Hi all. Some people wonder why we go free camping ? We are heading for the Bermagui area in January. Bermagui caravan park are $60 for powered site and $48 for unpowered. Narooma Big 4 are full for power and want, WAIT FOR IT, $72 for an unpowered site. That is per night on their website. Now who else believes that that is just rediculous ? Col P
There's no use bleating about it matey ... the CP industry is a law unto themselves with their pricing and 'no refund' policies
Their argument is that higher prices over busy periods are to cover a) the extra staff needed during busy periods, and b) to cover the extra breakages that occur every school holiday period. They sometimes add stuff like 'we have to balance dollar inputs from the busy times & the empty, winter times so that we can pay all our bills and council rates, etc.'
Funnily enough, if you go to a CP away from the coastal belt, you will not find these sky-rocketing tariffs levelled at the above busy periods
It does however add weight to the age-old cry for more low-cost camp sites to become available ... those $5pp/pn places that offer a bit of grass, maybe some shade and little else for those campers who do not want -or- who have grown out of - the family / children oriented CPs who chase the family dollars while that family is having their annual 3 weeks away from home & work
Good luck with your efforts to get the CP industry to change its ways
Phil
Colin, unfortunately all accomodation providers up the tariffs in peak holiday season. 30 years age one weeks rent for an apartment on the Gold Coast = my monthly house payments. I accept the prices at the snow field, as they only have a short season, yet the GC the season is yearly. In October, we experienced the same inflated prices when we visited the Northern New South Wales coast, a park at Coffs Harbour wanted $64 per night. We stayed in a great park in Grafton instead.
Try inland parks.
Best wishes for 2017
Darmc
Sesonal demand is part of the business model for all accomodation providers (and airlines etc). It is up to the customer to make a decision balancing desire and ability (willingness) to meet the market prices. Social media provides an easy way to vent ones frustrations but caravan park park owners are not bad people but simply working to market conditions. You can take advantage of these same conditions and visit in the shoulder or off season if cost is the primary factor.
I have taken an oath never to go to a BIG $, sorry, BIG 4 ever again after the debacle of Adelaide Shores at West Beach in Adelaide. Rates went up on the day given how many sites were left, $5 per visitor, dirty amenities and the general population had no respect for site privacy. I never knew how greedy the were with lack of ethics. I will see what some of the other franchises are like!
Just go 1\2 hr drive inland and get parks for sensible pricing.
then drive in to where you want to go\see.
Not that those places are worth much when you get there.
Most of your neighbours are already there when you arrive
if you a Southerner.
There are lots of smaller places along the coast as nice or nicer.
Without all the Lemmings stacking up there.
I always thought a "holiday" was meant to get you away from the maddening crowds.
So what do most do.
Swap it for another place full of themselves, just further North.??????
Confuses me.
Thankfully we all have our preferences - and I do realise there may be times when it is necessary to be in a 'tourist' or 'seaside' town for various reasons ... those times will attract a 'premium' price - either monetary, privacy or facility.
If the need requires the 'tourist' or 'seaside' venue in 'season' then that 'premium' price is simply (apologies for the pun) the price one must pay.
However -
..... there are some things money can't buy.
Cheers - John
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Thanks for all your comments. I have spent around $4000 getting my pop top ready for free camping. By the time I finish my month around NSW in free or nearly free camps I will have saved more than $4000 since I finished my set up. I didn't post this as a whinge it was a comment. I now mainly free camp because I don't need jumping castles, swimming pools and noisy kids. Meeting other caravaners and seeing more places is my aim. Relax, take it easy, chill out and have a coldie. Have a great Christmas and 2017. Col P
another way to look at it is cheap bottle of red is $10 lasts 3hrs, $70 for a caravan site lasts 24 hours, nearly the same hourly rate cheers blaze
Yep but for $70 I can get 7 bottles of red and i will definately feel no pain where as just thinking about paying that amount per night is causing considerable pain, I guess I will have to ensure I dont go there and experiance the paininmy hip pocket.
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Rocky, I think your comparisons are a little out. during the period where the seaside caravan parks have cranked up their prices your bottom picture will look more like your second picture (and a high percentage of them will have alcohol fuelled males.) It is far better to steer clear of both those riverside free camps and holiday caravan parks in the high season.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
I understand your thought processes Peter ... however, those riverside camps are usually not frequented by the 'locals' ... definitely not in large numbers.
It is rare that I have many 'neighbours'
The further inland and the further from towns the better the camp .... generally speaking.
cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
I don't understand why people keep bringing up the cost of CP fees. nobody is forcing any one to pay the fees and these places are normal near full when these fees are charged. Just be happy that there is still free choice in this country, at times we are a bunch of whinges, this isn't right or that is too dear, Fred started his genie when I was running my silent solar, yep I know I bitch about thong trees etc. and will do until my last breath but all the rest I don't really care for
have a good one and distress
cheers
blaze
I don't understand why people keep bringing up the cost of CP fees. nobody is forcing any one to pay the fees and these places are normal near full when these fees are charged. Just be happy that there is still free choice in this country, at times we are a bunch of whinges, this isn't right or that is too dear, Fred started his genie when I was running my silent solar, yep I know I bitch about thong trees etc. and will do until my last breath but all the rest I don't really care for have a good one and distress cheers blaze
Yes Blaze if think you are on the money . We are paying $70 a night at Bremer bay WA ,between Christmas and new year, our choice to camp with our daughter and grandkids .Over the top but sometimes the situation suits and ,ya got to pay ,the top rate in peak times .
Dhutime
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A picture is worth a thousand words rings true with your post. Great example of why we also like to camp alongside a lake or river.
We stay in C.Parks if and when ... yes if and only when we have to.
I understand as to why the Parks have to charge their fees, but I can not agree with the huge surcharge they place on fees in what they determine are peak seasons.
