Tourists flock to Australia's 'coolest campsite' for nostalgic feature
Drive-in cinemas are a rare sight in Australia these days, but one family business is seeing tourists flock to theirs.
Once a regular fixture on an Australian's social calendar, drive-in cinemas today are considered a relic of a bygone era. But in the tiny rural town of Mareeba, near Cairns, that couldn't be further from the truth and Aussies are flocking in droves to the 'coolest' campsite in Australia.
At the Mareeba Drive-In in north Queensland, revellers can watch two movies and then stay overnight — be it in their cars, caravans or even a tent. The idea, according to owner Ann-Marie Donnelly, is helping save the 'dying' industry.
"You pay $14, and you get two new movies on the big screen and we allow you to stay till the next morning," she told Yahoo News Australia, explaining that they aren't "a campground as such."
"We allow people to stay on the grounds and leave in the morning," she said. "We don't have the flexibility of a campground, it's not sites as such, people can't have fires, they pull up where they are and just sleep in their cars."
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There were once more than 330 drive-in cinemas across the country, making them a favourable pastime for Aussies, but according to Donnelly, there are just 14 left in the country, six of which are in Queensland.
"Drive-ins are a dying thing and diversifying has been really good," she said. The Mareeba Drive-In has existed in many iterations since it was first built in the 1960s, but the business took a nosedive in the 1990s with the rise of VHS and DVDs. Eventually, it closed down.
"My dad was so sad about it," Donnelly said. "So he bought it back and took it on and ran it for three years, but he really struggled." It was leased out for the next 20 years until Donnelly took over the business with her brother Craig Torrisi in 2022. The former teacher and miner are on a mission to bring the popular pastime back to life.
"People forget how just nostalgic and how nice it is to be outside watching movies under the stars," she said. "Drive-ins are a dying thing and diversifying has been really good, We get a lot of grey nomads and people with their caravans, it's a good part of keeping the business going."
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The idea comes as campsites and caravan parks across the country are inventing creative new ways to entice new clientele. One such park, the Coonalpyn Caravan Park, southeast of Adelaide, is free to stop and camp at, but those who want power can pay $15 via payWave and $5 for a hot shower.
In Mareeba, some tourists make the campsite a destination, while others stop on the way up to Cape York, in Far North Queensland. With information about the camping experience scarce online, Aussies can't help but rave about the well-kept secret with many calling it a 'bargain' and their 'favourite campsite' in the country.
"How cool is it when you can bring your whole home to the movies," said one Aussie.
"Coolest place we've camped," echoed a second.
"People post on Facebook and different sites and word gets around, especially to travellers," said Donnelly. She added that many ring the campsite and ask if they can stay the night.
"They're just so surprised when we say yeah that's no problem. We want to provide this experience to everyone you know that's willing to or, you know, keen to come along," she said.
Donnelly explained that most of the proceeds from the cinema tickets goes directly back to the film distributors, so patrons are encouraged to enjoy a meal at the cinema's cafe.
"We make everything here. We sell really good burgers. We take a lot of pride in our food," she said. "Most people are really good, and they're so grateful for the experience. It's very, very unique.
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