I have just spent 6 months travelling up the centre to Darwin and down the west coast to Esperence and then across the Nullabor to Echuca and have been somewhat disappointed with the take it or leave it attitude of some park owners and lot of sales people. They seem to have the attitude that we as travellers have very deep pockets and will pay whatever. Maybe it is time to boycott some of these places like Broome and Exmouth for a year and then see if we travellers do make a difference to their bottom line and if their attitude changes DUN WURKUN
Ma said
02:39 PM Oct 18, 2010
What you say is sadly so very true Ken. We found much the same thing on our travels recently.
A boycott would be good, but to have it succeed you would have to have the majority participate and unfortunately that just won't happen I think.
Also if we boycott the van parks they would have even more of a whinge than they do now about free camps.
It's a catch 22 situation really, damned if you do, damned if you don't
Your idea certainly has merit and I for one would like to see it take shape.
Best of luck and count me in if it gets off the ground.
ken thomas said
02:56 PM Oct 18, 2010
Hello Ma Talking to a lot of people on the way and they had the same attitude. A lot has to do with the way they are advertised in the brochures and travel shows like getaway, they show only the great touristy things but not what the place is really like. A boycott would only work if we Nomads talk to others and go somewhere else next year but we can only voice our concerns. Very true about the free camps and unfortunately we are not helping in that regard when you look at the cleanliness of some of them. Pigs would not leave such a mess.
Dun Wurkun
Happywanderer said
02:59 PM Oct 18, 2010
So how have you found Echuca.?
JRH said
03:10 PM Oct 18, 2010
Couldn't agree with you more Ken and I live in the West, plenty of rip off merchants over here I can tell you.
In 1997 at Monkey Mia they wanted $3 for a small cup with about 10 chips in it.
-- Edited by JRH on Monday 18th of October 2010 03:13:27 PM
Pejay said
03:33 PM Oct 18, 2010
One thing we found on our trip around Qld in Jul/Aug was that going up the coastal road, the caravan park people couldn't give a toosh - you come to see the coast, we don't have to do anything for you, but will charge you top dollar anyway. However, all the parks out west couldn't do enough for us or anyone else that came into their parks, and the fees were quite reasonable too - they need us tourists to keep the little towns going.
Ma said
03:42 PM Oct 18, 2010
Now you know why we love the back blocks so much Pejay. You can keep the coastal conglomeration.
Firefly said
03:43 PM Oct 18, 2010
Yep, I am all for the red dirt brigade too Ma.
petengail said
04:03 PM Oct 18, 2010
Tend to agree with all of the above. Luckily we still have a few places on the QLD coast that are very good. For one Inskip Point recreation area - $10 a night for two, and there are some further north as well. You are quite right about the attitude of the red dust people compared to the sand between the toes types - couldnt be more different and therefore will be gathering a bit more dust than sand in future.
ken thomas said
04:25 PM Oct 18, 2010
i find Echuca pretty much like all tourist spots but because I live here I know that the locals find it tough with the prices and fuel costs. It is getting better as we now have an Aldi and Bunnings and it seems a bit of competition is good
Technomad said
05:22 PM Oct 18, 2010
There are parks and free camping opportunities for everybody. Obviously the label caravan park has generated into other categories such as tourist parks, holiday parks, cabin parks and resorts, all supplying different services for the many variables required by tourists. I found the price shock suffered by some is a condition given the fact that poor planning and forward thinking was lacking and those that cannot forget about what it used to cost, don't we all. Parks in coastal areas are obviously more expensive to run but the demand outstrips supply. It is almost a surcharge to have the opportunity to base yourself so close to the action, for families especially. The opportunities still and always will be available inland a bit from the high cost areas and travel in the 20k or so to the coast therefore supporting the smaller parks and giving them the opportunity to increase the quality of basic services. In the north west of WA if you have'nt researched the trip a bit it is no good complaining for you chose to do the trip and free camping is not all good. After a 600k trip from Broome, hot and bothered, not much scenery it used to amaze me that people would complain about an extra $10 for two people to pick the best park in town as against some with a struggling reputation. Remember transport costs and hourly rates for servicemen in areas like that. I am not trying to be sarcastic as we will in time take the free camp opportunities to preserve funds but there are good parks away from the bustling crowd and still enjoy.
bill12 said
05:40 PM Oct 18, 2010
I would put El Questro on the Gibb road on the bad service register- overpriced($28 for an unpowered site, $6.50 for a beer), surly, and with a take it or leave it attitude.Its a tourist trap-give it a wide berth.I have just come from a place with similar facilitys,Lorella Springs on the Nathan rd in Nt,$15 a night,$5 a beer and friendly people.The thermal pool right beside the camp area is amazing!It seems the more touristy places are the ones who try to gouge us nomads the most. Sad , really.
Pejay said
06:27 PM Oct 18, 2010
I guess the fact that it is the straightest way up to Townsville where the daughter & s-i-l live, so that's why we travel that way, but I am tired of forever travelling the coast road, next Feb. when we go for the birth of 'Bugalugs' we intend to go up through the centre of Qld.
DellieMay said
06:34 PM Oct 18, 2010
There's a FREE camping site overlooking Fraser Island for any GN visiting our area. All welcome you know. Cheers Dellie
tezza said
06:54 PM Oct 18, 2010
Maybe we should shout the names of places that we are happy with therefore encouraging more people to frequent them. This in turn will leave less to patronise the "bad" places and will with support encourage more places to get on our "happy with" list. I think this would be more likely to succeed than a boycott as it would be self perpetuating. Especially if we could let the businesses or towns know we will or will not put them on our "happy with" list.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My suggestion for a start to a town Happy list is Morven, Queensland.
jimricho said
06:59 PM Oct 18, 2010
I guess this post in some ways is a bit of a is a follow-on from an earlier one ("Are they listening"). Like others I have found that some of the operators and staff either didn't go to Charm School or perhaps wern't paying attention in class. (metaphorically speaking). Like Ma (and others) I have centainly noticed a marked change in attitude in the inland towns here the Grey Nomad dollar is sought and appreciated.
The main determinant for site prices is supply and demand, and as supply is decreasing and demand increasing we can expect to see prices increase, especially in the peak tourist season.
I think we do need to understand however that some parks would have high operating costs due to their remoteness and others in major tourist centres would have high fixed costs such as rates, financing costs etc due to the value of the property. This is especially so when opportunity cost is taken into account.
Many parks in places where the tourist trade is seasonal have to recoup almost all of their annual costs in six months or less.
(edit..another bloody typo!)
-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 18th of October 2010 07:02:18 PM
bill12 said
07:47 PM Oct 18, 2010
Delliemay, can you give us some details of the free spot facing Fraser is? i am going south , soon. Thanks, Bill
DellieMay said
08:04 PM Oct 18, 2010
Bill12. Our place. Plenty of room for any van or motor home. Theres heaps of room. Have lovely views of the island...boat ramp just down the road, and the Bay is only 15 minutes. The fridge is normally full. Lets know if or when you are coming.
Cheers roger{Dero}
Helena said
09:08 PM Oct 18, 2010
I must say after a 4 month trip to Queensland we found that the little country towns were certainly the best to visit we in future will be keeping well off the coastal areas. Helena.
pauline said
09:18 PM Oct 18, 2010
Paid $7.50 for a milkshake at Town beach Broome 3 years ago nearly choked on it
Ma said
09:27 PM Oct 18, 2010
Can vouch for the free camp overlooking Fraser Island. Been there and loved every minute. The hosts were a big of alright too.
Brookie said
03:30 PM Oct 19, 2010
Over the years we have spent touring in WA and a couple of times in East we have found service, advice and CPs much better away from coast and off main "tourist" routes.
There are many places you can free camp or stay in economical Council owned CPs
-------
justcruisin01 said
04:22 PM Oct 19, 2010
I think it time to give the must see must do places the flick & support the smaller towns.We left one van park due to attitude. Glad we done a lot areas before it got this bad.
Gerty Dancer said
07:24 PM Oct 19, 2010
May I suggest more people become "Badgers Reporters"? Its a great concept but many of the reports are years old. Badger does this voluntarily, needs more support IMHO.
Hi guys' The best place we have travel too, is Tassie. Great and friendly people and free camping everywhere and locals of coastal towns couldn't do enough. After our trip west next year, we hope to be heading back to Tassie in 2012. I just hope we enjoy WA next year. cheers Mick
Smokeydk said
02:08 PM Oct 20, 2010
Hahaha!!.....I just did a report for Badger's SA section...but those travelling should do updates as mentioned...
Dave
frogandtoad said
12:24 PM Oct 21, 2010
Poor service and rippoff is alive and well at blue gums caravan park eildon since new owners . our family holidayed there 2 years in arow all15 of us and last year were advised new owners would be taking over and up grading the park so thought i would go looksee before re booking woman in the office who was certainly not the friendly type wanted $6 for a dayasss for me to drive in to check out the site guess what !we are going to echuca this year cheers
lilly said
12:32 PM Oct 21, 2010
frogandtoad wrote:
Poor service and rippoff is alive and well at blue gums caravan park eildon since new owners . our family holidayed there 2 years in arow all15 of us and last year were advised new owners would be taking over and up grading the park so thought i would go looksee before re booking woman in the office who was certainly not the friendly type wanted $6 for a dayasss for me to drive in to check out the site guess what !we are going to echuca this year cheers
well they sure know how to lose business ..make you wonder if some people have any people skills before they buy in to a business
Smokeydk said
06:53 PM Oct 21, 2010
Dammmmmmmm.......I went there 2 years ago too.......just before the big fires Black Saturday...sorry to hear that about Blue Gums
jimricho said
08:20 PM Oct 21, 2010
frogandtoad wrote:
Poor service and rippoff is alive and well at blue gums caravan park eildon since new owners . our family holidayed there 2 years in arow all15 of us and last year were advised new owners would be taking over and up grading the park so thought i would go looksee before re booking woman in the office who was certainly not the friendly type wanted $6 for a dayasss for me to drive in to check out the site guess what !we are going to echuca this year cheers
On the odd occasion I've sought permission to go into a park to check it out for future reference I've not been refused or charged. On some occasions reception staff has offered me a key to the amenities so I can check them too.
I stayed in Echuca earlier this year and at the park where I stayed the staff/managers service and attitude was very "ordinary", and the sites muddy and sloppy (no slabs). They did nothing about all night noisy drunken parties that were taking place.
It was not only the worst but the most expensive of all the parks I stayed at on a trip to Western Victoria and Great Ocean Road.
Re Badgers.... I wonder how Badger would respond to report that said "Staff need to go to Charm School and owners miserable b######s in urgent need of a personality transplant" ??
They seem to have the attitude that we as travellers have very deep pockets and will pay whatever.
Maybe it is time to boycott some of these places like Broome and Exmouth for a year and then see if we travellers do make a difference to their bottom line and if their attitude changes
DUN WURKUN
A boycott would be good, but to have it succeed you would have to have the majority participate and unfortunately that just won't happen I think.
Also if we boycott the van parks they would have even more of a whinge than they do now about free camps.
It's a catch 22 situation really, damned if you do, damned if you don't
Your idea certainly has merit and I for one would like to see it take shape.
Best of luck and count me in if it gets off the ground.
Talking to a lot of people on the way and they had the same attitude. A lot has to do with the way they are advertised in the brochures and travel shows like getaway, they show only the great touristy things but not what the place is really like.
A boycott would only work if we Nomads talk to others and go somewhere else next year but we can only voice our concerns.
Very true about the free camps and unfortunately we are not helping in that regard when you look at the cleanliness of some of them. Pigs would not leave such a mess.
Dun Wurkun
In 1997 at Monkey Mia they wanted $3 for a small cup with about 10 chips in it.
-- Edited by JRH on Monday 18th of October 2010 03:13:27 PM
I found the price shock suffered by some is a condition given the fact that poor planning and forward thinking was lacking and those that cannot forget about what it used to cost, don't we all. Parks in coastal areas are obviously more expensive to run but the demand outstrips supply. It is almost a surcharge to have the opportunity to base yourself so close to the action, for families especially. The opportunities still and always will be available inland a bit from the high cost areas and travel in the 20k or so to the coast therefore supporting the smaller parks and giving them the opportunity to increase the quality of basic services.
In the north west of WA if you have'nt researched the trip a bit it is no good complaining for you chose to do the trip and free camping is not all good. After a 600k trip from Broome, hot and bothered, not much scenery it used to amaze me that people would complain about an extra $10 for two people to pick the best park in town as against some with a struggling reputation. Remember transport costs and hourly rates for servicemen in areas like that.
I am not trying to be sarcastic as we will in time take the free camp opportunities to preserve funds but there are good parks away from the bustling crowd and still enjoy.
The main determinant for site prices is supply and demand, and as supply is decreasing and demand increasing we can expect to see prices increase, especially in the peak tourist season.
I think we do need to understand however that some parks would have high operating costs due to their remoteness and others in major tourist centres would have high fixed costs such as rates, financing costs etc due to the value of the property. This is especially so when opportunity cost is taken into account.
Many parks in places where the tourist trade is seasonal have to recoup almost all of their annual costs in six months or less.
(edit..another bloody typo!)
-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 18th of October 2010 07:02:18 PM
Delliemay, can you give us some details of the free spot facing Fraser is? i am going south , soon. Thanks, Bill
I think it time to give the must see must do places the flick & support the smaller towns.We left one van park due to attitude. Glad we done a lot areas before it got this bad.
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~badger04/
The best place we have travel too, is Tassie. Great and friendly people and free camping everywhere and locals of coastal towns couldn't do enough.
After our trip west next year, we hope to be heading back to Tassie in 2012. I just hope we enjoy WA next year.
cheers
Mick
On the odd occasion I've sought permission to go into a park to check it out for future reference I've not been refused or charged. On some occasions reception staff has offered me a key to the amenities so I can check them too.
I stayed in Echuca earlier this year and at the park where I stayed the staff/managers service and attitude was very "ordinary", and the sites muddy and sloppy (no slabs). They did nothing about all night noisy drunken parties that were taking place.
It was not only the worst but the most expensive of all the parks I stayed at on a trip to Western Victoria and Great Ocean Road.
Re Badgers.... I wonder how Badger would respond to report that said "Staff need to go to Charm School and owners miserable b######s in urgent need of a personality transplant" ??