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Post Info TOPIC: CARAVAN PARKS = CAN WE GET A BETTER DEAL
Hey Jim


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CARAVAN PARKS = CAN WE GET A BETTER DEAL
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Hi all,

We are getting more and more complaints from fellow travellers at the cost of Trouist  Parks across the country. Many have members discounts, with a annual fee to join. (correct me if I'm wrong).

If their is now so many Baby boomers hitting the road in greater numbers. I beleave  Highest numbers recorded to date.  Why can't the farmers who need cash injections to help in these hard times of drought, lend us a small section (be It a corner) of a few acres. All parties need one another.

 

Caravan parks owners have a right to earn a living just the same as everyone else. (Don't get me wrong). But it seems that we are now the new CASHED UP CASH COW Retirees, there for the picking.

If we only want the basics  without the Playgrounds and Gas BBQ's . Why can't the farmer help make a more level playing field closer to some of the townships.

It may bring CV parks to back down, to more reasonable / affordable realistic prices.

 

In capital cities this would / could not be possible due the  cost of land. That I under stand.

Your Imput and idear's  to add or subtract I would wecome. 

 I'm only the messager wanting to contribute to the forums ( please remember.)

 

I noticed in Tumby Bay SA a Easter time. The council there, has parking for fully self contained RVs and vans for $10 pp per night 2km out of town, in direct compitition  with the CV in the town ship.

We were staying in a cabin for a few nights, and every night the council site had 10-15 customers. They have a dump point in town and a water supply as well.( As an example)  $20 a lot better then the $57 plus been quoated with the lot. (Sounds like A Hamburger) by some of our fellow GN's.

Regards Jim & Lambie

 

 



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Desert Dweller


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With so many fantastic ''free camps'' spread all over the country & lots of small, cheap community run CPs springing up in country towns who needs plush expensive resort style CPs?
Many property owners are already taking advantage of the opportunities opened up with so many RVers looking for places to stay. www.youcamp.com



-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Saturday 20th of June 2015 06:05:44 AM

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Dougwe


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Thanks for that link DD, I have pinched it and kept to look at properly later.

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brickies


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I have looked at YOUCAMP before not cheap

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brickies


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I think that farmer who are on bad time may not have the money to do a simple set up and then there is insurance, I was talking to a Farmer in Injune in Queensland at the Tourist information centre who started doing the same thing to let travellers camp on his property for free and his Layer told him if didn't have insurance and something happen could cost him his Property so sometime it not that easy

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Woody n Sue


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I am a farmer in northwest Vic and would love to have GNS stay and help from time to time or just stay for the farm experience just haven't said so here maybe I should check out my insurance co and see what the situation is with them

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marto1944


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Surely there must be a way around these insurance problems maybe a donation system or use at your own risk are these possibilities maybe some how these matters need to be looked at legally and then these poor cash strapped farmers can make a quid to keep life going the legal mob seem to drive people to dispear and the news seems always to be bad and costly com on aussies we can do better than that

peter

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wasn_me


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This subject has been so flogged it's getting boring. There is plenty of basic well priced caravan parks out there.

I just spent near five months around the north east corner & central coast of NSW. With a mixture of free camps, low cost camps, & some caravan parks, my average nightly accommodation charge would be around $5-$10.

It's simply a matter of ringing ahead & shopping around. 

I think it comes down to the way you approach people. I stayed in one park for $11 / night no power, & another for $15 / night no power. Both excellent parks. They both made it clear if it was peak period I would be paying full price.

I am thinking of putting a diesel heater in my van & going south (Victoria) next autumn - winter to take advantage of low occupancy rates in caravan parks. I will be doing some homework first. 

Cheers Pete

 

 

 

 

 



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Desert Dweller


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There's no doubt that many landholders are put off allowing Rvers to camp on their properties by public liability issues.
Too much litigation these days. It all came from the land of freedom & equality, the USA. LOL.

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brickies


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Your right DD we will all say we wouldn't hold the Farmer responsible till some thing happen then we sue

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sandsmere


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The farmer would also have to have council permission and that brings a whole heap more requirements and costs into play.

It's not just a matter of opening a gate and welcoming people in.

Health regulations to start with.



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rockylizard


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Gday...

I'm with wasn_me. It is extremely rare for me to stay in a van park that charges more than $25 - and if I am in one of those it is because I need to be close, or within, a town for a particular reason - and then I am quite happy to pay the 'going rate'. 

The higher priced van parks are usually in larger towns, or in or near the "tourist attractions". The majority of these are on the eastern coast, or near capital cities in other states/territories. If I really must be within such an area for a particular reason, I just pay the 'going rate'.

However, an example of my solution - Landy needed a service ... nearest service place was Townsville ... booked it in for a 9am service ... camped at Ravenswood showground. I camped for the week at Ravenswood - what an excellent place to wander around. I drove in to Townsville on the day of the service, wandered around and relaxed in the park, had a coffee, some lunch, picked up the Landy and headed home. A good day out for sure.

Another example, I stayed at the Mt Hay Gemstone Tourist Park ($25/night) and enjoyed their fossicking and features - and drove the 40km into Rockhampton when anything in the town was needed. A lovely week in the area - very enjoyable.

So there are lots of way to avoid the expense of staying right in the teeth of a huge town with tourist attractions.

Given that farms, by their nature, are not usually in or within or that close to large towns or "tourist attractions". I guess they could be viable if there was no other camp ground within cooee of where one wanted to spend a couple of days and commute. 

However, I do think the insurance quandary would be a sticking point. Liability insurance would be quite high, and may not be available unless the 'facility' was of a standard to 'provide a safe and healthy environment'. On that point, what 'facilities' would travellers expect? There is no point in signing a "no liability agreement" with the farm - Australian Common Law overrides any such document.

All of the above notwithstanding, there would be some merit in the idea. In fact, there are MANY "farm stays" available throughout this fantastic, wide, brown, enchanting land.

Here is a website to some of them - http://www.farmstaycampingaustralia.com.au/

Cheers - and happy camping no matter where it takes your fancy - John



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brickies


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I agree rockylizard , We have no problem finding cheap places to stay and if you want to go to big city or coastal towns you have to pay there price , I have looked at farm stay and found them dearer than caravan parks in country towns .

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justcruisin01


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We have just been on a couple of stations up here in top WA, Pardoo station stay was $35  all powered & Barn Hill was $25 unpowered & $33 powered so there not what you would call cheap.

Keep in mind that these two provide facilities.

JC



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Long Weekend


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I believe that English farmers are allowed to establish a small caravan site in a corner of their land - apparently there is a limit to the number of vans they can haver but I'm not sure how many that would be. From what I have read these sites have a bare minimum of services - possibly only access to water with no power.

Maybe somebody could verify exactly what the English farmers are allowed to do and work on the Australian farmers being granted the same rights.

Murray

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brickies


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I will write to the Queen

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Hey Jim


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brickies wrote:

I will write to the Queen

Hi Brickies,

Don't bother. I will Email her Private Secretary 10pm tonight. Should have an answer back within 24 hours.biggrinbiggrinbiggrin

 

Thanks everyone for your contributions. Every little bit helps.

Yes I would imagine  that if the farmer collects money , then he / she would have a duty of care.

 However.

What  if it were on a cash only, no paper work involved system.Call it their Grocery money each week. They need our help. A win win for both.

Surely there must be a way around litergation  for over night stop overs on a paddock. If we free camp in the middle, of no ware and you have a slip / fall. Are you deemed to be trespassing on Crown land, in the first place. If you try to get back at the government.

Fair dinkim I would blame the missers for pouring that extra glass.smile  Maybe we will have to show our current Medicare card to gain entry as well.

 

What about this Idea CARRY  Your own. ..................Travel insurance RV STYLE for  stopping on the farmers plot............No insurance no stopping at this site Eg.

Hey Maybe an Insurance CO might take it up.

Group together every year, as members of GN to bring down the cost. there's hundreds of thousands of us at say $40 per annum per van. the caravan insurance industry must be able to come up with something.

I might get a commission = Free insurance for a year.smile 

200,000 RV's @ x $40.00   = $ 8 million a year in premiums a lone. What insurance Co would say no to an extra $8 million. over 10 years = $80m plus cpi = $100m.

Yes What's your say.

Hey Jim & Lambie



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brickies


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Now Hey Jim how to we stop the cheats from ripping us off , Like the people who leave there awning out so it damage in the storm to get a new one on insurance , But it sound good if everyone were honest

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Hey Jim


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hi Brickies,

Nay,

I referring to personal accident to one's selfs body, broken bones etc. Van lnsured in its own right.

Jim



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brickies


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I slipped over on that one , Can I claim on that

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Hey Jim


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That's Ok,

No damage done, so you won't have to submit a claim this time.smile

Better get this email off to the Queens PA nelly 10pm.biggrin



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Richo


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I may just go into business and creat a Cravan, Motorhome Park. Not a Tourist Park or Big 4, no cabins. just a plain simple park that caters for caravans and motorhomes. Just like the old days when Caravan Parks were just that....Caravan Parks.

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brickies


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The CMCA started a caravan park in Casino to supply cheap camping , But weren't able to do so and sold it to Big 4

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