This is always going to be an issue especially in a tourist area. We have recently toured the Eyre Peninsular in SA stayed at way too many CPs varying in price from $25 to $33 a night.
Again this is a rock and a hard place as I like to be secure, clean, watered and healthy with an empty loo.
Im not happy that CPs will try to stop a town becoming RV friendly, stinks a bit.
Safe travels
KFT said
06:30 PM Oct 28, 2014
When will CP owners realize that these self contained travellers were likely never going to be their customers in the first place. The low cost option provides choice to consumers who do not like CP's just like some consumers prefer a cafe over a fast food outlet. The outcome here is that providing a low cost no frills option will capture more travellers for the other businesses in the town.
frank
aussie_paul said
06:38 PM Oct 28, 2014
KFT wrote:
When will CP owners realize that these self contained travellers were likely never going to be their customers in the first place. The low cost option provides choice to consumers who do not like CP's just like some consumers prefer a cafe over a fast food outlet. The outcome here is that providing a low cost no frills option will capture more travellers for the other businesses in the town.
frank
Exactly...
Aussie Paul.
Phil C said
06:39 PM Oct 28, 2014
KFT wrote:
When will CP owners realize that these self contained travellers were likely never going to be their customers in the first place. The low cost option provides choice to consumers who do not like CP's just like some consumers prefer a cafe over a fast food outlet. The outcome here is that providing a low cost no frills option will capture more travellers for the other businesses in the town.
frank
Agree Frank
exa41 said
06:43 PM Oct 28, 2014
same old same old , greedy CP`s when will they learn.
Cloak said
06:45 PM Oct 28, 2014
That's what the council parks used to be about, no frills but safe and sound.
I reckon things went pear shaped when public liability insurances went up about 20 years ago.
I have no objection whatever to paying a modest fee per day in a CP but please no jumping pillows, pools, playgrounds etc etc.
Old Crofter said
06:49 PM Oct 28, 2014
I read the article in the link and concur with others that it is mostly sour grapes by these not very good business persons, under their whinging criteria if I take a sandwich to the park the take away business and resteraunts should also be up in arms.
Note also that as well as saying No to the council RVfriendly trial, they also say No Dogs, No accomodation and No vacancies.
I dont know what the answer to this is, Im very much of the opinion that we should have clear choices and not forced into CPs as a result of free camps closing.
Cheers
Bruce and Bev said
07:41 PM Oct 28, 2014
Bob
Great pic mate - I think its called have your cake and eat it -with the no vacancies signs up but trying to stop the council from being RV friendly.
We're travelling in the Wheatbelt area of WA and currently running west to east from sea to Kalgoorlie. All the little towns on the way have Shire C/P's and their weekly rates vary between $105 to $156 with nightly rates around $20.
So far all we've used have been great - good parking, grass (not red dirt), tarsealed roadways, potable water and power, good lighting and super clean toilets etc.
How come these little Shires can afford to run them if the large town and city ones (who generate a lot more revenue) cant?
MaryJane said
08:52 PM Oct 28, 2014
Old Crofter wrote:
I read the article in the link and concur with others that it is mostly sour grapes by these not very good business persons, under their whinging criteria if I take a sandwich to the park the take away business and resteraunts should also be up in arms.
Note also that as well as saying No to the council RVfriendly trial, they also say No Dogs, No accomodation and No vacancies.
Probably not his best advertisement ;) I didn't stay there, I had dogs, but found another nice place nearby!
Blue said
09:00 PM Oct 28, 2014
Old Crofter wrote:
I read the article in the link and concur with others that it is mostly sour grapes by these not very good business persons, under their whinging criteria if I take a sandwich to the park the take away business and resteraunts should also be up in arms.
Note also that as well as saying No to the council RVfriendly trial, they also say No Dogs, No accomodation and No vacancies.
do we have a "Caption This" area of the forum?
I can think of a couple straight off the top.. but I'd probably get a warning from Cindy..
JayDee said
10:05 PM Oct 28, 2014
Old Crofter wrote:
I read the article in the link and concur with others that it is mostly sour grapes by these not very good business persons, under their whinging criteria if I take a sandwich to the park the take away business and resteraunts should also be up in arms.
Note also that as well as saying No to the council RVfriendly trial, they also say No Dogs, No accomodation and No vacancies.
A picture is worth a thousand words. How true.
Jay&Dee
ShortNorth said
12:06 AM Oct 29, 2014
If you read the full article, the park owner states :
"We charge people $34 per night, $28 of which covers the costs of water, electricity and other such things," he said.
So, $34 per night WITH water and power.
So, an UNPOWERED site with NO power and NO water should be $34 - $28 = $6 a night for an unpowered site - Not b....y likely !!!
In my large 5 bedroom house, my electricity bills comes to an average of $4.20 a day (that's including a 2kw pool pump running 8hrs a day, and a 3.6kw hot water unit running 12hrs off-peak, large double-door fridge running 24/7) - my water bill comes to an average of $1.30 a day - that's $4.20 + $1.30 = $5.50 a day. How the hell does he get a figure of $28 a day PER SITE. The numbers just don't stack up.
Another way of looking at it - $28 - $5-50 = $22.50 - so, he's charging $22.50 a day for "other such things" - that's obviously the olympic swimming pool, the kids playground, the jumping pillow, the games room, etc. What a rip-off merchant !
Vic41 said
12:38 AM Oct 29, 2014
Last year I went to Bremer Bay (south WA coast), I had a station wagon with rear end tent. Just needed an unpowered site and a toilet/shower.
They wanted $45 a night (TT Park) without power, it is school holidays you know they said. I told them it was ridiculous and went down to the beachfront where they had toilets and showers, had a great shower, not hot but warm as the bore water runs through the rocks and gets nice and warm. I ended up going elsewhere, away from Bremer Bay....
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 12:39:23 AM
JohnR said
12:59 AM Oct 29, 2014
We are permanent grey nomads and balance our accommodation costs by mixing up our stays with both CP's and Free Camps. We have recently completed the South West of WA after coming off the Nullarbor we free camped at Kumarl Siding some 100+klm South of Norseman on the way to Esperance. In Esperance after checking 2 poorly presented CP's we opted to stay into Esperance Sea front at $45pn. We have chain discount benefit of 10%. Still the most expensive park we have stayed in for some time. However being permanently on the road and just coming off the Nullarbor where we free camped in some dusty locations both the Tug & the Van needed a good wash. The CP has Car Wash Bay, cement slab and water brush as well you can wash the vans down on site. Check out time is 1pm. When I do my sums based on options at the CP the $45 less 10% discount say $20 to wash Car & Van we are back to $30-pn. (2nights).
The next 2 nights we free camped at Meridian Rest Area and Pallinup River on our way to Albany. I am not disagreeing with members comments in relation to CP Owners being "greedy". What my post is about is managing your costs/needs and still enjoying the good times on the road while balancing the budget. We are currently in Perth. Staying at a Park that charges $35.50pn. I had an offer like other people staying in the Park to do a "days work" for 1 weeks free accommodation. We now have 2 weeks free accommodation. Understanding this is not everyone's cup of tea but it is keeping us in the "playground" and keeping us within our budget.
Ozzie_Traveller said
08:42 AM Oct 29, 2014
JohnR wrote:
We are permanent grey nomads and balance our accommodation costs by mixing up our stays with both CP's and Free Camps. .... In Esperance after checking 2 poorly presented CP's we opted to stay into Esperance Sea front at $45pn. .... The next 2 nights we free camped ....
What my post is about is managing your costs/needs and still enjoying the good times on the road while balancing the budget. We are currently in Perth. Staying at a Park that charges $35.50pn. I had an offer like other people staying in the Park to do a "days work" for 1 weeks free accommodation. We now have 2 weeks free accommodation. Understanding this is not everyone's cup of tea but it is keeping us in the "playground" and keeping us within our budget.
John - what a great post
Your first bit reflects our responses to 10 yrs ago when we last did WA ... many van parks were so poorly laid out / maintained that we just drove on by most of them
However, I am impressed that the park you mention above as offering 'accommodation for a day's work' does seem a great idea for a mix 'n match for Grey Nomads with time & skills, but not necessarily heaps of disposable income
ps- I will PM you on another matter Phil
Vic41 said
09:25 AM Oct 29, 2014
In regards to Esperance, several GNs have stayed at the Bushlands Retreat Caravan Park, probably the cheapest CP in Esperance and allows dogs on leads. The water supply is tank water only for drinking and bore water for showers/toilets, however they have power.
It is on the western boundary of Esperance town and is the closest caravan park to the Pink Lakes, coming in on the coastal highway from the west you will see the turn off sign just before you turn into the town access. It does not have a website but is or was listed in the Camps book as a low cost camping site complete with contact number.
Not flash and is more like a bush camp with power and ablutions, the owners are very friendly and it is very lay back.
Here is a Turu link to the park, only shows tent site and on site (cabins) prices, not sure if the tent price is the same for caravans on power as I had a tent site. You would need to ring check for the caravan or unpowered sites.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 09:43:27 AM
Old Crofter said
10:04 AM Oct 29, 2014
Thank you Vic, good info for me as will be in the west next March.
Bob
Vic41 said
11:28 AM Oct 29, 2014
No worries Bob, the Pink Lakes Tourist Park is a bit closer to town and a bit more upmarket, also allows dogs by arrangement, bond payable, there is a small supermarket nearby, see;
Esperance WA's council is prepared to turn the town RV Friendly but the move is opposed by the local park owners.
http://tinyurl.com/maebplj
This is always going to be an issue especially in a tourist area. We have recently toured the Eyre Peninsular in SA stayed at way too many CPs varying in price from $25 to $33 a night.
Again this is a rock and a hard place as I like to be secure, clean, watered and healthy with an empty loo.
Im not happy that CPs will try to stop a town becoming RV friendly, stinks a bit.
Safe travels
frank
Exactly...
Aussie Paul.
Agree Frank
I reckon things went pear shaped when public liability insurances went up about 20 years ago.
I have no objection whatever to paying a modest fee per day in a CP but please no jumping pillows, pools, playgrounds etc etc.
I read the article in the link and concur with others that it is mostly sour grapes by these not very good business persons, under their whinging criteria if I take a sandwich to the park the take away business and resteraunts should also be up in arms.
Note also that as well as saying No to the council RVfriendly trial, they also say No Dogs, No accomodation and No vacancies.
I dont know what the answer to this is, Im very much of the opinion that we should have clear choices and not forced into CPs as a result of free camps closing.
Cheers
Great pic mate - I think its called have your cake and eat it -with the no vacancies signs up but trying to stop the council from being RV friendly.
We're travelling in the Wheatbelt area of WA and currently running west to east from sea to Kalgoorlie. All the little towns on the way have Shire C/P's and their weekly rates vary between $105 to $156 with nightly rates around $20.
So far all we've used have been great - good parking, grass (not red dirt), tarsealed roadways, potable water and power, good lighting and super clean toilets etc.
How come these little Shires can afford to run them if the large town and city ones (who generate a lot more revenue) cant?
Probably not his best advertisement ;) I didn't stay there, I had dogs, but found another nice place nearby!
do we have a "Caption This" area of the forum?
I can think of a couple straight off the top.. but I'd probably get a warning from Cindy..
A picture is worth a thousand words. How true.
Jay&Dee
If you read the full article, the park owner states :
"We charge people $34 per night, $28 of which covers the costs of water, electricity and other such things," he said.
So, $34 per night WITH water and power.
So, an UNPOWERED site with NO power and NO water should be $34 - $28 = $6 a night for an unpowered site - Not b....y likely !!!
In my large 5 bedroom house, my electricity bills comes to an average of $4.20 a day (that's including a 2kw pool pump running 8hrs a day, and a 3.6kw hot water unit running 12hrs off-peak, large double-door fridge running 24/7) - my water bill comes to an average of $1.30 a day - that's $4.20 + $1.30 = $5.50 a day. How the hell does he get a figure of $28 a day PER SITE. The numbers just don't stack up.
Another way of looking at it - $28 - $5-50 = $22.50 - so, he's charging $22.50 a day for "other such things" - that's obviously the olympic swimming pool, the kids playground, the jumping pillow, the games room, etc. What a rip-off merchant !
Last year I went to Bremer Bay (south WA coast), I had a station wagon with rear end tent. Just needed an unpowered site and a toilet/shower.
They wanted $45 a night (TT Park) without power, it is school holidays you know they said. I told them it was ridiculous and went down to the beachfront where they had toilets and showers, had a great shower, not hot but warm as the bore water runs through the rocks and gets nice and warm. I ended up going elsewhere, away from Bremer Bay....
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 12:39:23 AM
We are permanent grey nomads and balance our accommodation costs by mixing up our stays with both CP's and Free Camps. We have recently completed the South West of WA after coming off the Nullarbor we free camped at Kumarl Siding some 100+klm South of Norseman on the way to Esperance. In Esperance after checking 2 poorly presented CP's we opted to stay into Esperance Sea front at $45pn. We have chain discount benefit of 10%. Still the most expensive park we have stayed in for some time. However being permanently on the road and just coming off the Nullarbor where we free camped in some dusty locations both the Tug & the Van needed a good wash. The CP has Car Wash Bay, cement slab and water brush as well you can wash the vans down on site. Check out time is 1pm. When I do my sums based on options at the CP the $45 less 10% discount say $20 to wash Car & Van we are back to $30-pn. (2nights).
The next 2 nights we free camped at Meridian Rest Area and Pallinup River on our way to Albany. I am not disagreeing with members comments in relation to CP Owners being "greedy". What my post is about is managing your costs/needs and still enjoying the good times on the road while balancing the budget. We are currently in Perth. Staying at a Park that charges $35.50pn. I had an offer like other people staying in the Park to do a "days work" for 1 weeks free accommodation. We now have 2 weeks free accommodation. Understanding this is not everyone's cup of tea but it is keeping us in the "playground" and keeping us within our budget.
John - what a great post
Your first bit reflects our responses to 10 yrs ago when we last did WA ... many van parks were so poorly laid out / maintained that we just drove on by most of them
However, I am impressed that the park you mention above as offering 'accommodation for a day's work' does seem a great idea for a mix 'n match for Grey Nomads with time & skills, but not necessarily heaps of disposable income
ps- I will PM you on another matter
Phil
In regards to Esperance, several GNs have stayed at the Bushlands Retreat Caravan Park, probably the cheapest CP in Esperance and allows dogs on leads. The water supply is tank water only for drinking and bore water for showers/toilets, however they have power.
It is on the western boundary of Esperance town and is the closest caravan park to the Pink Lakes, coming in on the coastal highway from the west you will see the turn off sign just before you turn into the town access. It does not have a website but is or was listed in the Camps book as a low cost camping site complete with contact number.
Not flash and is more like a bush camp with power and ablutions, the owners are very friendly and it is very lay back.
Here is a Turu link to the park, only shows tent site and on site (cabins) prices, not sure if the tent price is the same for caravans on power as I had a tent site. You would need to ring check for the caravan or unpowered sites.
http://turu.com.au/parks/wa/goldfields/bushlands-holiday-village.aspx
See also;
http://www.caravanparkphotos.com.au/esperance_bushlands/index.htm
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 29th of October 2014 09:43:27 AM
Thank you Vic, good info for me as will be in the west next March.
Bob
No worries Bob, the Pink Lakes Tourist Park is a bit closer to town and a bit more upmarket, also allows dogs by arrangement, bond payable, there is a small supermarket nearby, see;
http://www.pinklakepark.com.au/accommodation.html