In today's Cairns Post there was quite a reader frenzy re Grey Nomads. Apart from the usual redneck suspects, most people agreed that Cairns' van parks have got it wrong. I agree, and I am a Cairns' resident (until we buy our rig). Try this link and leave your comments...www.cairns.com.au/Nomads 'killing' van parks/   I hope the link works.

More power to you,
Bruce & Fumiko.

Hi Bruce & Fumiko,

Have just had a look at the link, and to be honest, it is the caravan parks that don't make it all that easy for the Grey Nomads! They put all the bells and whistles in (which Grey Nomads don't want/need), hike up the prices to recoup their outlay (understandably), and expect Grey Nomads/ Pensioners to pay top dollar!!! We have made a rule (and I have heard others say this) that if a park is listed as a resort and has all the kid friendly stuff, we look for an alternative, that is usally at least $10/nt cheaper.

Sadly I have seen quite a number of motorhomes park in the boat parking/ramp area here on Bribie Island, which is right opposite a caravan park - bit rude? yes, but if the parks lower their prices or give nomads/pensioners a discount you would not have people doing this.

Hey, maybe (soon) we will see you both on the road - heading for Tsv next February for the birth of Bugalugs - our first grandchild!

Pete & June

-- Edited by Pejay on Thursday 7th of October 2010 04:58:52 PM

Try this link:   http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/08/02/120641_local-news.html

Here is the clickable link....tip, if link doesn't go clickable, edit your post, put cursor behind the link, move a space to the right and it will change to blue, then submit and it it will be clickable.  

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/08/02/120641_local-news.html



-- Edited by VHW on Thursday 7th of October 2010 06:07:37 PM

Another try.http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/08/02/120641_local-news.html

I think you're forgetting to Highlight first folks.

Cheers,
Sheba.

It seems the caravan park people still don't get it. I'm a caravan resident by choice. Others are free campers for the same reason, and for economic reasons. The caravan park operators price themselves out of existence. It's a slow income generating activity. The parks are not running at capacity or even 75% occupancy for 50% of the year, yet they still have to pay their rates and taxes, and in Cairns these are huge. So the fees go up to cover these costs. The van park residents still expect very high standard facilities and amenities, while only wanting to pay minimal parking fees. There are just so many sides to this story. But there are no winners. I get cross at the park people who want to shut down every free camp within 200kms of their park. A couple of the van parks in town are not all that user-friendly either because of the long-term tenants' lifestyles and living conditions. Maintenance is a bit thin on the ground. In Cairns specifically there are no overflow areas. They did talk about opening the Show Grounds and Barlow Park car Park as overflow areas, but I think those plans have now been dropped, since the pressure is off. Those free campers still come into town to buy fuel, supplies and spare parts etc, so the town isn't complaining. I believe there is a time limit on some free camps, as 24 or 48 hours when they have to move on or go to a caravan park. This is not applied everywhere, but it is applied in some places. There are no winners here, ever.

Cruising Granny sums it up well especially when she says there are two sides to the story. Those nomads who overstay their time limits and/or use areas set aside for day use only, or other areas such as boat ramp car/trailer parks should be fined and moved on. These people are "hogging" these areas and denying others the use of these places. They are also giving the rest of us, who do the right thing, a bad name as well giving "ammunition" to park owners and others who would like to see all road side rest areas and free camps closed to overnight stays. I doubt that caravan parks in towns such as Cairns will "price themselves out of existence" giving the increasing number of caravans and RVs on the road. Another consideration is the seasonal nature of caravan park patronage in places such as Cairns and that a full 12 months costs have to be covered in less than 6 months of income. Regarding Fishery Falls, it's hard to see that ever being a financial "gold mine" given its distance out of town (Cairns). I doubt that many of the free campers at Gordonvale would patronise the park if the restrictions at Gordonvale were enforced.

All so true, with so many permanants in the parks, then we loose two sights to every cabin, more & more vanners &/or motorhomes hitting the hwys every day where do the park people think we are all going to go, 
If every one turned up at the parks every night they could not cater for us .Add parks being sold to developers.
We are at Brunswick Heads for a couple of days, the few van sites here are going to be removed for cabins .Vans  then relocated to the other end of the park , one klm away with no water front, just bush.
Call all this fair ?, they are just slaping the face that has feed them all these years.
Then have the hide to try stopping us from having a free one. At an average of $1000 per week dont think too many retirees can afford to travell Aust staying in cabins.

WHERE,S TED BULLPITT?

The Park that is doing to complaining looks to be a nice park, dog friendly too, not the cheapest around but then far from the most expensive too, see;

http://www.fisheryfalls.com.au/index.htm

-- Edited by VHW on Friday 8th of October 2010 01:19:02 AM

Fishery Falls is 40 kms out of Cairns and not close to any of the "attractions" of the Cairns area. Even going shopping requires a significant drive to town (Cairns or Gordonvale). I can't help but feel that the owners are blaming the wrong cause rather than recognising that their business venture is not well located. Some business owners (wrongly) believe that nanny government (including local government) have an obligation to protect their business regardless of their own poor business decisions. According to my camps book the Gordonvale rest area is listed as "day use" only.

Hi Bruce ,good post , and well spotted .We stopped going to north queensland for just this reason some years back. All the dont signs and go here go there thing.. Now we go west each winter.. Better fishing and camping as well.. This summer it will be Tassie.. So glad to hear that you wont be traverling in a tent... Smile you sound like a nice guy welcome to the forum ,plenty of good info here. "at times" Bob

Well we must admit its a long running dispute, we camped at Gordonvale about 14 years ago (from fading memory), and it was a contentious issue then. I do love FNQ (who couldnt), but seriously considering doing more inland travel, the natives are certainly friendlier.

We found exactly the same thing Pete.  The further inland you go the friendlier the people are and they don't jump down your throat if you pull up somewhere and camp the night.  They are only too happy to go out of their way to make you welcome.

You can keep the coast IMHO.  Give me the inland/outback anyday

last year we stayed at Ellis beach CP.  No pretentions there, reasonably priced, right on beach, quiet, and close enough to Cairns and its attractions. (If you can afford them!)

Ian

Very small and limited, tight spaces. During the peak season a sardine wouldn't stand a chance at Ellis Beach. Therein lies the dilemma. People want to enjoy this part of the world in the dry season, and I mean thousands of people, mostly southerners. The parks fill up and there are no formal, approved, allocated overflow areas in Cairns. Private driveways and front yards have vans parked in them. A few, the minority, choose a local free camping spot, and there aren't many, and the park folk hit the roof. It's always been an issue of discussion and there is no solution. Freedom of choice, once again.

I'm not that fond of Cairns itself actually. It's the hinterland that I love!

I have friends living on the tablelands, and before that, out of Mossman. So I've been lucky enough to never have to stay in Cairns. When I visit, we just go down for shopping sometimes.

I was lucky or unlucky enough, depending how you look at it, to have been there in February last year when the floods were on. What a magnificent display! Barren Falls, Malanda Falls, etc were awsome!