Supply and Demand.

RALPHRALPH · Senior Member

RE: Supply and Demand.

Joe · Senior Member

Pejay wrote:
Umina NSW - NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park $150/nt

Hastings Pt NSW - Big 4 North Star Holiday Resort $120/nt
" " " - Hastings Pt Holiday Pk $150/nt
Big 4 Sydney Lakeside @ Narrabeen NSW - $70/nt

There used to be an expensive one at Pt Macquarie but does not appear to be in the latest RACQ Bk. If I find any others - will post them as well.

-- Edited by Pejay on Tuesday 29th of November 2011 05:43:59 PM

There is a van park in Yamba, the one right near the mouth of the river and the closest one to the beaches, that charged more than $100 in high season over five years ago.

No, we never went back.

Similarly there is a park in Coffs Harbour that charges the same sort of prices.

Ask first!

littledick · Senior Member

JRH wrote:
Pejay wrote:
Umina NSW - NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park $150/nt
$120-
You do not say what the price is for.The pricing on all NRMA parks is done by an agent in Qld . Not the park, NRMA or Big 4. I had reason to complain about the pricing on this park 18 months ago as at the time the price at peak time was $120.00 pn for a powered site. I believe they have reviewed their prices and I was advised from mid to late Jan 2012 the price for a powered site is $80.00. Ensuite $105.00.This by the agent, not the park.
I only hope the park hasnt added extra $$$.
Dick.

nomadic1 · Senior Member

Berry showground is all full up this coming weekend it's true. I rocked up this morning and can only stay until Friday. The price has gone up to $20 a night. They won't increase the price for the holiday period but the local council is apparently talking about increasing the price to $28 a night. If they do that this will be another place that I bypass - which is a shame because I like the town and the Treat Factory in particular.

Pejay · Guru

Hi again Neil & Raine,

The C/Pk you were looking at at Jervis Bay appears to be the cheapest one - the other two at Huskinson wanted $80 & $86 respectively per night!!!

I nearly had an apoppa.... apoppa.... fit, when I came across a park at Batehaven (sth cst NSW) that said it had 251 sites (139 powered) and for 2 people $55-$420.. No kidding, so me, being me, rang to check, and although it is printed that way, which leads you to believe it ranges from $55 to $420 per night, apparently the $420 is actually per week!! Now THAT would have taken the cake for over the top pricing eh?

goinsoon · Guru

I saw those prices and just shi shi shivered, I guess that is the result now of caravans being a cheaper alternative for families with 2 or 3 kids, when you compare it with units or similar it is cheap, especially if a family goes to a c/park and the kids take a friend or two

jimricho · Guru

This thread seems to be mainly an exercise in Caravan Park bashing so I'll see if I can introduce a bit of balance...

Firstly, the title of the thread sums it up well...supply and demand. Also I point out that I'm not an apologist for park owners.

It's simply a case of peak season - peak prices, same as it is with hotel rooms, airline fares, holiday unit rentals etc etc...

I don't have a problem with this at this time of the year simply because I stay home until at least after the school hols.

Many of these parks are located in places where the business is very seasonal and the owners need to cover the many months where the park is near empty but the ongoing fixed costs still keep coming in.

If caravan parks were a licence to print money why have so many been sold off to be developed for other uses.

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 30th of November 2011 07:46:33 PM

rvtraveller2 · Senior Member

Pejay wrote:
Hi again Neil & Raine,

The C/Pk you were looking at at Jervis Bay appears to be the cheapest one - the other two at Huskinson wanted $80 & $86 respectively per night!!!

I nearly had an apoppa.... apoppa.... fit, when I came across a park at Batehaven (sth cst NSW) that said it had 251 sites (139 powered) and for 2 people $55-$420.. No kidding, so me, being me, rang to check, and although it is printed that way, which leads you to believe it ranges from $55 to $420 per night, apparently the $420 is actually per week!! Now THAT would have taken the cake for over the top pricing eh?

At $420 a week do they supply meals,roast pork or lamb sounds good maybe a pavlova coud be nice biggrin biggrin [apart from the waist line]. rvtraveller2 biggrin biggrin biggrin

Pejay · Guru

I'm sorry Jimricho, but I don't agree with you, it appears to me that people (including me) are having a bitch about the high price that caravan parks charge over the Christmas/New Year period, and wonder how they justify such charges - that is all.

The other thing is also, that some of us do travel at this time of year, to spend Christmas with family, and I guess it catches us between a rock and a hard place - over-priced parks V family - know which one we choose, even if it means pulling the belt in for a little while. Thankfully we can park the van on our son's driveway for some of the time we will be away.

-- Edited by Pejay on Thursday 1st of December 2011 02:04:18 PM

-- Edited by Pejay on Thursday 1st of December 2011 02:05:47 PM

Cruising Granny · Guru

There is a big difference between caravan park, holiday park and tourist park.
The basic caravan park is just that. All amenities, with no frills. The hospitality is usually friendly but not overwhelming.
Holiday parks are aimed at families with young children. They charge for the use of playground equipment, games rooms and convience facilities provided.
Tourist parks are the up-marked 4 star parks with almost luxury cabins, sophisticated sites with nice surroundings, and very nice amenities and on-suite bathrooms.
Every standard has its price.
Protest by boycott is the only way to go. Publicising how we feel about these high-priced facilities is also another right we have.
As a large proportion of the caravan and camping community in this country, we should use our voice to express our opinions, basing it on our personal experiences.
Whether you free camp, bush camp, or caravan park it, we have a right to express our feelings. Do it!

ChiChi1 · Guru

I can get a very nice room in a resort hotel at Surfers over Christmas for about $150.00pn. How does that work out against cp's. Who do they think they are.?

beiffe · Guru

I think the best thing we can do is to just don't go there. The main problem is the fact that the CP charge these rates in the holiday periods causes many of the full time travelers who have no choice but to camp some one either become free camper/bush campers or just stay away from those districts full time. This hurts the local population but then their civil fathers etc let them do it.

I spend my time where I am welcome all the year, any area doing the big grab I avoid ALL the time.

If more travelers decided to stay away and not do the herd migration to QLD etc ans stay the same place every year and decide to go somewhere else for a change then they may think again but while they are full at those prices they will continue to jack the prices up. Any business that is flat out can up the prices till they are no longer getting the full patronage they require. Most get their yearly income in the holiday period and then us nomads are the icing and that's why in the QLD inquiry one submitter suggested that we adjust OUR travel pattern so they could be full all the year and we would leave more sites for the xmas holiday crowd.

I bush camp and then put my money into the areas that allow me to camp my way. I have a set amount to spend and it is either the caravan jail or the local stores and sorry the jails loose every time.

jimricho · Guru

The New England area is very pleasant at this time of the year (maybe a bit wet right now, but speaking generally) and I would be inclined to think that caravan park rates would be no different to any other time. I think this comment could apply to many other places too.

There are many nice places on the NSW North Coast too, but common sense suggests to avoid them in School Hols

-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 1st of December 2011 06:06:27 PM

justcruisin01 · Guru

The annoying thing is that they do NOT offer anything different in the line of service at the peak times to what they offer at off peak to justify the extra cost.

It is like holding us for ransom & I will never pay those types of prices at any time, nomatter where it is. As for telling them what they can do with their park it doesn't bother them as they have waiting list ready to take your place, fools & their money are easily seperated.

RnD Drifters05 · Veteran Member

Some GN on the road full time try to get a house sit over the Xmas period that way you do not have to pay for accomm. Free camping is the way to go

RnD Drifters05 · Veteran Member

I agree, as a former park manager, CP do not make any money from a powered site at $28 - $35 per night they make more money from Cabins and they take up the same amount of space but bring in more money per night.

Just stay away from the Coast in Peak periods, go inland and free camp. That is our plan for the upcoming holidays

Old Crofter · Senior Member

We are booked into the Low Head CP in Northern Tassie, we are self contained so bare basic site right on the mouth of the Tamar River @18.00 night. Use of all amenties if we want to. Powered site was $32 Time period for our stay is 24th to 29th Dec.

Bob