Exmouth RIP off

Basher · Senior Member

Exmouth RIP off

Cuppa · Guru

I very much understand your comments, but I still think that WA has so much to offer that is different to any other state. The west coast within striking reach of Perth is overly expensive, much as the eastern coastal strip is on the other side of the country.

It's a while since we last travelled up the west coast, south of Carnarvon, but I do have a strong memory of an attitude toward tourists which seemed essentially to be 'Take'em for whatever we can get 'cos they probably won't be back a second time".

I love WA, but doubt I will go back up the coastal route from Perth again.

Possum3 · Guru

Basher wrote:
Spoke to friends last night in Exmouth WA, had to stay at the overflow camp run by council,
$70 @ night WITH NO POWER!
WHAT A RIP OFF, like the rest of WA, in mine and a lot of others opinions, including his.
You spend large amounts of money and time getting there, they want you to spend money on the way and support small towns and businesses, which we all do, then you get "rogered" when you get there!
I for one have done it twice, last time 2021 never ever again.
I feel SA, NT, Qld and NSW have more to offer
Basher

Totally agree.

WA pricing was geared for locals, when it was assumed everyone was getting the big money of the Pilbara Workers.

Basher · Senior Member

Yes it is a shame, we also enjoyed our time there, working in both Carnarvon and Karatha back in 2017, some fantastic spots, but just feel their ripping people off, all be it, with a smile on their face biggrin
Basher

Bobdown · Guru

Certain areas in WA have no free camping.....think Exmouth and Margaret River, so you have to pay through the nose for a CP.

RAC brought the Exmouth Cape Holiday Park and added 100 sites to the existing sites knowing it is booked out.

Twiggy Forrest brought the Ningaloo Park and got the road re-routed around the back so he could add more sites ocean front.

Love the WA coast, just avoid CP's and free camp, and avoid Broome parks as well.

You can always travel the South Coast, I won't charge much for a site in the back paddock. smile

Aussie1 · Guru

To those not happy about costs etc in our state(WA) and advise they will not be returning I say, you won't be missed. But do appreciate that have at least given it a try.
Probably doing others a favour actually so as to reduce the numbers and make more room for those that like our state.
Just don't forget we are "the engine room of Australia's economy" as our Premier stated today.

Tony Bev · Guru

Having lived in West Australia for nearly 60 years

I agree that Exmouth is a tourist rip off
I have been once, (just to have a look) but never again

I do have friends who go there on a regular basis, and they really like going there

I seem to think that there are many tourist towns in Australia, which are rip offs, and I usually only drive through them, if they are on the road I am travelling

On the other hand, other people still keep returning to them

I can only assume that we are all different

Greg 1 · Guru

As a West Aussie I can't say Exmouth pushes my buttons so I don't go in there. There are little spots around that I reckon are a better bet for a peaceful stop. And less expensive.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

What do you mean, they "had" to stay there? Surely, when they called to book before they travelled, they said "no, that's too expensive" when told the fee? Why would you still go?

Basher · Senior Member

We found free camping very very limited throughout WA, especially along the coast.
Caravan parks think everyone works in the Mining Industry and price it as such, this may well come back and bite them on their big fat butts.
I remember working in Coles Karatha, shops in the mall not open because they could not get staff to work at standard rates, the cost to rent was unbloody believable, back in 2014/15.
You speak to alot of people, a lot say the same thing, done it once but never again, tooooooooo expensive.
Obviously the people in the West don't mind be shafted!!
Basher

Mariner30 · Senior Member

Deleted

-- Edited by Mariner30 on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 04:58:42 AM

Eaglemax · Guru

Aussie1 said "Just don't forget we are "the engine room of Australia's economy" as our Premier stated today." Reminds me of some Tasweigens comments about "the mainland". Take away tourism from the mainland and see what happens. Also reminds me of the slogans- "If you are eating thank a farmer" or "if you are reading this thank a teacher" or "truckies carry this country" Fact is we are all in this together. That farmer could have his mother saved from a brain tumour by a city surgeon, the hospital cleaner might not read but saves countless lives preventing disease and without the city spare parts guy trucks wouldn't carry anything...

hufnpuf · Senior Member

Basher wrote:

Caravan parks think everyone works in the Mining Industry

Don't you have ANY understanding of basic economics?

wombat50 · Veteran Member

it comes down to supply and demand. that happens anywhere. as long as people will pay it they will charge it and it happens at all tourist areas. in QLD every winter we get overrun by southerners with most parks as far as Cairns booked out for 3 months and their prices go up. It is a business and if it was yours you would probably be doing the same thing.

Basher · Senior Member

hufnpuf wrote:
Basher wrote:

Caravan parks think everyone works in the Mining Industry
Don't you have ANY understanding of basic economics?

Yes l actually do, a simple question for you, is $70@ night a FAIR price to pay WITHOUT POWER!

Basher

Whenarewethere · Guru

In 2018 we had to stay in a motel in Exmouth as there were no camping spaces available. Cost a fortune for a cockroach ridden room & no hot water for the shower.

Next night there was a space in the campground. Not exactly the best of ablution facilities. Far better in Europe.

Third night many km out if Exmouth we found a remote bush spot.

Exmouth is a dump, & while we were there, a person robbed the supermarket. Police rounded him up near the toilets in the central area, we cornered him with our car. He would have received injuries from being chucked in the back of the police vehicle.

The beach in the morning from free camping.

Meredith · Senior Member

Is it a fairly ridiculous price for an unpowered site, Yes. But there is always a choice of going there or not, and if you don't want to pay that price then don't go. My understanding is that the price has been intentionally been kept high as Exmouth has reached what it feels is the maximum capacity for tourists and wants to discourage more than fit into the current caravan parks and other accomodation from coming. They aren't asking for more people to come and 'support' them at all.

Cuppa · Guru

hufnpuf wrote:
Basher wrote:

Caravan parks think everyone works in the Mining Industry
Don't you have ANY understanding of basic economics?

I think folk have short memories sometimes. I recollect our first time in Port Hedland. We had a failed alternator in our bus & because of demand for auto electrical services from the mining sector had to wait some time before we could be fitted in. We understood that, & that was not the problem. The problem was that we, not being long term customers were made quite unwelcome in the local caravan parks. We were eventually able to convince a caravan park to 'allow' us to book in for several nights at a premium cost, but were treated like something someone had trodden in. Unwelcome blow-ins passing through. We made the best of it, but the memory remained. Never had we been treated so poorly anywhere before (or since). And this was not just from a single caravan park.

Fast forward a few years & with a drop off at the time in the mining dollar, suddenly Port Hedland was trying to put forward a re-branded image of 'RV Friendly'. At the time I recall thinking 'I wonder how long this will last for ..... only until mining picks up again, & then the RV unfriendliness will return". It is not just about basic economics, it is about maximising profit at the expense of people & community. None of us enjoy being related to soley as a source of income. In places like Port Hedland where the mining dollar takes precedence, long term families from the towns no longer able afford to call it home. The heart of the community ripped out by the influx of FIFO workers who's only motivation was the dollar. A community changed to a dormitory town. Greed rules.

Our experience in Port Hedland typified the West Coast's 'Take em for what you can get whilst you can' attitudes with no sense whatsoever of fostering return business. That sort of 'economic approach' is not sustainable long term & destroys communities. Thankfully it was restricted to parts of the coastal strip.

It is saddening to read that travelling folk still continue to experience the same sort of attitudes along much of which is arguably Australia's best coastline, at the edge of the state which offers probably more than any other in the country.

Last time we were in WA, we spent just over a year there & loved it, & have every intention of returning, but our memories will ensure we are selective about where our dollars are spent.

Basher · Senior Member

Meredith wrote:
Is it a fairly ridiculous price for an unpowered site, Yes. But there is always a choice of going there or not, and if you don't want to pay that price then don't go. My understanding is that the price has been intentionally been kept high as Exmouth has reached what it feels is the maximum capacity for tourists and wants to discourage more than fit into the current caravan parks and other accomodation from coming. They aren't asking for more people to come and 'support' them at all.

No choice when free camping is bannrd, a bit hard when travelling through an area with caravan parks full, tell me what your suppose to do, l think you've missed the point Meredith.

As l stated, a mate is there at the moment, he is new to caravanning but is learning quickly what WA is all about.

Personally Meredith, l would not pay it and never had payed for a non powered, or powered site for that mstter, $70@ night.

And from what you have said we should just all stop going or maybe put a limit on who can cross the border?

I seem to remember, only a few years ago, Pt Hedland complaining no one was going there, business suffering, begging for the tourists to return, why, Tooooo expensive

Cheers

Basher

Cuppa · Guru

wombat50 wrote:
it comes down to supply and demand. that happens anywhere. as long as people will pay it they will charge it and it happens at all tourist areas. in QLD every winter we get overrun by southerners with most parks as far as Cairns booked out for 3 months and their prices go up. It is a business and if it was yours you would probably be doing the same thing.

I think the West Coast of WA is different to the Qld Coast. Whilst prices are inflated in Qld due to demand, there remains a quality of 'providing a service' in Qld, which differs from the 'get what we can without giving a sh*t'.... take it or leave it' on the WA coast. It's a mindset thing which is identifiable by the customer. A generalisation sure, so I expect there will be anomalies in both areas.

I suspect that the significant differences is that Qld relies on return tourists to a greater extent than the WA coastline.

-- Edited by Cuppa on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 10:01:53 AM

Bobdown · Guru

WA has 3 areas of different prices, unlike the East which has 3 States and 3 Capital Cities.

Kimberley, only 5 months of tourist action to make a profit, which is similar to the East Coast, Cairns etc and a long way from the Capital Perth. But it is more Outback than the Reef area.

Pilbara, all mining and shortage of accommodation hence prices are high. Also a long way from Perth.

Rest of the Coast, Carnarvon to South is easily accessible and fairly priced. Closer to Perth.

Apart from CP's, there are heaps of places where you can camp on the beach for as little as $8 per night, great sunsets and the place to yourself sometimes.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

It's just greed, greed gets you in the end. They are pay for it in some way which will hurt them big time, I am rubbing my hands together with glee hoping it hurts hard.

Basher · Senior Member

Bicyclecamper wrote:
It's just greed, greed gets you in the end. They are pay for it in some way which will hurt them big time, I am rubbing my hands together with glee hoping it hurts hard.

Yep BC you got it in one, one day when things change it will bite them on the bum.

-- Edited by Basher on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 01:24:34 PM

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Just got back from the west coast we travelled from Kununarra down to Esperence had a great time and visited some incredible places.. I dont believe that CPs where anymore expensive in WA than in of the other states. In places like Broome and Exmouth they certainly took advantage and charged over the top prices but is that really any different from the NSW north coast or Qld coastal parks during peak seasons ? We spent a week in Karratha as we wanted to revisit areas that we used to frequent 40 years ago when we lived there. Its always been expensive in the Pilbara people get paid extremely well in order to attract them to places that are isolated and barely livable during the summer months. Unlike 40 years ago the north west of WA now seems to be full of those who believe that they are the modern day version of Malcom Douglas or in the cooler months are nomads chasing the sun. We pulled into a few designated 24hr free camping areas on the NW Coastal Highway but having 50 RVs camped just off the road next to a dried up creek bed or on a tarred parking lot that had a couple of long drop toilets wasnt really that attractive. We avoided going into Exmouth on this trip because its now become so commercialised we had little interest in what was being offered. We did get to revisit quite a few places along the way that we once knew well and we got more out of that. When we got down to Cervantes we started running into tourist buses doing day trips from Perth to the Pinnacles same in other areas like Mandurah and the Margaret River Wineries etc. The dearest powered site we paid for was in Cable Beach @ $71/night the cheapest I think Ravensthorpe @ $28/night. We stayed in 4 states as well as the NT and what we found was - in less popular areas or not in a prime location powered sites were $28 to $40, in popular areas or prime loctions $40 to $50, in the trendy up market tourist destinations $70 to $100. Our time also included the WA school holidays during those 2 weeks it became almost impossible to even find a vacancy on the north coast and most of the popular free camps were packed out with campers..The only thing I didnt like was from Geraldton to Esperence it was windy and raining, windy and cold or just bloody windy - no wonder everyone heads north

BB

Basher · Senior Member

WA = Windy Always
Basher

Bobdown · Guru

Basher wrote:
Bicyclecamper wrote:
It's just greed, greed gets you in the end. They are pay for it in some way which will hurt them big time, I am rubbing my hands together with glee hoping it hurts hard.
Yep BC you got it in one, one day when things change it will bite them on the bum.

Go and stay in Byron Bay, or even try to stay on the beach for the night. Yuppies areas all over Oz.

Basher · Senior Member

I guess that means l don't like yuppy areas, which is true.
Thats why we prefer the outback, less yuppies biggrin

Cheers

Basher

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Heres are some actual prices we paid for powered sites (2 people) during our trip to the west coast over the last 3 months keep in mind when we got to Kathryne and then into northern WA it was pretty much hitting the peak season for the sunseeker migration and it was also the start of the school holidays. We will sometimes get a few $$ off being members of certain Park groups like Big4, G'day parks and NRMA so rates will be different for non members or families. Which park you choose may also effect what you end up paying.

NSW - Moree - $38, Hay - $36, Forbes - $45 - NSW avg. $39.60

Qld - Roma - $38, Blackall - $36, Winton - $40, Mt Isa - $45. Qld avg. $39.75

NT - Barkley Roadhouse - $40, Daly Waters - $37, Kathryne - $45, Timber Creek - $45 NT avg. $41.75

WA - Kununnara - $45, Halls Creek - $45, Broome - $71, Sandfire Roadhouse - $35, South Hedland - $50, Karratha - $50, Onslow - $38, Carnarvon - $40, Geraldton - $42, Cervantes $55, Mandurah - $42, Margaret River - $40, Albany - $35, Ravensthorpe $30, Esperance - $40, Balledonia - $40, Eucla - $30 WA avg. $41.05

SA - Ceduna - $28, Port Augusta - $38, Renmark - $43 avg. $36.30

Overall the average that we paid for a powered site on our 3 month west coast trip was $39.70

BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 03:00:00 PM

Cuppa · Guru

Thanks for the cost breakdown TBB.

An average of $39.70 per night for two people. Phew!

I guess there are two sorts of travellers, those who consider that figure acceptable/affordable/bearable & those who consider that figure too expensive/poor value for what is required.

Fair to say that my wife & I would fit into the latter group. It is just as well that we prefer bush camping over caravan parks 99% of the time. We simply could not justify $14,500pa for something we felt did not provide us with good value. And that reflects what we seek from travel. It would be a significant sum when added to our other travel costs. I think it would push our annual expenditure way above the amount we budget for our travels - which has worked out to the approximate equivalent of the aged pension over the past 5 years.

We could probably increase our budget a bit, but if it were simply to stay in caravan parks it would not provide us with the travel experience we seek.

One of the great things about Australia is that we have the choices of how we can camp.
The fact that CP's charge those sort of prices & stay in business clearly demonstrates that there are plenty of folk in the first group out there travelling. Selfishly I think that is great on the whole as it means the wonderful places we find to camp are less likely to be crowded. The only times I get grumpy about what I consider poor value caravan parks are in areas where they have made concerted efforts to funnel all RV'ers into the CP's. Generally we have learned over time to avoid those areas a second time.

I think your post was intended to demonstrate that by & large caravan park prices are relatively similar across the areas you travelled in, which it does.

Dhutime · Senior Member

Great post Belmont Bear , averaging pricing makes sense ,and average around $40 a night for power and water is doable in my books.
People seem to forget that places such as Exmouth are very much out of the way and the caravan parks are extremely expensive to operate, just think of staffing, housing them , general freight costs, cyclone insurance and all the regulations imposed on them nowadays.
I think we have to accept to pay extra for the out of the way parks.
We seem to forget that the general cost of living is escalating, every thing has increased.
Personally we free camp as much as possible and when in Exmouth pay the going rate grateful that Im still able to be there .
The price is long forgotten if you are having fun.
Dhutime