Caravan Parks-Councils-Rangers.

Chucker · Veteran Member

Caravan Parks-Councils-Rangers.

Happywanderer · The Master

Funnily enough, none of these 3 have affected me in my travels around Aus in the last 4 years. I travel to my own requirements which haven't included being affected by any one of those.

shekon · Guru

Wow, been travelling for 2 years, not my perception at all. Maybe best to stay home.
Don't have to go into CP if you don't want to. Plenty of nice cheaper ones around if you do want to.
Park rangers are there to do a job. Only become officious if somebody is doing the wrong thing.many councils are making provision for cheaper forms of camping, once again are there doing a job.

Smile and the whole world will smile with you, be an angry ant and I guess you will be bitten.

Don't usually rise to the bait but had to comment on this one. No wonder in some quarters GN's have a bad wrap.

brickies · Guru

Well said Shekon

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I love travel - love free camping, but if have to use a caravan park, look at the options, and go for th one that suits us best - be it cost, proximity to where I want to go, or no other option (free camp). In travels over the last three or so years, we have stay ed in a few caravan parks, in fact in one now, very reasonably priced, clean, close to shops etc., and lovely friendly people.

We look for showgrounds - though some of them charge too much for what they offer - small caravan parks - or free camps (or low cost, donation etc.)

I agree some caravan parks are over the top with their pricing, but you aren't forced to stay in them. On our round Oz trip last year, we only stayed in about four parks in about eight months. In Tassy, we were there for 130 days, and only spent four days in caravan parks.

If your attitude is anything to go by, you would not enjoy yourself travelling, which is your loss.

Agree with Shekon -smile and the world smiles with you, be an angry ant, and you will be bitten!

Desert Dweller · Guru

Been traveling for 6 months of every year for the past 3 years. We can honestly say that we've never seen a Ranger of any kind except for a Ford ute. LOL.

We bush camp most of the time & stay in the occasional small community run CP, never had any hassles. We leave expensive resort style CP's to the ''glampers''.

As has been stated above, might be a good idea for you to stay put at home.

moamajohn · Guru

Jeeze Chucker I have a feeling that this forum is perhaps not where you should be at this time.I mean last Monday we left home and as of Fri night we are 2900 kays away and stayed in 5 caravan parks and had lots of chats and not had 1 blue or wanted to kill maim or injure another human so far. I have found park owners to be the same as us folk ...ie some are good some are bad and some are just a pain in the posterior.Rangers are like cops ,that is to say they must enforce those bylaws that they are charged to regulate even when they may not agree with them.We as funloving nomads will set forth on our regular journeys and sometimes we have a hiccup or two ,but in the real world our dramas are only a matter of minutes in each 24 hr day.So in conclusion I say Chucker that good luck with your endeavors in the future but go easy on yourself and enjoy life ! Cheers .

-- Edited by moamajohn on Sunday 16th of August 2015 06:57:10 PM

Plendo · Guru

Chucker, you have clearly had a bad experience somewhere, it has upset you and made you question the intentions of some of the people we come across on our travels.

Maybe it is time to take stock, yes many caravan parks aim at a different market, offer lots of things we do not need and as a result they charge more than we think we should pay. Here you need to do some research, and find the caravan parks that are catering for our part of the market, they do exist. Alternatively look for show grounds or free camps (if you are equipped to handle free camping)

It has been a debate on this forum for as long as I have been a member, about the caravan park owners trying to exert influence to shut down or limit free camping, some places they have succeeded, either accept that you need to pay more there, or just avoid the town. BTW, most people just seam to avoid the town.

With rangers, they are good people doing a difficult job. We may not always agree with the rues they need to enforce, but it is not their fault. Talk to them, ask them for suggestions. In my experience they want to help.

Don't just give in as others have suggested, look at the options. And as Shekon says, if you go looking for problems you will find them. Go out there to enjoy yourself, and you will have a ball.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have been travelling around the playground for 4 years now and used free camps, low cost camps, show grounds and CVP, never with a problem that you talk about Chucker. The choice is up to one person only, YOU. You stay or don't stay and move on.

Yes there are some very costly CVP around but just as many if not more cheaper ones. I am not fussy, all I actually want if staying in a CVP is clean amenities, power and water, not a lot to ask.

One of my favourite CVP is at Byron Bay on the NSW coast and there are no bells and whistles in any way, in deed of some TLC and I tell you that for free. That said, as a solo traveller it suits me fine as the cost us in my range, one of only a few that look after the solo traveller.

Rangers, well, they are human like you. You get upset if someone upsets you and they do if you upset them. I really don't blame them. I have seen people abuse the system and wonder why they get into trouble.

Life is very short, enjoy your time here and the playground. I DO.

dogbox · Guru

if you read the signs an they say don't stop here, no this or no that here an think gee I better not do that here i'll move on where I can do what I want when I want you should have no problem with the rangers

it's like parking, park where your suppose to, don't over stay, read the signs an you won't get ticket

justcruisin01 · Guru

I would like to know if these councils a socalled rangers do have the LEGAL power to hand out fines a to tell you to move on. Look back 2 to 3yrs back when current affair ran a story on the back packers camping street side a car parks in the posh suburbs of north sydney . A representative from sydney council admitted on national tv that the council did not have the power to remove or fine these people;They said they can ask them to leave but cant force them. If sydney council did not have the legal power to move them how can a country small town claim be able to. I would like to know if these councils really have legal power or is it a self appointed power of bluff a revenue. Its time the answer was made clear for us all.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

It's called having by-laws. The Council passes by-laws (regulations) pertaining to various 'community assets' and sets consequences (fines etc) for non-compliance with those by-laws.

Council appointed By-Laws Officers (rangers if ya like) are empowered to enforce these by-laws and issue notices/fines as appropriately determined within those by-laws.

Not rocket science ... the ones that Current Affair may have been highlighting years ago probably didn't have by-laws - or poorly worded by-laws.

Australia

In Australian Law there are various types of by-law, and they are established by statute.

For example -

State government authorities create By-laws as a type of "statutory rule" under an empowering Act, and are made by the State governor.
Local government bylaws are the most prevalent type of bylaw in Australia, and control things from Parking and Alcohol in parks to fire regulations and zoning controls. In New South Wales these bylaws are called ordinances and Zoning Controls are called Environmental Planning Instruments created under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Cheers - John

WobblyNut · Senior Member

Yep I'm another . I stay in fancy parks most of th time But I don't give a s*it

about pools , playgrounds & stuff. It's less than an hours drive to Coffs for us,

but we hook up th van & stay at Park Beach , it's got all those doo dahs . But

ain't it Great walking on th beach at 6 in th morning.

Hey Chucker , KEEP them "Different Opinion" posts coming.

It gets boring with some of these old farts on here(I Know , this line should go in just joking section)

I'm not one , fb analised "MY profile" and reckons I'm 33 & my mrs reckons I'm a stud muffin.

still can't work that one out , ya know being a Proper Aussie Bloke & all that.

Radar · Guru

Wobblynut, just luv it.

keep pedling your Bedstead.

yes there nothing like walking on the beach first thing of a morning, maybe cup of tea.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Chucker - don't feel that the contrary opinions to yours from others is a personal attack on you.

Obviously something really pushed your button and when you typed this post you were bloody angry - don't worry - most of us have posted similar posts and been bagged by others ))

Keep at it - you are right about some CP's (especially in cities or near the coast), but there are many clean places that are modestly priced and lots of low cost and free camps around.

There are more councils and shires now who welcome us with limited time free camping or low cost CPs, than councils who don't want anyone that doesn't stay in CPs only (Broome in WA is an example where the Shire President also owns the largest CP in that town)

Keep your posts coming..........

Ed H · Member

Hi Shekon

Well said...I couldnt agree more...The whole idea of what we do is to enjoy what we have while we can..When we hit the wall occasionally, we just have to figure away to smile and move on...!

Regards

Ed

Ontos45 · Guru

(ex ranger Scenic Rim Queensland)

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

Come on Dougwe, don't keep the name of your favourite park in Byron Bay all to yourself, last time we were there we stayed at Suffolk Beach park, but it does now seem to have got a bit too expensive even in the off peak.
Cheers
David

Dougwe · Chief one feather

David, it's like this my friend. If I tell you I would have to shoot you biggrin

It is Belongil Fields. About 3km north of the township itself. Great price for solo's but can get up there for two as they charge per person. It has been mainly set up for the back packer I think. Heaps of Juicies and wizbangs but I keep away from them as much as possible or put ear plugs in at night.

Now, do you want a dawn shooting or late night confuse biggrin

Keep Safe out there.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Hehehe.....yeah Doug, we know what you really got up to at that Byron Bay place with the two young female back packers......remember you posted (or did you tell me in a PM??) about the whizz bang night you had with them.....and all they asked from you was a cup of sugar LOL

Youre a grub - and we all love you for it and the great experiences you relate to us (Im really jealous mate !!)