Potential Farm Stay

JohnR · Senior Member

Potential Farm Stay

Big Gorilla · Guru

Looks good. I'd say $10.00 a night would be fair. I know of others similar priced from $5.00 to $10.00

villatranquilla · Guru

Power, water, toilets and a lovely view? at least $20/night

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Looks reasonable to me but quite a slope to have to level up on somehow. Also looks like it ould be a small lroblem in wet weather. If that water is usable for washing etc I would be happy to pay $5 - $10 per night but happy not to have the extra facilities. Most of us are self contained these days.

Sorry if I sound a little degative there John. Just my thoughts only on your question.

Goid to see someone trying to do the right thing for cravaners/campers though. Good on them.

brickies · Guru

Yes would have to be $20 a night , How far out of Canberra

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Without power - $10 night - with power maybe $15!

copper1 · Guru

Yes if power, water and toilets are provided $20-$25 per night?? stayed at a similar place whilst traveling around Tassie this year, Quamby Corner. It was $22 per night but if you stayed 6 you got the 7th free so it worked out at just under $19 per night with a free washing machine, powder and dryer. It was an old dairy farm was so peaceful and a top spot.

spida · Guru

I guess if they are charging for power and water etc then they would have to comply with local regulations then they would need to charge at least $20 to cover costs - and that is perfectly reasonable.
If we can just park there with no facilities then donation and no regulations for them I guess

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I agree with Doug - looks like a real slope there, which would put most vanners off. Also Brickies raises the question just how far out of Canberra, how far are the nearest shops - sounds negative, but this will affect pricing.

Could be from $10 pn (or if slope is that bad - no-one will probably want to use it but assume it will be flattened and that's why only about 6 sites) to $15pn with potable water, power and toilet/shower with no kitchen/washing facilities. Discount for long stayers (in excess of 7 nights). Unless he provides full facilities, I dont think he would get more than $20 pn, We would be up for it - probably want to stay about a month and see the ACT using this as a home base.

Good to see your friend sees some alternate money in it because this sort of camping is much cheaper, and more suited to those of us who don't need the bouncy castles (lol) and the attendant screaming kids

KFT · Guru

It would be nice to have a top spot to stay near canberra for a while.

If the sites provided are reasonably close to level then $20-25 with a discount for stays of a week or more would be quite fair in my book.

We would love to spend some time exploring the ACT but have not yet been able to find a good spot to stay.

thanks for posting

frank

D and D · Guru

For powered sites with access to water, showers (hot) and some form of dump point or sullage pits with the sites being relatively level and far enough apart to provide space $20 - $25 per night with pay for 6 stay for 7 arrangements in place sounds reasonable.

Dave

JohnR · Senior Member

My initial post was in some haste. (We are having issues with our laptop). The photos are taken from what would be the back of your vans/etc. The site is LEVEL and has access road coming in from the left of the photos. No issues with wet weather the area is rock/shale based. So what you are looking at would be from your camp chair under the awning on level compacted base sites. The lake has a small jetty, probably a few kayaks, couple tinnies and I am not going to tell you what is in that lake??
There are walks, access to cycling options (Old Federal Highway) and well known wineries and smaller boutique wineries. The caretaker accomm (relocatable/cabin) is in place and awaiting the fit out. So it is going to happen.

Distance from Canberra is 30klm the location being 5/7klm from the Federal Highway. It is very private giving you the opportunity to spend time in the Nations Capital and then return to a tranquil setting in the mountainous surrounds in beautiful bush with water.

Thanks to all you good Nomads who have posted replies.

(This proposed Farm Stay is aimed purely at the Grey Nomad Market and will be Pet Friendly)

SnowT · Guru

I'm a Tight Arse..
Self-contained.. don't need power..

Should have anywhere from 140 - 280+lt's of water so Should not need water unless I have not filled up previously, but would offer a donation for Potable water..

So depending on what was for offer, $5-$15 would be my price range...

So unless they offered something else would not expect to have to pay more...

--- > If you know them maybe suggest that they look at the possibility of putting on a prepaid BBQ. for a few $ xtra...
Stayed in a place in Cheyenna that did a full on BBQ meal for About $12.00.. the meal was awesome and you had to Prebook the night before if you want one of his RIB rack's... If they were anything like any of the BBQ rib's I tried in various place around the USofA they would of been Awesome...

Juergen

New Wanderers · Veteran Member

As I see it there should be two rates, those who are self contained and those who want the amenities. A BBQ would be a great idea to meet and greet.

Self contained $10.00 per night
With amenities $15.00 per night

dazren · Guru

smile Looks very Idyllic , only 30 k from Canberra, plus [Property owner would be looking to provide power, water and toilet facilities. ] Lets put it into perspective, ? with only 6 sites available, The $5 - 10 dollar mark would hardly be Viable, WHY would one bother ?? 6 vans @ $5 = $30 6 vans @ $10 = $60

And with no assurance that all sites would be filled every night, and with Running costs and labour involved with booking and maintenance etc,, to me it does not sound worth while,

However there are all type of vanners out there, that would look at this as a very pleasing way to be able to visit Canberra and surrounds and stay in a very Idyllic location with a safe place to leave the van, whilst they explored the area, Yes the Majority of us, our now fully self contained, However I for one will use the van toilet, IF there is No Clean toilet facilities available, however I normally will always use the Van shower at all times,

Anyway down to the crunch ?? What IMHO is it worth ? confuse confuse confuse OK ! sight unseen this is my opinion, If staying for 4 nights or less $25 per night, IF staying for a week [ 7 days ] or more $20 per night, As for the Toilets and other facilities They are there ? so either use them or not ?? Thats ones personal choice

That is what i would be prepared to pay, and do have intentions this year to go to Canberra and surrounds, so i will keep on eye on this thread, as it sounds great to me, smile

Tones · Veteran Member

Hi. Great idea and location sounds great. The big issue here would be public liability. If I had such a property, I would terrified to let anyone with a van onto the property unless I had Public Liability Insurance. When you charge a fee, like it or not, you become commercial and have to pay for the little things to save you from extinction if something should go wrong. I know that there are many people doing it, but if you care to check on some of the schemes around at present, you will find that the issue of Insurance is alive and well. Donation still means commercial.

I would venture to say that with the charges for Insurance (and any requirements of the Insurance Company that might be applied to the cover), you might be very lucky to be able to get out of it for less than $25.00 per night. I know that this post might sound negative, but we live in a very litigation-prone society and it continues to get worse. Generally, if someone gets injured or property gets damaged, then someone sues for damages or costs.

Having said everything above, I would be very interested in staying in such a place BUT, cover your butt before you jump in. I would be happy to pay $25 per night and think that it would be a bargain compared to what is charged by the commercial parks.

Tones

brickies · Guru

What would it cost to set up 6 site and what would be the return , I have a friend who own an hotel with a lot of spare land and decided he would build an caravan park , Went to local council to see what there requirement were and got an big shock at what it was going to cost and look at the the returns and it didn't add up So he look else where to invest his money . We all like cheap site but if you are self contained we free camp if not we use caravan parks and pay for connivence of position position , This is our free choice and we make our call on what suit us but we can't expect someone to provide something to suit all .

PeterD · Guru

JohnR wrote:
Distance from Canberra is 30klm the location being 5/7klm from the Federal Highway. It is very private giving you the opportunity to spend time in the Nations Capital and then return to a tranquil setting in the mountainous surrounds in beautiful bush with water.

Where is that 30 km measured from? The border, the edge of town (say the Antill St roundabout,) or Canberra City centre?

done dreaming · Senior Member

If they are providing power and water and if it is within half hour of Canberra they should be right with $25 a night. We have had trouble getting a site in Canberra in the past because we travel with 2 small dogs

Jetta7 · Veteran Member

I have found the comments re pricing quite interesting. Recently I did a 8 week trip from far north QLD coast to Kunnurra in WA and back to Brisbane.

We stayed at CP,s all the time and averaged $28 per night, and that included some $44 night costs.

From a number of posts so far people are prepared to pay up to $25 pn for what's on offer if they use all facilities. This is in reality not that far from CP prices who currently exist.

The difference I see is if the business model could work, having the two tier structure that someone else has mentioned, 1. All facilities $20-25 , 2. Use own facilities plus power $10-15 .

Given the current attitude of councils and government of covering all conceivable issues plus some, I doubt this would provide a viable business. What a pity , small business opportunities can be crushed by red tape and regulations, and the consumer misses out or pays dearer !

I hope he can get it going, and by the way I would pay $25 a night to enjoy the open space and quietness!

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I suspect if he doesn't set it up as a pubic caravan park, he wont have the issues with regs and laws that the hotelier did with his Council. He would need to restrict it to members of this Forum only (on paper anyway) as an example and would need public liability - I would be seeing a town planning lawyer (not one from Canberra) to check this out - if he decides to go ahead and maybe if theres the room, increase it to perhaps 20 sites or so to get a return on his investment and the on-going daily commitments (or has a free on-site caretaker with own caravan on free site)

madcart · Senior Member

If this site gets up and going I would love to stay there.We are thinking of going to Canberra in March/April 2015. Please keep us posted so those who are interested can book.

KFT · Guru

madcart wrote:
If this site gets up and going I would love to stay there.We are thinking of going to Canberra in March/April 2015. Please keep us posted so those who are interested can book.

We are likely going down that way as well and this looks to be a great spot to stay. Would love to see it get up so we could stay there.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Make sure you book early if going for the Easter weekend. the National Folk Festival attracts huge numbers.