Caravan Park Fees

yobarr · Guru

Caravan Park Fees

Meredith · Senior Member

That is an average for January, which is the summer school holidays and by far the most expensive month for caravan parks in most of Australia, there is no way you will be paying that throughout the year unless you really want to stay at the most expensive coastal caravan parks with waterparks etc. Of course free camping saves a lot of money, fairly easy to make back the cost of solar and batteries etc using them a lot, but the difference is nowhere near $27000, most grey nomads who stay all the time in caravan parks would pay less than half that per year.

yobarr · Guru

Hi Meredith, Like many you've misunderstood the statistics. The figures quoted are not for January, simply that January 2016 was the start point and January 2023 the finish point of the 7 year period being discussed.

It does NOT say 'For January the average daily rate ' which would support your thoughts.

It clearly is stated that rates are typically higher in summer months and school holidays, when I know that many parks are well over $100/day.

Statistics confuse many, and often are used mischievously and deviously to misrepresent reality.
Example:- If we have 10 workers on $60,000/year and one worker on $1 million/year, statistics give a totally unrealistic average wage of $145,454/year. Cheers.

-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 13th of August 2023 06:09:14 PM

Plain Truth · Guru

As Meredith states it is the average for Jan.,and summer school holidays,not at total of yearly caravan site costs.

Most nomads avoid these high price sites that time of year,unless they want to spend time with family and grandchildren who have to take their holidays at these designated times.

A bit misleading post.

Yobbar put the whole link up,please

-- Edited by Plain Truth on Sunday 13th of August 2023 06:10:24 PM

yobarr · Guru

Plain Truth wrote:
As Meredith states it is the average for Jan.,and summer school holidays,not at total of yearly caravan site costs.
Most nomads avoid these high price sites that time of year,unless they want to spend time with family and grandchildren who have to take their holidays at these designated times.
A bit misleading post.
Yobbar put the whole link up,please

Hi Alan, There is no 'whole link' as I simply asked Mr Google what the average daily caravan park cost was, and I got a whole page of different things to look at. This was simply a screen shot from the statista.com website.

If you do in depth research you will see crazy prices in big cities, well over $100/day, and lower prices in 'the bush'.

If we have, say a van park in town at $120/day and another in Mt Backabeyond at $20/day, the average is $70/day.

Statistics can be used to show anything, with creators relying on different interpretations and understandings. Cheers

P.S Not 'Yobbar'

KJB · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Plain Truth wrote:
As Meredith states it is the average for Jan.,and summer school holidays,not at total of yearly caravan site costs.
Most nomads avoid these high price sites that time of year,unless they want to spend time with family and grandchildren who have to take their holidays at these designated times.
A bit misleading post.
Yobbar put the whole link up,please
Hi Alan, There is no 'whole link' as I simply asked Mr Google what the average daily caravan park cost was, and I got a whole page of different things to look at. This was simply a screen shot from the statista.com website.
If you do in depth research you will see crazy prices in big cities, well over $100/day, and lower prices in 'the bush'.
If we have, say a van park in town at $120/day and another in Mt Backabeyond at $20/day, the average is $70/day.
Statistics can be used to show anything, with creators relying on different interpretations and understandings. Cheers
P.S Not 'Yobbar'

If you punish Statistics enough they will tell you exactly what you want to hear.......!

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Just completed a lap around the country during the trip we spent a total of 71 nights in powered sites at caravan parks. The dearest we paid was at Cable Beach in Broome at $71/night the cheapest was $28/night. We are G'day Parks, Big4 and NRMA (RAC) members so at those parks we usually got around $5 off per night, we also picked up a couple of deals in G'day Parks where we got a free night i.e. paying for 3 and getting 4. Overall we averaged $39/night - you can easliy cut those costs by alternating your stays in unpowered CP sites, pubs, showgrounds or by free camping. You could also easily double those costs by staying in popular tourist areas during holiday periods or by heading north when everyone decides that they need to dodge the winter. We also saved money by picking parks that were not right on the beach or a river but a few blocks away or even ones a little bit further out of town..

BB

mixo · Senior Member

family of 5 most parks are around 80 dollars, big 4 and your fancy parks you looking north of 100 - 140 dollars per night.

mixo

Cupie · Guru

Yep .. 'Lies Damn Lies & Statistics' was a favourite publication of mine way back when I worked as an Operations Mgr/exec for a Large Corporation, where statistics ruled the day.

It's just so easy to tell any story you want using statistics selectively; or indeed so easy to destroy an argument by identifying statistical anomalies.

There are a range of commonly known logistical fallacies that you can employ to support your position or to destroy another's.

Lots of people have not been fortunate enough to have been educated in the basic of statistics including averages measures .. mean, median & mode, interquartile ranges et al. let alone arguments in Logic or Probability.

On the subject of CP prices, we generally don't worry too much about what they charge as we only travel for a few months per year & are more interested in the experience than the monetry cost.

We would have a different approach if we were constantly on the road.

We always select CPs & sites that have the best views or aspect rather than those that are the cheapest. For instance our most recent trip was a fortnight on waterfront site at Tallebudgera Creek CP that cost around $1300. Only 100km down the road too.

When touring we often look for Showgrounds but rarely use free / low cost / bush camps even though our van is equipped with water, solar, grey water tote tank system & gas HWS & Fridge so that we have self sufficient capability for albeit limited times.

edit .. BTW some very nice people who were set up in their Motorhome a few sites down from us were there for 6 weeks. What a tremendous bill they would have had... circa $3900! But they are excellent sites perhaps equal, in my opinion, to any CP in Au & we have seen lots over our 23 years of caravanning.

-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 13th of August 2023 08:05:55 PM

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 14th of August 2023 10:20:08 AM

Meredith · Senior Member

The last few months travelling using a mix of free camping and caravan parks, the highest we have paid is actually tonight, in Katherine Big4 in peak season at $53 per night, other parks have all been under $50 and an average of $36 for the nights we have used caravan parks, some a lot lower, choosing parks for their location/amenities and not low cost. To pay the quoted average there is no doubt you would need to stay at the dearest parks and in school holidays. We do like free camping, gives us a lot more options and often are the best places. But I still can't see how you could spend $27,000 on caravan parks in a year without intentionally choosing the most expensive.

nomadz · Veteran Member

My old economics teacher used to say that statistics is the art of lying with precision.
Regards,
Ian

Brodie Allen · Guru

I'm loath to get started, but $40 for overnight loan of a slab of concrete
and (if you need them) communal dunny and $2 in power bring your own
house is very expensive.

Way too much accessories that push the prices up excessively, but looks
nice on the brochures.

Bloody kids and at times ignorant neighbours not controlled by management
further take the edge off the parks for me. Everyone to his own.

I have spent at least 4 months of the year since retiring nearly 20 years ago
and 2 months before that for 30 years and still hate parks - largely because
of the cramped impersonal sites and hoo-ha to get settled in and refit in
the mornings to go. Saving over $6000 pa. no slab is worth that.

And a pox on the "Motorist's Friends" - that is the motoring groups - they
manage to be the most expensive generally in my experience.

Love the freedom and simplicity of the camps - only in a park about once
a month for replenishment.

B

Possum3 · Guru

We tend to park our van when/where we want to sleep. We have less than no interest in jumping pillows, castles, pools (with kid's piddle), camp kitchens and roaring fire pits surrounded by pissed up raucous patrons.

We park and often leave our van whilst day tripping (bobtail) at secure budget caravan parks, showgrounds, and some freedom camps.

A family member with teenage kids has a permanent two week booking in January at a South Coast Park, "UN-POWERED" site $3,500-00. Mandated 12 month advance booking. Four people, one camper trailer and one vehicle, he isn't even permitted to park his boat at Caravan Park, so he must pay to leave it at a nearby Marina. IMHO total madness.

Cuppa · Guru

The way I look at it is that if we were to travel, staying in caravan parks fulltime, to get a bit of dirt (or grass if we are lucky) & some shared ablutions we would be paying significantly more for this than it would cost to rent a 3 bedroom house with all facilities plus privacy. Sure rentals in some areas cost more than in others but so do parks.

Whenwe have tenants in our home it costs them $140 a week ($20 per night plus power gas & water). We still pay the rates plus service charges for water & gas.

In CP's we don't need power. Washing machines are often an additional cost on top of the park fees, & we have to listen to the snoring & farting or worse from our neighbours. For this the minimum price seems to be $25 or $30 per night. Often more. Sometimes a lot more. Most we have paid anywhere was $45 a night for two nights (with power) at Weipa because our vehicle was at a mechanic's workshop in town which made the expenditure convenient given that the nearest free camping spot was some 40kms out of town. As CP's went it was pleasant enough, with a nice water view but at a rate twice what our tenants pay for a 3 bed house, double garage, workshop & established treed garden on a couple of private acres.

Pricing of caravan parks is clearly aimed at holiday makers who can justify the high cost short term, not at long term/full time travellers. I understand the seasonal pricing model & the whatever the market will bear approach, & that is the prerogative of the CP owner, and as a long term traveller it has little impact on me because we so rarely use CP's except on rare occasions where the park offers us value for money in terms of it's natural attractions or convenience.

Gundog · Guru

For us who prefer to stay or choose to reside in a caravan park like the security and amenities availability, or do not like the idea of free camping, generally with a litte research you can find a reasonable priced park.

Free camping is not for us why we like our creature comforts, if its hot, turn on the AC if its cold, turn on the the heater, if I want to watch sport on tv and my partner wants to watch whatever, we have 2 tvs, the last thing I need to worry about is the SOC of the Batteries , I wont have a gas or diesel heater, when an electric fan heater works does the job.

For our power requirements I suppose we would need plenty of batteries and solar, another water tank, but all this extra gear means weight that the caravan has not available, I suppose a 4KVA generator would be an alternative power source to fit our need one with an auto start feature, although it would cause some angst in a free camp running till midnight and the starting up at 7am.

I have just compleated a check of our costs for the next 24 weeks in 2 seaside caravan parks on the north side of Brisbane, 3 weeks peak season 6 weeks sholder season and 14 weeks low season average out to about $32 per night.

Tony LEE · Guru

Last 18 months, most of it on the road, we have spent 20 dollars on camping fees, so going by the quoted figures, my all-electric motorhome, free camping, has saved $39,000. (fuel has cost 15,000 though)

Cuppa · Guru

Gundog wrote:
For us who prefer to stay or choose to reside in a caravan park like the security and amenities availability, or do not like the idea of free camping, generally with a litte research you can find a reasonable priced park.
Free camping is not for us why we like our creature comforts, if its hot, turn on the AC if its cold, turn on the the heater, if I want to watch sport on tv and my partner wants to watch whatever, we have 2 tvs, the last thing I need to worry about is the SOC of the Batteries , I wont have a gas or diesel heater, when an electric fan heater works does the job.
For our power requirements I suppose we would need plenty of batteries and solar, another water tank, but all this extra gear means weight that the caravan has not available, I suppose a 4KVA generator would be an alternative power source to fit our need one with an auto start feature, although it would cause some angst in a free camp running till midnight and the starting up at 7am.
I have just compleated a check of our costs for the next 24 weeks in 2 seaside caravan parks on the north side of Brisbane, 3 weeks peak season 6 weeks sholder season and 14 weeks low season average out to about $32 per night.

We all like different things & have different needs, so if you are happy to pay $224 a week & it gives you what you want then it's a win for you.

One thing I have struggled to understand, not just from you, far from it, is the oft repeated statement regularly heard/read over the past couple of decades + that I have been part of the Australian RV scene. That is that Caravan Parks offer greater security than other alternatives. Admittedly 'a sense of security' is as much about perceptions as it is reality, & I understand that camping with a bunch of other folk can lend itself to a perception that it's safer, but that simply is not my experience.

I am not suggesting for a moment that caravan parks are inherently 'unsafe', but I can say, hand on heart, that the only times I have felt insecure with my surroundings has been in caravan parks, & the only time (singular) we have ever had anything stolen was in a caravan park. The only time we have heard loud late night arguments, bottle smashing, flashing blue lights & police presence etc has been at caravan parks.

We are careful not to camp in sight of roads, or in places which seem potentially dodgy (alcohol containers strewn around, signs of vehicle doughnuts etc), but have always felt far more secure when camped alone & out of sight.

yobarr · Guru

Tony LEE wrote:
Last 18 months, most of it on the road, we have spent 20 dollars on camping fees, so going by the quoted figures, my all-electric motorhome, free camping, has saved $39,000. (fuel has cost 15,000 though)

Deleted. Checked the information I was given, and found it to be incorrect.

-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 15th of August 2023 05:33:18 PM

Cuppa · Guru

My previous post in this thread comparing the cost of staying in CPs to a 3 bedroom house rental was mistaken. I said we received $140 a week in rent when our house is tenanted. This was wrong, it's more than that & makes the point I made incorrect. My apologies. I tried to edit the post but it wouldn't post. Perhaps has a time limit for editing that had expired?

shakey55 · Senior Member

Brodie Allen wrote:
I'm loath to get started, but $40 for overnight loan of a slab of concrete
and (if you need them) communal dunny and $2 in power bring your own
house is very expensive.

Way too much accessories that push the prices up excessively, but looks
nice on the brochures.

Bloody kids and at times ignorant neighbours not controlled by management
further take the edge off the parks for me. Everyone to his own.

I have spent at least 4 months of the year since retiring nearly 20 years ago
and 2 months before that for 30 years and still hate parks - largely because
of the cramped impersonal sites and hoo-ha to get settled in and refit in
the mornings to go. Saving over $6000 pa. no slab is worth that.

And a pox on the "Motorist's Friends" - that is the motoring groups - they
manage to be the most expensive generally in my experience.

Love the freedom and simplicity of the camps - only in a park about once
a month for replenishment.

B

WOW

Gundog · Guru

Cuppa made a comment of stuff being stolen in CP's.

Since 2015 of roaming we have never had anything stolen from us, nor have I heard of any other caravaner suffering the same fate in any of the caravan parks, showgrounds stc we have visited.

The biggest pack of self entited wankers we seem to encounter is the free camper who lobs in a CP, him and her off to the showers first, then its off to the laundry generally she will tae all the washing machines available, his nibs get the hose out and fills the water tanks, then proceeds to wash the Tug and Van, Its at this point I generally wander over and let him know he just filled his tanks with bore water, he then goes into a melt down. It seams funny that during the night almost all the dunny paper has gone missing.

And Bugger if they do happen to come to the bar (licenced) you can hear them grizzeling about the prices, dont get me started with those free campers with dogs.

So we are happy to pay our way, at our current location we can walk out front gate and walk along the forshore with great views, chuck in a line, pump yabbies drop in a crab pot, are heaven you could say.

Eaglemax · Guru

We dont use caravan parks. The second last time we did was at Harvey Bay, squashed between vans. In the early hours I was woken by the loudest snore I'd ever heard, next door. So eventually at 5am we left. The next time was in Roma. Half way through the night I woke up to someone next door breaking wind. Not a conventional, easy quick type, no, this was longer than an AFL half time entertainment special. It seemed to go on and on with different musical notes. So up I got and made a brew thinking it was a one off... nope, this guy was in for a marathon.

Plain Truth · Guru

We do a mixture of free camping and caravan parks, 80% free 20% caravan parks. Each to their own,we much prefer free camping.

We can camp in this lovely spot for 3 nights free,then go out to the pub for a meal each and share a bottle of wine and come out with change,for what it costs in a caravan park.

Get up in the morning go for a fish without caravans everywhere,thank goodness we are all different,we would all be in the one place.

Cuppa · Guru

Gundog wrote:
Cuppa made a comment of stuff being stolen in CP's.
Since 2015 of roaming we have never had anything stolen from us, nor have I heard of any other caravaner suffering the same fate in any of the caravan parks, showgrounds stc we have visited.
The biggest pack of self entited wankers we seem to encounter is the free camper who lobs in a CP, him and her off to the showers first, then its off to the laundry generally she will tae all the washing machines available, his nibs get the hose out and fills the water tanks, then proceeds to wash the Tug and Van, Its at this point I generally wander over and let him know he just filled his tanks with bore water, he then goes into a melt down. It seams funny that during the night almost all the dunny paper has gone missing.
And Bugger if they do happen to come to the bar (licenced) you can hear them grizzeling about the prices, dont get me started with those free campers with dogs.
So we are happy to pay our way, at our current location we can walk out front gate and walk along the forshore with great views, chuck in a line, pump yabbies drop in a crab pot, are heaven you could say.

My comment, to be clear was " & the only time (singular) we have ever had anything stolen was in a caravan park. "

I have no doubt that you have encountered the sort of 'self-entitled wankers' you say you have, but if you are inferring that this is norm for folk who generally free camp then the commentary is nothing more than creating an unnecessary 'us & them' divide. More otherising .

I could point the finger at a particular group of self contained travellers a proportion of whom I consider to be 'self entitled wankers' but to do so I also risk tarring an entire group with the same brush, & I recognise that would be unreasonable.

Far better I think to agree that self- entitled wankers exist are self entitled wankers & best avoided whenever possible. The majority of travelling folk however are good folk who demonstrate tolerance & lack of selfishness in my experience.

Eaglemax · Guru

It's every Australians right to exist as cheaply as they can. Misers? So what? There's good and bad in every facet of life. Most free campers are good people, most that use CP's are good people, most posters here are good people. Let's not squabble over the chips

Cupie · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
It's every Australians right to exist as cheaply as they can. Misers? So what? There's good and bad in every facet of life. Most free campers are good people, most that use CP's are good people, most posters here are good people. Let's not squabble over the chips

X2

Tony Bev · Guru

Cupie wrote:
Eaglemax wrote:
It's every Australians right to exist as cheaply as they can. Misers? So what? There's good and bad in every facet of life. Most free campers are good people, most that use CP's are good people, most posters here are good people. Let's not squabble over the chips
X2

X3

shakey55 · Senior Member

Slightly off topic, but lets hope Australian Caravan Park users never have to encounter.

Found on a UK caravan forum

A ballpark average usage for a day?
2 adults only, water heating on timed for about 4 hours (obviously not being used for that long) fridge, TV for about 4 hours (plugged into the 12v feed) no central heating on at all, solar panel seems to be working.
Reason for asking is that weve just come back from holiday on a lovely CL site where an allowance of 10KW per day was included in the price. I was quite surprised when we ran out of leccy the morning before we left. I topped up another 10KW for £3.30 yesterday

msg · Guru

I am not arguing for or against Free Camps or Caravan Parks, but unfortunately, free camping does not have the same appeal as it once did. Or perhaps I am wrong. Or just too old. I am fully set up for free camping and when I did the big lap free camped 85% of the time.

But I am concerned about the security even more than I used to be.

In previous years, the free camps were mostly filled with Grey Nomads doing the same thing as I was. Not a problem, with someone always willing to hold Happy Hour before tea. Boring though at times it could be, "Where are you from? Where are you going? Where have you been"

Happy hours are no longer quite so frequent.

There was a sense of comraderie that was comforting. "We are all doing the same thing and having the same issues"

Frequently of late I have heard only, "I like it because it's quiet and nobody is around to bother us." "We hide well off the road so no one will see us".

Anyway, to cut a long story short, and because of the current economic situation and because of the general unrest, I am going to be making use of a lot more caravan parks and be very selective of free camps.

Even if it will cost me an arm and a leg and even if I can even get a booking, and even with all the hassle of travelling to a deadline. (Maybe that's why everyone is in such a hurry on the roads) lol.

Brodie Allen · Guru

Come to Victoria. We have vanparks only $99 per night.

But you have to bring your own house for this discount rate.