Last night we stayed in a country CP. We were allocated site 16 (it was clearly marked) but a tent was on it. So the manager said choose any site. We chose no 19. Next van in went to site 17. Girl in tent said 'That's my site'. She had placed her tent where she should have put her car - on site 16. Our new neighbours on site 17 tried to explain how sites work but she was obviously unhappy. During the night she unplugged their power and turned off their water. (Plus her large dog was caught roaming loose at 3am). When questioned she said she wanted to charge her computer. They still pointed out it was their site and their power. Hers was 16. So with a few chosen words she told them to tell the manager. Which they did, and she was evicted. Talking with someone in tonight's park, they experienced the same thing. People using power they had paid for to charge their phones and laptops. What happened to CP ethics and niceties??
Cruising Granny said
03:59 AM May 5, 2012
Most of the time they are pretty good, and everyone understands it. Some of those backpackers usually use the camp kitchen to charge their equipment. You really scored a bad spot. At least the caravan park people handled it. It really stresses the need to define sites clearly so even the dimmest can understand it. Some parks do have confusing numbers vs power posts and taps. Others draw lines, number kerbs (if they have kerbs). We have to take them as we find them I'm afraid, and hope everyone else gets it as well. If that's the worst you experience during your nomadding, you're in for a jolly bonzer trip. Safe and happy travels.
Happywanderer said
03:59 AM May 5, 2012
She obviously had no idea how to use a caravan park. Why would she turn off their water just to charge her computer. Sounds like she was doing it for spite.
neilnruth said
04:02 AM May 5, 2012
Oh yes, she was obviously in a foul mood. The sites were clearly marked with the number and an arrow pointing in the direction of the site from the power point. But tonight is making up for it. We're in a lovely park and the sites are huge and it is very quiet. What surprised me was to hear from our neighbours in this park that they had also experienced it along the way. I've seen them using the camp kitchen and I think that's the right place.
Weedy Pigeon said
04:38 AM May 5, 2012
Having worked in several towns where backpackers are employed in large numbers to do transient labour, it is apparent to me that they can be the rudest, most bad mannered people you would want to come across. Their attitude is that they are doing us a favour by visiting our country trying to do a little bit of manual labour. Tourist bodies are the culprits here as they deliberately misinform the public about just how much income the tourism industry gets from backpackers. Every town that has a large backpacker population will always be struggling to attract the better type of tourist. They have no regard for others travellers. After picking up a disabled vehicle in the Kimberlies I was abused by the female occupant because she had to wait on the side of the road for a breakdown truck, being 42c in the shade had got her in a bad mood and I was even blamed for the heat, she also asked me did I know that she was thousands of kilometers from Sydney ( I had managed to work that fact out for myself )!!!! They're experts at making their problems to be completely your fault.
Jack Mac said
06:51 PM May 5, 2012
I have a rental house next door to me which, for the past six months and into the foreseeable future, has been occupied by backpackers. A couple of young Englishmen have been here for that time but have also included German, Dutch, Estonian, Canadian and American. to a person they have been among the most obliging, respectful young people one could hope to meet.
They work on the local orchards.
Having spoken to the local publicans they are also of the same opinion.
I have no hesitation in letting them know where my spare key is in case there is a problem when I'm away and they are welcome to use any of my tools as they wish. I totally trust them.
They are far better neighbours than many of the so called locals who have lived there.
There are two sides to every coin.
Happywanderer said
06:57 PM May 5, 2012
Thats a lovely story Jack Mac, shows there are good ones out there. Maybe its a difference between the ones who rent privately and the ones who go to caravan parks, I don't really know myself. Sorry I haven't been in touch since arriving. Been too snowed under to go anywhere. Haven't got very far at all.
brickies said
08:35 PM May 5, 2012
I don't think this would happen in a well run caravan , they would be shown the gate
Jack Mac said
01:12 AM May 6, 2012
Happywanderer wrote:
Thats a lovely story Jack Mac, shows there are good ones out there. Maybe its a difference between the ones who rent privately and the ones who go to caravan parks, I don't really know myself. Sorry I haven't been in touch since arriving. Been too snowed under to go anywhere. Haven't got very far at all.
Their accommodation was aranged by the contractor who employed them. Hopefully I'll catch up with you at Gympie.
Cheers,
Jack
Cruising Granny said
06:35 AM May 6, 2012
It does depend on where the backpackers come from. I won't generalise, or specify but whether they be from the UK, Europe, Asia, South Africa, Canada, they all behaviour differently - some of it not good. Some of it beautiful. I had a great experience with a group of young men from the UK who had a few problems in Cairns in the park. A fellow they'd picked up stole their Landcruiser while they were meeting up with fellow UK backpackers in town. A low act. They eventually recovered the car and the bloke, but the young fellas went home with a bad experience in their memory banks. Some of them work harder than our locals would ever think of. The locals sit home playing computer games on the dole.
Last night we stayed in a country CP. We were allocated site 16 (it was clearly marked) but a tent was on it. So the manager said choose any site. We chose no 19. Next van in went to site 17. Girl in tent said 'That's my site'. She had placed her tent where she should have put her car - on site 16. Our new neighbours on site 17 tried to explain how sites work but she was obviously unhappy. During the night she unplugged their power and turned off their water. (Plus her large dog was caught roaming loose at 3am). When questioned she said she wanted to charge her computer. They still pointed out it was their site and their power. Hers was 16. So with a few chosen words she told them to tell the manager. Which they did, and she was evicted. Talking with someone in tonight's park, they experienced the same thing. People using power they had paid for to charge their phones and laptops. What happened to CP ethics and niceties??
Some of those backpackers usually use the camp kitchen to charge their equipment.
You really scored a bad spot. At least the caravan park people handled it.
It really stresses the need to define sites clearly so even the dimmest can understand it.
Some parks do have confusing numbers vs power posts and taps. Others draw lines, number kerbs (if they have kerbs).
We have to take them as we find them I'm afraid, and hope everyone else gets it as well.
If that's the worst you experience during your nomadding, you're in for a jolly bonzer trip.
Safe and happy travels.
Their attitude is that they are doing us a favour by visiting our country trying to do a little bit of manual labour. Tourist bodies are the culprits here as they deliberately misinform the public about just how much income the tourism industry gets from backpackers.
Every town that has a large backpacker population will always be struggling to attract the better type of tourist. They have no regard for others travellers.
After picking up a disabled vehicle in the Kimberlies I was abused by the female occupant because she had to wait on the side of the road for a breakdown truck, being 42c in the shade had got her in a bad mood and I was even blamed for the heat, she also asked me did I know that she was thousands of kilometers from Sydney ( I had managed to work that fact out for myself )!!!!
They're experts at making their problems to be completely your fault.
I have a rental house next door to me which, for the past six months and into the foreseeable future, has been occupied by backpackers. A couple of young Englishmen have been here for that time but have also included German, Dutch, Estonian, Canadian and American. to a person they have been among the most obliging, respectful young people one could hope to meet.
They work on the local orchards.
Having spoken to the local publicans they are also of the same opinion.
I have no hesitation in letting them know where my spare key is in case there is a problem when I'm away and they are welcome to use any of my tools as they wish. I totally trust them.
They are far better neighbours than many of the so called locals who have lived there.
There are two sides to every coin.
Sorry I haven't been in touch since arriving. Been too snowed under to go anywhere. Haven't got very far at all.
Their accommodation was aranged by the contractor who employed them. Hopefully I'll catch up with you at Gympie.
Cheers,
Jack
I had a great experience with a group of young men from the UK who had a few problems in Cairns in the park. A fellow they'd picked up stole their Landcruiser while they were meeting up with fellow UK backpackers in town. A low act.
They eventually recovered the car and the bloke, but the young fellas went home with a bad experience in their memory banks.
Some of them work harder than our locals would ever think of. The locals sit home playing computer games on the dole.