ART-owned G’day Group announces $200m regional holiday park investment
The planned investment by G’day Group will help improve tourism facilities and support regional economic growth ahead of the 2032 Games
Australia’s largest regional accommodation provider, G’day Group, has announced plans to invest more than $200 million in regional Queensland in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
G’day Group, which is majority owned by Australian Retirement Trust (ART), will expand 12 of its regional Queensland Discovery Parks and Resorts, including a $20m upgrade of Discovery Parks – Townsville.
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The planned investment by G’day Group will help improve tourism facilities, enhance visitor experiences and support jobs and economic growth in regional communities.
G’day Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Grant Wilckens said there was growing demand for high-quality holiday parks and resorts in the lead up to the 2032 Games.
“We have invested more than $110 million across regional Queensland over the last three years including the acquisition of eco-tourism destination, Habitat Noosa, earlier this year,” he said.
“Significant developments across our Queensland properties including at Discovery Parks – Fraser Street and Discovery Parks – Rockhampton, have not only improved our parks for guests, but also generated around $215 million and 1,720 full-time jobs in broader economic impact.”
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“Our $20m upgrade of Discovery Parks – Townsville will include 30 new cabins and 30 sites, plus new visitor facilities, building on a $5m investment we’ve recently completed which delivered 18 new cabins.
“Together, these upgrades will expand the park’s accommodation offering and increase capacity to support growing visitation to the region for major events and local attractions.”
“We are excited to develop new and expanded offerings in regional Queensland to welcome both local and international tourists ahead of the 2032 Games.”
There are further developments planned at Discovery Parks in Bargara, Mackay, Coolwaters – Yeppoon, Noosa, Airlie Beach, Tannum Sands, Lake Tinaroo, and across the Queensland Discovery Workstay portfolio.
ART’s Chief Investment Officer Ian Patrick said the investment in G’day Group demonstrated how ART’s investments could help deliver strong returns, while also contributing to communities and economic growth.
“Our investment in G’day Group shows how our long-term investments can support experienced operators to expand and improve their regional assets, particularly in sectors like tourism where we see strong long-term demand,” Mr Patrick said.
“The expansions aim to drive jobs and opportunities in these North Queensland regional areas, bringing benefits for communities and our members.
“We will continue to seek ways to invest at scale for our members’ best financial interests and the broader economy.”
Other holiday parks slated for investment and expansion by G’day Group include Discovery Parks – Bargara in Wide Bay and Discovery Parks – Coolwaters near Yeppoon in central Queensland.
Discovery Parks has expanded from three West Australian parks in 2004 to become Australia’s largest owned and operated parks network with more than 100 parks across Australia. G’day Group is also home to G’day Parks, a community of 250+ independently owned, licensed parks.
Founded in Queensland more than a century ago, ART now invests more than $375 billion on behalf of members, including the retirement savings of more than one in two working Queenslanders.
As at 1 July 2026, ART had more than $8 billion in shareholdings of Queensland-headquartered companies and assets across public and private markets.
This included more than $5bn in holdings in major infrastructure assets such as Brisbane Airport and the Port of Brisbane, and more than $3bn in investments in ASX-listed tourism, property and listed companies based in Queensland that reflect the breadth of the State’s economy.
