Caravan Park cliques

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Caravan Park cliques

Helena · Guru

Yes have come up against this we just ignored it and then decided caravan parks were not for us unless it was really necessary so now we happily free park most of the time and meet up with such a lot of lovely people and have made so many friends this way, hope that it didn't spoilt your holiday too much for you. Travel safe and enjoy the rest of your time away.Helena.

Ma · Guru

That's one of the reasons that we like to free camp as well Helena. Much friendlier.

BobnBev · Senior Member

Hi GD, I would have said "after the BBQ" Hope you cleaned the plate ,saw a cat licking it earlier. Not worth the worry GD. free campers are so much more down to earth. And are real people plus more friendly.. Better time ahead mate.....

gillyb · Senior Member

I have come accross this problem quite a few times during my trip Gerty, especially in the park I am in at the moment in Port Douglas, I have always put it down to the fact I'm single as quite often the men tend to at least nod their heads and mumble a hello where the women choose to ignore me completely so it makes me feel a little better to find out that it happens to couples also. I have always thought that the idea of a caravan park was that you can meet lovely friendly people from all different walks of life and this always was the case many years ago when I took my kids camping when they were little but sadly times seem to have changed.

I think Gerty hit the nail on the head by saying that these people come to the same place at the same time every year and have their own little group that do the same thing so they seem to think that they own the place and that others a trespassers

I do have to say though that I have made friends here with a small group of travellers who are some of the nicest people I have ever met.

As for how I'm dealing with it I haven't let these 'snobs' bother me one little bit and am thoroughly enjoying my trip

labrat · Member

G'day up to 12 months ago we always only stayed at caravan parks as we had no ability to stay away from 240V and now that we have a Kedron van with solar and batteries we have never looked back at staying in caravan parks ....We never struck the happy hour except when the caravan park put it on that everyone talks about and found than on the whole most people in parks seemed to keep to their selves (that's ok if thats your thing ) . In the one year that we have been free camping and four differant holiday in that time we have found that overall fellow campers were more at ease and started to have a chat easier ..

The only problem with free camping is that sometimes you have to put up with noisy neighbours (drunk ) and very noisy generators some of those old 2 stroke mitre 10 specials are noisier than a chain saw and some still running at 3.00am as we found out last holiday ..but overall we love the ability that if we don't like our neighbours or they don't like us you can just move further away ,works every time ..LOL...Cheers ..BOB...

NeilandRaine · Guru

We came across this last year at Palm Cove, same thing a group took over the BBQ area every day about 4 and excluded anyone who dared use the BBQ under their fierce scrutiny.
Yep same people who have been going there for years.
Anyway a few of us who had met previously (mainly at the free camps between Townsville and Cairns) decided to have our happy hour at 3.45.
The snobs were invited along with any other outsiders in the park. It was such a good happy hour we all decided to do it again for a week.
On the third day they arrived at 3.30, however we just came along and started up as usual at 3.45. It onlytook about half an hour and every one decided it was a good time for all
The rest of our stay was made up of great happy hours.
Now back to the topic. I have found this group mentality in a lot of parks and usually treat them with the contempt they deserve.
We prefer to free camp but parks can be a break at times.
Having said that about parks I have been to free camps populated by groups travelling together or the same people coming back every year. They treat newbies just the same.

Ma · Guru

labrat wrote:
G'day up to 12 months ago we always only stayed at caravan parks as we had no ability to stay away from 240V and now that we have a Kedron van with solar and batteries we have never looked back at staying in caravan parks ....We never struck the happy hour except when the caravan park put it on that everyone talks about and found than on the whole most people in parks seemed to keep to their selves (that's ok if thats your thing ) . In the one year that we have been free camping and four differant holiday in that time we have found that overall fellow campers were more at ease and started to have a chat easier ..

The only problem with free camping is that sometimes you have to put up with noisy neighbours (drunk ) and very noisy generators some of those old 2 stroke mitre 10 specials are noisier than a chain saw and some still running at 3.00am as we found out last holiday ..but overall we love the ability that if we don't like our neighbours or they don't like us you can just move further away ,works every time ..LOL...Cheers ..BOB...

Reference Moruya Bob ?? .....

ozi2 · Guru

Hi Gerty and Mr D, geez, you guys are racking up the miles! So, you have finally encountered CP ignorance...what a joke these sort of people are, just something to laugh off. My mother always said "I may not have much, but I do have standards" !!

Continue to enjoy your journey.........lucky buggers biggrin

cheers

ozi2

labrat · Member

Yes ma ...still had a good time though ,the guy with the generator was the one with small campervan next to us a old scorpoin 2 stoke one ....When he heard my 4 stoke one running as he walked past and commented that you could hardly hear it ,I suggested that it would be a good choice when his current one dies ...I think he got the message..LOL...Also stuck noisy generators at Glenbawn dam in september our neighbours and they were a lovelly family who we become quite friendly with and I taught their kids how to fish as dad wasn't much of a fisherman had 2 generators ( Super cheap specials .)running from 8.00am till 10.00pm every day for their 2x freezers ....

Luckilly for me I am deaf and I just take out my hearing aids LOL....I think Blue said he does the same thing very handy..... they were also impressed with our ability of just using solar for our power needs and only running the genny in the arvo for a couple of hours to top up the batteries when neccesary ..Inverter generators are so cheap these days there are ones on e-bay for under $500 delivered 5.5klw and remote start.. key start ..rope start also and all very quiet around 58 decibals at 7 metres ... not a lot of money for quiet camping ....Cheers ..BOb ...

ken thomas · Guru

This is a topic i put in last year and still applies

Ken

I have just spent 6 months travelling up the centre to Darwin

and down the west coast to Esperence and then across the Nullabor to Echuca and have been somewhat disappointed with the take it or leave it attitude of some park owners and lot of sales people.
They seem to have the attitude that we as travellers have very deep pockets and will pay whatever.
Maybe it is time to boycott some of these places like Broome and Exmouth for a year and then see if we travellers do make a difference to their bottom line and if their attitude changes
DUN WURKUN disbelief

Cupie · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
Having arrived in Broome and set up our van in a precious hard to get site, we said Hullo to our neighbors, some of whom were friendly but others didnt even answer. Around 5 a large group gathered around the communal BBQ which is right beside our awning, enjoyed a noisy happy hour then cooked their dinner on the Barbie and ate... all completely ignoring our presence. I've heard about cliques forming in parks but this is the first time I've met such people. Apparently this group has been visiting this park every year and stay here for several months together.

Interesting that you should encounter this in Broome ...... We had the same thing way back in 2000 at the Cable Beach CP .. the one behind the resort.

It seems that there were lots who come up from around Perth & stay for a few months. Have been doing it for years. Some even bring up lawn seed & start a little lawn in front of their site .. woe betide those who walk on it.

Cliques form & they often seem to resent outsiders.

Fortunately they were down the front of the park & we were up the back in a (then) new area they called "Siberia". Suited us; our own BBQ & amenities. Didn't seem to like it when we 'intruded' on their area .. so sad.

I think that you get this everywhere where there are groups like this.

Ma · Guru

I like your Mother's way of thinking Ozi2

ozi2 · Guru

Ma wrote:
I like your Mother's way of thinking Ozi2

HI Ma, yes it is a fair description of her value's; dad was more subtle with ignoramus's and just reminded them that "their waste products" and his shared the same place! biggrin

Ma · Guru

In the scheme of things Oz we all come in the same way with a first breath and go out the same way with a last breath, it's just what we do in between that matters.

tiger5 · Senior Member

I have found cliques all over(parks & camps) .It seems to happen on the coasts mainly & I remember at a park in Carnarvon if you did not come from south of Perth or play bowls no one would talk to you.I found the best way to get a word out of them was to look for which footy team they followed & wave the SWANS flag,boy did that get them going.

Dunco · Senior Member

They're all over the place, especially if you are a solo MALE traveller (and I hear it happens to lady solos as well)

A couple of years back I was in Broome and a similar thing occurred and I just sat there having a cool beer in the sun, listening in to their drivel. I think they thought I was a paedophile or something as they didn't even say g'day !!

Anyway, a day or so later I chatted to my neighbour who asked a few questions and after I told him I was a retired COP, I was invited to their happy hour the next day !!

I declined, and politely told them why...because they were rude and arrogant and I would rather be on my own biggrin

It happens to solo females as I have been told the women don't want to lose their husbands to some lady on their own....go figure

Ma · Guru

tiger5 wrote:
I have found cliques all over(parks & camps) .It seems to happen on the coasts mainly & I remember at a park in Carnarvon if you did not come from south of Perth or play bowls no one would talk to you.I found the best way to get a word out of them was to look for which footy team they followed & wave the SWANS flag,boy did that get them going.

Good on you for having a go Tige. For me I just couldn't be bothered with people who think they are better than me or have more than me or do things that I don't do or for whatever reason won't be sociable.

It's their loss not mine.

petengail · Guru

Certainly hear where you are coming from - worst i ever struck was Burrum heads in peak season - only go to C/P at Easter so the grandies can come down, and Seaforth QLD, for the winter break

Vic · Guru

Just speaking of the WA experience, in winter many (particularly the older generations) head north for the winter around May/June and stay there until about June. The warm winter weather starts about Carnaravon and that is where many book in as it it closest to Perth (less travel) and they do this each year. It is called the "Granny Season" where the oldies go north to the warm climes for their arthritis/warmth etc.

In the park I stayed at last year for a week in Carnarvon, I found there were three separate groups, some permanents who mostly kept to themselves but occasionally had a happy hour together with some of their outside friends visiting. Because I was know by one of them I was invited to a Birthday Party they had for one of the permanent residents, but was the only none permanent there.

The other group were a number of regulars who booked in annually and kept to their own group of annual friends there under one of their annexes.

Another regular group who went over the the camp kitchen for happy hour and anyone who wanted to could join them, regular or just passing through, they put a notice up in the ablution block inviting one and all to join them at the happy hours. They were the most friendly.

There were a few who were just plain ignored who didn't even acknowledge you when you said hello, usually they had friends travelling with them in another van or RV.

I did meet up with GN member JRH and his lovely wife both at the park I was staying at and the one they were staying at for a small but pleasant happy hour.

If you have a group anywhere that just plain ignore you, I find the best treatment is to find others not in their group and being ignored also and invite them over to your area for a few drinks or cuppa at happy hour. You just have to have a walk around the park and say hello and if they seem friendly and have a chat with you go from there. It really pees the exclusive groups off to see others having fun and sharing laughter etc outside of their group.

You also have a group who are dedicated fishermen who gather annually to share fishing and their catches, and you will usually find these at popular fishing destinations.

There are also members of RV clubs who attend caravan parks for a rally and tend to take over the campers kitchen as though is there for them exclusively. Their numbers can vary from about 10 to 35 RV's. Some will invite you to join them but many won't, some talk to you, others snub you if you are not a member of their club.

You will strike some of these in various parks or in free camps on their way to and from a rally somewhere. If we are travelling on our own we usually try to avoid these groups (ask if there are any groups booked in when you ring) as there is too much demand on the facilities in the park during these rallies.

Some info for anyone going to Kalgoorlie in October. The CMCA are holding a National Rally there at this time, at least one caravan park is already booked out and probably others too. You may strike many of the number coming/going across the Nullabor from/to the east on there way here and return, some travelling in groups mostly with motor homes, campervans and 5th wheelers. This will be a huge rally.

-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 20th of July 2011 11:38:18 AM

-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 20th of July 2011 11:40:33 AM

lilly31 · Guru

I am single and travel solo most of time unless my grandkids come with me and i have found a fair bit of rudeness toward me once it know im am a solo women and i suppose solo men get it to ..I once read on here not sure who post it was but they said if you are a sole women alway talk to the women first meet up with them in shower or landry and chat to them and then it safe for you to say hello to the hubby ......I did laught when i read this till i was on the road ans saw what they ment .....
And then there the rudeness of some people who just think they are better then you well i just give them i wide berth altogether ...why would you bother to waste time on them

justjo · Senior Member

Hi Lilly, You just have to wonder what those guys got up to in their marriage to make the ladies so suspicious. I've found that most couples happy in their relationship will always welcome you, but oh my, look out if you talk to one of the guys who must have been a naughty boy before! lol It's really the same everywhere when you are single.

Vic · Guru

justjo wrote:
Hi Lilly, You just have to wonder what those guys got up to in their marriage to make the ladies so suspicious. I've found that most couples happy in their relationship will always welcome you, but oh my, look out if you talk to one of the guys who must have been a naughty boy before! lol It's really the same everywhere when you are single.

I think too you will find that some women are "Green Eyed" (jealous) of any woman they see as a threat. I've come across a few that resent their husbands talking to another man too, don't know if they think a bloke is going to race their husband off. confuse

Ma · Guru

Not much security in their relationship then I would say guys

Happywanderer · The Master

What an awful situation for you Gerty. I think you said they were setting up right next to your awning and still ignoring you. There's been a lot to read since first reading your opening post. That is just plain downright rude.
When I went on my first trip, I had no idea this men woman thing existed re hubbys and wifes and talked to everyone there, this was in Kumbia when I was having all the problems.
Now I think back on it, so many of the men spent hours in my van with all their equipment testing batteries and checking things. It became a standing joke as to whose hubby I was going to borrow next. I never noticed any animosity at all. One hubby knew more about inhouse batteries so he was there checking, another knew more about the runners on the awning so he was up there.
In the end I called out, "ok Whose husband haven't I borrowed yet??" A wife would call back, Well we are leaving today so you can't have him anymore."
There were some people who kept to themselves so I didn't bother them but mostly I would sit with them during the day and chat, play with their dogs have a cuppa etc.
Mind you at that stage I never realised there were cliques so would have burst into the group anyway and made myself comfortable.

lilly31 · Guru

justjo wrote:
Hi Lilly, You just have to wonder what those guys got up to in their marriage to make the ladies so suspicious. I've found that most couples happy in their relationship will always welcome you, but oh my, look out if you talk to one of the guys who must have been a naughty boy before! lol It's really the same everywhere when you are single.

Yes i say you are right justjo on all account's.. But i think we all should be judge on ..WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE not judged on what someone hubby or wife has done in the past ..my ex hubby was bit of wanderer that why he my ex lol .. but i dont judge other men on what he did in our married life .... smile

But in general people are lovely i have had lots of chats to couple had cupa tea with them most are very welcoming and friendly it just a small few who have any problem ..some would probably be happy if someone ran away with hubby sometimes LOL

-- Edited by lilly31 on Wednesday 20th of July 2011 05:55:33 PM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Hi and thanks for all your friendly kind remarks. Yes we've seen groups travelling together at free-camps as well as parks, and just leave them to it. Its the sheer nearness to our space that is so confronting here.
We havent missed much by not getting to know these people anyway. We met a couple at the visitors centre today,very unhappy about a similar thing at Cable beach caravan park. Made me feel better to think we arent alone!

Yes I can relate to being left out by couples when I was single, but made some wonderful woman friends.

Just go on being friendly to people, if they dont want to return it, its their loss I reckon!

rocan · Veteran Member

we are now in kununarra and people in park don't talk.even neighbours seem distant.found the same last week in katherine.felt like living in a big city where people walk past with their heads down and seem afraid to say hello.
start freecamping again tomorrow.will be better
rocan

Wombat 280 · Guru

Had an experience in a Qld park some time back . I was allocated a spot and was in the middle of backing the rig in when this couple came over , thinking Christ their friendly. NO. not friendly the RSM ( Wife ) just wanted to know how long I was staying as their friend was due in in a day or two and they have had that site for many years, turns out that a group of about 6 couples camp there every year for about six weeks and have done so for decades .

Needless to say I arranged with management to stay 8 days , didn't that piss them off, got the cold shoulder from all the group . Win some lose some , never effected my stay had more important things to do than sit around all day nattering over nothing. As I was there only to fill in for a couple of days for a mate I did get the better of one of the group when they turned up to fly out to the reef and yours truly was the pilot and you wouldn't believe their luck no seats available , bugger me sometimes it just happens that way.

Happywanderer · The Master

wombat280, your 2nd paragraph gave me a real chuckle. Karma is what its called, very well done.