National Parks between Crescent Head and Point Plomer
lightoffshore said
09:49 AM Nov 24, 2014
Hi All,
This is my first post of this site but I've been lurking for awhile. I've been travelling now for about 1.5 years and spent a month or so this year in the camping areas south of Crescent Head. During that time, I was only asked to pay once!!! I was a pretty happy camper.
I was back there a couple of days ago and I was asked to pay straight away. It seems that National Parks have engaged contractors on 3 year terms to manage the parks between Crescent Head and Point Plomer. Now I'm happy to pay but as a solo traveler, I reckon that $20 a night for a patch of dirt, a drop toilet and a cold shower is a bit rough. I could handle $10.
The previous evening in Byron Bay I only had to pay $17 for a powered site!!!
So I'm done with Crescent Head. When I was there over winter, I spent all of my food, petrol and entertainment money in the small town.
I intend on writing to National Parks NSW about their unfair camping charges and to the Shire of Kempsey to let them know I wont be spending my money at the local businesses any longer.
Regards
GaryKelly said
03:14 PM Nov 24, 2014
Eeeeek! A lurker! But I agree that $20 a night for a drop loo, cold shower and a bit of dirt is a bit rich. For less than that I rent a whole house. When you're an age pensioner you don't see $20 as $20, you see it as $280 a fortnight.
Woolly said
04:41 PM Nov 24, 2014
Yes I agree that $20 a night is expensive, but as you have said yourself the previous trip you only paid once. Do you think this maybe the reason they engaged contractors & increased the price as no one was paying even though there has always been a fee & people were relied on being honest and paying it.
You might note that Point Plommer is still only $10 a night, the reason being is there has always been someone there to collect.
These parks are well maintained & that doesn't happen for nothing, if everyone had done the right thing in the first place instead of the minority paying the fees, maybe we all wouldn't have to pay the higher prices now.
lightoffshore said
05:06 PM Nov 24, 2014
Woolly, bugger that, it's state government and I'll do my best to avoid paying $20/night for one person. And previously, I wasn't dodging fees, I was just never asked to pay and there was no honesty box.
Woolly said
05:22 PM Nov 24, 2014
I will disagree with the no honesty boxes, they are certainly there.
The old rate of $10 a person was good for the facilities of as you put it " a patch of dirt, a drop toilet and a cold shower " also add onto that rubbish removal & 99% of the time firewood & it is a real good deal. Just a shame more didn't pay it & now we all get hit $20 a night.
wasn_me said
05:26 PM Nov 24, 2014
Woolly wrote:
Yes I agree that $20 a night is expensive, but as you have said yourself the previous trip you only paid once. Do you think this maybe the reason they engaged contractors & increased the price as no one was paying even though there has always been a fee & people were relied on being honest and paying it. You might note that Point Plommer is still only $10 a night, the reason being is there has always been someone there to collect. These parks are well maintained & that doesn't happen for nothing, if everyone had done the right thing in the first place instead of the minority paying the fees, maybe we all wouldn't have to pay the higher prices now.
Well said Woolly, I couldn't agree more.
Cheers Pete
lightoffshore said
02:42 PM Nov 25, 2014
We'll have to agree to disagree Woolly, it's a lousy deal. Why should solo travelers pay the same price as two? Or if you have three or more, it's an extra $10/night. It's a rip off.
Woolly said
03:10 PM Nov 25, 2014
you are missing my point lightoffshore, I don't disagree that $20 a night is a bit steep. What I am saying is it used to be $10 a night but due to people not paying they are NOW charging $20 to cover for the cost of contractors to collect the money.
lightoffshore said
03:30 PM Nov 25, 2014
They have not increased the fees for Racecourse and Delicate Nobby, it was always (well this year at least) $20/night. Might be different for Plomer
Diggings said
12:54 PM Dec 23, 2014
Going down that way early next year, love that part of the coast.
Big Gorilla said
01:16 PM Dec 23, 2014
Same thing has happened in Victoria. Parks are imposing unreasonable fees on areas that were once free camping. A few on this Forum complained by e-mail to no avail. You either wear it or by-pass the area and spend your money in more RV friendly towns.
Hi All,
This is my first post of this site but I've been lurking for awhile. I've been travelling now for about 1.5 years and spent a month or so this year in the camping areas south of Crescent Head. During that time, I was only asked to pay once!!! I was a pretty happy camper.
I was back there a couple of days ago and I was asked to pay straight away. It seems that National Parks have engaged contractors on 3 year terms to manage the parks between Crescent Head and Point Plomer. Now I'm happy to pay but as a solo traveler, I reckon that $20 a night for a patch of dirt, a drop toilet and a cold shower is a bit rough. I could handle $10.
The previous evening in Byron Bay I only had to pay $17 for a powered site!!!
So I'm done with Crescent Head. When I was there over winter, I spent all of my food, petrol and entertainment money in the small town.
I intend on writing to National Parks NSW about their unfair camping charges and to the Shire of Kempsey to let them know I wont be spending my money at the local businesses any longer.
Regards
You might note that Point Plommer is still only $10 a night, the reason being is there has always been someone there to collect.
These parks are well maintained & that doesn't happen for nothing, if everyone had done the right thing in the first place instead of the minority paying the fees, maybe we all wouldn't have to pay the higher prices now.
The old rate of $10 a person was good for the facilities of as you put it " a patch of dirt, a drop toilet and a cold shower " also add onto that rubbish removal & 99% of the time firewood & it is a real good deal. Just a shame more didn't pay it & now we all get hit $20 a night.
Well said Woolly, I couldn't agree more.
Cheers Pete
Same thing has happened in Victoria. Parks are imposing unreasonable fees on areas that were once free camping. A few on this Forum complained by e-mail to no avail. You either wear it or by-pass the area and spend your money in more RV friendly towns.