I was recently chatting with a park manager and she dropped into the conversation that the three (3) caravan parks in Roma Qld are all owned by the same people! Just 3 different managers. So they all charge the same price and when they are all full - the showground gets the overflow and the fees there are also the same as the CPs. What chance do we have of finding something cheaper? She said the 'No vacancy' sign would go out as early as 10.30am - they had about 20 'resident' miners. More freecamping sounds good - if you can find it.
pauline said
04:28 AM Jun 6, 2012
My hubby has been driving through Roma quite a bit of late(4 wwks ago) and he said the same plus there are no vacancy signs up at every motel every time he went through there. I went on 1 trip with him and the amount of mine cars/utes that you pass on the way is staggering, who knows where it will all end but don't plan on going that way any time soon and finding somwhere to stay overnight within the town limits.
gold dandelion said
05:56 AM Jun 6, 2012
we worked in roma for a few months, nice town but it is pumping with miners which is good for the town. actually stayed at the big rig. was working there when 7 nomads rocked up one day, all from different locations, they all had jobs with in 2 days. as for being busy, most mining towns in w.a. are the same.
Boroma577 said
04:17 PM Jun 6, 2012
Roma is one of those mining towns where there is a lot of itinerant work available....rent as in housing rent is astronomical.
Beth54 said
01:09 AM Jun 7, 2012
There's a nice free camp on the river at Surat. It even has a dump point.
Depending on which way you're going, Muckadilla Pub has a little CP beside it. I've never stayed there, but friends tell me it's fine. And no, I don't know how much it costs.
Kiwi-as said
02:52 AM Jun 7, 2012
We stayed at Muckadilla on our way to Blazade at Dunkeld. From memory was $10 unpowered. Had nice dinner at Pub.
Beth54 said
04:15 AM Jun 7, 2012
Kiwi-as wrote:
We stayed at Muckadilla on our way to Blazade at Dunkeld. From memory was $10 unpowered. Had nice dinner at Pub.
Did you happen to see the Eric Burey Rifle Range next door? That was my late Uncle. He and his brother Stafford were champion shooters.
Cruising Granny said
04:42 AM Jun 7, 2012
I went through Roma at Christmas last year, working on my way to Emerald. We had to fuel up, get parts etc. When we delivered the first job at Emerald we had to go back to Roma and pick up another load for Emerald. There are some camping spots north of Roma along the highway, or pull into Injune or Springsure. On the way home I pulled into Roma Big Rig park. After a chin wag with the manager I got a smidge of discount. It pays to chat and haggle sometimes.
sandsmere said
12:19 PM Jun 7, 2012
Muckadilla is not a bad option if you have to do something in Roma .
It's only 20 / 25 minutes away .
The pub charge is $10 non-powered and $15 for a powered site .
50 meters down the road from the pub is a council free park with toilets and showers .
They ask for a gold coin donation if you use the showers .
Gerty Dancer said
03:31 PM Jun 7, 2012
We were going to go to Roma last month, but no vacancies. Glad we went elsewhere now.
Boroma577 said
04:03 PM Jun 7, 2012
Beth54 wrote:
There's a nice free camp on the river at Surat. It even has a dump point.
Not sure how long it is since you have been there Beth but IMO this is not as good as it once was.
They have placed bollards and you are now unable to get down on the grassed area overlooking the river, hence the overall available camping area has been reduced considerably in size. The toilets are pretty shabby as well. No tidy up with them in many, many years.
I was originally there in 2003 and back there again late last year....very disappointed. The other side of the road near the pontoon is not too bad but has no amenities.
There is a donation pole at the amenity block.
neilnruth said
05:44 PM Jun 7, 2012
Thanks to everyone for giving us some tips for alternative sites. Ken says Surat was good this week.
-- Edited by neilnruth on Thursday 7th of June 2012 05:45:18 PM
brickies said
05:50 PM Jun 7, 2012
Just had a look at CMCA camping grounds prices they look to me has the same prices has caravan parks
ken thomas said
08:42 PM Jun 7, 2012
Boroma577 wrote:
Beth54 wrote:
There's a nice free camp on the river at Surat. It even has a dump point.
Not sure how long it is since you have been there Beth but IMO this is not as good as it once was.
They have placed bollards and you are now unable to get down on the grassed area overlooking the river, hence the overall available camping area has been reduced considerably in size. The toilets are pretty shabby as well. No tidy up with them in many, many years.
I was originally there in 2003 and back there again late last year....very disappointed. The other side of the road near the pontoon is not too bad but has no amenities.
There is a donation pole at the amenity block.
This is a basic free camp but with a toilet and dump point and also town water, and free hot showers at the shire offices, what more could you ask for
The site is a bit muddy in some places but with the rain the area has had what can you expect.
I will be here for a few days then onto Morven, give Roma a miss
Ken
Boroma577 said
10:06 PM Jun 7, 2012
ken thomas wrote:
This is a basic free camp but with a toilet and dump point and also town water, and free hot showers at the shire offices, what more could you ask for
Ken
Ken I could ask that the donations that I and others have been giving for the last 9 years be used to upgrade the facilities rather than putting bollards and fancy new Surat signs in which reduce the number of sites available to the traveling public.
I am not precious but when I was there last October the toilets were in appalling condition....maybe it has changed since then.
I have come across roadside rest areas where no donation is requested that were serviced better than Surat was when I was there last year.
Beth54 said
10:44 PM Jun 7, 2012
Now that you mention it Boroma, it is several years since I was there. Sorry. And as Ken said, they've had floods through there too.
Morven has a nice camp too...two years ago anyway. Donation.
But really, when you get out that way, you don't need a designated camp. Just get off the highway a bit and there's lots of places to camp.
Two years ago, we found one north of Mitchell, right on the river. it was beaut!
Boroma577 said
10:52 PM Jun 7, 2012
Beth54 wrote:
Morven has a nice camp too...two years ago anyway. Donation.
Morven is lovely, I agree Beth. I was through there in July last year and the place was packed so I did not stay.
I was through there again in November and did stay.
Talk in the town was that they are having problems with people overstaying and not giving the $5 per night requested 'donation'.
Pete in Gisborne said
12:36 AM Jun 11, 2012
Went through last August. Stayed at the CP next to the winery. No problems with a site, park wasn't full at all. Good camp kitchen as well.
I was recently chatting with a park manager and she dropped into the conversation that the three (3) caravan parks in Roma Qld are all owned by the same people! Just 3 different managers. So they all charge the same price and when they are all full - the showground gets the overflow and the fees there are also the same as the CPs. What chance do we have of finding something cheaper? She said the 'No vacancy' sign would go out as early as 10.30am - they had about 20 'resident' miners. More freecamping sounds good - if you can find it.
Roma is one of those mining towns where there is a lot of itinerant work available....rent as in housing rent is astronomical.
There's a nice free camp on the river at Surat. It even has a dump point.
Depending on which way you're going, Muckadilla Pub has a little CP beside it. I've never stayed there, but friends tell me it's fine. And no, I don't know how much it costs.
Did you happen to see the Eric Burey Rifle Range next door? That was my late Uncle. He and his brother Stafford were champion shooters.
There are some camping spots north of Roma along the highway, or pull into Injune or Springsure.
On the way home I pulled into Roma Big Rig park. After a chin wag with the manager I got a smidge of discount.
It pays to chat and haggle sometimes.
Muckadilla is not a bad option if you have to do something in Roma .
It's only 20 / 25 minutes away .
The pub charge is $10 non-powered and $15 for a powered site .
50 meters down the road from the pub is a council free park with toilets and showers .
They ask for a gold coin donation if you use the showers .
Not sure how long it is since you have been there Beth but IMO this is not as good as it once was.
They have placed bollards and you are now unable to get down on the grassed area overlooking the river, hence the overall available camping area has been reduced considerably in size. The toilets are pretty shabby as well. No tidy up with them in many, many years.
I was originally there in 2003 and back there again late last year....very disappointed. The other side of the road near the pontoon is not too bad but has no amenities.
There is a donation pole at the amenity block.
Thanks to everyone for giving us some tips for alternative sites. Ken says Surat was good this week.
-- Edited by neilnruth on Thursday 7th of June 2012 05:45:18 PM
This is a basic free camp but with a toilet and dump point and also town water, and free hot showers at the shire offices, what more could you ask for
The site is a bit muddy in some places but with the rain the area has had what can you expect.
I will be here for a few days then onto Morven, give Roma a miss
Ken
Ken I could ask that the donations that I and others have been giving for the last 9 years be used to upgrade the facilities rather than putting bollards and fancy new Surat signs in which reduce the number of sites available to the traveling public.
I am not precious but when I was there last October the toilets were in appalling condition....maybe it has changed since then.
I have come across roadside rest areas where no donation is requested that were serviced better than Surat was when I was there last year.
Now that you mention it Boroma, it is several years since I was there. Sorry. And as Ken said, they've had floods through there too.
Morven has a nice camp too...two years ago anyway. Donation.
But really, when you get out that way, you don't need a designated camp. Just get off the highway a bit and there's lots of places to camp.
Two years ago, we found one north of Mitchell, right on the river. it was beaut!
Morven is lovely, I agree Beth. I was through there in July last year and the place was packed so I did not stay.
I was through there again in November and did stay.
Talk in the town was that they are having problems with people overstaying and not giving the $5 per night requested 'donation'.