We are avid bush campers but we use C.Parks if and when. Elected to stay in the Showgrounds at Geelong for 3 days at $25 a night ( good spot and excellent value compared to tonight we are in a Bloody Lorne Foreshore C.Park at Lorne on the Great Ocean Road. The standard of this park is a great example of Why we do not favour C.Parks. Narrow roads ( If you can call them that) and packed in like sardines and then some. But wait, the fee is $44 a night for power and water. Cars parked on the narrow roads??? almost impossible to navigate. No slabs just grass and that is debatable. Advertised having WiFi ... not so. I could go on and on. My impression is once they have your $$$$$ to bad... no refunds. But I guess that I have conveyed the message. Give this park which is in the centre of the town A BIG MISS.
Jay&Dee
dazz49 said
09:35 PM Nov 19, 2016
It leaves me a bit cold that posters can use this forum and the internet to denigrate a business with no right of reply or reprisal. I feel like forwarding a copy to the management of the park for their reply. Before embarking on a crusade to tear a business down you could have approached the management and advised them of your wonderful all round knowledge of caravan parks and how you could help them improve. Cheers Daz
Phillipn said
09:57 PM Nov 19, 2016
dazz49 wrote:
It leaves me a bit cold that posters can use this forum and the internet to denigrate a business with no right of reply or reprisal. I feel like forwarding a copy to the management of the park for their reply. Before embarking on a crusade to tear a business down you could have approached the management and advised them of your wonderful all round knowledge of caravan parks and how you could help them improve. Cheers Daz
jaydee has done what I would do, that is to inform all those out their in nomad land of the sharks waiting to ambush and rob us RVers.
Mrs Kelly would not let Ned and his brothers play with people like this when they were children, as they are too dishonest.
I don`t mind paying a fair price, but I just hate being ripped off.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Saturday 19th of November 2016 10:08:09 PM
Ron-D said
10:29 PM Nov 19, 2016
Most here use wikki camps and the comments are a good guide and much appreciated,the comments here regarding camp sites Are an even better ones usually.
Eaglemax said
10:54 PM Nov 19, 2016
The biggest risk in such cases (perhaps not this time) is if there was a dispute of a different matter and forums are used for revenge. Forums can be effective weapons.
I don't feel forums should be used for that purpose for that reason.
From a "devils advocate" view...could the OP have walked into the park to a/ seek costs b/ inspect the sites on offer and c/ view access? Then you'd have a choice to stay or move on. Why pay for something you haven't inspected if you aren't happy with the price?
Aus-Kiwi said
11:58 PM Nov 19, 2016
I often pay for two nights then extend if I can . Keep in mind the council rates etc these camping grounds possibly have to pay ? I'm with OP . He's comparing it with other camping grounds they have been too .
Bushpie said
12:08 AM Nov 20, 2016
dazz49 wrote:
It leaves me a bit cold that posters can use this forum and the internet to denigrate a business with no right of reply or reprisal. I feel like forwarding a copy to the management of the park for their reply. Before embarking on a crusade to tear a business down you could have approached the management and advised them of your wonderful all round knowledge of caravan parks and how you could help them improve. Cheers Daz
Pfffft dazz.......tripadvisor members do it all the time....
and like here the owner of the van park could quite easily become a member and put his case forward.....if he wishes to browse all the forums and make sure his park is up to scratch.
If its not up to scratch then I believe we all have a right to know
daffyfrancis said
01:11 AM Nov 20, 2016
I agree with Eaglemax in that we all should check out the CP or campground before we pay & also no one forces you to stay there. Obviously if packed in like sardines etc. it is popular with plenty of other travelers happy with the spot & price so your or our future loss of business would be of little concern to management. If there was a better alternative then the others or you should have chosen elsewhere. We all know staying in a CP in popular areas is nothing like bush or showground camping but should be happy that plenty of other people are prepared to pay the CP fees otherwise all the bush, showground or cheap camp sites would be overflowing before we get there.
David
Dougwe said
06:28 AM Nov 20, 2016
JayDee wrote:
We are avid bush campers but we use C.Parks if and when. Elected to stay in the Showgrounds at Geelong for 3 days at $25 a night ( good spot and excellent value compared to tonight we are in a Bloody Lorne Foreshore C.Park at Lorne on the Great Ocean Road. The standard of this park is a great example of Why we do not favour C.Parks. Narrow roads ( If you can call them that) and packed in like sardines and then some. But wait, the fee is $44 a night for power and water. Cars parked on the narrow roads??? almost impossible to navigate. No slabs just grass and that is debatable. Advertised having WiFi ... not so. I could go on and on. My impression is once they have your $$$$$ to bad... no refunds. But I guess that I have conveyed the message. Give this park which is in the centre of the town A BIG MISS.
Jay&Dee
If I am reading this correctly J&D, you didn't enjoy your stay there? Not all places can be "green"
Blues Man said
06:56 AM Nov 20, 2016
I'm with J&D on this one .If J&D aren't telling porkies and i have no reason to believe they are ,i reckon the park needs to be rubbished .I also hate to be ripped off.
Thanks guys for the tip.
TheHeaths said
07:05 AM Nov 20, 2016
Unfortunately, most opinion is subjective, not objective, whether that opinion is good or bad.
A caravan park is never going to match the "bush" or "free" camping experience. As some say, that doesn't make it bad of and in itself. As experienced travellers we all know that, and have to adjust.
I would still expect people to either look at the park for themselves, or read a number of reports, before taking one opinion as gospel, on any type of site.
I do know one thing, if I did own a park I would not become a forum member anywhere to put forward my "case" for the facilities at my park, as I think they would generally get a very biased and confrontational response.
Roving-Dutchy said
08:37 AM Nov 20, 2016
Take great care what you put on any forum, as you are leaving yourself wide open to a defamation action, yes you may win your case but only after spending big dollars in the process.
Cheers
David
Yuglamron said
09:20 AM Nov 20, 2016
What has happened to freedom of speech?
These guys put up their concerns so others could make their own decision.
Wikicamps for one have a section for comments and others have the choice to read ,digest and make their own decision.
The"Bible" makes comments re the facilities at sites. Good bad or indifferent.
Yes it isn't cheap to run a Caravan Park lots of overheads. But and a Frickin BIG BUT. Some parks are run very well and look after their facilities and keep them in top condition. Others are set up as the one in Lorne appears to be as a milk cow with small sites and nowhere to park the tug except on the road. False advertising to boot although that may be the biggest milk cow in OZ ====Telstra.
I have been in CP's that have cost me $20 a night including power well run and kept beautifully and others at $60 plus that were bloody awful.
I for one want to know if someone thinks a park is rubbish for whatever reason. I'll make up my own mind and take a look or bypass if I feel the reports I have read are correct.
This forum is for people to have their say and not get attacked for that. I cannot see any form of defamation in the report. Just the experience of a couple who decided to pass on their thoughts.
How many of you Think Telstra is a terrible company but the main game in Town for travellers mainly because of Coverage.
There have been zillions of comments of problems with our biggest Telco and how bad they are.
One person mentions his bad experience with a CP and he is defaming them Blah Blah Blah.
How many have made detrimental comments about things on the forum and have not been accused of defamation.
What about other recent reports on the Forum.
Telstra Concensus..............Rubbish but the only game in town re coverage.
Electronic anti Rust systems.......Concensus..............Rubbish doesn't work.
Jayco build problems............. Concensus.............Yup some pretty bad ones have gotten through.
The list goes on and on.
Why have a forum and let people ask questions or pass on their experiences.
How many times do we see people on here asking about their intention to buy a particular brand of Tug or van and ask for comments good or bad.
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Sunday 20th of November 2016 09:33:43 AM
Hey Jim said
09:50 AM Nov 20, 2016
Hi Jay & Dee,
OMG.
I could have brought a slab of beer for that. Plus it would have lasted another 6 nights or better.@$44.
Jim& Lambie
Bruce and Bev said
10:04 AM Nov 20, 2016
not the first time members have posted adverse comments here about a particular CP - and I support it - that's part of what GN is about - letting others know.
Don't be put off Jay Dee.
I make a point of checking the place out before I check in now - seen too many like this (and worse). Stop outside and go into the office ask if they have vacancies and if yes, can I have a look round - never been refused - but haven't always stayed at some of them. If they charge big fees - I expect great facilities
Eaglemax said
10:39 AM Nov 20, 2016
Yuglamron
Take a breath..."freedom if speech " goes for everyone.
The OP has his rights to an opinion but criticising a park after paying without inspection and paying high prices is their poor choice.
And I'm free to suggest that, it demand...suggest. Chill
Tony
rockylizard said
11:13 AM Nov 20, 2016
Yuglamron wrote:
What has happened to freedom of speech?
These guys put up their concerns so others could make their own decision.
~~~SNIP
Why have a forum and let people ask questions or pass on their experiences.
~~~SNIP
Gday...
I simply do render -
forum
A public meeting place for open discussion.
A medium for open discussion or voicing of ideas, such as a newspaper, a radio or television program, or a website.
Cheers - John
TheHeaths said
11:25 AM Nov 20, 2016
Tony and John,
I agree. It often seems that freedom of speech is fine in many forums if you agree with the original opinion that is being put forward.
wasn_me said
11:47 AM Nov 20, 2016
The post is one persons opinion. What some see as a disaster others might see as a slice of heaven. If you bypass camps on someone else's opinion you could miss a great spot.
A camp that this particularly applied to was Rocky Ck between Bingra & Narrabri.
A lot of the write ups condemed it. I thought it was great & will go back there when in the area.
Cheers Pete
Bryan said
01:25 PM Nov 20, 2016
There are very many posts on here criticising caravan parks, caravans (Jayco for example), cars (Jeep for example) and other products. As been said these are the person's opinion and he has a right to post it. Other people may disagree but only if they have personal experience, in this case, the CP in question.
One point stands out clearly in JayDee's post to; in my mind; substantiate his post and that is the lack of the promised WIFI. I for one will give that CP a miss.
Furthermore although there is substance in inspecting before buying, I have on a few occasions been asked for a deposit to be bank transferred when booking into a CP over the phone giving me no opportunity to inspect but to keep fingers cross that they will deliver as per promise.
RosieW said
02:27 PM Nov 20, 2016
I'm of the opinion that if something is not up to snuff (high price, low quality), as a consumer, you should say so. However. Keep it on-topic, and don't get personal. Begin with 'In my opinion/based on my experience' and go from there, but keep it to the tangible (narrow roads are an example here). Opinions are subjective, and that must be borne in mind when reading reviews.
Tony Bev said
04:46 PM Nov 20, 2016
Many years ago the RAC of WA had a booklet, listing all the caravan parks in WA
The booklet if I remember correctly was annually, you picked it up from a RAC main outlet.
The price of the bay (for two people) was entered, plus all the facilities, plus the star rating was set by the RAC
I used such a booklet around 1990 or thereabouts, and it was spot on
I use to phone book the next caravan park, before I left the current caravan park, knowing exactly what I would find
Mutley said
05:54 PM Nov 20, 2016
$44 is certainly a bit more expensive than most, but as far as I can ascertain, nobody held a gun to your head to stay there?
We prefer a paid for site over camping & sitting amongst used toilet paper in a "free camp" - there are a few paid sites that have been a tad ordinary, but not so bad that I'd name & shame them, and we travel to remote areas, so we've seen the worst.
Some that were great last time we went, were less so this time. Others that we've avoided in the past have improved out of sight.
I get the feeling that you are miffed about the $44, more than the state of the CP? I think that if the fee was $28, you'd probably be happy with the state of the CP?
It's on the GOR mate, so it's not in their interest to charge rock bottom prices! It's a prime tourist location. They are still cheaper than Uluru, King's Canyon, most CP's in Darwin & every CP on the coast around Brisbane.
Lesley F said
06:25 PM Nov 20, 2016
I've been riped off more times than I care to think about during my life. We enter a "deal, handshake, agreement" and the other person isnt honest. I've also spent ages researching businesses, only to discover they've all at some time had bad reviews. My recent bad experience was a yha. I told the staff, then the office manager, the owners, they all did nothing. So I told head office. Still no reaction, so I wrote a review on trip adviser. This prompted a long pathetic response, she could have scrubbed the mould off the bathroom with the time it took to write. I also took plenty of pics. To back up my complaint. Basically I was ignored. I guess others are happy living in ****. So, All the research doesn't mean your experience will be great!!!
We are avid bush campers but we use C.Parks if and when. Elected to stay in the Showgrounds at Geelong for 3 days at $25 a night ( good spot and excellent value compared to tonight we are in a Bloody Lorne Foreshore C.Park at Lorne on the Great Ocean Road.
The standard of this park is a great example of Why we do not favour C.Parks.
Narrow roads ( If you can call them that) and packed in like sardines and then some. But wait, the fee is $44 a night for power and water. Cars parked on the narrow roads??? almost impossible to navigate.
No slabs just grass and that is debatable.
Advertised having WiFi ... not so. I could go on and on.
My impression is once they have your $$$$$ to bad... no refunds.
But I guess that I have conveyed the message.
Give this park which is in the centre of the town
A BIG MISS.
Jay&Dee
jaydee has done what I would do, that is to inform all those out their in nomad land of the sharks waiting to ambush and rob us RVers.
Mrs Kelly would not let Ned and his brothers play with people like this when they were children, as they are too dishonest.
I don`t mind paying a fair price, but I just hate being ripped off.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Saturday 19th of November 2016 10:08:09 PM
Most here use wikki camps and the comments are a good guide and much appreciated,the comments here regarding camp sites Are an even better ones usually.
Pfffft dazz.......tripadvisor members do it all the time....
and like here the owner of the van park could quite easily become a member and put his case forward.....if he wishes to browse all the forums and make sure his park is up to scratch.
If its not up to scratch then I believe we all have a right to know
I agree with Eaglemax in that we all should check out the CP or campground before we pay & also no one forces you to stay there. Obviously if packed in like sardines etc. it is popular with plenty of other travelers happy with the spot & price so your or our future loss of business would be of little concern to management. If there was a better alternative then the others or you should have chosen elsewhere. We all know staying in a CP in popular areas is nothing like bush or showground camping but should be happy that plenty of other people are prepared to pay the CP fees otherwise all the bush, showground or cheap camp sites would be overflowing before we get there.
David
If I am reading this correctly J&D, you didn't enjoy your stay there?
Not all places can be "green" 
I'm with J&D on this one .If J&D aren't telling porkies and i have no reason to believe they are ,i reckon the park needs to be rubbished .I also hate to be ripped off.
Thanks guys for the tip.
A caravan park is never going to match the "bush" or "free" camping experience. As some say, that doesn't make it bad of and in itself. As experienced travellers we all know that, and have to adjust.
I would still expect people to either look at the park for themselves, or read a number of reports, before taking one opinion as gospel, on any type of site.
I do know one thing, if I did own a park I would not become a forum member anywhere to put forward my "case" for the facilities at my park, as I think they would generally get a very biased and confrontational response.
Cheers
David
What has happened to freedom of speech?
These guys put up their concerns so others could make their own decision.
Wikicamps for one have a section for comments and others have the choice to read ,digest and make their own decision.
The"Bible" makes comments re the facilities at sites. Good bad or indifferent.
Yes it isn't cheap to run a Caravan Park lots of overheads. But and a Frickin BIG BUT. Some parks are run very well and look after their facilities and keep them in top condition. Others are set up as the one in Lorne appears to be as a milk cow with small sites and nowhere to park the tug except on the road. False advertising to boot although that may be the biggest milk cow in OZ ====Telstra.
I have been in CP's that have cost me $20 a night including power well run and kept beautifully and others at $60 plus that were bloody awful.
I for one want to know if someone thinks a park is rubbish for whatever reason. I'll make up my own mind and take a look or bypass if I feel the reports I have read are correct.
This forum is for people to have their say and not get attacked for that. I cannot see any form of defamation in the report. Just the experience of a couple who decided to pass on their thoughts.
How many of you Think Telstra is a terrible company but the main game in Town for travellers mainly because of Coverage.
There have been zillions of comments of problems with our biggest Telco and how bad they are.
One person mentions his bad experience with a CP and he is defaming them Blah Blah Blah.
How many have made detrimental comments about things on the forum and have not been accused of defamation.
What about other recent reports on the Forum.
Telstra Concensus..............Rubbish but the only game in town re coverage.
Hiclone Concensus...............Rubbish Doesn't work.
Electronic anti Rust systems.......Concensus..............Rubbish doesn't work.
Jayco build problems............. Concensus.............Yup some pretty bad ones have gotten through.
The list goes on and on.
Why have a forum and let people ask questions or pass on their experiences.
How many times do we see people on here asking about their intention to buy a particular brand of Tug or van and ask for comments good or bad.
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Sunday 20th of November 2016 09:33:43 AM
Hi Jay & Dee,
OMG.
I could have brought a slab of beer for that. Plus it would have lasted another 6 nights or better.@$44.
Jim& Lambie
Don't be put off Jay Dee.
I make a point of checking the place out before I check in now - seen too many like this (and worse). Stop outside and go into the office ask if they have vacancies and if yes, can I have a look round - never been refused - but haven't always stayed at some of them. If they charge big fees - I expect great facilities
Gday...
I simply do render -
forum
Cheers - John
I agree. It often seems that freedom of speech is fine in many forums if you agree with the original opinion that is being put forward.
There are very many posts on here criticising caravan parks, caravans (Jayco for example), cars (Jeep for example) and other products. As been said these are the person's opinion and he has a right to post it. Other people may disagree but only if they have personal experience, in this case, the CP in question.
One point stands out clearly in JayDee's post to; in my mind; substantiate his post and that is the lack of the promised WIFI. I for one will give that CP a miss.
Furthermore although there is substance in inspecting before buying, I have on a few occasions been asked for a deposit to be bank transferred when booking into a CP over the phone giving me no opportunity to inspect but to keep fingers cross that they will deliver as per promise.
Many years ago the RAC of WA had a booklet, listing all the caravan parks in WA
The booklet if I remember correctly was annually, you picked it up from a RAC main outlet.
The price of the bay (for two people) was entered, plus all the facilities, plus the star rating was set by the RAC
I used such a booklet around 1990 or thereabouts, and it was spot on
I use to phone book the next caravan park, before I left the current caravan park, knowing exactly what I would find
We prefer a paid for site over camping & sitting amongst used toilet paper in a "free camp" - there are a few paid sites that have been a tad ordinary, but not so bad that I'd name & shame them, and we travel to remote areas, so we've seen the worst.
Some that were great last time we went, were less so this time. Others that we've avoided in the past have improved out of sight.
I get the feeling that you are miffed about the $44, more than the state of the CP? I think that if the fee was $28, you'd probably be happy with the state of the CP?
It's on the GOR mate, so it's not in their interest to charge rock bottom prices! It's a prime tourist location. They are still cheaper than Uluru, King's Canyon, most CP's in Darwin & every CP on the coast around Brisbane.
I've been riped off more times than I care to think about during my life. We enter a "deal, handshake, agreement" and the other person isnt honest. I've also spent ages researching businesses, only to discover they've all at some time had bad reviews. My recent bad experience was a yha. I told the staff, then the office manager, the owners, they all did nothing. So I told head office. Still no reaction, so I wrote a review on trip adviser. This prompted a long pathetic response, she could have scrubbed the mould off the bathroom with the time it took to write. I also took plenty of pics. To back up my complaint. Basically I was ignored. I guess others are happy living in ****. So, All the research doesn't mean your experience will be great!!!