Welcome Oxley, enjoy here and out there.

Just go to the office and ask for another site mate. If a car is on the one allocated to you go and ask the office to have it moved or move you. If the park is a member of a big chain, write to the chain and let them know, don't ring, write.

I live in a village for over 55's and just the other day I had someone park in front of my driveway so I just parked opposite it and left my car there. Didn't take long. I had someone come and ask me to move my car, me, no way, I pay to live here and use my driveway the car in front of is nothing to do with me, I stood my ground and both cars stayed there for about another 1/2 hour, mine was then in the driveway.

It was a park employee who was showing me to my site that told me Id have to move to different site because the car owner was drunk.

With the Cobar incident they didnt really respond, I stated my reasons calmly and didnt shoot any bullets, and they handed the money back.

Only 2 parks this week, and one was the cheapest and filthiest so far, has greeted me with more than what the heck do you want? attitude, heck one didnt tell me about the facilities such as camp kitchen or laundry, Cobar I just got given a map.
I mean heck, I buy dinner and groceries at every town I stay at, I dont know what the issue is.

I'd ask for a refund too. You pay like everyone else, so you deserve to be treated like everyone else too. I have also asked for a refund at Coober Pedy, the first caravan park on the right as you drive into town (can't remember what it was called) counter staff girl told us to just drive down and pick a vacant spot. When we got down to the sites they seemed to be all taken, even though there were some spaces beside some of the vans. When we stopped at any we were told very abruptly by the van owners that it was their car space or some such garbage, and we couldn't setup there. Twice around the park for the same result and we eventually went back to the office. We were told by the same girl, after I had to go into the dining room to get her attention because she was busy chatting to some loud yanks dining there, that there should be "some" vacant sites just have another look... I said no thanks, I'll have a refund and go to the one down the road (first place on the left as you enter town). Totally different attitude, and we had a great nights sleep there.. I wouldn't bother even considering the one we first tried next time we overnight there.

I may have been misguided by my youth when I could travel for months with nothing more than my tool box, 2 pairs of clean socks and undies, old FJ45, 4 cartons of beer, 2 cartons of cigarettes, a $10 woollies sleeping bag and a packet of crisps.

Oxley wrote:

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I may have been misguided by my youth when I could travel for months with nothing more than my tool box, 2 pairs of clean socks and undies, old FJ45, 4 cartons of beer, 2 cartons of cigarettes, a $10 woollies sleeping bag and a packet of crisps.

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 Most of us started with the absolute basics mate - as we get older, bones get wearier - still love the life, but need a little bit of comfort - but you have a way to go before you are my age, and it all comes down to the mighty $ - what you can afford - have a look at some posts in the "solo" section by a guy called "yeoeleven" - he also has a blog - 75 years young - has an old Hi-ace - a most inspiring man - always got a smile on his face.  Just recently finished 12 months around Oz - now starting out again, slower this time, his writings and photos are incredible!!!  All on here will agree with me on this one I am sure.

Enjoy the rest of your trip - in Mildura stay at Buronga Riverside CP - across the river, right on the river bank - nice people, nice spot.

I think there is only one Caravan Park in Cobar; its the one on the Barrier Highway, on the way out of town going towards Wilcannia.

The strange thing was on the map there were 2 other areas marked camping or unpowered camping, one at the front near the entrance, which had plenty of nice green grass, another in the back corner, but I was told to go out past that, to area not even on the map, that was sign posted camping grounds.
But that area was all uneven dirt and rock, with the odd tuft of grass, the camping section in the back corner was only slightly better, I had no hope of getting a tent peg in.
Heck I would have even paid extra for a grassed powered site, but they were happy for me to leave with a bad impression rather than offer an alternative.

I read "Frogs on the hop in Cobar", but as Im now getting the impression, if you dont drive a newer 4WD and have nice shiny caravan, you seem to be person non grata, as my experience with all but two other parks has taught me.

I have found some other guests were similarly not impressed with my presence, I had couple turn their chairs around so their backs were to me when I tried to make nice at Gilgandra.

Completely different to the park in Moree, everyone was very friendly, except the permanent that was unable/didnt want to move his car.

I was discussing this with some friends today and they suggested I may be dressing too similar to Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch, but maybe I should just get signage on my Ute "single male traveller: Im here to murder your daughter and rape your dog", impressions can only go up from there.

-- Edited by Oxley on Friday 24th of August 2012 05:29:20 PM

Stayed at Broken Hill Caravan Park (Top Tourist) until last night - there is a nice grassed unpowered camping area and if you want power you get put next to vans on bark.  Not cheap but people seemed pleasant - the Black Dog Ride arrived at the same time as me and it was a bit chaotic at checkin but it didn't last long.  There is only one shower block but smaller toilet blocks through park.  Now at Wentworth on the river - $18 per night for a single - mainly vans but some tents and motorhomes and campers.  The local show is on this weekend.  I travel solo in a small (very) caravan.  Have never had a problem with site allocation, although I do find that some of the other travellers avoid me but there is usually at least one or two that say hello.  Had a nice chat by the river earlier this evening with a single guy traveller.

Persevere it is worth it.

cheers Helen

there is a website called True Local that a lot of places are on - and you can log on and write comments - good or bad - there.

I booked at the caravan Park at Caboolture for 4 days - going to a friends party. Friend insisted I park on his lawn once I called in to let them know I was here - tried to get a refund for 1 - or even 2 nights but no such luck. Place 90% full of permanents by the looks - only about 6 parks for travellers! Really narrow to get through all the lean-to's to the back near the Bruce Hwy (noisy) Avoid it I say:)

Me too

My faith has been restored by the park at Balranald, $25 for a powered site every was nice, close to the river and Id say the friendliness of the staff rubs off on the guests, as everyone was friendly, including a caravan club, who I have heard are notorious for being snobs when in the presences of non-members.
I will be back there again for sure.
Thou I do have to question the logic of some operators, Leeton (not the oasis, as that looked shut down) charged me $30 for a powered site (Broken Hill was $35, Cobar $32) and $9 to buy tokens to one load of laundry, no wonder it was empty, and there was some strange rule that the showers were locked at 9PM?
No wonder the park at Narrandera they were queuing down the road.

Yes, I agree, that park at Balranald is nice, we enjoyed being so close to the river, and the townspeople were friendly too.