Hello All. Just want to receive feedback about staying overnight or longer at showgrounds. It seems this is a popular concept with some/many people. Our experience has been a bit disappointing, but we want to find out have we been a bit unlucky or it it the way it is. Now, we don't expect showgrounds to have the same facilities as better caravan parks, but is seems showground facilities are indeed VERY basic. Surely if they are open to caravanners for use at, say, $20 a night per couple (powered site with town water), the patron should be able to expect hot showers (and maybe more than one male, one female per showground), hot water to hand basins, an appropriately place mirror above the hand basin so chaps can shave, toilet doors that can be secured when a user in on the throne, and the like. Do we expect too much? Are there indeed showgrounds with these facilities? Please tell me of your experiences, if showgrounds are mostly as outlined here, or do we expect too much?
Showgrounds - like anything else in this world - can and will vary from place to place
As they usually are council owned and funded by the local community, their facilities vary considerably
To me - there are 2 sides to your question
1- if I want caravan park-like facilities I know to go to a van park and pay their prices,
2- when I want a 'simple' camping location, then the show grounds are the place I head for
Most Vanners today have shower?toilet vans, and as such are happy just to find a low cost and SAFE place to park up , whilst they explore the region !! that is when I prefer to use showgrounds !! safe place to park, low cost, and a dump point and power is all that is required, !! however I see your point ? if one is not self contained
Yes. Maybe I should have made it clear, we stay at commercial caravan parks almost exclusively. Just on a couple of occasions there has been no commercial parks where we sought to stop and explore and so went to the showgrounds. We are NOT self-contained and have no desire for "free camping". We were just wondering if what we had encountered is "normal" or "the usual" at showgrounds. We have no hesitation in paying commercial park rates, and in most cases have been well-satisfied at commercial parks. Some are of course better than others. Our biggest "gripe" about the commercial parks is when the shower facilities are inadequate or even poor. Such as, water from the shower goes everywhere and it is all-but impossible to keep dry clothes dry, footwear etc dry. In most cases, a shower curtain addition would do the trick. And for me, I whinge about no plugs in hand basins as I use a razor to shave and there is a great waste of water when there is no plug.
We are happy campers, but it did occur to us showgrounds may offer a cheaper alternative. All good.
We stay at showgrounds often - and they do vary in the quality and quantity (and sometimes even availability) of amenities etc.
Currently we are at Boonah - a great little showground, with a new amenities block built last year, including laundry and disabled bathroom. There are clotheslines, but no dryer. Lots of water taps, and power boxes.
You will find that a lot of "big rigs" camp in showgrounds, as there is usually room for them to manouvere, we tow a little car, and need to drive through, lots of caravan parks do not have this availability - so showgrounds suit us.
If I am paying top dollar in a caravan park, I expect to have no complaints - especially about the amenities - they should be top standard, or MORE than adequate - water should not spray all over the floor wetting clothes and shoes. Plugs, however, are a problem, as they have stolen more often than not, and cp owners get tired of replacing them. One secret is to carry a basin plug in your toilet bag - I have been in caravan parks where no plugs are supplied. Or you can put a squashed up plastic bag in the plughole.
Sometimes it is not about the cost - it is about the room to move.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
We use showgrounds more than caravan parks. You will find some of the amenities blocks are a bit old but some we have stayed in had new amenities.
We don't need all the bells and whistles that caravan parks have so are happy to stay at showgrounds. You also have more room at a showground.
Like Jules, we expect top notch when we pay top dollar - at caravan parks. We prefer showgrounds for the most part, and in all honesty, have often encountered better facilities at them than at parks which charge double.
Because showgrounds are usually owned by councils, they don't always get the money spent on them that they perhaps need. Hot water in showers is a must; we carry mirrors with us in our bathroom bags for times where they don't already exist, other than that, if we can lock the door, and the floor/walls aren't filthy, we are happy.
We aren't self-contained either, so have to have facilities. A lot of showgrounds, especially in outlying areas, aren't really set up for camper's convenience, but they do the job. Better than a bucket and a 'Pommy wash' in a roadside truck rest area any day.
But to answer your question, there is no 'normal'. It's all relative. Just take the bad as it comes, write it off as soon as you can, and get on with the good. Because that's what makes life worth living.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
Hello All. Just want to receive feedback about staying overnight or longer at showgrounds. It seems this is a popular concept with some/many people. Our experience has been a bit disappointing, but we want to find out have we been a bit unlucky or it it the way it is. Now, we don't expect showgrounds to have the same facilities as better caravan parks, but is seems showground facilities are indeed VERY basic. Surely if they are open to caravanners for use at, say, $20 a night per couple (powered site with town water), the patron should be able to expect hot showers (and maybe more than one male, one female per showground), hot water to hand basins, an appropriately place mirror above the hand basin so chaps can shave, toilet doors that can be secured when a user in on the throne, and the like. Do we expect too much? Are there indeed showgrounds with these facilities? Please tell me of your experiences, if showgrounds are mostly as outlined here, or do we expect too much?
Yes. Maybe I should have made it clear, we stay at commercial caravan parks almost exclusively. Just on a couple of occasions there has been no commercial parks where we sought to stop and explore and so went to the showgrounds. We are NOT self-contained and have no desire for "free camping". We were just wondering if what we had encountered is "normal" or "the usual" at showgrounds. We have no hesitation in paying commercial park rates, and in most cases have been well-satisfied at commercial parks. Some are of course better than others. Our biggest "gripe" about the commercial parks is when the shower facilities are inadequate or even poor. Such as, water from the shower goes everywhere and it is all-but impossible to keep dry clothes dry, footwear etc dry. In most cases, a shower curtain addition would do the trick. And for me, I whinge about no plugs in hand basins as I use a razor to shave and there is a great waste of water when there is no plug.
We are happy campers, but it did occur to us showgrounds may offer a cheaper alternative. All good.
Hi Kev, a couple of points that stand out in your posts, that I would like to comment on.
You say that you want to stay in a showground in towns where this are no caravan parks. If a town is so small that it does not offer a CP, then the showgrounds likewise will probably be quite primitive. As others have said, showgrounds are not set up for caravanners, normally for countryfolk, who are attending a show for show reasons and are not expecting flashy amenities..
Our biggest "gripe" about the commercial parks is when the shower facilities are inadequate or even poor. Such as, water from the shower goes everywhere and it is all-but impossible to keep dry clothes dry, footwear etc dry. This will vary from caravan park to caravan park, and will be no better, or worse in a showground. You cannot compare the two.
I whinge about no plugs in hand basins as I use a razor to shave and there is a great waste of water when there is no plug. Take your own plug, or a small mug, my hubby takes his own mirror as well.
We are currently camped in Millmerran Show Grounds, for the Camp Oven Festival on the weekend, with a population expected to grow by Saturday morning to approximately 1500 caravans. The facilities here are fantastic, ample toilets, could be more showers, but at the moment coping.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
I too use Show grounds when I want. In fact, would prefer them to a CVP anytime. I have my own full ensuite so if the showers are not much chop I use my own. My biggest problem is I had a instanaeuos hot water service fitted to my van and when using the water pump not mains pressure I can't get 'hot' water just warm and on cold mornings is not much help. My problem. I am thinking of a better water pump though.
I agree with others that there is more 'swing' room to get the van in and I love that side of it. You don't become the entertainment for the day.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hello Dougwe, We have the Endless Hot Water System and have had 4 years of patience with the system which has been very temperamental and unreliable. A fortnight ago I rang Anthony in Ferntree Gully who deals with these .He was most obliging and helpful and I think the problem is now solved .Time will tell, but all great so far to be able to get a hot shower without wasting so much water before the hot comes through. So before you try the new pump, I suggest you contact him. He replaced the Burner and put a new switch in and has made a world of difference. Good Luck Doug. Cheers Wendy
We were apprehensive to start with about staying at showgrounds but have changed our view since biting the bullet and trying some.
As to ammenities, the basic is ok by us, like a shower and toilet, they don't have to be fancy. Same when we stay at a CP as long as the price matches the facility.
Actually coming from many years of bush camping we think we stay in luxury these days with any place that has some sort of ammenities.
I like to support showground camping, it is a much easier style of camping compared to caravan parks, I do find that at times they are not as good as they could be with their amenities.
I would like reasonable amenities number 1.
A good example of this was Gilgandra a top spot away from highway traffic noise but I did spend sometime cleaning the ladies then the mens amenities, the need to turn the hot water on. When the caretaker arrived to collect the fees I let him know that I did all this cleaning work, he assured me he was a volunteer and it was other people jobs to do that. The show society at the time was in the middle of placing more water and power point hoping for more campers.
There is some excellent show and sporting grounds camping available around Australia, some hit and miss.
Hello Dougwe, We have the Endless Hot Water System and have had 4 years of patience with the system which has been very temperamental and unreliable. A fortnight ago I rang Anthony in Ferntree Gully who deals with these .He was most obliging and helpful and I think the problem is now solved .Time will tell, but all great so far to be able to get a hot shower without wasting so much water before the hot comes through. So before you try the new pump, I suggest you contact him. He replaced the Burner and put a new switch in and has made a world of difference. Good Luck Doug. Cheers Wendy
Thanks Wendy, I will look into that. I did speak to someone there last year with not much luck after doing what was suggested.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
We also did all Anthony suggested and tried and persevered, all to no avail. This time, as I had really had enough, we took the van to him, and as I said, a new burner and switch with a very pleasant attitude from Anthony atAustralian R V Accessories, all is working beautifully. Soooo great to have a nice shower without the varying temp and wasting so much water to get hot. Good luck.
Showgrounds are good they can definitely help keep costs down,but when you strike a C/p like we did a few weeks ago right on the beach at Tuross heads,you realise it's nice to spoil yourself sometime and watch the Dolphins come in to feed while sitting under the awning with a nice cold beer...
If it's about location you have to pay money , We stop in showground s for overnight so don't have to unhook ,I think they are starting to be overpriced compared with what you get , Tend to free camp if stay overnight but caravan parks for longer stay never stay at TTP or Big4
Thank you everyone. Quite a reaction. We are more or less sworn off showgrounds now. We don't need anything fancy, just clean and adequate. And we realise the showgrounds are offering a service at a low price and where there may be no other service available. Thank you all. Obviously some showgrounds are better than others. Cheers
I whinge about no plugs in hand basins as I use a razor to shave and there is a great waste of water when there is no plug.
I carry a small "fits all sizes" plug with me in the shower bag. The other thing you can do is go to a tyre place and ask for an old inner tube. You cut disks out of these that simply lie in the bottom of the basin and hold the water.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Yes. Peter D. I did just that with a tube from the people I have dealt tyres with for a long, long time. They work, but my wife was not impressed. I had thought about getting a couple of genuine plugs but like thought did, that was all I did. Will get on to that. As for caravan parks without plugs in hand basins, I know nothing about them, but those that are of metal material and you press down to put them in place, and down again to empty the basin seem theft proof. We realise people steal tings. Cheers
We use showgrounds more than caravan parks. You will find some of the amenities blocks are a bit old but some we have stayed in had new amenities. We don't need all the bells and whistles that caravan parks have so are happy to stay at showgrounds. You also have more room at a showground.
Pondy,
We are about to take of for trips and will be looking at showgrounds as well.
This goes off topic here a little, but as we will be travelling with Misty, have you found that most showgrounds accepts dogs? Generally? Thanks
Peter and Judy H. All the ones I have seen allow dogs; under control of course; but I am not an expert. I am sure others will have greater knowledge than I. Cheers
Peter and JudyH wrote:This goes off topic here a little, but as we will be travelling with Misty, have you found that most showgrounds accepts dogs? Generally? Thanks
I have not encountered any show or sports grounds that refuse dogs. In some towns you are only permitted to use them if you have dogs (mainly because they are the only places that accept dogs - as Kununurra is/was.)
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
