I thought caravanning around Australia would be cheaper than staying in hotels, etcetera, but does this article indicate that it's going to get too expensive?
Camping and hiking fees at NT parks and walking trails to increase from July 1
I thought caravanning around Australia would be cheaper than staying in hotels, etcetera, but does this article indicate that it's going to get too expensive?
Camping and hiking fees at NT parks and walking trails to increase from July 1
NT parks are raising fees slightly but still cheap and they have had no fee rise since 2000.
msg said
01:12 PM Mar 4, 2021
It is most certainly more expensive than it was.
Like a lot of aspects of life in this new post covid world our freedoms have been eroded or the cost of access to those freedoms have become higher.
E.g. Free Camping. Lots of free camps have been closed or turned into donation camps or have new regulations that require greater investment like Leave No Trace or self contained, if you will.
Caravan Parks by an large have also increased prices and regulation. I expect there are a lot more NO...........restrictions.
To some extent it is warranted. Extra cleaning etc required during Covid.
I also doubt that once Covid is no longer the threat it is now, that costs will go back to normal. At least, not until overseas travel becomes the norm and the premiers can no longer lock down their state at will.
But the biggest issue for costs going back to normal will be as usual greed. Things will never go back to the town being happy having their attractions patronised by travellers for casual parking.
-- Edited by msg on Thursday 4th of March 2021 01:13:32 PM
Aussie1 said
02:36 PM Mar 4, 2021
Easy solution, find your own "free camp" Oz is a big place. Often get more privacy that way as well. Unfortunately it may mean an increase in "rubbish" being left all over the place.
If that increases, and I believe it will, then they may change their way of thinking because being such a big country it will be near on impossible to police/control.
Buzz Lightbulb said
02:51 PM Mar 4, 2021
the rocket wrote:
Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
I thought caravanning around Australia would be cheaper than staying in hotels, etcetera, but does this article indicate that it's going to get too expensive?
Camping and hiking fees at NT parks and walking trails to increase from July 1
I don't know why you can't see the content. It's the ABC so it should be accessible to all. Have you tried to cut and paste the URL into your browser?
Bicyclecamper said
03:11 PM Mar 4, 2021
As I have been saying here and elsewhere, it is becoming a rich mans activity. I have often thought of opening up a low cost camping area at my out of town property, that has a large dam and beautiful creek and grounds. But the insurance, toilets and other associated costs are prohibitive. It was to be used for non self contained vehicles and tent campers.. My dad use to have it open, with pit toilets, tank water, although you can drink out of the creek(it is that clean), fireplaces and firewood supplied in the 70's for $15.00 pw for a site of up to 6 people. All year round their were campers there, no hassles about insurance then. Would love to do it again, but the laws and rules are too stiff.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 4th of March 2021 03:18:42 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
03:13 PM Mar 4, 2021
Um ?? What does the price in national parks have to do with caravanning ? I hardly go to NP ?? Maybe over WA ? Tmk theres no charge ? Or I didnt pay ? Theres other free sights if that is your thing !
Tony LEE said
03:14 PM Mar 4, 2021
Perspective needed.
Stay at any of the national parks bush camps and the fees have gone up a whole dollar. What's that translate to? One cigarette, mouthful of coffee or beer. Less than a litre of fuel
Aus-Kiwi said
03:18 PM Mar 4, 2021
Thats 10 coke cans I have to take to recycling !! Lol
Bicyclecamper said
03:20 PM Mar 4, 2021
Well, in National Parks in NSW, it is $35 per night for one to two people, more for extra's and they are no longer packed in peak times. Pit toilet, maybe a cold shower, and if you are lucky water you have to boil. EDIT: I am wrong, it is actually $37.50 per night.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 4th of March 2021 03:23:13 PM
Kebbin said
03:21 PM Mar 4, 2021
Everything has gone up in the 8 years that have passed since leaving work, my old job has doubled the hourly rate. Most here aren't taking into account that rates, insurances, medical, electricity, water and food bills have all gone up.
Aus-Kiwi said
03:22 PM Mar 4, 2021
Free camp . Believe it not ? It costs nuthing!
Tony Bev said
03:49 PM Mar 4, 2021
In my opinion
I think that although the cost of caravanning will increase, it should (all things considered), still be cheaper than using motel/hotel accommodation while travelling Australia
We can find on Wikicamps/Camping Books/Forums/Word of Mouth etc, where the expensive places are, and if we are self contained, then we can plan to go to the lower price areas, or pay the higher prices
One good thing about caravanning, is that we know what the fuel cost of travelling from "A" to "B" will be, but it is always up to us, if we cover that distance in 6 days, or 6 months
Not knowing what the future normal will be, if for whatever reason, we do not get world Covid-19 under control, or if the vaccine is not as good as we think it will be, or if there are mutant strains popping up everywhere, then perhaps the people who usually go for an overseas holiday, may go caravanning, and fill up the caravan parks.
This will not be good for the genuine OAP (Old Age Pensioner), as the price will go up
I believe that if most of us do the right thing, of keeping the free camps clean, and spending money in the nearby town, and not the city supermarkets, then the locals may have an incentive to keep the free camps open
blaze said
03:52 PM Mar 4, 2021
I could fuel up my coaster, range of about 500km. Put $10 in my pocket and go crusin for s week and come home with the same $10. Not stay twice in the same camp all while having a good time
cheers
blaze
msg said
04:01 PM Mar 4, 2021
Yep NP around my home have gone up from $7.50 to $15.00 pn. For this you get nothing. Other than being allowed to park legally.
Aus-Kiwi yes you can free camp. But you mostly have to stealth camp. Or be hidden away where if something happened nobody would find you. The whole tone of free camping has changed. The free camps are populated by bogans, who are loud, unfriendly and drug taking idiots.
Very rarely do you pull into a free camp and are welcomed by the inhabitants suggesting you join them for happy hour. They seem to be watching you for what you may do wrong and ready to point it out at the drop of a hat.
bgt said
04:34 PM Mar 4, 2021
Cost is relative. To those on the road for long periods everything ads up. But for a family with 2 weeks holiday RVing is still a cheap option.
Dougwe said
04:38 PM Mar 4, 2021
IMO Yes. If not yet it very close.
Kebbin said
04:59 PM Mar 4, 2021
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Free camp . Believe it not ? It costs nuthing!
No such thing, someone always pays, like ratepayers.
Long Weekend said
05:24 PM Mar 4, 2021
Don't forget to factor in the cost of the caravan and tug!
The value is not the room costs but the locations that a caravan can get to. Many places have great views that you would not get in a motel/hotel that are traditionally in towns or alongside major highways.
Murray
peter67 said
06:56 PM Mar 4, 2021
Tony Bev wrote:
In my opinion
I think that although the cost of caravanning will increase, it should (all things considered), still be cheaper than using motel/hotel accommodation while travelling Australia
We can find on Wikicamps/Camping Books/Forums/Word of Mouth etc, where the expensive places are, and if we are self contained, then we can plan to go to the lower price areas, or pay the higher prices
One good thing about caravanning, is that we know what the fuel cost of travelling from "A" to "B" will be, but it is always up to us, if we cover that distance in 6 days, or 6 months
Not knowing what the future normal will be, if for whatever reason, we do not get world Covid-19 under control, or if the vaccine is not as good as we think it will be, or if there are mutant strains popping up everywhere, then perhaps the people who usually go for an overseas holiday, may go caravanning, and fill up the caravan parks.
This will not be good for the genuine OAP (Old Age Pensioner), as the price will go up
I believe that if most of us do the right thing, of keeping the free camps clean, and spending money in the nearby town, and not the city supermarkets, then the locals may have an incentive to keep the free camps open
Got it in one cheers
The Belmont Bear said
08:33 PM Mar 4, 2021
We are heading down to Kangaroo island next week from Lake Macquarie and decided not to take our van just in case the border is slammed shut while we are in transit. I have prepaid our accomodation in places like Balranald, Victor Harbour and KI and the cost of staying in hotels compared to caravan parks or free camping is still way more expensive. On the positive side we should halve our fuel costs and we wont have to pay to take the van over on the ferry, on the negative side we will have eat in restaurants etc. instead of preparing our own meals. The thing that we will miss the most on this trip will be the interaction with other people as that just doesn't seem to happen when staying in a hotel...
BB
DolanAroundAus said
08:50 PM Mar 4, 2021
I dont think its too bad we have paid $20 pn for a site in a basic park and up to $100 pn for a resort type park. Still much cheaper and more to do than a hotel.
Aus-Kiwi said
10:00 PM Mar 4, 2021
No rate payers on Stuart hi way . Your not looking if theres bogans where you go . Mayb EF v I am one ? Lol I can spend weeks out there ! I spent the coin to free camp ! Not to pay to stay in CG ! So many Narks !
msg said
10:29 PM Mar 4, 2021
Yep Aus Kiwi you certainly look like one.
Mike Harding said
07:28 AM Mar 5, 2021
For $38 per night I want power and water.
Many National Parks have gone crazy in the fees department - with very few exceptions all camping on public land should be free, maintenance of such places (such as it is) is one of the reasons I pay taxes.
Gundog said
09:51 AM Mar 5, 2021
Do I think caravanning in AU has become too expensive, In word or 2 HELL NO !
For a couple who live on the road and dont bother free camping, we refitted our caravan, gone are the solar panels, extra batteries are going as they become less serviceable, next battery to go will be the sole remaining battery in the van and that will be replaced with a 50ah one.
We choose to stay at paid facilities caravan parks, show grounds etc etc that have 240v power and water available, ho****er service is 240v only as is the fridge. Next to be repurposed is the 1 of the water tanks, it will become a sullage tank for grey water, we rarely travel with much more than a 1/3rd of 1 tank of water.
We rarely pay more than $25 per night, and thats not expensive.
Rob Driver said
10:17 AM Mar 5, 2021
Gundog wrote:
Do I think caravanning in AU has become too expensive, In word or 2 HELL NO !
For a couple who live on the road and dont bother free camping, we refitted our caravan, gone are the solar panels, extra batteries are going as they become less serviceable, next battery to go will be the sole remaining battery in the van and that will be replaced with a 50ah one.
We choose to stay at paid facilities caravan parks, show grounds etc etc that have 240v power and water available, ho****er service is 240v only as is the fridge. Next to be repurposed is the 1 of the water tanks, it will become a sullage tank for grey water, we rarely travel with much more than a 1/3rd of 1 tank of water.
We rarely pay more than $25 per night, and thats not expensive.
You make some very good points in that post.
Our first large van we started our retirement with was adequate, but I fitted solar, extra batteries and all the tricky chargers.
We then wanted to upgrade (note not me but anyway) so we went with all the new flash electrickery and all the upgrades that we could put on it.
We thought we were great travelling the land looking down on those in parks while we at times, hunted for a spot to park for *nothing*
Then the penny dropped and we found we could stay in budget parks and even parks along coastal strips can be around the $25 per night.
In hindsight I dont need all that extra stuff so as to stay somewhere for free. We hated those roadside stops for caravans and wizzbangers, they are not fun
Today I would be happy with a 12 240 fridge, a domestic air con, no solar or battery bank and chargers and even a small domestic washing machine.
My old van without any electric mods would have been fine now with our changing views on freecamping. We are happy to stay in parks with power and water..if you stay for more than a few days they are generally quite social. We have met many good friends and that to us is more important that a couple of dollars we might save in a designated *free* carpark.
If you are happy where you are then the longer you stay put the cheaper is your fuel bill.
This all came to light for us during the lockdown covid period in Qld in early 2020.
If your stays are researched and planned and you dont stay in major tourist areas, and if you dont spend the kids inheritance setting up your van for free camping then caravanning has not become too expensive.
Regards
Rob
oldbloke said
11:36 AM Mar 5, 2021
Lol. Was visiting a NP a few months ago in West Vic. The campers were paying about $20 a night, no water and 1 drop loo. For $26 we were up the road in a CP with nice facilities with water and power.
The NP was badly neglected (weeds, infrastructure, ferals) and run down. I think the NPs management need a kick up the arse. They are just trying to increase revenue and have lost their way.
Aus-Kiwi said
02:17 PM Mar 5, 2021
Dont get me wrong we stay in caravan parks . But not paying top prices they are charging in some areas now . Besides often a few ks down the road theres a top location . I guess a motorhome is easier to stop overnight ? Going away for a few weeks is different to traveling around this country also !! Way out west. SA peninsula there just is no camping grounds when or were you want . The CG up north NSW, Queensland have near doubled their rates !!
I thought caravanning around Australia would be cheaper than staying in hotels, etcetera, but does this article indicate that it's going to get too expensive?
Camping and hiking fees at NT parks and walking trails to increase from July 1
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-03/nt-park-fees-to-increase-camping-hiking-explainer/13210190
Cant see this. Whats it all about?
It is most certainly more expensive than it was.
Like a lot of aspects of life in this new post covid world our freedoms have been eroded or the cost of access to those freedoms have become higher.
E.g. Free Camping. Lots of free camps have been closed or turned into donation camps or have new regulations that require greater investment like Leave No Trace or self contained, if you will.
Caravan Parks by an large have also increased prices and regulation. I expect there are a lot more NO...........restrictions.
To some extent it is warranted. Extra cleaning etc required during Covid.
I also doubt that once Covid is no longer the threat it is now, that costs will go back to normal. At least, not until overseas travel becomes the norm and the premiers can no longer lock down their state at will.
But the biggest issue for costs going back to normal will be as usual greed. Things will never go back to the town being happy having their attractions patronised by travellers for casual parking.
-- Edited by msg on Thursday 4th of March 2021 01:13:32 PM
If that increases, and I believe it will, then they may change their way of thinking because being such a big country it will be near on impossible to police/control.
I don't know why you can't see the content. It's the ABC so it should be accessible to all. Have you tried to cut and paste the URL into your browser?
As I have been saying here and elsewhere, it is becoming a rich mans activity. I have often thought of opening up a low cost camping area at my out of town property, that has a large dam and beautiful creek and grounds. But the insurance, toilets and other associated costs are prohibitive. It was to be used for non self contained vehicles and tent campers.. My dad use to have it open, with pit toilets, tank water, although you can drink out of the creek(it is that clean), fireplaces and firewood supplied in the 70's for $15.00 pw for a site of up to 6 people. All year round their were campers there, no hassles about insurance then. Would love to do it again, but the laws and rules are too stiff.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 4th of March 2021 03:18:42 PM
Well, in National Parks in NSW, it is $35 per night for one to two people, more for extra's and they are no longer packed in peak times. Pit toilet, maybe a cold shower, and if you are lucky water you have to boil. EDIT: I am wrong, it is actually $37.50 per night.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 4th of March 2021 03:23:13 PM
In my opinion
I think that although the cost of caravanning will increase, it should (all things considered), still be cheaper than using motel/hotel accommodation while travelling Australia
We can find on Wikicamps/Camping Books/Forums/Word of Mouth etc, where the expensive places are, and if we are self contained, then we can plan to go to the lower price areas, or pay the higher prices
One good thing about caravanning, is that we know what the fuel cost of travelling from "A" to "B" will be, but it is always up to us, if we cover that distance in 6 days, or 6 months
Not knowing what the future normal will be, if for whatever reason, we do not get world Covid-19 under control, or if the vaccine is not as good as we think it will be, or if there are mutant strains popping up everywhere, then perhaps the people who usually go for an overseas holiday, may go caravanning, and fill up the caravan parks.
This will not be good for the genuine OAP (Old Age Pensioner), as the price will go up
I believe that if most of us do the right thing, of keeping the free camps clean, and spending money in the nearby town, and not the city supermarkets, then the locals may have an incentive to keep the free camps open
cheers
blaze
Aus-Kiwi yes you can free camp. But you mostly have to stealth camp. Or be hidden away where if something happened nobody would find you. The whole tone of free camping has changed. The free camps are populated by bogans, who are loud, unfriendly and drug taking idiots.
Very rarely do you pull into a free camp and are welcomed by the inhabitants suggesting you join them for happy hour. They seem to be watching you for what you may do wrong and ready to point it out at the drop of a hat.
No such thing, someone always pays, like ratepayers.
The value is not the room costs but the locations that a caravan can get to. Many places have great views that you would not get in a motel/hotel that are traditionally in towns or alongside major highways.
Murray
Got it in one cheers
BB
For $38 per night I want power and water.
Many National Parks have gone crazy in the fees department - with very few exceptions all camping on public land should be free, maintenance of such places (such as it is) is one of the reasons I pay taxes.
Do I think caravanning in AU has become too expensive, In word or 2 HELL NO !
For a couple who live on the road and dont bother free camping, we refitted our caravan, gone are the solar panels, extra batteries are going as they become less serviceable, next battery to go will be the sole remaining battery in the van and that will be replaced with a 50ah one.
We choose to stay at paid facilities caravan parks, show grounds etc etc that have 240v power and water available, ho****er service is 240v only as is the fridge. Next to be repurposed is the 1 of the water tanks, it will become a sullage tank for grey water, we rarely travel with much more than a 1/3rd of 1 tank of water.
We rarely pay more than $25 per night, and thats not expensive.
You make some very good points in that post.
Our first large van we started our retirement with was adequate, but I fitted solar, extra batteries and all the tricky chargers.
We then wanted to upgrade (note not me but anyway) so we went with all the new flash electrickery and all the upgrades that we could put on it.
We thought we were great travelling the land looking down on those in parks while we at times, hunted for a spot to park for *nothing*
Then the penny dropped and we found we could stay in budget parks and even parks along coastal strips can be around the $25 per night.
In hindsight I dont need all that extra stuff so as to stay somewhere for free. We hated those roadside stops for caravans and wizzbangers, they are not fun
Today I would be happy with a 12 240 fridge, a domestic air con, no solar or battery bank and chargers and even a small domestic washing machine.
My old van without any electric mods would have been fine now with our changing views on freecamping. We are happy to stay in parks with power and water..if you stay for more than a few days they are generally quite social. We have met many good friends and that to us is more important that a couple of dollars we might save in a designated *free* carpark.
If you are happy where you are then the longer you stay put the cheaper is your fuel bill.
This all came to light for us during the lockdown covid period in Qld in early 2020.
If your stays are researched and planned and you dont stay in major tourist areas, and if you dont spend the kids inheritance setting up your van for free camping then caravanning has not become too expensive.
Regards
Rob
The NP was badly neglected (weeds, infrastructure, ferals) and run down. I think the NPs management need a kick up the arse. They are just trying to increase revenue and have lost their way.