RIP CARAVAN PARKS

Ma · Guru

RIP CARAVAN PARKS

jimbo · Guru

Scare tactics ma! Cannot happen......These developers will soon have to wake up....Of course if our Governments were to stop allowing foreign buyers in, it would be okay...I believe you can"t own property in japan and Israel...Why here and only consentrating on the East Coast

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

hi ma
interesting article and fairly true.
lyn

and jimmy if they cant make a living from caravaners they will close you dont run a busness at a loss.

-- Edited by lyn-n-ken on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 07:35:21 AM

jimricho · Guru

It's not the job of nanny government (or council) to protect the livelihood of caravan park owners or any other business for that matter, but it is their job to ensure that time limits and other restrictions in free areas are enforced, especially in regard to day use only areas and in suburban streets and car parks.

bill12 · Guru

My heart bleeds for them. The caravan park owners think they own us, and can dictate where we park at night. It will be a sad day when free camping is banned. Another grab for our dollars.It they dropped their prices and gave us someting for our money, if might be different, but they decided that they own us. I suppose time limits should be enforsed at free camps close to town, but not in the bush.

-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 08:07:22 AM

petengail · Guru

I just read the article in the Courier Mail, I read through the comments and noticed that there was not one comment in support of the caravan park owners. So I surmise that the general opinion is on the side of the free campers and not the caravan park owners....

Ma · Guru

The solution, well one of them:

All nomads who can make some space available to travelling nomads do so. Maybe start a sticky or something pertaining to the availability. I'm sure none of us would mind chucking in for power and water if it was available, and the company sure has to be better than park owners, maybe not all of them but certainly some leave a lot to be desired.

It's all down to not taking responsibility for our own actions etc., if you can't make a go of a business then maybe you should think long and hard about what you are or more to the point what you AREN'T doing to make a go of it.

beachball57 · Senior Member

there will always be caravan parks,, how many free camping areas have proper toilets and showers etc that are clean and not wrecked by vandals,, i know the bride would only go for so long without having a hot shower, me on the oter hand being the caveman that i am not showering for a few days isn't a problem if i'm out bush camping and such, so there'll always be caravan parks to cater for people who don't wan/like to "rough" it, and if the caravan parks want people to stay then they should lift their game a bit, i know some of the one's the bride and i have stayed in we won't be staying in again but then again others we would happily go back to,,,so what if councils are letting people use showgrounds and other places i thought this was a free country anyway or am i mistaken???

-- Edited by beachball57 on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 08:32:18 AM

justcruisin01 · Guru

With the increases in power & water costs there will be more free camping..
As said before we dont want all the pools, games room etc etc.but we are paying for it just the same.

If they want the vanners in then why are they ripping out van sites & putting in cabins? Six parks in the Hunter area have been handed back to Dep of lands, more cabins. Two at Byron last year now have cabins @ $1600 per week.

If they think that retiries travelling Aust can afford the prices then they have no hope of running a business.
I for one would rather be sitting on a river bank or in the bush ,not a park.

Even some NP are putting in cabins, I thought their theory was to preserve areas as nature provided them. They need to go back and read their own constitution.

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 09:22:03 AM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

In the peak periods, its impossible to get a powered site in a caravan park without booking ahead... in fact its often difficult to get a site in a good park. I think this is a fear campaign.

Quite a few National Parks are charging $10 per night per person, and the only amenity is a smelly toilet plus BBQ. For an extra 3 or 4 dollars its better value to stay in a clean caravan park with power, and do day trips out to the various waterfalls/gorges etc (where theres precious few caravan parking spaces!).

But I can understand caravan park owners who work an 8 day week selling their prime land to developers offering big money.

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 09:29:37 AM

Ma · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:

Quite a few National Parks are charging $10 per night per person, and the only amenity is a smelly toilet plus BBQ. For an extra 3 or 4 dollars its better value to stay in a clean caravan park with power, and do day trips out to the various waterfalls/gorges etc (where theres precious few caravan parking spaces!).

We came across this situation too Gert. It was north of New Italy on the Pacific Highway NSW, can't remember it's name off the top of my head, and when it all worked out they wanted $27 per night and like you said only a VERY smelly toilet and you couldn't scavange wood for a fire either you had to bring your own - which in itself isn't a problem.

We went down the road a few more ks to Corindi Beach Van Park and for exactly the same amount of money had probably the cleanest amenities we came across in our whole 5 months away. The sites were large, WITH ECO MATS and the view was amazing.

didiaust · Veteran Member

Without wanting to get flammed part of the problem with many ventures is that it's not worth catering for pensioners or those retired because they don't spend money on "extras". Young couples/families spend much more money - eating out, alcohol & entertainment. The caravan parks want families of 4 ( 2 A & 2 K) who will pay for all the bells and whistles because they only have a few hols a year and a few long weekends so they spend up. Tamworth Country Music Festival is under threat because the "over 55's" spend very little money in the venues . Many of us drink much less than we did , many just drink water, many can't afford to eat out and return home each night and self cater. I am one. 20 years ago we would have spent a few hundred a day and thought nothing of it - now in retirment we consider what we spend , prefer our own meals as opposed to greasy takeaways- even many of the the clubs and pubs favour quick deep fried meals. Many want free entertainment, a seat in the venue and security but don't spend a cent in the venue. There is talk about the festival encouraging more young people by changing much of the music to pop/rock. J ust my 10c worth.

Di

jimricho · Guru

bill12 wrote:

My heart bleeds for them. The caravan park owners think they own us, and can dictate where we park at night. It will be a sad day when free camping is banned. Another grab for our dollars.It they dropped their prices and gave us someting for our money, if might be different, but they decided that they own us. I suppose time limits should be enforsed at free camps close to town, but not in the bush.

-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 08:07:22 AM

I agree with you Bill, especially in regard to bush camping. I rarely ever free camp in the rest areas or elsewhere out on the highway but I occasionally bush camp.

One of the reasons I support enforcing the designated time limits on rest areas etc is out of fairness to other travellers including other GNs and to stop these free camps from being "hogged" by over-stayers.

Firefly · Guru

You probably are pretty spot on there didiaust. I do wonder if that is the case why the companies always seem to blame the nomads for their downturn though. They should be pleased that spaces aren't taken up with oldies where a young family could be. smile

Beth54 · Guru

In regard to not spending in these towns..if the locals make their town nomad friendly, then I think we SHOULD spend a little bit of money there, to help their economy.

We tend to buy something from the bakery, maybe have a coffee, and stock up on some fresh veggies and/or fruit. And country butchers have the BEST meat! (I personally recommend the butcher in Mitchell Qld.)

I don't agree with some nomads who stock the van before leaving home and not spend a penny on the road.

Firefly · Guru

We are the same Beth, shop in most towns for what we want. Always at the butchers etc but don't spend up silly at the same time. We do stock up on a lot of stuff but buy a lot on the way as well. smile

DeBe · Guru

Well i live 3Ks outof town Ma & firefly I know & are welcome to stay in a large back yard. But i sugested on a nother Forum that idea & was shot down in flames as being too risky dute to Litigation. I would have thaught the house hold insurance would cover (Freinds) camping in your back yard for free & if they donated for power who would know. Daryl

Ma · Guru

and if they are FRIENDS Daryl, then litigation wouldn't come into it..........well not in my case anyhow. Will be taking you up on that offer round May/June next year if you are home.

ozi2 · Guru

Firefly wrote:

We are the same Beth, shop in most towns for what we want. Always at the butchers etc but don't spend up silly at the same time. We do stock up on a lot of stuff but buy a lot on the way as well.

Hi everyone, what a dilemma for the park owners (not) fancy not being able to charge $28. a night for a patch of dirt, no power and no water facility as we were frequently asked to pay during 8 weeks of touring.
Did the shop owners want us to stop in their towns...absolutely and stated the importance to the towns economy of the GN input, fuel, food and all forms of shopping.....so many little towns depend on us whether we stay the night or not. Tasmania is one state that is leading the way in this area, our stay there was just so enjoyable and freecamping is being well catered for.

Firefly · Guru

DeBe wrote:

Well i live 3Ks outof town Ma & firefly I know & are welcome to stay in a large back yard. But i sugested on a nother Forum that idea & was shot down in flames as being too risky dute to Litigation. I would have thaught the house hold insurance would cover (Freinds) camping in your back yard for free & if they donated for power who would know. Daryl

Well thank you so much Daryl, that is a lovely offer and I agree wholeheartedly with Ma's sentiments mate. smile

jimricho · Guru

I seem to recall reading a while back, it may have been on the Grey Nomads website, about the closure several years ago of a caravan park at Agnes Waters in Queensland and its effect on local businesses in the village. If I've got this right I think it was a consortium of locals who took it over after a developer went bust and reopened it.

justcruisin01 · Guru

MA, was this Bundjalung NP. ?have been there.

As pensioners you can get a FREE vehicle day pass ticket, this will allow you free vehicle access to all NSW NP,s except Kossie & Jervis Bay.

Still doesn,t change the fact of how they charge & then tell you what you cant do.

Dont try the Trial Bay Goal camp area,it was $27 per person about 5 yrs ago, try that with a family. Dont know what it is now & its not in the book, they list it as having special prices apply, then it was a gold coin in the slot for a timed shower .

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Tuesday 30th of November 2010 10:17:55 PM

DellieMay · Senior Member

As has been said... we look for free camping, on a creek if possible, and enjoy walking around the town we may be in. Have a cup of coffee, restock from a local store, and avoid caravan parks. I completely agree... they are greedy and have priced themselves out of the common GN's pocket. There are two places in Qld that rate a good mention however. First one is Quilpie. You can free camp just about anywhere in town...are welcome to use very clean, hot showers in the park near the bowls club, in the main street, and they appreciate your $$$$. The second one is Windora... $10 a night in the caravan park. If you are just passing through, or free camped out on "The Cooper", you are welcome to go to the Caravan park, use their showers, use the washing machine...all for $2.00. Fill your water for free. Even a private house, on the main street has a hose in the front yard, with a sign saying, all travellers are welcome to fill up. They know their existence depends on passing travellers.
Cheers Dellie

Helena · Guru

I agree with the problem of overstaying in free camp area's we were going through Theodore this year and wanted to stay a night but couldn't find a spot in the free camp area apparently people go there and spend their entire three month holiday there. Helena

biggles · Senior Member

There is 2 sides to every story - Owning a caravan park in most areas is very seasonal - so why should they not be able to make money in the good months to even out the quiet months. They still need to keep the doors open, that takes money... In saying that, there is some mongrel park owners as well as some mongrel people caravanning. I work on the principle you get what you give.

Technomad · Senior Member

The choice comes back to yourself, but good parks have to survive and good parks strive to give value for money, seaonal rates vary and for those on tight budgets should assess their options of where they want to be and when they want to be there. You complaining and driving this type of hype will only convince these big parks to go further and remove even more oportunities for RV sites. We work hard and the owners strive to supply a standard of accomodation and facility within tight regulatory controls, cleanliness, facility and security are paramount but all at a cost so please focus on the parks that are struggling, support them but drive out the last of the mohicans that are not supplying the standards that you should be expecting. Stay away from peak areas if your lucky enough to do so because in peak they are always full anyway and get inland a bit and support the smaller parks that deserve it. When we retire soon we hope there are some parks left that we too can choose from and decide ourselves what is value for money.

brickies · Guru

Would be good to hear from OZJOHN on this one the old saying if you don't use it you lose it , you don't see many Big 4 closing down a lot of people free camping in the inland places can't do that on the coast doing a lot of our traveling off peak some parks inland not making a fortune and lot of hard work

jimricho · Guru

biggles wrote:

There is 2 sides to every story - Owning a caravan park in most areas is very seasonal - so why should they not be able to make money in the good months to even out the quiet months. They still need to keep the doors open, that takes money... In saying that, there is some mongrel park owners as well as some mongrel people caravanning. I work on the principle you get what you give.

Ask anyone who owns or has owned a holiday house or flat that they rent out and they can tell you that you can charge a "motza" for a few weeks of the year but that over the year the income hardly covers the direct costs let alone any interest or opportunity costs.

brickies · Guru

I often count the number in a park and work out what the income for a night is and look at staff wages are without taking into account water and electricity and on going maintenance sometimes sobering exercise

Technomad · Senior Member

Pat and I are dedicated to improving the outlook for RV site retention but it is an up hill battle. Just imagine owning a park somewhere on the Great Ocean Road or on the Queensland Coast and the North West of WA. Very, very seasonal area, beautiful one day, lousy the next. Short seasons drive the cabin mode, and the RV public most of them in winter or the wet won't travel, but cabins will always sell. I have sent to the administrator my views of what is needed and it is called THE PERFECT CARAVAN PARK designed as lengthy stop over situation with some security and a respite for those to gather their thoughts of where to go from here.
This park, and I can be wrong too, could draw a 100+ aweek guaranteed for a long term stay, low labour cost and a continual draw of clientel almost asured.
For those challenging this view are inadvertantly hurting themselves and for what I have seen of some free camping situations, unless you use them at the best time of the year I'm sure I wont get my other half to settle most times for a clean, well maintained caravan park. I too will use overnight free stop overs to save funds at times but some of the loudest opponents to parks will be those who don't want to pay anything at all. I too would like to hear from OZJOHN, for at least he has the past experiences and could give the views also that you don't want to hear. There are two sides to this argument and it would be great if a Tourism Industry debate could be set up, but you know what, the loudest quite often fall silent at the crucial time and then complain of the outcomes reached.