so do partnerships that seamlessly fit with our belief that Life’s Better Outside, and that reflect our values: Care deeply, grow together, make a difference and say it, do it.
This year marks a milestone for Reflections as we enter our third major sporting partnership with the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) AFL team, or the Giants as they are known.
Our partnership with the Giants is strategic, allowing us to connect with their heartland membership in Western Sydney, Canberra and to the south.
Our organisations also share similar attributes: we believe in the benefits of outdoor activity; we are nimble and progressive in how we work; and we want to encourage our members to better know the other organisation for mutual benefit.
Our first major sporting partnership with Surfest Newcastle in 2023 led us to stage the inaugural Reflections Cadet Cup in February this year.
Held at Rainbow Beach, metres from our beautiful Bonny Hills Park, it was, as the NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper noted, a gamechanger for nurturing the talent of local teens who must typically travel far and wide to compete as they rise through the surfing ranks.
Our second partnership was cemented with the Newcastle Knights, a logical union considering the Knights’ status in Newcastle, where we are based, and our shared love for community and the outdoors.
Some people equate holidays or mini-breaks with summer, however I encourage you to visit our parks and accommodation in winter - a less busy but equally spectacular time to connect with nature and your loved ones, ideally around a campfire with a cuppa or vino.
Enjoy the season, and this issue of Campfire Stories.
Nick Baker, CEO
Reflections Lake Glenbawn
SURF’S UP
The inaugural 2024 Reflections Cadet Cup cements our firm bond with iconic organisation Surfest and nurtures local surfing talent.
If you thought a partnership between Reflections, the largest holiday park group in New South Wales, and Surfest, the biggest surfing festival in the Southern hemisphere, was a perfect match, you’d be absolutely right.
Both headquartered in Newcastle with strong bonds in their nature-loving communities, the organisations first teamed up in March, 2023, when Reflections signed on as presenting partner of the two-week Surfest competition at Merewether Beach, Newcastle.
Within months, both organisations had committed to staging the inaugural Reflections Cadet Cup at Rainbow Beach, a stone’s throw from Reflections Bonny Hills, on the Mid North Coast.
The Minister for Sport, Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, observed that the event was “a milestone in nurturing and growing the talent pool of young surfers in NSW”, and a boost to the region’s tourist economy.
Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the Cup supported local youth through a first-class surf competition and encouraged people to get outdoors to enjoy the surfing event, which included food trucks and live music at Reflections Bonny Hills.
The weather and competition at the February 11-12 event was fierce but you couldn’t wipe the smiles from the faces of those tackling the most challenging of surf conditions.
A parent of two sibling competitors said it was a joy for the kids to compete locally rather than travel further afield to other competition.
Seventy girls and boys competed in Under 12s, 14s and 16s categories and Surfest co-ordinator Warren Smith described the field as highly competitive.
“The whole weekend was a fantastic showcase for these young surfers who will be tomorrow’s champions, and the night-time entertainment on this most wonderful stretch of coastline was the icing on the cake,” he said.
Reflections Chief Marketing Officer Peter Chapman said it was a natural fit for Reflections and Surfest to work together to connect community in nature and stage the ground-breaking debut Cadet Cup, which offered a prize purse of close to $4,000, with additional prizes for the finalists in all divisions.
Under 12s Girls finalists Sage White, Isabel O’Boyle, Matilda Harrigan and Coco Woolley at the inaugural Reflections Cadet Cup in Bonny Hills
A CALL TO
Reflections spreads its roots in significant partnerships with Landcare Australia and OzFish to better protect the precious land in its care.
Nature
When most people think of Reflections Holidays they think of our beautiful holiday parks spread across New South Wales in pristine country and (if you’re a surfer) close to some of the best surf breaks on the eastern seaboard.
What many may not realise is that Reflections is a Category One Crown Land Manager and the caretaker of 45 nature reserves that lie within cooee of its parks, collectively almost 25,000 acres.
You’ll find nature reserves on coastal cliffs in the shadow of a lighthouse (hello Yamba and North Head), in a community park flanking a pristine beach, or in vast swathes of rugged country near our inland parks.
Reflections works with councils and community groups to care for these precious nature reserves so the community can enjoy them year-round.
In addition, we’ve recently partnered with LandCare Australia and OzFish, two respected grass-roots organisations that share our values and our commitment to protecting the environment for future generations.
Landcare Australia is synonymous for its tireless work to nurture land in tandem with communities across the country and Reflections has partnered with the organisation and launched its first project: improving Scotts Head headland on the Mid North Coast.
The project draws on the invaluable assistance of local beach volunteer group Scotts Head Dunecare Group and involves bushland regeneration on Crown Land along the Scotts Head headland and northern end of Little Beach. Activities include the removal of noxious weeds, the improvement of public walking tracks and the planting of seedlings and mature plants, all part of monthly community working bees.
OzFish is the only fishing conservation charity in Australia and its partnership with Reflections offers unlimited opportunities to work together to help recreational anglers and communities improve the health of their rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Reflections has opened its parks to ‘voluntourism’, inviting OzFish to run programs to restore local fish habitats, remove rubbish from waterways and educate the next generation on being a sustainable angler.
When you visit any Reflections holiday park, look out for the green OzFish-branded tackle bins, where fishers can discard used or unwanted lines and tackle.
Reflections CEO Nick Baker with OzFish’s Director of Habitat Programs, Cassie Price, in Coffs Harbour
L-R Scotts Head Dunecare members Dorothy Nelson and Moira Ryan with Scott Burns (Reflections) and Sara Dupressoir (Landcare).
Brand
new day for good Business
Reflections celebrates 10 years in operations
An ethos that Reflections hangs its beach hat on is that Life’s Better Outside. After months of planning, in March our growing organisation unveiled a new brand which proudly mirrors our green heart and commitment to connecting our guests with the best nature has to offer. Not just in our parks, but via activities nearby them, from fishing and swimming to trail walks and trekking.
Glorious in tones of invigorating and calm green, the new brand, says CEO Nick Baker, highlights Reflections’ passion for helping guests to share nature’s beauty with friends and family, and its commitment to nurturing land in its care.
“One of the things that we’re very clear about is that Life’s Better Outside – that we all feel better when we’re outdoors - and that we all need to do our bit to protect nature,” Nick says.
“Our new look is a firm vote for all of those things; it’s saying, get back to nature and relax with your friends and families and be part of your community”.
Reflections Chief Marketing Officer, Pete Chapman, said the new identity conveys what we’re about.
“The design was inspired by people gathering around a campfire to connect and share stories as well as the ripple effect often seen in water when looking at a reflection.
Mr Chapman said Reflections was re-imagining what a camping company could be.
“We’re about nature, connection and adventure. We’re more a base camp to explore the natural world than somewhere you might lock yourself away in and enjoy the amusements. We are different from other holiday parks and we want to do things that make a difference for the two million visitors we see each year. In turn, we encourage them to be gentle to their environment and to support local businesses when they are with us.”
Our new staff member, Reggie, gives a special guest a tour of Reflections Corindi Beach as we boost investment in new accommodation and park improvements.
Steve Kamper, the NSW Minister for Sport, Lands and Property, Small Business and Multiculturalism, found a small window in his hectic schedule in April to visit our beautiful Corindi Beach holiday park.
Our CEO, Nick Baker, Corindi Beach Reflections park manager Steve Paul, and Reggie Rover were on hand to give him a quick tour of the park, where two ensuites were recently installed.
Reggie is the green, lean machine sporting our new brand; the Rover in question is the Jayco JPod-X, complete with bed, fridge and portable BBQ, that Reggie tows.
The quick catchup came as Reflections announced that it is forecasting a 15% rise in tourist stays in the 2024 financial year.
Reflections has invested $18 million in new accommodation in FY24, up $3m from FY23 and doubled its spending on park improvements, from $2m in FY23 to $4m in FY24, including refurbishing budget accommodation and amenities.
Reflections park infrastructure upgrades are supported by the NSW Government with a $28 million loan through Crown Lands, to support regional tourism and communities.
Mr Kamper welcomed the investment by Reflections Holidays, adding that affordable accommodation was important to families, the tourism industry and small business.
“Reflections Holidays operates 40 holiday parks and cares for 45 nature reserves on Crown land so it’s great to see their profit-for-purpose business model delivering a range of accommodation for visitors who in turn spend in our regional communities,” Mr Kamper said.
L-R NSW Minister for Lands, Property and Small Business, Steve Kamper, Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, and Reflections CEO Nick Baker
at Seals Wonder Wall
A community collaboration brings life to an interactive mural at Seal Rocks.
If you’re lucky enough to have visited Reflections Seal Rocks, just under two hours’ drive north of Newcastle, you’re lucky enough to know one of best kept travel secrets in NSW.
‘Seals’, as it’s affectionately known, is a wildlife wonderland, from the cheeky kookaburras that perch above the camp kitchen hoping for a leftover snack, to the turtles and dolphins that frolic in the ocean opposite the park.
The park is a magical muster point for the small community. There’s only one shop to grab supplies (it’s also the post office), and one tiny school, Bungwahl Public, with 40 primary students.
Many of the students were on hand in the April school holidays to help local artist Dayna Whare complete a large-scale, interactive artwork on an amenities block.
Reflections Seal Rocks manager Katie Toney also invited young guests to take part to complete the artwork.
Make it
accessible
“The brief was that we wanted it to celebrate the bush and beach camping experience and highlight the indigenous flora and fauna but in a bright and vibrant, child friendly way,” says Katie.
“You’ll also find animals hidden in the design - these are then replicated in a scavenger hunt-style around the park in four corresponding power box designs.
There are various points you can stand near the mural and have your photo taken to look like you’re part of the scene.
“It’s really lovely mix of the natural world but also the magic that is Seal Rocks – you’ll note a couple of mermaids in the design,” Katie says.
Reflections Forster Beach is home to four new cabins, including its first accessible cabin.
Just in time for the Easter school holidays, Reflections Forster Beach welcomed four new cabins in a $1.3 million investment, with a new camp kitchen and amenities block also earmarked for the much-loved holiday spot.
Two of the cabins are three-bedroom superior villas, ideal for families and groups, and there’s a deluxe two-bedroom cabin, all with views across to the marina.
Most notably, however, is the arrival of the park’s first accessible accommodation – a superior 2BR cabin with stylish interiors and generous parking. Reflections has partnered with The Accessible Group to grade all of its cabins according to the three accessibility types: Assisted Wheelchair, Independent Wheelchair and Assisted Walking. The new accessible cabin at Forster will be graded as part of Reflections’ grading schedule.
Reflections Holidays CEO Nick Baker said that the organisation had 30 accessible or easy access cabins in 20 of its parks and would seek to add more to meet growing demand.
“We’re working with The Accessible Group Australia to ensure every one of our accessible cabins is rated according to their level of accessibility. We value their work considering our goal is to increase the number of these cabins across our holiday parks,” he said.
Reflections Forster Park Manager Justine Syme said there was “significant demand” for the accessible cabin, and she was thrilled to now be able to accommodate those who required accessible accommodation.
“Our accessibility villa isn’t just about accessibility – it boasts all the luxurious features of our other premium accommodation. It’s perfect for guests with specific accessibility needs but also for those who simply prefer easier access to amenities,” Ms Syme said.
Let’s PlayBall
Reflections prides itself on being the sportiest of holiday park organisations.
You won’t find a kids’ water park in any of our holiday parks, unique properties or camping grounds for a good reason - we encourage our guests to explore the breath-taking nature at their feet, from the oceans and waterways to ruggedly beautiful inland terrain, and take part in adventurous activities offered by small tourism businesses.
Our energetic ethos is reflected in partnerships we form with leading, grassroots sporting organisations. Our first partnership in 2023 was with iconic organisation Surfest, which stages the biggest surfing festival in Australia in Newcastle, where Reflections is headquartered.
Reflections
is partnering with leading sporting organisations that share our love for keeping healthy in the great outdoors.
This partnership led to us working with Surfest to stage the inaugural Reflections Cadet Cup in 2024 at Rainbow Beach, a stone’s throw from Reflections Bonny Hills on the Mid North Coast.
In February 2024 we signed on as a Membership Partner with NRL team the Newcastle Knights, and in May we became a Membership Partner of Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants.
We see our partnerships with the Giants and Knights as one based on a mutual love for sport and community, and we’re enjoying watching the NRL and AFL seasons unfold this winter.
If you or your organisation is interested in partnering with us on community-based initiatives, get in touch with us and let’s kick off a conversation.
on board New faces
The board of Reflections welcomes a new chair and directors
The board of Reflections Holidays held a special farewell dinner at Reflections Seal Rocks in May for its outgoing Chair, Wendy Machin, and directors Chris Shaw and Matt Toohey.
NSW Crown Holiday Parks Land Manager, trading as Reflections Holidays, is overseen by a skills-based Board which was originally appointed on July 1, 2015. Directors bring a wealth of expertise, skills and knowledge in corporate governance, financial management, tourism, legal, environmental management and community engagement.
In May, Julie Osborne stepped into the role of Board chair, after serving as a Board director for four years.
Following an extensive recruitment process by Crown Lands, Sally Barnes and Justin Hales joined the Board as directors.
Both Justin, CEO of Camplify, and Sally, Chief Executive of the National Capital Authority, bring enormous depth in tourism experience to their Board roles.
Reflections CEO Nick Baker thanked outgoing chair, Wendy, and directors Chris and Matt, for their significant contribution to the organisation during a period of rapid growth.
We are a Crown Land Manager and we reinvest profit back into the 25,000 acres of the land we care for. The remaining
of the land in our care is nature reserve, and we work with local councils and community groups including Landcare Australia and OzFish to protect it. of land in our care is where we operate our 40 holiday parks, campgrounds and unique acommodation, from Ferry Reserve (Brunswick Heads) in the north to Eden in the south, and inland.
Reflections has a head office, or “base camp”, in Newcastle.
Reflections operates on
First Nations and has a Reconciliation Action Plan it developed under the framework of Reconciliation Australia.
Our Cultural Tourism Program, developed in partnership with Crown Lands, shares indigenous cultures in our parks. Programs that are run in parks include yarning circles, didgeridoo playing and bush tucker gardens.
We don’t develop our holiday parks with restaurants or shops. We encourage our guests to check in then check out their local surrounds, exploring all the activities in nature around them and supporting local businesses such as cafes and supermarkets.