Perhaps its the downturn, which, by the way , is everywhere.Its 10 to 20% down in NQ , and more in places where Yasi had devastated the place. I think a lot of caravan park owners just like to winge,because there are places that we can get the same for nothing or much cheaper.Inskip pt is an institution and any move to develop it would be fort against by me and thousands of others. Bill
-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 20th of March 2012 04:37:44 PM
Hi, I wonder and this is just my thoughts: is there a tactic afoot australia wide to shut down all the free camps to MAKE us all pay? after all, generally, people don't like to think someone has got something for nothing when they haven't. is this what the caravan park owners think?
they need to target their market - that is, people who will only stay in parks & meet their needs.that's where their money is. it amazes me they spend so much negativness on a market that they have never had, and never will.
When we travel we buy all our needs in the local town that supports us especially if we free camp
In Winton there is a buet little shop and we bought the grandkids ochre coloured t shirts with dinosaurs on the front and posted them. had meals out in town, bought groceries, books,and more.We also spent our time at the local caravan park because they had for tea: 3 course meal with entertainment, ran the tours, so there is an example of a caravan park catering to their clients needs and I might ad they were packed.well done.
makes me think of the homeless. they already have nothing except their dignity, so lets light up everything, everywhere to make their lives even harder for them to get a nights sleep. when you see a homeless person, look them in the eye, give a big smile and say hello. it will cost you nothing and who knows you might just be that stepping stone to helping that person get back on their feet. dignity.
-- Edited by the rocket on Tuesday 20th of March 2012 05:48:32 PM
Reference the latest news item on the Forum. According to Mr Don Wallace of the Poona Palms Caravan Park the increase in cheap or free camping areas has caused the reduction in Tourist sites within the park. There are a few questions IMO have to be asked.
How many cabins have been placed on previous camping sites?
Have the caravan parks closed because they were unprofitable or were they sold to developers?
To what extent have the parks priced themselves out of business, therefore, causing GNs and others to take up the option of free camping?
Well I dont really know of any cheap/free camping areas in the Great Sandy Straits area. The closest I know of would be Inskip, and Kauri which have been NPWLS areas for longer than I can remember. Tinnenbar closed years ago, not because it was not viable, but because the land was worth more as a development site than it was generating as a Caravan Park.
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If there is such a thing as a tourist season.... why cant we shoot them?
If you don't supply what people want you deserve to go to the wall. People are fed up being ripped off and getting substandard amenities and not getting what they need.Of course they will go elsewhere.
The park owners raise the rates in the holiday season to exorbitant heights and expect people to just grin and bear it.
What about the rest of the traders out there who benefit from GN's and all the other travellers spending locally ,be it food fuel or visiting local attractions.
No mention of cabins.motels and the myriad of other accomodation choices impinging on the Caravan Parks.
Sorry, you lose me, I don't want to be ripped off by high priced CP's or Holiday Parks.
How many CP's jumped on the Cabin bandwagon and built them losing other sites.Now the majority of the travelling public have their own facilities en-suite so to speak and don't need much apart from power.That is changing too with solar and inverters.
LIke dinosaurs adapt or die,give people what they want and reap the benefits.
There is a place out there for all of us. The free campers will rarely frequent caravan parks, not just for budget reasons, but because they like a quiet spot out of town by the beach or river or whatever. They may use a park for laundry and stocking up water etc. The basic caravan parks vary by degrees. There's the very basic van park which offers you a powered sight and amenities, and not much else for minimal fees up to $20. There's the "getting better" parks which provide both van and cabins, basic but better, maybe a poor and bbq's and camp kitchen, and maybe some social activity in the busy season. These parks usually reach maximum capacity in the busy season leaving no where but free camping in the district. Then there are the high end with nice slab sites, nicer cabins, facilities for kids, camp kitchen and pool, and for this you pay bigger dollars. Big 4 seems to be in this category. If you have to pay $48+ (Broome) a site in the peak season, where will you go? Overflow areas not withstanding, you will find a quiet free camp to spend some time and enjoy where you are. The park's success is directly attributable to the attitude in the office, and the service, or lack thereof. Some parks give you more for you basic $ than a site with a power point and a tap. They are the parks which succeed and are very busy.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
If you don't supply what people want you deserve to go to the wall. People are fed up being ripped off and getting substandard amenities and not getting what they need.Of course they will go elsewhere.
The park owners raise the rates in the holiday season to exorbitant heights and expect people to just grin and bear it.
What about the rest of the traders out there who benefit from GN's and all the other travellers spending locally ,be it food fuel or visiting local attractions.
No mention of cabins.motels and the myriad of other accomodation choices impinging on the Caravan Parks.
Sorry, you lose me, I don't want to be ripped off by high priced CP's or Holiday Parks.
How many CP's jumped on the Cabin bandwagon and built them losing other sites.Now the majority of the travelling public have their own facilities en-suite so to speak and don't need much apart from power.That is changing too with solar and inverters.
LIke dinosaurs adapt or die,give people what they want and reap the benefits.
I agree. I do not understand why prices go up during school holidays for this type of busines. no other businesses have this luxury. rocket n strop
They charge more during the holidays because they CAN.The big season is during the holidays and they want to make as much money as they can. Greed seems to be a big thing with park owners. This is why they are dead against free camps.They are like the old robber barons who want to charge you if you go across their property, and winge loadly when they can,t. No simpathy at all. Bill
They charge more during the holidays because they CAN.The big season is during the holidays and they want to make as much money as they can. Greed seems to be a big thing with park owners. This is why they are dead against free camps.They are like the old robber barons who want to charge you if you go across their property, and winge loadly when they can,t. No simpathy at all. Bill
greed will be the death of humanity. rocket n strop
I see it that if they don't provide what the majority of their customers want they will be out of business. They want the business but are not prepared to make the customer want to pull into their parks.
Over Christmas the neice, husband and her family of 4 billy lids were charged $80 per night for a unpowered tent site at a South West Victorian seaside CP. $40 per night extra for the kids. They should have a family rate instead.
Up to date at the insistance of the navigator we mainly stay at CPs. However, after our resent trip up the centre and over to the west has had her scratching the head as to why the prices have risen so much.
In the west GNs are called WOWs (Wallets on Wheels) and as such the managers of CPs make the most of their opportunities. I want to utilise the roadside facilities more often, but She who must be obeyed feels safer in the CPs. I hasten to add that our van is fitted out to free camp for days. water being the only limitation.
Resently we have free camped two nights in a row and this exercise seemed to soften the "we must stay in a CP" stance. Here's hoping for the wallets sake.
