Recomendations Queensland

Ron-D · Guru

Recomendations Queensland

sandsmere · Guru

We have stayed in all of those campsites except Gunalda and Monto Ron.

All good places to camp.

lawrie · Veteran Member

Just north of Eidsvold there is a free camp, I think its called Ceratodus,nice and clean,(thanks to the local council)
also Monto has a nearly free camp in town,next to the old rail yards,very nice and quite,
stayed at both last week ,
Lawrie

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

A word of "warning" advice. hmm

I have just (over the last two weeks) come down from Rubyvale, Moura, Biloela, Eidsvold, Goomeri, Woodford and am still moving.

The "free" camps along all those roads were chockers full before 2pm ... and I do mean chockers.

It is surprising just how many vans/motorhomes are still on the road up in QLD. They are packed in literally about two metres apart and in some case in more than one row. Often new arrivals begin about 10am ... so I guess many are doing short "Ks" each day with early starts.

Sadly, each van park I saw as I passed, and stayed in some because of crowded "free" camps, were near empty. Except for the need to pay a cuppla dollars to stay there, at least there was breathing space/room - OH yeah and some facilities.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 26th of October 2016 08:22:30 AM

Conquester · Veteran Member

I can thoroughly recommend Monto. It's $5/night and has potable water and a dump point. Great for motorhomers as it's right in town. The town is very RV friendly, good food in the pub (the one up the hill), a couple of nice cafes with good coffee, it has an IGA and Foodworks and a fantastic award winning butcher in the town.

i can also recommend Beerwah Showgrounds for $20/night.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Monto as well - and the bakery in the main street has excellent wares

Another very well patronised stay.

Interestingly, this camp is signposted "self-contained only" ... but they seem to accept just having a bucket to catch the grey water.

I spoke with other campers there and no-one had been to check on whether people were actually "self-contained" so it may be a bit more flexible than the "self-contained rules" state.

Cheers - John

brickies · Guru

I think some camp spot are stating self contained so you know they are not supplying any services . I am yet to have anybody check our van .

macka17 · Guru

I can see some "free camps" being closed.
Just for the fact that van parks are needed as businesses
and too many can't be allowed to close.

Or they need to change attitudes.
Too many are self contained.
If parks start setting aside. Ground only areas. with access to showers and toilets only.
Or just the dirt space. NO water. Power.
and charge. say. $15 to 20 a night.

We'd all get on better.

"Free" camping is destroying the business of Van Parks.
and they ARE necessary for the people that can't "free camp".

There's too many people wanting something for nothing nowadays.

A lot of people
Can't afford to set up their vans for such.
Some NEED the services of van parks for medical etc reasons.

All the freeloaders are reducing contents of parks,
and hence forcing raising prices so they can still make some profit from their investments

If the gov't closed, say 30% of freeloading parks. it would be fairer all round . (I reckon)

Peope could still travel and stop in bush.
People that NEED Facilities could still get them. and people who invest their savings could still make honest profit.

I've been vanning for over 50 yrs. in several country's.
and seen the changes as they develop.

Nowadays there's too many want too much for nothing.
and a lot of them CAN afford. but don't want to pay.

The volume of people doing so. and annually increasing.
Is killing it .
Basically for the ones that have no options financially.
Van parks getting too exxy and closing through land prices.
People with lots of money wanting it for nothing.

Similar to pensions. If you can afford. you pay. or don't get it.

Leave the free. or cheaper places for the ones that can't.

A lot of these free campers, are driving round in multi hundred thousand $$ rigs.
They can afford.
Others can't.
But it's being spoilt by those that can... Afford.

Ducking back under rock. Again.

Just my thoughts on a touchy subject.

Again. The haves are taking away from the have nots..

adreamer · Senior Member

Hey Macka! for once I agree totally with what you are saying.

This free loading won't be going on much longer. Too many people doing it and maybe the Council's/owner's need to start hiring people to check the 'free' parks and at least charge them a token for staying there.

I still know some 'secret' spots that have not been discovered YET!

My own back yard has more space between fences than what these vans want to squeeze into - WHY? is my question.

Helen

LLD · Senior Member

Texas is a good free camp. Dump & showers in town. Good pub meal. Shops for supplies. Says must be self-contained with grey water but never seen that happen yet.

brickies · Guru

I stop at free camps provided the state government ,But not in towns or built up areas which the poor ratepayer have to foot the bill.

Kantiki · Senior Member

lawrie wrote:
Just north of Eidsvold there is a free camp, I think its called Ceratodus,nice and clean,(thanks to the local council)
also Monto has a nearly free camp in town,next to the old rail yards,very nice and quite,
stayed at both last week ,
Lawrie

We stopped there last week. A great little spot.

macka17 · Guru

"My own back yard has more space between fences than what these vans want to squeeze into - WHY? is my question."

Why. One word..."FREE",, Something for nothing...

Cause they've paid $100plus k for their rig. and want everything else for free.

We paid $77k for last van in 2000 plus $56k for Patrol in 2002.

Then travelled 90% in van parks
apart from dams and fishing spots for over 13 yrs with that rig.
Only stopped at free spots when we were in between spots.
and then went waaay offroad or at back of park areas. out of sight.
Mainly because of genny running.

You can afford to buy that rig. You can afford to pay your way.
OR...
Should never have bought that size/price rig in first place.

Some buy that, Then they expect to travel free from then on.
as far as stops every night concerned.
They the ones being unfair,
to the ones that haven't got the wherewithall.

And the ones that hog these coastal free spots for months.
Should have a fire lit under their vans.
They are put there for ALL....ALL to appreciate.
Not the first in every yr and put down anchors for whole season.
I've had a few blues with them.

I've seen some with 48hr signs. and coming past a coupla months later. the same ones are still there.

Look how many big fancy rigs you see in these stops
then wonder where all the little ones are.

Out in bush/scrub. away from it all. Fine.
That's what those vans are designed for.

but when using the more civilised areas every night
where the "poorer" people have to travel,
as what they can afford to buy, can not go away from those areas.
Hence Taking the space from those not so well heeled.
Is wrong. When you really think about it.

Not that they would see it, unfortunately.
Too much gimmee. gimmee in the modern world.
A lot of us do try to do the right thing. But, unfortunately a lot of others don't.
They should look in the mirror sometime.

That's my sore point over with. Like it or not.
I've just been watching the way things are going in last 6 to 8yrs.
And also one of the reasons we go O/S for a coupla months instead.

Vince · Senior Member

Have to agree with you also Macka, eventually something will have to give.

If both started at the same time as in free camps closing and caravan parks closing, well,

imagine the outcome. Better start looking at boats.

macka17 · Guru

Damn Vince.

I've just recently sold my yacht..
Wonder if he'll bring it back to Aust and sell it back?.

Last time we spoke, he was East of his homeland
(That place which keeps winning Union.) heading for Fiji.

adreamer · Senior Member

Macka! I'm going back to my original idea.

LIVING A CAVE!

Ron-D · Guru

Thanks sands mere that's good news ,sounds good Lawrie And kantiki will check it out,good advice as well John Miuch appreciated,been to Texas LLD great spot.

Ron-D · Guru

Let's put another spin on mackas post ,freecamping is here to stay and this is what needs to happen,we camped free at buludela on the way through and the place was packed, we walked into town for lunch and coffee, and the lady that owned the shop said there so glad the caravans are here or this little battling country town would be out of business,we rely on the Rvs now for our survival..

My opinion little out of the way towns need to take advantage of this massive Rv trade, open up big areas to the Rvs and all that income,the ones that don't will then be bypassed , with fully self contained Rvs it's a different ball game these days cater for it,or they will move past your little town and spend there cash in places like buladela that have enough sense to cash in makes sense if you think about it...

meetoo · Guru

macka17 wrote:
"My own back yard has more space between fences than what these vans want to squeeze into - WHY? is my question."

Why. One word..."FREE",, Something for nothing...

Cause they've paid $100plus k for their rig. and want everything else for free.

We paid $77k for last van in 2000 plus $56k for Patrol in 2002.

Then travelled 90% in van parks
apart from dams and fishing spots for over 13 yrs with that rig.
Only stopped at free spots when we were in between spots.
and then went waaay offroad or at back of park areas. out of sight.
Mainly because of genny running.

You can afford to buy that rig. You can afford to pay your way.
OR...
Should never have bought that size/price rig in first place.

Some buy that, Then they expect to travel free from then on.
as far as stops every night concerned.
They the ones being unfair,
to the ones that haven't got the wherewithall.

And the ones that hog these coastal free spots for months.
Should have a fire lit under their vans.
They are put there for ALL....ALL to appreciate.
Not the first in every yr and put down anchors for whole season.
I've had a few blues with them."

Quote.... "I've had a few blues with them"

Hmmm, not the spirit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Macka, you seem to have a real problem with rigs over $100,000 staying at a freecamp. You say your rig cost $77,000 in 2000. Hmm that must put it well over the $100,000 mark in todays dollars, and you freecamp 10% of the time, and with a generator running!!!

Until recently I had an old van from last century. I have now traded for a much newer van to more easily facilitate my desire to travel our great land. Yes it is a much bigger van and it looks all new and shiny. Now I have bought this van, I have even less money to stay in caravan parks and need (want) to free/lowcost camp more than ever, especially as it my preferred lifestyle, compared to lining up in a caravan park.

Do not ever think that I have less right to freecamp than you, or anyone else in an older, cheaper van. We all deserve to see this land any way we can.

PS I do have a generator and have no problem with them.

If we ever cross paths, please pop over for cuppa.

Cheers, John

-- Edited by meetoo on Thursday 27th of October 2016 02:07:20 AM

brickies · Guru

I travel this wide land I have no problem with people free camping but I cant see how people can see the whole of Australia by only free camping , I am traveling in north Queensland there are lot of nearly empty free camps at the moment but they are not where you want to be all the time, So when that happen I put hand in pocket and use caravan parks which are very convenient and if we don't support them they will go broke .

Conquester · Veteran Member

Ron-D wrote:
Let's put another spin on mackas post ,freecamping is here to stay and this is what needs to happen,we camped free at buludela on the way through and the place was packed, we walked into town for lunch and coffee, and the lady that owned the shop said there so glad the caravans are here or this little battling country town would be out of business,we rely on the Rvs now for our survival..
My opinion little out of the way towns need to take advantage of this massive Rv trade, open up big areas to the Rvs and all that income,the ones that don't will then be bypassed , with fully self contained Rvs it's a different ball game these days cater for it,or they will move past your little town and spend there cash in places like buladela that have enough sense to cash in makes sense if you think about it...

Bulahdelah is a great little spot with good pub, cafes and shops in the town And I'm sure they're appreciative of grey nomads. However I was there recently, parked next to the honesty box, the place was packed to the rafters, and I was disappointed to note that hardly anybody came near the honesty box to donate.

meetoo · Guru

brickies wrote:
I travel this wide land I have no problem with people free camping but I cant see how people can see the whole of Australia by only free camping , I am traveling in north Queensland there are lot of nearly empty free camps at the moment but they are not where you want to be all the time, So when that happen I put hand in pocket and use caravan parks which are very convenient and if we don't support them they will go broke .

Brickies, I agree with that. Impossible to free camp all the time, to be where you want/need to be.

Cheers, John.

Cupie · Guru

We have free camped once in over 17 years. We enjoyed it on the waterhole down the ridge behind the Kynuna Servo, amongst the brolgas.

SWMBO unlike me, is not comfortable & gets bored easily in the bush. I could just mope around for weeks.

So we stay in CPs & I get my bush fix by going camping or 'redclawing' in my Patrol + kayaks solo, or perhaps with an old bushie mate, whenever I get the urge.

When we are in country town CPs I often go for long very early morning push bike rides while SWMBO sleeps in. I try to get out to local waterholes & the like, or along lonely country tracks. Beautiful in the early morning as the bush comes to life.

I'm happy to see people free camping as it leaves just a bit more CP site availability for us.

It's a bit of a dilemma for local townspeople/Councils trying to balance the business interests of the CP operator(s) against those of the local Grocers/coffee shops etc.

If I was running a country CP my business model would give serious consideration to a low services option to counter free parks & a range of obviously superior options for those who want that. I'm sure that modern day technology could easily manage access to the various options. Buggar .. now I'm mentally brainstorming how I would go about setting it up. Time to go for a walk in the bush or perhaps round the 'burb.

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 27th of October 2016 11:55:15 AM

Darmc · Veteran Member

Hello Ron-D, we are still on the road, we have been down to Coffs Harbour and beautiful Urunga, Nambucca Heads and Port Macquarie. We have not free camped, stayed at Townsville, Bowen, Rockhampton, Nanango, Tenterfield and Grafton on the way down. Return trip Stanthorpe, Gayndah (not recommended), and beautiful quiet Tannum Sands and still on the road north. From Gayndah onwards to Gladstone the free camps have plenty of room, (when we passed that is). Now at Mackay, the parks up this way have plenty of room as most of the southerners have returned home.
Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we have.
Safe travels
Darmc

Ron-D · Guru

Darmc wrote:
Hello Ron-D, we are still on the road, we have been down to Coffs Harbour and beautiful Urunga, Nambucca Heads and Port Macquarie. We have not free camped, stayed at Townsville, Bowen, Rockhampton, Nanango, Tenterfield and Grafton on the way down. Return trip Stanthorpe, Gayndah (not recommended), and beautiful quiet Tannum Sands and still on the road north. From Gayndah onwards to Gladstone the free camps have plenty of room, (when we passed that is). Now at Mackay, the parks up this way have plenty of room as most of the southerners have returned home.
Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we have.
Safe travels
Darmc

Thanks Darmc that's good information much appreciated,we stayed at Nambucca heads as well nice spot,I had Gayndah on the list it is slightly out of the way so I might give it a miss,does not sound like it's worth the effort .glad your enjoying your trip it's hard not to in our line of work ...

RosieW · Guru

Kenilworth is a fantastic place to stop.

CC Bear · Senior Member

Biggenden has a camp in town for self contained vans, in old railway yard centre of town opposite the pub. $5 a night and they ask that you also give them any receipts for goods spent in town. Run by volunteers as a trail to see what happens. Nice quite country town with cold beer at the pub. Check Wikicamps.

msg · Guru

brickies wrote:
I stop at free camps provided the state government ,But not in towns or built up areas which the poor ratepayer have to foot the bill.

In lots of cases the council has to pay for the upkeep regardless of whether people see stay there or not. They have to mow and keep the area tidy regardless.

I guess I'm getting to the same stage a lot of people are with caravan parks and jumping castles. I don't want extra services. ie showers and toilets water or power. When I need those services I will go to a CP. I just want somewhere to park and maybe some company from other travellers. I will spend my money in town so the ratepayers are getting some benefit. Its not freeloading. Those that need the services should pay for them.

Ron-D · Guru

Thanks Rosie were at Burleigh c/p at the moment we're leaving there on Friday morning and heading to Kenilworth nothing but good reports you just confirmed it..

Gaylehere · Guru

We like the Little Yabba free camp not far from Kenilworth on the Kenilworth/Maleny road. Stayed there last Tuesday night. Mowed grass, some shade trees, long drop toilets, BBQ and Picnic tables, a river (not much water at the moment though), lovely bush walk across the bridge on the other side of the river. There was only us, a caravan and tug and a 4WD with a couple who slept in the back that night. There is a day area across the road too if passing through.

-- Edited by Gaylehere on Tuesday 1st of November 2016 09:10:31 PM