If you own a motel or caravan park, a holiday can feel almost impossible. The business runs seven days a week, guests arrive at all hours, and few people know your property well enough to run it. The most reliable way to take a proper break is to plan early, prepare a clear handover, and book an experienced relief manager to run the property while you’re away.

That’s the short answer. The rest of this guide explains how to do it properly, so you can actually switch off rather than spend your holiday answering the phone.

Why It’s So Hard for Motel and Caravan Park Owners to Take a Holiday

Most accommodation businesses in regional and coastal Australia are owner-operated. The owners are the receptionists, the maintenance team, the bookkeepers and often the cleaners. When they stop, the business stops.

A few things make getting away especially difficult:

• The business never closes. Check-ins, late arrivals and phone enquiries don’t take weekends off.
• Peak season is when you’re needed most. Christmas, January and the school holidays are your busiest weeks, and the hardest time to leave.
• Few people know the job. A friend or family member can mind the office for a day. Running bookings, housekeeping, maintenance and difficult guests for two weeks is a different matter.
• Your reputation is on the line. One poorly handled complaint or a string of bad reviews can undo years of hard work.

The result is that many owners go years without a real holiday. Over time, that affects their health, their relationships and, eventually, the business itself.

What Is a Relief Manager?

A relief manager is an experienced, temporary manager, often a couple, who runs a motel, caravan park or holiday park while the owner or permanent manager is away. They handle check-ins, bookings, housekeeping, guest enquiries and day-to-day maintenance, following the property’s existing systems and standards.

Relief managers cover annual leave, holidays, illness, peak-season gaps and the period between permanent managers. Some placements last a weekend. Others run for several months.

For owners, a relief manager means the business keeps trading normally, guests are looked after, and there is someone on site to deal with the 9pm phone call, so you don’t have to.

Your Options for Covering the Business While You’re Away

Owners usually weigh up four options. Here’s how they compare.

1. Close the property

• Pros: no staffing needed.
• Cons: lost income, unhappy regular guests, and bookings that may go to competitors.

2. Ask family or friends

• Pros: low cost, and they are people you trust.
• Cons: limited experience, and usually only suitable for a few days.

3. Have your own staff step up

• Pros: they already know the property.
• Cons: they may already be stretched, and need support and supervision.

4. Book a professional relief manager

• Pros: experienced, vetted, and able to run the full operation.
• Cons: needs some planning and a good handover.

For anything longer than a few days, or for any period during peak season, a professional relief manager is usually the option that protects both your income and your reputation.

How to Take a Holiday From Your Motel or Caravan Park: Step by Step

1. Pick your dates early

The earlier you plan, the better the match. Many owners take their break once the summer rush has eased, from February to March, while others need cover over Christmas so they can be with family. Whatever you choose, give yourself plenty of lead time, especially for peak periods.

2. Decide what level of cover you need

Do you need someone to run the entire operation, or extra hands alongside your existing staff? A couple can typically split the work, with one person on reception and bookings and the other on grounds, maintenance and housekeeping.

3. Choose a relief manager you trust

This is the most important step. Look for experience in your type of property, check references, and make sure the right checks and insurance are in place. Speak with them before you commit. You should feel comfortable handing over your keys.

4. Prepare a proper handover

A written handover is what allows a relief manager to run your property your way. Use the checklist below.

5. Introduce them to your key people

Let your regular guests, long-term residents, cleaners and trusted tradespeople know who will be in charge. A short introduction prevents a lot of confusion.

6. Agree how and when to contact you

Decide what counts as an emergency and how decisions will be made while you’re away. Then trust the arrangement, and leave the phone in your bag.

The Relief Manager Handover Checklist

Before you leave, make sure your relief manager has the following:

1. Keys and access: office, master keys, gates, safe, alarm codes, and where the spares are kept
2. Booking system: logins, check-in and check-out process, how to handle walk-ins and no-shows
3. Money handling: EFTPOS, cash float, banking routine
4. Housekeeping standards: cabin and room turnover, linen supplier and delivery days
5. Maintenance contacts: plumber, electrician, handyman, pool and water checks
6. Emergency procedures: fire panel, evacuation point, after-hours contacts, nearest hospital
7. Regular guests and residents: long-term guests and anyone needing extra care
8. Suppliers and deliveries: who comes when, and what to sign for
9. Decision-making: what they can approve themselves, and when to call you
10. The local knowledge: bin night, mail collection, and the guest who always asks about the fishing

Completing it once takes around 20 minutes, and it’s useful every time you go away.

What to Look For in a Caravan Park or Motel Relief Manager

Not every temporary worker can run an accommodation business. When choosing a relief manager, look for:

• Relevant experience in caravan parks, holiday parks or motels, not just general hospitality
• Interviews and reference checks completed before placement
• A current National Police Check
• Public Liability insurance arranged and in place
• A clear contracting arrangement, so you know who is responsible for what
• Backup support, so if a manager needs to leave, a replacement is organised quickly

Finding the right relief manager takes industry knowledge, not just a job board. The pool of genuinely experienced relief managers is small, and the best ones are booked well ahead of peak season.

How Caretakers Australia Helps Owners Take a Break

Caretakers Australia provides experienced relief and permanent managers to caravan parks, holiday parks, motels and serviced apartments across Australia.

Here’s how it works:

1. Tell us your dates and requirements.
2. We send you profiles of suitable managers from our database.
3. You speak with them and choose who you’re comfortable with.
4. Your relief manager arrives, and you take your break.

Every manager we place is interviewed, reference checked and holds a current National Police Check. Managers are engaged as independent contractors, and we manage the Public Liability insurance and monitor performance throughout the placement. For longer or regular relief, cover continues until you decide to finish, and if a manager needs to leave, we arrange a smooth replacement.

Planning a break? Call us on 1300 972 947 or contact us with your preferred dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book a relief manager?

As early as possible, particularly for Christmas, January and school holiday periods, which are the most requested weeks. Booking early gives you the widest choice of experienced managers.

Can a relief manager run my property on their own?

Yes. Experienced relief managers can run the full daily operation, including bookings, check-ins, housekeeping coordination, guest enquiries and maintenance, following your systems and standards.

Do relief managers work as couples?

Often, yes. Many relief placements are couples, which suits motels and caravan parks where one person manages reception while the other looks after grounds and maintenance.

Is a relief manager insured?

Through Caretakers Australia, relief managers are engaged as independent contractors and we manage the Public Liability insurance.

How long can a relief manager stay?

Anywhere from a few days to several months. For regular or long-term relief, cover continues until you decide to finish.

What if the relief manager isn’t the right fit?

Caretakers Australia monitors performance during placements, and if a manager needs to leave, we organise a timely replacement.

Do council-run caravan parks use relief managers?

Yes. Councils use relief managers and caretakers to cover annual leave, illness and peak season at council-managed parks.

Take the Break You’ve Earned

Owning a motel or caravan park is rewarding, but it shouldn’t mean never having a holiday. With early planning, a solid handover and the right relief manager, your property keeps running, your guests stay happy, and you come back rested.

Call Caretakers Australia on 1300 972 947 or send us your dates to start planning your break.

Thinking about the job from the other side? Read our Complete Guide to Becoming a Caravan Park or Motel Manager in Australia.

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