Are the review sites relevant for solo travellers?
Oxley said
01:12 AM Aug 24, 2012
Hey, having a few issues with some of the review sites for caravan parks.
Im currently on a shake down trip and when I arrive in a town I ask for a list of caravan parks from the information centre, and then do a lookup on the web, using such sites as Badgers to pick the best one.
Well it seems friendly helpful staff doesnt apply when your 40 plus male with a ute and a tent.
Today everything was topped off by the caravan park at Cobar, once I followed the map to the camping area (not shown by a manager as stated in the reviews), which was way out the past the abandoned amenities block, and at least 100 meters from any others, in an area well away from everyone, else leaving me with the feeling I would more secure in my swag at the side of the road, heck I may even get some grass, and not just dirt and rocks.
So for the first time I can recall I went and asked for a refund and will head to Broken Hill overnight.
Am I being unreasonable in expecting the same treatment (and Im paying the same rate) as those with big shiny rigs?
I havent asked for a discount or complained when amenities have been utterly filthy, or when Ive been put on a site with no grass because a permanent resident is too drunk to move his car, why am I treated differently? Or are these review sites bogus? Because I wont believe the reviews ever again. And my Camps book is about to be put to good use.
Dougwe said
01:22 AM Aug 24, 2012
Welcome Oxley, enjoy here and out there.
Just go to the office and ask for another site mate. If a car is on the one allocated to you go and ask the office to have it moved or move you. If the park is a member of a big chain, write to the chain and let them know, don't ring, write.
I live in a village for over 55's and just the other day I had someone park in front of my driveway so I just parked opposite it and left my car there. Didn't take long. I had someone come and ask me to move my car, me, no way, I pay to live here and use my driveway the car in front of is nothing to do with me, I stood my ground and both cars stayed there for about another 1/2 hour, mine was then in the driveway.
Happywanderer said
01:30 AM Aug 24, 2012
Oxley's treatment at Cobar didn't have a car involved at sitting on his block Doug. He was shoved right down the back with no one else around, to sleep in a tent and an abandoned amentities block nearby. Yes Oxley, you do deserve better treatment than that. That is just not on. You pay the same as everyone else, you should expect to be treated the same. What did they say when you asked for a refund? I have never looked in the reviews at places like Badgers so can't help you there. I only ever freecamp or showground camp.
Oxley said
02:01 AM Aug 24, 2012
It was a park employee who was showing me to my site that told me Id have to move to different site because the car owner was drunk.
With the Cobar incident they didnt really respond, I stated my reasons calmly and didnt shoot any bullets, and they handed the money back.
Only 2 parks this week, and one was the cheapest and filthiest so far, has greeted me with more than what the heck do you want? attitude, heck one didnt tell me about the facilities such as camp kitchen or laundry, Cobar I just got given a map. I mean heck, I buy dinner and groceries at every town I stay at, I dont know what the issue is.
jules47 said
02:16 AM Aug 24, 2012
Free camping is the way to go Oxley - use your camps 6 book - look on here at free/budget accommodation section - ask re places on here - someone always knows a good spot.
If you follow some of the threads on here you will find out a wealth of info on good spots - and also the fact that if free campers aren't looked after in towns, we don't spend much, if any, money in them An example is up here in Qld - place called Ravenshoe - lovely little town - has a great little free camp right in town - donation box for hot showers, another donation box for fresh water. On average say 40 vans per night in there - each spend $20 in town - not hard - two groceries, bakery, newsagent, pubs etc great hardware store - $800 per day going into the economy in this town alone - that is 7 days a week - $5600 a week!!!!! We even went to the bowls club one Saturday night when they had a $10 meal on - it was delicious!!! That is just one town who look after free campers - plenty of others all over the place.
We do sometimes stay in caravan parks, but not very often at all. Get yourself a solar panel, can get smaller ones pretty cheap these days - get organised, and start enjoying yourself.
Where are you heading to? sometimes you will find other membeers in your area, happy to have a meet up - Happy travels from now on - hope to see some feedback from you on here.
03_troopy said
02:42 AM Aug 24, 2012
I'd ask for a refund too. You pay like everyone else, so you deserve to be treated like everyone else too. I have also asked for a refund at Coober Pedy, the first caravan park on the right as you drive into town (can't remember what it was called) counter staff girl told us to just drive down and pick a vacant spot. When we got down to the sites they seemed to be all taken, even though there were some spaces beside some of the vans. When we stopped at any we were told very abruptly by the van owners that it was their car space or some such garbage, and we couldn't setup there. Twice around the park for the same result and we eventually went back to the office. We were told by the same girl, after I had to go into the dining room to get her attention because she was busy chatting to some loud yanks dining there, that there should be "some" vacant sites just have another look... I said no thanks, I'll have a refund and go to the one down the road (first place on the left as you enter town). Totally different attitude, and we had a great nights sleep there.. I wouldn't bother even considering the one we first tried next time we overnight there.
Oxley said
02:45 AM Aug 24, 2012
Thats what this trip has been about, working out what I need and what I dont, how I need to layout the big box on the back of the ute etc or do I need to invest in a small van or camper, how much work I can do on the road (IT consultant) etc.
I have a few more days left with stops at Mildura, Leeton, Wellington and then home.
Hopefully things get better with the caravan parks as I can foresee when I go on the road full time they will be given a wide berth, as clearly they dont require my money.
Oxley said
02:51 AM Aug 24, 2012
I may have been misguided by my youth when I could travel for months with nothing more than my tool box, 2 pairs of clean socks and undies, old FJ45, 4 cartons of beer, 2 cartons of cigarettes, a $10 woollies sleeping bag and a packet of crisps.
Happywanderer said
03:21 AM Aug 24, 2012
You are the same age as my son and that is how he travelled for a long time, slept in a swag beside or in the back of his ute. Now he has got a 4x4 and has set up the back with a mattress. he's happy to travel that way, suits him too.
jules47 said
03:29 AM Aug 24, 2012
Oxley wrote:
I may have been misguided by my youth when I could travel for months with nothing more than my tool box, 2 pairs of clean socks and undies, old FJ45, 4 cartons of beer, 2 cartons of cigarettes, a $10 woollies sleeping bag and a packet of crisps.
Most of us started with the absolute basics mate - as we get older, bones get wearier - still love the life, but need a little bit of comfort - but you have a way to go before you are my age, and it all comes down to the mighty $ - what you can afford - have a look at some posts in the "solo" section by a guy called "yeoeleven" - he also has a blog - 75 years young - has an old Hi-ace - a most inspiring man - always got a smile on his face. Just recently finished 12 months around Oz - now starting out again, slower this time, his writings and photos are incredible!!! All on here will agree with me on this one I am sure.
Enjoy the rest of your trip - in Mildura stay at Buronga Riverside CP - across the river, right on the river bank - nice people, nice spot.
jetj said
03:49 AM Aug 24, 2012
I must admit that when I travelled in my Corolla wagon and tent, I tended to be positioned down the back of a number of CPs because it was the unpowered area. Frequently a large distance away from toilets, facilities etc.
Funny enough it was usually the least crowded and most pleasant areas of the parks, just a hike to the facilities. One park, I had a koala up the tree overlooking my site.
Speak up if you're not happy, parks are often costly and you deserve to be comfortable.
Oxley said
05:27 PM Aug 24, 2012
I think there is only one Caravan Park in Cobar; its the one on the Barrier Highway, on the way out of town going towards Wilcannia.
The strange thing was on the map there were 2 other areas marked camping or unpowered camping, one at the front near the entrance, which had plenty of nice green grass, another in the back corner, but I was told to go out past that, to area not even on the map, that was sign posted camping grounds. But that area was all uneven dirt and rock, with the odd tuft of grass, the camping section in the back corner was only slightly better, I had no hope of getting a tent peg in. Heck I would have even paid extra for a grassed powered site, but they were happy for me to leave with a bad impression rather than offer an alternative.
I read "Frogs on the hop in Cobar", but as Im now getting the impression, if you dont drive a newer 4WD and have nice shiny caravan, you seem to be person non grata, as my experience with all but two other parks has taught me.
I have found some other guests were similarly not impressed with my presence, I had couple turn their chairs around so their backs were to me when I tried to make nice at Gilgandra.
Completely different to the park in Moree, everyone was very friendly, except the permanent that was unable/didnt want to move his car.
I was discussing this with some friends today and they suggested I may be dressing too similar to Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch, but maybe I should just get signage on my Ute "single male traveller: Im here to murder your daughter and rape your dog", impressions can only go up from there.
-- Edited by Oxley on Friday 24th of August 2012 05:29:20 PM
Gerty Dancer said
06:08 PM Aug 24, 2012
Is there more than one caravan park in Cobar? Check out the 'Frogs on the hop in Cobar" thread in the general forum. Our experience in Cobar caravan park last year was all good. The unpowered sites at the back were grassed and clean at the time, and amenities fine too. The caravan park reviews are what that person experienced or thought, others may think differently, you can get 2 or 3 widely differing opinions in Badgers for the same place. The caravan park photos site is slightly more helpful.
Esmeralda said
01:19 AM Aug 25, 2012
Stayed at Broken Hill Caravan Park (Top Tourist) until last night - there is a nice grassed unpowered camping area and if you want power you get put next to vans on bark. Not cheap but people seemed pleasant - the Black Dog Ride arrived at the same time as me and it was a bit chaotic at checkin but it didn't last long. There is only one shower block but smaller toilet blocks through park. Now at Wentworth on the river - $18 per night for a single - mainly vans but some tents and motorhomes and campers. The local show is on this weekend. I travel solo in a small (very) caravan. Have never had a problem with site allocation, although I do find that some of the other travellers avoid me but there is usually at least one or two that say hello. Had a nice chat by the river earlier this evening with a single guy traveller.
Persevere it is worth it.
cheers Helen
jules47 said
02:45 AM Aug 25, 2012
The general concesus is that people in free camps are friendlier than those in caravan parks - have found this by talking to other free campers on our journey - people are only too willing to share their experiences and good or bad info re camps along the way, or sights to see. Was in a caravan park for two nights recently, one couple spoke to us, once only, but here in Longreach at the free camp, went for a walk round the park yesterday, got back an hour later, spoke to about 4 differnt lots of people, very friendly - that is our finding anyway.
spida said
04:38 PM Aug 27, 2012
there is a website called True Local that a lot of places are on - and you can log on and write comments - good or bad - there.
I booked at the caravan Park at Caboolture for 4 days - going to a friends party. Friend insisted I park on his lawn once I called in to let them know I was here - tried to get a refund for 1 - or even 2 nights but no such luck. Place 90% full of permanents by the looks - only about 6 parks for travellers! Really narrow to get through all the lean-to's to the back near the Bruce Hwy (noisy) Avoid it I say:)
jetj said
11:07 PM Aug 27, 2012
I tend to avoid booking CPs and just take my luck there is a vacancy.
Popeye said
01:49 AM Aug 28, 2012
Me too
jules47 said
02:35 AM Aug 28, 2012
Me too - the rare times we stay in a park.
Oxley said
12:29 AM Aug 29, 2012
My faith has been restored by the park at Balranald, $25 for a powered site every was nice, close to the river and Id say the friendliness of the staff rubs off on the guests, as everyone was friendly, including a caravan club, who I have heard are notorious for being snobs when in the presences of non-members. I will be back there again for sure. Thou I do have to question the logic of some operators, Leeton (not the oasis, as that looked shut down) charged me $30 for a powered site (Broken Hill was $35, Cobar $32) and $9 to buy tokens to one load of laundry, no wonder it was empty, and there was some strange rule that the showers were locked at 9PM? No wonder the park at Narrandera they were queuing down the road.
jules47 said
02:00 AM Aug 29, 2012
We are the the Bailey Bar CP in Charleville - had a craving for some grass underfoot - $30 night powered - very busy, staff are wonderful, show you to your spot, help you back in if needed - they have campfire dinners some nights of the week - really quiet park off the highway. Amenities are very clean and huge shower recesses. Great camp kitchen with tv, tables and chairs and even a couch.
Gerty Dancer said
02:50 AM Aug 29, 2012
Yes, I agree, that park at Balranald is nice, we enjoyed being so close to the river, and the townspeople were friendly too.
dawa said
10:44 PM Aug 29, 2012
Oxley wrote:
I have found some other guests were similarly not impressed with my presence, I had couple turn their chairs around so their backs were to me when I tried to make nice at Gilgandra.
Hey, having a few issues with some of the review sites for caravan parks.
Im currently on a shake down trip and when I arrive in a town I ask for a list of caravan parks from the information centre, and then do a lookup on the web, using such sites as Badgers to pick the best one.
Well it seems friendly helpful staff doesnt apply when your 40 plus male with a ute and a tent.
Today everything was topped off by the caravan park at Cobar, once I followed the map to the camping area (not shown by a manager as stated in the reviews), which was way out the past the abandoned amenities block, and at least 100 meters from any others, in an area well away from everyone, else leaving me with the feeling I would more secure in my swag at the side of the road, heck I may even get some grass, and not just dirt and rocks.
So for the first time I can recall I went and asked for a refund and will head to Broken Hill overnight.
Am I being unreasonable in expecting the same treatment (and Im paying the same rate) as those with big shiny rigs?
I havent asked for a discount or complained when amenities have been utterly filthy, or when Ive been put on a site with no grass because a permanent resident is too drunk to move his car, why am I treated differently? Or are these review sites bogus? Because I wont believe the reviews ever again. And my Camps book is about to be put to good use.
Welcome Oxley, enjoy here and out there.
Just go to the office and ask for another site mate. If a car is on the one allocated to you go and ask the office to have it moved or move you. If the park is a member of a big chain, write to the chain and let them know, don't ring, write.
I live in a village for over 55's and just the other day I had someone park in front of my driveway so I just parked opposite it and left my car there. Didn't take long. I had someone come and ask me to move my car, me, no way, I pay to live here and use my driveway the car in front of is nothing to do with me, I stood my ground and both cars stayed there for about another 1/2 hour, mine was then in the driveway.
Yes Oxley, you do deserve better treatment than that. That is just not on. You pay the same as everyone else, you should expect to be treated the same. What did they say when you asked for a refund?
I have never looked in the reviews at places like Badgers so can't help you there. I only ever freecamp or showground camp.
With the Cobar incident they didnt really respond, I stated my reasons calmly and didnt shoot any bullets, and they handed the money back.
Only 2 parks this week, and one was the cheapest and filthiest so far, has greeted me with more than what the heck do you want? attitude, heck one didnt tell me about the facilities such as camp kitchen or laundry, Cobar I just got given a map.
I mean heck, I buy dinner and groceries at every town I stay at, I dont know what the issue is.
Free camping is the way to go Oxley - use your camps 6 book - look on here at free/budget accommodation section - ask re places on here - someone always knows a good spot.
If you follow some of the threads on here you will find out a wealth of info on good spots - and also the fact that if free campers aren't looked after in towns, we don't spend much, if any, money in them An example is up here in Qld - place called Ravenshoe - lovely little town - has a great little free camp right in town - donation box for hot showers, another donation box for fresh water. On average say 40 vans per night in there - each spend $20 in town - not hard - two groceries, bakery, newsagent, pubs etc great hardware store - $800 per day going into the economy in this town alone - that is 7 days a week - $5600 a week!!!!! We even went to the bowls club one Saturday night when they had a $10 meal on - it was delicious!!! That is just one town who look after free campers - plenty of others all over the place.
We do sometimes stay in caravan parks, but not very often at all. Get yourself a solar panel, can get smaller ones pretty cheap these days - get organised, and start enjoying yourself.
Where are you heading to? sometimes you will find other membeers in your area, happy to have a meet up -
Happy travels from now on - hope to see some feedback from you on here.
I have a few more days left with stops at Mildura, Leeton, Wellington and then home.
Hopefully things get better with the caravan parks as I can foresee when I go on the road full time they will be given a wide berth, as clearly they dont require my money.
Now he has got a 4x4 and has set up the back with a mattress. he's happy to travel that way, suits him too.
Most of us started with the absolute basics mate - as we get older, bones get wearier - still love the life, but need a little bit of comfort - but you have a way to go before you are my age, and it all comes down to the mighty $ - what you can afford - have a look at some posts in the "solo" section by a guy called "yeoeleven" - he also has a blog - 75 years young - has an old Hi-ace - a most inspiring man - always got a smile on his face. Just recently finished 12 months around Oz - now starting out again, slower this time, his writings and photos are incredible!!! All on here will agree with me on this one I am sure.
Enjoy the rest of your trip - in Mildura stay at Buronga Riverside CP - across the river, right on the river bank - nice people, nice spot.
I must admit that when I travelled in my Corolla wagon and tent, I tended to be positioned down the back of a number of CPs because it was the unpowered area. Frequently a large distance away from toilets, facilities etc.
Funny enough it was usually the least crowded and most pleasant areas of the parks, just a hike to the facilities. One park, I had a koala up the tree overlooking my site.
Speak up if you're not happy, parks are often costly and you deserve to be comfortable.
I think there is only one Caravan Park in Cobar; its the one on the Barrier Highway, on the way out of town going towards Wilcannia.
The strange thing was on the map there were 2 other areas marked camping or unpowered camping, one at the front near the entrance, which had plenty of nice green grass, another in the back corner, but I was told to go out past that, to area not even on the map, that was sign posted camping grounds.
But that area was all uneven dirt and rock, with the odd tuft of grass, the camping section in the back corner was only slightly better, I had no hope of getting a tent peg in.
Heck I would have even paid extra for a grassed powered site, but they were happy for me to leave with a bad impression rather than offer an alternative.
I read "Frogs on the hop in Cobar", but as Im now getting the impression, if you dont drive a newer 4WD and have nice shiny caravan, you seem to be person non grata, as my experience with all but two other parks has taught me.
I have found some other guests were similarly not impressed with my presence, I had couple turn their chairs around so their backs were to me when I tried to make nice at Gilgandra.
Completely different to the park in Moree, everyone was very friendly, except the permanent that was unable/didnt want to move his car.
I was discussing this with some friends today and they suggested I may be dressing too similar to Ivan Milat and Bradley John Murdoch, but maybe I should just get signage on my Ute "single male traveller: Im here to murder your daughter and rape your dog", impressions can only go up from there.
-- Edited by Oxley on Friday 24th of August 2012 05:29:20 PM
Our experience in Cobar caravan park last year was all good. The unpowered sites at the back were grassed and clean at the time, and amenities fine too.
The caravan park reviews are what that person experienced or thought, others may think differently, you can get 2 or 3 widely differing opinions in Badgers for the same place. The caravan park photos site is slightly more helpful.
Stayed at Broken Hill Caravan Park (Top Tourist) until last night - there is a nice grassed unpowered camping area and if you want power you get put next to vans on bark. Not cheap but people seemed pleasant - the Black Dog Ride arrived at the same time as me and it was a bit chaotic at checkin but it didn't last long. There is only one shower block but smaller toilet blocks through park. Now at Wentworth on the river - $18 per night for a single - mainly vans but some tents and motorhomes and campers. The local show is on this weekend. I travel solo in a small (very) caravan. Have never had a problem with site allocation, although I do find that some of the other travellers avoid me but there is usually at least one or two that say hello. Had a nice chat by the river earlier this evening with a single guy traveller.
Persevere it is worth it.
cheers Helen
Was in a caravan park for two nights recently, one couple spoke to us, once only, but here in Longreach at the free camp, went for a walk round the park yesterday, got back an hour later, spoke to about 4 differnt lots of people, very friendly - that is our finding anyway.
I booked at the caravan Park at Caboolture for 4 days - going to a friends party. Friend insisted I park on his lawn once I called in to let them know I was here - tried to get a refund for 1 - or even 2 nights but no such luck. Place 90% full of permanents by the looks - only about 6 parks for travellers! Really narrow to get through all the lean-to's to the back near the Bruce Hwy (noisy) Avoid it I say:)
I tend to avoid booking CPs and just take my luck there is a vacancy.
Me too
I will be back there again for sure.
Thou I do have to question the logic of some operators, Leeton (not the oasis, as that looked shut down) charged me $30 for a powered site (Broken Hill was $35, Cobar $32) and $9 to buy tokens to one load of laundry, no wonder it was empty, and there was some strange rule that the showers were locked at 9PM?
No wonder the park at Narrandera they were queuing down the road.