How much is a cheap campsite and when does it become expensive for you? I'm a solo nomad and so when I find a campsite for just $15 a night I think it's cheap. Do you couples think that $30 a night is cheap? I've yet to be in a campsite that is full so I've never taken up space that could have been used by two.
I'm heading for SE Victoria soon and, as I will not be working over Xmas and New Year, I'm wondering about costs.
I'm a solo too, and I prefer not to pay any more than $15p/n. I'm still happy to pay $20 p/n if there's a shower included. But I don't like paying every night. I search out free camps as much as possible.
Some of the reserves/parks we came across in Victoria charge a standard rate p/p/p/n all year round. And some CP don't hike up their prices until after Xmas.
I did begrudgingly pay $35 p/n for a couple of CP's in handy positions. I guess you have to weigh up whether you want to be closer and not have so far to drive on your day trips, or camp further away and drive further on your day trips.
Me, I won't pay those prices again. Like many of us, I'm on the DSP so can't afford to anyway!
We are a couple, and we have been here in Tassy for 46 days today - we have only paid in caravanparks twice (one is last night - Hobart showgrounds $25 power and water), and one at George Town on the north coast - also $25 - the rest has been free camps or very low cost - $5 per night, plus $1 hot showers - but mostly free.
On our last trip round Qld, we hardly ever paid a fee - found a lot of free camps, some with facilities and some without.
Would not stay in a caravan park that wanted to charge us anything over $30, and then it would have to be in a really good spot.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
I agree with you we spent 3 mths in tassie and the only time we needed to pay anything like normal fees were in places like launceston,deloraine and caravan park at st helens, plenty of free camps and even the ranger/caretakers at some places didnt charge if we were only there one or two nights oh what a wonderful place tasmania is,
-- Edited by tezza n tomoko on Monday 17th of December 2012 10:24:09 PM
Jules, Can you still stay (Freedom Camp) behind the Info Centre at Georgetown.
We were there recently - the lady in the info centre said they would prefer people not to camp there at all!! They started charging $12, then the caravan park started offering the same price.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
How much is a cheap campsite and when does it become expensive for you? I'm a solo nomad and so when I find a campsite for just $15 a night I think it's cheap. Do you couples think that $30 a night is cheap? I've yet to be in a campsite that is full so I've never taken up space that could have been used by two.
I'm heading for SE Victoria soon and, as I will not be working over Xmas and New Year, I'm wondering about costs.
Andy
Anywhere at a popular holiday destination will be expensive over Xmas/New year as this is peak season. You may however be able to find something more economical away from the main holiday areas. Maybe at some of the mountain resort areas that are more popular during the snow season. I don't have any local knowledge of that area so others that do may care to comment.
I think $30 is expensive even on the beach front as its all proportional to what you can really afford some people think paying massive prices for hotel rooms is nothing where as we always try to find parks that are as far as possible under $30 but still neat clean and tidy, unfortunately our managing director does not like free camping so we are stuck with Caravan parks, never with jumping pillows.
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I recently stayed at a CP in Torquay and paid $34 which I thought was a bit expensive, but having just spent 3 days free camping, needed CP facilities. Imagine my shock when told if I wanted to stay another night it would be $72 (it was Melbourne Cup weekend). Needless to say, I said thanks but no thanks, I would just move on. They then decided I could stay a second night for $34 which I did.
I recently stayed at a CP in Torquay and paid $34 which I thought was a bit expensive, but having just spent 3 days free camping, needed CP facilities. Imagine my shock when told if I wanted to stay another night it would be $72 (it was Melbourne Cup weekend). Needless to say, I said thanks but no thanks, I would just move on. They then decided I could stay a second night for $34 which I did.
Cheers!
Chris
Gotta give 'em points for trying! We camped at the free camp Johanna Beach that long weekend, as we'd been warned that places would be full of Melbourne campers. It held us up a bit longer than we'd planned, but were able to do several day trips from there.
We do not 'free' camp and only use caravan parks. If ensuite sites are available we find them handy as being in a camper trailer we do not have anything on tap so to speak. As we are not full time on the road when we go away it is for holidays and we are prepared to pay up to $50 pn for an ensuite site in a caravan park. Our thoughts are that it is a nice atmosphere in most parks as you get to meet other people where as if you are in motels or self contained cottages they cost a whole lot more and you don't get to talk with anyone. This is just a different take on what is considered expensive from a non pensioner part time traveller.
I resent paying anything for the privilege of looking up the back of some one else's rig!
We have paid $30 for an overnighter once, and got to look at the maintanence shed..........omg was I whinging! Got in late, ate, slept and showered first thing, ..... and we had some other bloke knocking on the door to see when we would be out. Perhaps his site was worse!
Never again! Weren't there long enough to walk around the park, use the laundry or other amenitites (if there were any).
Caravan park fees (like most prices) are determined by the normal laws of supply and demand. If a park is mostly full or near full during the normal tourist season it is not overcharging regardless of the price. A park that is near empty when it shouldn't be is overcharging.