We recently went into a caravan park in SW WA. While we were checking in, I mentioned the beautiful free camps in the area. The owner almost frothed at the mouth and started ranting and raving about the free loaders using free camping and that he and some other caravan parks read this site looking for comments from users of free areas that they can then make complaints about to local councils, Mainroads and their State parliamentarian.
They look for comments like " its designated as a rest area or 24 hours, but its ok to stay longer as its not enforced.
Suggest we all stop trying to help each other with this by posting on site. Better to say its a great site, there are time limits and then suggest anyone interested to email you direct.
This might stop these idiot park owners making it hard for us all.
Needless to say, after this particular park owner had finished his rant, I told him what he could do with his site and moved on - to a free camp area!!!!!
Cloak said
05:56 PM Sep 13, 2014
Good onya BB...
Delta18 said
05:57 PM Sep 13, 2014
If it is anything like your avatar pic then it sure is a beautiful sight....I mean site!
Glenelg said
06:00 PM Sep 13, 2014
they do not understand do they. i'll say no more.
Dougwe said
06:05 PM Sep 13, 2014
They are not the only ones Bruce and Bev.
Phil C said
06:28 PM Sep 13, 2014
What next, spies on all the nomad sites? I just find it hard to handle that the CPs charge a mint for not much and expect us to leave free camps alone. Its called competition I believe.
BTW the ONLY decent deal I got from a caravan park was at Mt Barker in the Adelaide hills, stayed for 3 months after my operation and got a great rate. Rant over
Cheers
PS Nice avitar
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 13th of September 2014 06:29:45 PM
Vic41 said
06:30 PM Sep 13, 2014
Good advice B & B and congratulations on taking that action!
They'll find out the hard way we are a force to be reckoned with, they are only cutting their own throats trying to force us into "their" parks and deserve any downturn in their business because of it.
Gerty Dancer said
08:03 PM Sep 13, 2014
Hmmm.... I'm sort of glad some C?P operators read this forum, they might get ideas for what sort of facilities G N's like.
Some of us are not self-contained and still use caravan parks quite often, its nice to find a place with large sites, clean amenities, and NO Jumping pillows/playgrounds to add to the costs.
Golddetectornomad said
10:48 PM Sep 13, 2014
As Dr. Spooner would say..'he's a shining wit'..... Why not name the park, and send an email to them stating there is a post on our site which names them, and warns they were not friendly to you, and your Grey Nomads/Senior Australian Citizen friends should avoid them.....seeking any other alternative than their Park.......you can hardly be sued...you have done nothing wrong ..your honest opinion on how you found them, and as we are a travelling Grey Nomad site we are interested where we place our business..........an attitude adjustment would be likely.... Bruce and Bev...love that little fur tree backwater scene....I bet on a clear day you can practically see forever......even Tasmania?......lol.....Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Saturday 13th of September 2014 10:51:06 PM
Jayco Gypsy said
12:15 AM Sep 14, 2014
Good on you. I would have done the same and moved on. I think what some park owners forget that there is a place for both and people who wish to camp with out C/P restrictions were never going to be their customers in the first place.
baute said
12:19 AM Sep 14, 2014
Well since we are being watched, I would just like to say that caravan parks won't get my money when they kick me out at 10am! When some of them charge ridiculous fees for me to park my car and have a snooze, some even have the audacity to charge extra for showers through coin operated showers.
Now lets tell them why we free camp. Is it because it is free? No! It is because we can define our own personal space, it is because we can work to our own timetable. It is because we can choose our neighbours and move on without forfeiting a nights camp fees if we don't like them. Free means freedom to camp how we enjoy camping without others imposing their ideas on what we should be doing and for how long we should be doing it and who we share our space with. Gee I wonder what the world is coming to, the old jolly swagman was able to roll out his swag where ever he wanted as he tramped the land. In my opinion camping is a right we should all be afforded and a part of what makes us us. Maybe some park owners should try free camping and they might just get the concept.
-- Edited by baute on Sunday 14th of September 2014 12:21:07 AM
Mousey said
05:46 AM Sep 14, 2014
really why dont the Motel owner complain about the CABINS they put in after all they are caravan parks DOH
Cloak said
06:15 AM Sep 14, 2014
I prefer Caravan Parks providing they don't have kids or young people or swimming pools or jumping pillows.
Yeah it's a demographic thing maybe they should look it up.
Dougwe said
06:18 AM Sep 14, 2014
Very true Mousey. I have often thought of that myself.
To that CV park spy..........keep spying mate, you might actually learn about how to treat your customers. Have you ever thought that $15 for the night is better than an empty site? have you? Maybe, just maybe if you got up from in front of your poota spying on us and go clean the showers etc, cos if ya always spying on us they must need a clean by now, bugga, I'm on the soap box, I'm out a here
Just some friendly info for ya really!
oldbobsbus said
07:01 AM Sep 14, 2014
I guess these C/P owners that do this do it becoz it is the only way they know..
It is obvious they have no marketing skills and no management skills..
So they use the only skill they have, letter writing skills and complain to anyone and everyone in a hope that someone will listen to them..
Well authorities are now seeing the benefit of having the Nomads stop in and around their towns and spending money there, it is up to the individual business people to find ways to encourage us to spend our money with them..
Now this brings me to Dougs point, maybe any C/P owner reading this could learn a little and offer us some sort of encouragement to spend some money at their establishment instead of having empty sites while we drive on past to another site..
I'm not about to offer them any advice on how to do this becoz if they don't know how then they in the wrong business.. But I do notice there is some spare advertising spaces on the top of these pages..
Allany said
07:33 AM Sep 14, 2014
Park owners / managers cannot expect councils and governments to do their bidding
They miss the point
If they provided a park with good size sites, clean amenities and a friendly atmosphere at a reasonable price
They will come
Allan
dorian said
07:45 AM Sep 14, 2014
Golddetectornomad wrote:
Bruce and Bev...love that little fur tree backwater scene....
I don't see any fur, but maybe if she turned around ...
_wombat_ said
08:48 AM Sep 14, 2014
Delta18 wrote:
If it is anything like your avatar pic then it sure is a beautiful sight....I mean site!
Neil I am going to have a word with Lynne, does she know you are a perv?
oldbobsbus said
08:54 AM Sep 14, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
Delta18 wrote:
If it is anything like your avatar pic then it sure is a beautiful sight....I mean site!
Neil I am going to have a word with Lynne, does she know you are a perv?
Geeeee talk about getting off topic....
What we need to do is keep to the topic and encourage the C/P operators to have more of these fur trees around..
GaryKelly said
09:00 AM Sep 14, 2014
I've never understood the idea of swapping crowded city living for a holiday in the "great outdoors" living in a crowded caravan park.
_wombat_ said
09:03 AM Sep 14, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
Delta18 wrote:
If it is anything like your avatar pic then it sure is a beautiful sight....I mean site!
Neil I am going to have a word with Lynne, does she know you are a perv?
Geeeee talk about getting off topic....
What we need to do is keep to the topic and encourage the C/P operators to have more of these fur trees around..
It was Dougwe that told me how to go off topic I have two fur tree's in my AV if you look close enough
Now what was the topic again? I agree with Baute, how's that for back on topic
Dougwe said
09:03 AM Sep 14, 2014
Yeh wombat, ya have gone "off topic" again. Ya don't see me doing that
This is a serious topic mate and deserves serious replies. So get serious mate Hear
Hope the Spy is down at the showers cleaning for all the happy campers
_wombat_ said
09:10 AM Sep 14, 2014
Dougwe wrote:
Yeh wombat, ya have gone "off topic" again. Ya don't see me doing that
This is a serious topic mate and deserves serious replies. So get serious mate Hear
Hope the Spy is down at the showers cleaning for all the happy campers
Cruising Cruze said
11:48 AM Sep 14, 2014
@ Wombat
Doug's girls will keep a eye on you mate
-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:57:44 AM
_wombat_ said
11:52 AM Sep 14, 2014
Cruising Cruze wrote:
@ Wombat
Doug's girls will keep a eye on you mate
OK CC, where is the rest of the pic? Dougwe would like to see the bottom half
-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:58:16 AM
Vic41 said
12:37 PM Sep 14, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
Cruising Cruze wrote:
@ Wombat
Doug's girls will keep a eye on you mate
OK CC, where is the rest of the pic? Dougwe would like to see the bottom half
Maybe they are not interested in men As long as they make good housekeepers and doona covers and keep the porta potti emptied Doug may not care
-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:58:52 AM
rickpeppy said
01:56 PM Sep 14, 2014
Good for you!!!!!!!!,they thin that they can charge what they like and we have no options but to stay in there horrible parks,free camping for me and if they dont like it TOUGH.
Cruising Granny said
04:00 PM Sep 14, 2014
Wow! This forum has really deteriorated in my absence. You blokes - I think your ambitions exceed your capabilities.
There is a place for both parks and camping. During the peak time when everyone is on the road at the same time (southern winter), there aren't enough caravan park sites available in this country. So there's a balance and a CHOICE. Then it's a matter of budget. Campers have to eat and fuel up.
I have found park fees quite reasonable recently in Coober Pedy Oasis, Alice Springs Wintersun, Barkly Homestead, Camooweal Roadhouse and Cloncurry.
When I'm on the job we free camp wherever there is room for the big trucks. It can be beautiful. We have to be parked up before sunset. We can't leave until sunrise.
You may have noticed the new, sealed truck parks along some major highways, e.g. Stuart Hwy. But you may have also noticed no toilets at these bays.
Then there are some wonderful overnight camps for caravaners and campers which are barred to trucks. They have toilets, and some even have showers. They really are overnight or 24 hour camps. But many take liberties with the isolation and lack of jurisdiction. What's fair about that?
If a bloody big truck 6 metres or more wide, more than 27 metres long pulled into your favourite "free camp" you'd crack the sh!ts.
When caravans park in the only truck bay for 100 kms we crack the sh!ts. Our hours are determined by law under fatigue management, and it has to be by the book.
The parks can whinge all they like but they wouldn't have enough sites for everyone wanting to stay in any one place for a night or 2 or 3 during peak season.;
You even risk the order to move to another site if you extend your stay, because they've booked your specific site to someone else 12 months before. It's a strange industry.
So you are FREE to choose, but if you have to pull into a truck parking bay for the night, go as forward as your can and as close to the back of the bay as is safe and reasonable. The trucks take up a lot of room and take more to negotiate the space in the park.
_wombat_ said
04:07 PM Sep 14, 2014
CG you are right, those blokes bring the forum down to a low level
have you been busy? have not seen you around the forum for a while.
Dougwe said
04:32 PM Sep 14, 2014
Rubbish. Mate, you went "off topic" and stayed "off topic" and now ya try'n to blake the other two I kept out of that one
Welcome back CG.
I still reckon a few $$$ for what might be a vacant site for the night is better than nothing. A win win situation.
We recently went into a caravan park in SW WA. While we were checking in, I mentioned the beautiful free camps in the area. The owner almost frothed at the mouth and started ranting and raving about the free loaders using free camping and that he and some other caravan parks read this site looking for comments from users of free areas that they can then make complaints about to local councils, Mainroads and their State parliamentarian.
They look for comments like " its designated as a rest area or 24 hours, but its ok to stay longer as its not enforced.
Suggest we all stop trying to help each other with this by posting on site. Better to say its a great site, there are time limits and then suggest anyone interested to email you direct.
This might stop these idiot park owners making it hard for us all.
Needless to say, after this particular park owner had finished his rant, I told him what he could do with his site and moved on - to a free camp area!!!!!
If it is anything like your avatar pic then it sure is a beautiful sight....I mean site!
What next, spies on all the nomad sites? I just find it hard to handle that the CPs charge a mint for not much and expect us to leave free camps alone. Its called competition I believe.
BTW the ONLY decent deal I got from a caravan park was at Mt Barker in the Adelaide hills, stayed for 3 months after my operation and got a great rate. Rant over
Cheers
PS Nice avitar
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 13th of September 2014 06:29:45 PM
Good advice B & B and congratulations on taking that action!
They'll find out the hard way we are a force to be reckoned with, they are only cutting their own throats trying to force us into "their" parks and deserve any downturn in their business because of it.
Some of us are not self-contained and still use caravan parks quite often, its nice to find a place with large sites, clean amenities, and NO Jumping pillows/playgrounds to add to the costs.
As Dr. Spooner would say..'he's a shining wit'.....
Why not name the park, and send an email to them stating there is a post on our site which names them, and warns they were not friendly to you, and your Grey Nomads/Senior Australian Citizen friends should avoid them.....seeking any other alternative than their Park.......you can hardly be sued...you have done nothing wrong ..your honest opinion on how you found them, and as we are a travelling Grey Nomad site we are interested where we place our business..........an attitude adjustment would be likely....
Bruce and Bev...love that little fur tree backwater scene....I bet on a clear day you can practically see forever......even Tasmania?......lol.....Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Saturday 13th of September 2014 10:51:06 PM
Good on you. I would have done the same and moved on. I think what some park owners forget that there is a place for both and people who wish to camp with out C/P restrictions were never going to be their customers in the first place.
Well since we are being watched, I would just like to say that caravan parks won't get my money when they kick me out at 10am! When some of them charge ridiculous fees for me to park my car and have a snooze, some even have the audacity to charge extra for showers through coin operated showers.
Now lets tell them why we free camp. Is it because it is free? No! It is because we can define our own personal space, it is because we can work to our own timetable. It is because we can choose our neighbours and move on without forfeiting a nights camp fees if we don't like them. Free means freedom to camp how we enjoy camping without others imposing their ideas on what we should be doing and for how long we should be doing it and who we share our space with. Gee I wonder what the world is coming to, the old jolly swagman was able to roll out his swag where ever he wanted as he tramped the land. In my opinion camping is a right we should all be afforded and a part of what makes us us. Maybe some park owners should try free camping and they might just get the concept.
-- Edited by baute on Sunday 14th of September 2014 12:21:07 AM
Yeah it's a demographic thing maybe they should look it up.
To that CV park spy..........keep spying mate, you might actually learn about how to treat your customers. Have you ever thought that $15 for the night is better than an empty site? have you? Maybe, just maybe if you got up from in front of your poota spying on us and go clean the showers etc, cos if ya always spying on us they must need a clean by now, bugga, I'm on the soap box, I'm out a here
I guess these C/P owners that do this do it becoz it is the only way they know..
It is obvious they have no marketing skills and no management skills..
So they use the only skill they have, letter writing skills and complain to anyone and everyone in a hope that someone will listen to them..
Well authorities are now seeing the benefit of having the Nomads stop in and around their towns and spending money there, it is up to the individual business people to find ways to encourage us to spend our money with them..
Now this brings me to Dougs point, maybe any C/P owner reading this could learn a little and offer us some sort of encouragement to spend some money at their establishment instead of having empty sites while we drive on past to another site..
I'm not about to offer them any advice on how to do this becoz if they don't know how then they in the wrong business.. But I do notice there is some spare advertising spaces on the top of these pages..
They miss the point
If they provided a park with good size sites, clean amenities and a friendly atmosphere at a reasonable price
They will come
Allan
I don't see any fur, but maybe if she turned around ...
Neil I am going to have a word with Lynne, does she know you are a perv?
Geeeee talk about getting off topic....
What we need to do is keep to the topic and encourage the C/P operators to have more of these fur trees around..
It was Dougwe that told me how to go off topic
I have two fur tree's in my AV if you look close enough 
Now what was the topic again? I agree with Baute, how's that for back on topic
Yeh wombat, ya have gone "off topic" again. Ya don't see me doing that
Hear 
This is a serious topic mate and deserves serious replies. So get serious mate
Hope the Spy is down at the showers cleaning for all the happy campers
@ Wombat
Doug's girls will keep a eye on you mate
-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:57:44 AM
OK CC, where is the rest of the pic?
Dougwe would like to see the bottom half 
-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:58:16 AM
Maybe they are not interested in men
As long as they make good housekeepers and doona covers and keep the porta potti emptied Doug may not care 
-- Edited by Webmaster on Monday 15th of September 2014 08:58:52 AM
Good for you!!!!!!!!,they thin that they can charge what they like and we have no options but to stay in there horrible parks,free camping for me and if they dont like it TOUGH.
There is a place for both parks and camping. During the peak time when everyone is on the road at the same time (southern winter), there aren't enough caravan park sites available in this country. So there's a balance and a CHOICE. Then it's a matter of budget. Campers have to eat and fuel up.
I have found park fees quite reasonable recently in Coober Pedy Oasis, Alice Springs Wintersun, Barkly Homestead, Camooweal Roadhouse and Cloncurry.
When I'm on the job we free camp wherever there is room for the big trucks. It can be beautiful. We have to be parked up before sunset. We can't leave until sunrise.
You may have noticed the new, sealed truck parks along some major highways, e.g. Stuart Hwy. But you may have also noticed no toilets at these bays.
Then there are some wonderful overnight camps for caravaners and campers which are barred to trucks. They have toilets, and some even have showers. They really are overnight or 24 hour camps. But many take liberties with the isolation and lack of jurisdiction. What's fair about that?
If a bloody big truck 6 metres or more wide, more than 27 metres long pulled into your favourite "free camp" you'd crack the sh!ts.
When caravans park in the only truck bay for 100 kms we crack the sh!ts. Our hours are determined by law under fatigue management, and it has to be by the book.
The parks can whinge all they like but they wouldn't have enough sites for everyone wanting to stay in any one place for a night or 2 or 3 during peak season.;
You even risk the order to move to another site if you extend your stay, because they've booked your specific site to someone else 12 months before. It's a strange industry.
So you are FREE to choose, but if you have to pull into a truck parking bay for the night, go as forward as your can and as close to the back of the bay as is safe and reasonable. The trucks take up a lot of room and take more to negotiate the space in the park.
CG you are right, those blokes bring the forum down to a low level
have you been busy? have not seen you around the forum for a while.
Rubbish. Mate, you went "off topic" and stayed "off topic" and now ya try'n to blake the other two
I kept out of that one 
Welcome back CG.
I still reckon a few $$$ for what might be a vacant site for the night is better than nothing. A win win situation.
Back on topic