I suppose that it is all about supply & demand.

For our part the location/view from our site is the critical factor, not the price.

When we are enjoying holidays with our Grandchildren we are confined mostly to peak periods with swarms of children (good for the grandkids) and parks with lots of things for them to do.  This saves us from having to travel to 'attractions' to keep them entertained. Of course this means that the CP Chains are top of the list, along with their peak pricing.

eg. Tallebudgera Creek CP sites 22 to 31 (right on the water with netted off swimming area, Cotton Tree sites 204 to 216, On the Esplinade at Mooloobar (soon to be closed down)  Ballina (see following list).  If the chosen sites are not available then we go elsewhere.

On the trips where we are by ourselves we avoid school holidays but only choose parks & sites where we have views of the water or landscape.  I have a folder full of park maps with our preferred sites marked & comments about the park & region.  We often add to the collection by visiting all likely parks in towns that we travel thru & get a park map & drive round to pick preferred sites etc.  If we are intending to visit an area within reasonable driving distance from home we take a day trip in our town car & investigate the parks/sites on offer.

Favourites in this category are .. Dicky Beach sites C45 to 52, Kingscliffe Beach Selected ocean front sites eg. 117/127/109,  Ballina Lakeside S 135 to 140, Woolgoogla Beach S 3/4 /7/8/9,  Urunga Heads S 142 to 146, Belmont Pines S107 to 119 S19&20 , Sydney Lakeside S 1 to 10, Mallacoota S128 to 130 but lots of great ones there., Port Macquarie  S 273/287/309.  We ring in advance and book the preferred sites

There, I given away all (or at least a few) my secret spots ... enjoy.

If we were on the road full time or for extended periods our preferences would probably change.