I am currently in Barcaldine, staying at the Homestead Van Park in Box Street. A pretty good place, $22.50/night - free damper and billy tea each night with country singer for entertainment each night from 4pm to 5pm. The water here is really good too - supposed to be artesian but they clean it up real good.
But back to the showgrounds - the attched photo is of a sign in a window in a shop in town. The situation regarding the showgrounds is passionate, and I gather a little divisive.
Cheers
John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 7th of August 2011 09:52:55 AM
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 7th of August 2011 09:54:54 AM
Anyone seeT.V show Guild to the Good Life yesterday had big thing on free camping should not be allowed .. because it hurt's the caravans parks and we should help out out a mate by staying at the parks . Not free camping .. my opinion is if some of them didnt charge so much per night maybe more of us would use them more often .. But i do like free camping to as it so different then parks and in lots of cases the people are some much more friendly .....
ChiChi1 said
10:27 AM Aug 7, 2011
I would prefer to stay in a place where there are other people. I don't always need any amenities as I am fully self contained. Just wish parking in a spot without power and amenities was a lot cheaper than it is. Then perhaps I would be happier about using CPs. In other words, I don't get my monies worth at CPs.
Firefly said
10:42 AM Aug 7, 2011
The talk of banning bush camping disturbs me on more than one level. I don't fancy the term free camping cause we bush camp, we love it. The stars are brighter, the birds sing louder and the serenity is to die for.
It takes away our free choice first and foremost. Not all of us destroy the environment we live in, most of us treat it as sacred, which it is.
Another is all the caravan companies are pushing fully self contained vans, ie, showers, toilets etc. Are we wasting our money buying these I wonder, if we will not have the choice to use them?
If we all have to use the van parks, and a lot of vanners have their full set up, the parks ammenities stay unused and we are paying a very expensive car park fee if its not the way we want to go.
Don't get me wrong, we use parks but when we want to and this trip, we noticed most of the parks were pretty full and still lots of bush campers.
Cruising Granny said
12:50 PM Aug 7, 2011
Where do we stay when the parks of our chosen destination are full? I choose van parks, but I also love bush camping. It's about freedom of choice. Parks charge like wounded bulls, fuel is getting more costly all the time. I'm sure if parks were more affordable we'd be more willing to use them more often. We want to travel to see our country. We want to travel within our budget. Freedom of choice is still an option.
Happywanderer said
01:47 PM Aug 7, 2011
I would welcome using caravan parks if they were in my budget limits. Its a way of meeting new people and gives a few more comforts for washing and showering when you don't have it on board. I can't afford their prices so have come to enjoy the free camping available.
jack biggles said
02:16 PM Aug 7, 2011
I heard that there's a few places where certain operators try to intimidate campers. I can't wait until the first time one of these tries there tricks with old jack, I guarantee they will end up with a fair bit to chew. Having said that I've never had a problem yet.
jack biggles said
02:19 PM Aug 7, 2011
Happywanderer wrote:
I would welcome using caravan parks if they were in my budget limits. Its a way of meeting new people and gives a few more comforts for washing and showering when you don't have it on board. I can't afford their prices so have come to enjoy the free camping available.
Hi hw, how r u going lovely?
They are 2 differentanimals bush camping And being stacked nose to tail inside a van park. I liken it to offering a desert safari to people that want to swim a reef.
Beth54 said
03:43 PM Aug 7, 2011
I don't see how the CP's are losing money. There's lots of people out there who prefer to stay in CP's.
On the couple of occasions when I stayed in them, I spoke to people who don't like to bush camp. They think they have more security in a CP.
Yep, freedom of choice!
davkar said
04:50 PM Aug 7, 2011
Hi I did see that on that show, Last time We will watch it. If you also noticed they where from the motorhome group with there little blue signs. Regards
sandsmere said
07:01 PM Aug 7, 2011
The TV show was run by Frankie J Holden wasn't it ?
He owns a huge CP in the Wooloongong area .
FJHs used by dates is up I reckon .
-- Edited by sandsmere on Sunday 7th of August 2011 07:04:38 PM
lilly31 said
07:09 PM Aug 7, 2011
Firefly is right it should be up to us if we bush camp or stay in parks ..It is call freedom of choice ..we all camp in different place's for different reason's and it not always about he cost or the park it about the bush that we love and want to be a part of it ... I think when the council close down free/bush camps other open up somewhere else ..It a shame that the whole town has to miss out on our money in food /fuel /ect because a caravan park owner is haveing a whinge to the council and we dont stay or use that town to top up or need as we past throught....
davkar said
10:32 AM Aug 8, 2011
Karan shot "What's up down under" an email letting them know what she thought of the program regarding the free camping. The club they are up in arms about is the Motorhome club. I told them I would not be watching their program again but I will watch and wait for the WA "free camping" program and also will be interested to see if they have anything to say about this issue again. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: www.whatsupdownunder.com.au: Free Camping Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 09:54:24 +1000 From: Warren Parrot To: Karan
G'day Karan,
Thanks so much for your feedback.
Perhaps we didnt make ourselves clear enough in the segment. The groups that you mentioned in your email are exactly the sort of 'FREE' camping that we have issues with - we dont have a problem with FREE camping in general - in fact as we speak I have a film crew shooting episodes along the Gibb River in WA where 90% of their time there they will be FREE Camping.
We agree there needs to be a balance - we just dont want to see Caravan Parks go out of business because of it. There are not enough of them as there is - many inland parks are at risk because of certain free camping practices - how would it be if, for the one or two nights a week where you need and want a Caravan Park (as you mentioned in your email) but there wasnt one there for you to utilize? Thats the problem here - that is what we are trying to save.
Caravan Parks are integral parts of Australia's regional townships. They draw tourists (as they give the majority a selection of accommodation options and environments to stay in), they employ locals, who in turn spend their money all year around in and around town. If the majority of Caravanners dont have a place to stay in one town - they will move on to the next - and the town that has lost its Caravan Park/s will suffer - its a domino effect.
Sorry if you feel we have tarred you with the same brush - it wasnt our intention, and the segment did have a specific target.
We want you to keep doing what you are doing - we like free camping as well, where it is possible and appropriate - there is nothing like escaping the cities and towns and being in a peaceful place, away from most of society, under the stars, playing guitar around a fire - it really is amazing. We just want to protect the Holiday Parks that we still have left - we dont have enough as it is - and we dont want to lose any more of them.
We hope you understand 'our stance' on this.
Thanks for taking the time to give us feedback and let us know how you feel - sorry we didnt make it clearer in our segment, sorry if if you felt it was aimed at you personally.
Kind Regards,
Warren @ WUDU Anyway just thought you might be interested in what they had to say.
Firefly said
01:02 PM Aug 8, 2011
Mmm, very interesting mate, amazing how these shows are always misunderstood.
ChiChi1 said
01:26 PM Aug 8, 2011
I get the feelng from that that bush camping is only acceptable in areas where it would not be profitable to have a caravan park.
Happywanderer said
02:32 PM Aug 8, 2011
Interesting davkar. So who exactly were they aiming it at? I didn't see the show (The group that you mentioned in your email)
barrie said
04:10 PM Aug 8, 2011
Maybe Mr Holden is a tad jealous that his caravan park does not sit within a mining area where he can rip off the travelling tourist by charging $55 plus a night like they do over in the west or up north in Queensland.
barrie said
04:16 PM Aug 8, 2011
there's a nice free camp at Lloyd Jones Weir just outside the town and has toilets and fresh water and if yourn lucky a yellowbelly or 2. We stayed there last year and had a lovely time with fellow campers
oldtrack123 said
09:59 AM Aug 9, 2011
Hi
RE:'Hi I did see that on that show, Last time We will watch it. If you also noticed they where from the motorhome group with there little blue signs. Regards ""
Gday...
I am currently in Barcaldine, staying at the Homestead Van Park in Box Street. A pretty good place, $22.50/night - free damper and billy tea each night with country singer for entertainment each night from 4pm to 5pm. The water here is really good too - supposed to be artesian but they clean it up real good.
But back to the showgrounds - the attched photo is of a sign in a window in a shop in town. The situation regarding the showgrounds is passionate, and I gather a little divisive.
Cheers
John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 7th of August 2011 09:52:55 AM
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 7th of August 2011 09:54:54 AM
The talk of banning bush camping disturbs me on more than one level. I don't fancy the term free camping cause we bush camp, we love it. The stars are brighter, the birds sing louder and the serenity is to die for.
It takes away our free choice first and foremost. Not all of us destroy the environment we live in, most of us treat it as sacred, which it is.
Another is all the caravan companies are pushing fully self contained vans, ie, showers, toilets etc. Are we wasting our money buying these I wonder, if we will not have the choice to use them?
If we all have to use the van parks, and a lot of vanners have their full set up, the parks ammenities stay unused and we are paying a very expensive car park fee if its not the way we want to go.
Don't get me wrong, we use parks but when we want to and this trip, we noticed most of the parks were pretty full and still lots of bush campers.
I choose van parks, but I also love bush camping. It's about freedom of choice.
Parks charge like wounded bulls, fuel is getting more costly all the time. I'm sure if parks were more affordable we'd be more willing to use them more often.
We want to travel to see our country. We want to travel within our budget. Freedom of choice is still an option.
I can't afford their prices so have come to enjoy the free camping available.
I don't see how the CP's are losing money. There's lots of people out there who prefer to stay in CP's.
On the couple of occasions when I stayed in them, I spoke to people who don't like to bush camp. They think they have more security in a CP.
Yep, freedom of choice!
Regards
The TV show was run by Frankie J Holden wasn't it ?
He owns a huge CP in the Wooloongong area .
FJHs used by dates is up I reckon .
-- Edited by sandsmere on Sunday 7th of August 2011 07:04:38 PM
I think when the council close down free/bush camps other open up somewhere else ..It a shame that the whole town has to miss out on our money in food /fuel /ect because a caravan park owner is haveing a whinge to the council and we dont stay or use that town to top up or need as we past throught....
-------- Original Message -------- Subject:
Re: www.whatsupdownunder.com.au: Free Camping
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 09:54:24 +1000
From: Warren Parrot
To: Karan
G'day Karan,
Thanks so much for your feedback.
Perhaps we didnt make ourselves clear enough in the segment. The groups that you mentioned in your email are exactly the sort of 'FREE' camping that we have issues with - we dont have a problem with FREE camping in general - in fact as we speak I have a film crew shooting episodes along the Gibb River in WA where 90% of their time there they will be FREE Camping.
We agree there needs to be a balance - we just dont want to see Caravan Parks go out of business because of it. There are not enough of them as there is - many inland parks are at risk because of certain free camping practices - how would it be if, for the one or two nights a week where you need and want a Caravan Park (as you mentioned in your email) but there wasnt one there for you to utilize? Thats the problem here - that is what we are trying to save.
Caravan Parks are integral parts of Australia's regional townships. They draw tourists (as they give the majority a selection of accommodation options and environments to stay in), they employ locals, who in turn spend their money all year around in and around town. If the majority of Caravanners dont have a place to stay in one town - they will move on to the next - and the town that has lost its Caravan Park/s will suffer - its a domino effect.
Sorry if you feel we have tarred you with the same brush - it wasnt our intention, and the segment did have a specific target.
We want you to keep doing what you are doing - we like free camping as well, where it is possible and appropriate - there is nothing like escaping the cities and towns and being in a peaceful place, away from most of society, under the stars, playing guitar around a fire - it really is amazing. We just want to protect the Holiday Parks that we still have left - we dont have enough as it is - and we dont want to lose any more of them.
We hope you understand 'our stance' on this.
Thanks for taking the time to give us feedback and let us know how you feel - sorry we didnt make it clearer in our segment, sorry if if you felt it was aimed at you personally.
Kind Regards,
Warren @ WUDU
Anyway just thought you might be interested in what they had to say.
Mmm, very interesting mate, amazing how these shows are always misunderstood.
We stayed there last year and had a lovely time with fellow campers
Hi
RE:'Hi I did see that on that show, Last time We will watch it. If you also noticed they where from the motorhome group with there little blue signs.
Regards ""
They ,CMCA members, are up in arms
The inferance was that they were freeloading
It WAS an organised rally ,payed camp area,
Peter