We don't normally stay in caravan parks, but due to family commitments in Brunswick Heads in November and Bundaberg in February, we have already booked to secure our spot.
Reason: Mullumbimby show weekend same weekend as the wedding at Brunswick Heads. January to March is turtle hatching time in Bargara, so booking are heavy as well.
Always pays to check ahead keep an eye out on what events are happening in the area which may impact bookings.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
There's plenty of parks around, and by waiting till the day concerned, it gives you 100% for DIY travelling ... stay an extra day here or go and investigate somewhere 'down there' ... sort of thing
If you are going to be on the Gold Coast, Qld during the June/July school holidays I'd check for availability on line. The Gold Coast Marathon is on 2 -3rd July. Brisbane Show is in August.
Out of school holidays I only book ahead if I know it is going to be a busy weekend or I want to be assured of getting into a specific park. I generally just bowl up, case the joint and if I like what I see I enquire. If I don't think much or that park or there is no space I simply move on. As stated above there are plenty of parks up there.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
As well as school holidays, you need to take account of the grey nomads who head north each winter from the south for warmer weather.
They often pre-book sites in the same CP a year ahead and stay at the same one for 2-3 months, especially the ones near the coast line.
I only pre-book CPs at coastal and tourist high season spots, otherwise I just phone/email the day before or like many others, just rock up.
The advantage of not pre-booking is 1) you can see the sites on offer and if they suit you 2) the state of the toilets/showers and kitchen if you use them 3) make sure its not of feral permanents 4) you wont be shoved up against a noisy main road or the local shire dog pound
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Thanks for your thoughts. We usually book about a day ahead but am a little concerned that it is a popular area with Grey Nomads that time of year. I suppose by not prebooking the worst that can happen is having to spend the odd night in a motel.
In all the years we have been on the road never have not found some where to stop , Remember you can always find a free camp for overnight and move into town the next day .
We are not set up for free camps brickies, no toilet or power and we have an engel to run.
Maybe when we eventually upgrade to a van instead of our trailer.
We always book ahead, always pick our site...... I HATE getting stuck on a site in the middle of the park looking at nothing but the bum of some one else's rig!!
Either get on the internet and look at a park map, or walk around the park before we book in.
Fussy me.
Hey Rosie. No, youre not being fussy. Even if I book ahead, I always arrive at reception and tell them I want to see the site they have allocated.
I then walk over and check it out. I don't want to be on an undulating, muddy bit of land right outside the toilet doors which slam shut all night ! Ive yet to strike a CP who wont relocate you to a better site if you ask pleasantly (and I always lie about the length of my 'van otherwise some will jam you onto a tiny site with no room to park your tow vehicle
Obviously if you go the a beach CP at peak time, you may not have any choice, but we stay away from these places then - nothing like paying $50-60 a night to queue up for a toilet, cold shower, loud drunks and screaming kids !!
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
