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

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

Now you know why we love the back blocks so much Pejay.  You can keep the coastal conglomeration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Delliemay, can you give us some details of the free spot facing Fraser is? i am going south , soon. Thanks, Bill

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.

Can vouch for the free camp overlooking Fraser Island.   Been there and loved every minute.   The hosts were a big of alright too.

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.

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

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

Dammmmmmmm.......I went there 2 years ago too.......just before the big fires Black Saturday...sorry to hear that about Blue Gums