We have not made much progress heading north ,we had the cruiser services Friday ( almost took all day between them doing other peoples jobs )so wondered around Rockhampton like two lost souls,until we met up with our friends,who we are travelling with (they arrived from Dysart ).
We spent our first night at the Yamba rest stop.
Headed up the Bruce Saturday ,after a late departure,due to just because we could I guess.
To night we are at the Big4 caravan park in Mackay,.The one that we found out from another camper after we set up that the Government is handing out grants ,so this lucky bugger has just been given $25000 in some grant for kids play equipment and other stuff that none of us older travellers would get one bit of use from.
Sitting around happy hr to night was surprised at the negative reactions regarding these grants.
My question is how unfair this is ,when these very parks shout from the rafters regarding fair competition when it comes to low cost/ free camps and they can get this type of money just by filling out an application form,and next thing they have all this money to do up dates to their park with out any cost to them.
Funny thing about this park is they mostly only have long turm mine workers staying here ,at most probably half a dozen sites for the travelling public. We only got in here due to us both only towing camper trailers.
Kaid said
04:23 AM Jul 22, 2013
Would never go to that place again Herbie.
We were packed in like sardines.
The amenities block was disgusting.
I cleaned up after my dog ,while the
Managers dog **** everywhere
I could go on but. Will not.
Hope your stay is more enjoyable
Than ours was
jules47 said
10:20 PM Jul 22, 2013
Boulder Creek is a much nicer place to camp!!!!!!!!
whiteman said
12:07 AM Jul 23, 2013
Herbie...take your money elsewhere !!
herbie said
03:45 AM Jul 23, 2013
Got out of that c/ van park first light this morning. this place is on our never to return places in capital letters
This must be one of the best lurks going on out there in caravan park world. Do not spend a $ on any up keep to the place, then get a hand out of $250.000.So not a bad business strategy if you are brazen enough to do it.
So many good mum/dad/parks out there that never stop trying to improve their park out of the profit.
My mate asked the owner/ manager as we were driving out of the place if there was a refund system for unhappy campers. ( game bugger he is )
Any way we snailed along the Bruce for a whole 45ks, So now camped up at beautiful Seaforth Beach Reserve.Good fishing from the well maintained boat ramp at Victor Creek.
this little gem has all essentials one would need.
Good cheap meals available from the bowls club.
Manager comes around each morning to collect camp fees.
Hot showers $2. free fire wood available.
We are taking the mates tinny out tomorrow if the weather is ok.
brickies said
03:14 PM Jul 23, 2013
We also stayed at that Big 4 could not believe how poor the standards were, Dose not say much about quality controls of Big 4 .
Wizardofoz said
03:18 PM Jul 23, 2013
Hi Herbie, I found that the 'Big 4 Woodlands' C/P in Townsville also had many permanent residents, mostly mine connected workers and the kids facilities and pool were hardly used.
Mind you, the park was clean and tidy and quite enjoyable really, Townsville however was a major dissapointment to me, not a great tourist spot.
I am currently in Mackay at the 'black Beach C/P' which is a really nice setup and right on a lovely sandy beach, handy to all facilities and although it is about 16 kms from town, I like it very much and will probably book some time next year.
jules47 said
04:33 PM Jul 23, 2013
We are in Townsville - at the showgrounds CP (think they call it Town and Country) just off Ingham Road - not flash, but the facilities are clean, and it is pretty quiet. Lots of permanents - or "long termers" as they are now called. $33 a night with power and water - not cheap but is probably one of the cheaper ones in the area. Has the benefit of being close to everything - bus route to the city, walk to Casteltown shopping centre. On Sunday night, they put on a roast dinner for whoever is in the park, free, though they do have a tip jar, which most of us contributed to, and there is singing and guitar playing - a good night, talking to some other travellers, as well as some of the residents.
whiteman said
04:54 PM Jul 23, 2013
Herbie ...can you give us an estimate of camp fees for Seaforth Reserve and is power/water available ??, assume that swimming is ok at this time of year behind the stinger nets ??..........comments please as we will probably head that way next year as we are down south at present.
herbie said
07:05 AM Jul 24, 2013
whiteman wrote:
Herbie ...can you give us an estimate of camp fees for Seaforth Reserve and is power/water available ??, assume that swimming is ok at this time of year behind the stinger nets ??..........comments please as we will probably head that way next year as we are down south at present.
No power available. $14 per night per site but million $$$$ views & close to shops.
Swimming ok and good fishing....and best of all NO d... Heads.
herbie said
07:09 AM Jul 24, 2013
jules47 wrote:
We are in Townsville - at the showgrounds CP (think they call it Town and Country) just off Ingham Road - not flash, but the facilities are clean, and it is pretty quiet. Lots of permanents - or "long termers" as they are now called. $33 a night with power and water - not cheap but is probably one of the cheaper ones in the area. Has the benefit of being close to everything - bus route to the city, walk to Casteltown shopping centre. On Sunday night, they put on a roast dinner for whoever is in the park, free, though they do have a tip jar, which most of us contributed to, and there is singing and guitar playing - a good night, talking to some other travellers, as well as some of the residents.
Jules, when you mention you stayed out at the Boulders, is that the free camp not far from Babinda ?
The show grounds sounds like that's the way to go if wanting to hang around Townsville for any length of time .
herbie said
07:13 AM Jul 24, 2013
Leaving this little piece of Paradise in the morning.
slowly making our way up to Ayr ,as have a dive trip booked for Friday.
jules47 said
03:54 PM Jul 24, 2013
herbie wrote:
jules47 wrote:
We are in Townsville - at the showgrounds CP (think they call it Town and Country) just off Ingham Road - not flash, but the facilities are clean, and it is pretty quiet. Lots of permanents - or "long termers" as they are now called. $33 a night with power and water - not cheap but is probably one of the cheaper ones in the area. Has the benefit of being close to everything - bus route to the city, walk to Casteltown shopping centre. On Sunday night, they put on a roast dinner for whoever is in the park, free, though they do have a tip jar, which most of us contributed to, and there is singing and guitar playing - a good night, talking to some other travellers, as well as some of the residents.
Jules, when you mention you stayed out at the Boulders, is that the free camp not far from Babinda ?
The show grounds sounds like that's the way to go if wanting to hang around Townsville for any length of time .
No Herbie - it is called Boulder Creek - no. 56 in Camps 7 - 18km sw of Calen - just north of Mackay! Perfect spot for camper trailers - can have fires, there is a flushing toilet, and you can drink the water from the creek - it is straight out of the mountains!!
We have not made much progress heading north ,we had the cruiser services Friday ( almost took all day between them doing other peoples jobs )so wondered around Rockhampton like two lost souls,until we met up with our friends,who we are travelling with (they arrived from Dysart ).
We spent our first night at the Yamba rest stop.
Headed up the Bruce Saturday ,after a late departure,due to just because we could I guess.
To night we are at the Big4 caravan park in Mackay,.The one that we found out from another camper after we set up that the Government is handing out grants ,so this lucky bugger has just been given $25000 in some grant for kids play equipment and other stuff that none of us older travellers would get one bit of use from.
Sitting around happy hr to night was surprised at the negative reactions regarding these grants.
My question is how unfair this is ,when these very parks shout from the rafters regarding fair competition when it comes to low cost/ free camps and they can get this type of money just by filling out an application form,and next thing they have all this money to do up dates to their park with out any cost to them.
Funny thing about this park is they mostly only have long turm mine workers staying here ,at most probably half a dozen sites for the travelling public. We only got in here due to us both only towing camper trailers.
We were packed in like sardines.
The amenities block was disgusting.
I cleaned up after my dog ,while the
Managers dog **** everywhere
I could go on but. Will not.
Hope your stay is more enjoyable
Than ours was
Herbie...take your money elsewhere !!
Got out of that c/ van park first light this morning. this place is on our never to return places in capital letters
This must be one of the best lurks going on out there in caravan park world. Do not spend a $ on any up keep to the place, then get a hand out of $250.000.So not a bad business strategy if you are brazen enough to do it.
So many good mum/dad/parks out there that never stop trying to improve their park out of the profit.
My mate asked the owner/ manager as we were driving out of the place if there was a refund system for unhappy campers. ( game bugger he is )
Any way we snailed along the Bruce for a whole 45ks, So now camped up at beautiful Seaforth Beach Reserve.Good fishing from the well maintained boat ramp at Victor Creek.
this little gem has all essentials one would need.
Good cheap meals available from the bowls club.
Manager comes around each morning to collect camp fees.
Hot showers $2. free fire wood available.
We are taking the mates tinny out tomorrow if the weather is ok.
Hi Herbie, I found that the 'Big 4 Woodlands' C/P in Townsville also had many permanent residents, mostly mine connected workers and the kids facilities and pool were hardly used.
Mind you, the park was clean and tidy and quite enjoyable really, Townsville however was a major dissapointment to me, not a great tourist spot.
I am currently in Mackay at the 'black Beach C/P' which is a really nice setup and right on a lovely sandy beach, handy to all facilities and although it is about 16 kms from town, I like it very much and will probably book some time next year.
Herbie ...can you give us an estimate of camp fees for Seaforth Reserve and is power/water available ??, assume that swimming is ok at this time of year behind the stinger nets ??..........comments please as we will probably head that way next year as we are down south at present.
No power available. $14 per night per site but million $$$$ views & close to shops.
Swimming ok and good fishing....and best of all NO d... Heads.
Jules, when you mention you stayed out at the Boulders, is that the free camp not far from Babinda ?
The show grounds sounds like that's the way to go if wanting to hang around Townsville for any length of time .
Leaving this little piece of Paradise in the morning.
slowly making our way up to Ayr ,as have a dive trip booked for Friday.
No Herbie - it is called Boulder Creek - no. 56 in Camps 7 - 18km sw of Calen - just north of Mackay! Perfect spot for camper trailers - can have fires, there is a flushing toilet, and you can drink the water from the creek - it is straight out of the mountains!!