Caravan Park complains about free camping

Tony Bev · Guru

Caravan Park complains about free camping

Plodnalong · Senior Member

I was in Dongara today. The caravan parks cost between $30 and $40 a night for a powered site for a couple. Most don't do discounts for singles and I didn't bother even asking with those upfront prices. I'm sitting in my van next to the beach, listening to the surf, ten km up the road in the free camp. They need to drop their prices and advertise discounts for singles, or even start their rates at a single person rate then extra for each extra adult or child, to draw people in. Overpriced and then whinging when they don't get the business. Andy

Plodnalong · Senior Member

By the way I was hoping for good fish and chips in Dongara but at $14.50 for shark and chips I had a pasty from the bakery instead.

Tony Bev · Guru

I have had fish and chips at Dongara, I thought that they were OK

I have also had stuff from the bakery, and from memory their bread was very fresh

I am lucky that the food usually cost me nothing

Err...

smile I always let the boss pay smile

Desert Dweller · Guru

Caravan Parks VS Free camps issues are becoming more common.

A while back the management of Cobar NSW caravan park was going out to the surrounding Rest Areas every night & counting how many nomads were staying overnight.

They submitted their data to the shire to try to get the rest areas closed down but they are the road authorities responsibility so it was unsuccessful.

By the way if you're in the area Florida RA & Meadow Glen RA are both very nice overnight stops.

newhorizons · Senior Member

I always enjoy my time in freecamps better as I'm out in the bush and the neighbours are friendlier.
While some retirees may have big flash vans, others and living from pension to pension and with the price of fuel, couldn't afford to be on the road if it weren't for freecamps.
I understand the park owners but they need to share the benefits with all businesses in the town. What they manage to save by freecamping, they spend on goods in the town and doing touristy things.
Times are changing. The baby boomers have taken to the road in big numbers but with "not so big" budgets. The councils need to cater for these people as well as the others and many are doing a good job. The only way parks will survive is to drop their prices and maybe set up a campground facility down the back as the park in Emerald has wisely done. That way they capture both markets and solo travellers are happy as a campground usually charges per person.

Landfall · Guru

Those people who belong to the CMCA and that now includes caravans as well as motorhomes/campervans can take advantage of the CMCA's hard work in getting some caravan park owners onside with their Dollar Saver deals. $10 or less per night in their park, conditions do apply.

This may be an alternative for those who do not feel secure in stopping at road side rest areas or dodgy freedom camps.

As we are a completely self contained vehicle I find it offensive to be expected to pay in excess of $30 a night for a small rectangle of grass to park on, we only want to stop for a night, not put a deposit on purchasing the park.

macka17 · Guru

This debate has been going on ever since somebody started charging for a bit of land to park your van.

We were Touring. AND staying places overnight, back in early '60's.
None whinged in those days.
AND. You could park in any Farmers Paddock, neighbors corner block.
with cable to shed P.Point.

They need to understand that IF they were to second an area which was just a parking space. With , maybe $7\10 PN. NO services at all.
Maybe a coupla bucks extra to use ablutions.

and maybe a deposit, returned next morn after site checked for those that "cheat".

They would get some more of the money
that more by the yr people are taking straight past.
THEY know more vans are being built "self sufficient" than ever b4.

Apart from the ones on Prime (to some people) Holiday beach spots.
The rest are being unrealistic and WILL suffer in future.

Councils are realising nowadays.
That ALL can Profit from travellers if they cater to their O'Night areas.

CMCA, and a few Caravanning organisations Need to contact.
Firstly State Gov'r rep's. then Land holders near town. Then councils.

In UK and Europe. Caravan clubs OWN or lease land which their members use
incorporated into fees plus spot fee.
A lot are self sustained only but some have services.

If we can get it past legislation. then a few landowners on side.
NO Services at all. so no Hygiene laws to break.
$10 pn any size.
There is a lot of dirt just sitting there.

Try to get access. Everybody would gain.

-- Edited by macka17 on Wednesday 7th of June 2017 09:56:41 AM

Dickodownunder · Guru

newhorizons wrote:
The only way parks will survive is to drop their prices and maybe set up a campground facility down the back as the park in Emerald has wisely done. That way they capture both markets and solo travellers are happy as a campground usually charges per person.

Yes, if only some parks had the extra room like Emerald then it would be great.

I stayed at this park during TC Debbie and liked the town and the general area so much we stayed for a couple of weeks.

I had a powered site with a slab but witnessed many overniters take advantage of their massive lawned area with both vans and tents/campers for a low cost site.

With this park in Emerald with its facilities I could not understand why anyone would want to camp down on the highway under the railway bridge with all the noise and comings and goings apart from needing to save a few dollars.

Great managers as well...

Dickodownunder · Guru

There are some farm type campsites available here...

youcamp.com/

I just clicked onto the first site in NSW and they want $15.00 per person per night.

No wonder the concept hasn't really taken off here.

msg · Guru

In Emerald there is Higher Ground. Real bush camping with water $7 with power $15. (last time I was there)

Santa · Guru

Seems to be a lot of concern re this sort of thing coming from WA since the down turn in mining, people have long memories, many wont forget just how poorly they were treated in the West during the mining boom.

This headline quote from the Grey Nomad Times says it all, we won't be giving them another go, way to far to travel, only to find your regarded as little more than a traveling wallet, NEVER AGAIN.

"Port Hedland made errors

during the boom but please

give us another go ... mayor"

sufil · Guru

Hopetoun in Victoria is one place that has got it right. Free camping and caravan park side by side at Lake Lascelles in town. The council there can see that people will stay and spend money in town if both types of camping are provided. Caravan park is just as busy as the free camp areas.

Bugsy · Veteran Member

I wouldn't be too concerned about Parks surviving, at a recent RV Forum in Queensland Stuart Lamont the Parks Association CEO said the industry was booming with unprecedented growth.

Bugsy · Veteran Member

Interesting photo taken at the IGA store in Dongara. Appear that some businesses appreciate the freedom camp site.

Desert Dweller · Guru

sufil wrote:
Hopetoun in Victoria is one place that has got it right. Free camping and caravan park side by side at Lake Lascelles in town. The council there can see that people will stay and spend money in town if both types of camping are provided. Caravan park is just as busy as the free camp areas.

Patchewollock not far from Hopetoun has a new cheap caravan park. The owner of the pub bought the closed down primary school, installed power outlets & shower facilities & turned it into a great little park. The meals at the pub 5 minutes walk away are well priced & tasty.

Sarge9 · Senior Member

ya gotta admit that parking under the railway bridge in Emerald when the 3am train rolls across ya head is a bit special, is fun to do the different occasionally.

Sarge

Santa · Guru

Sarge9 wrote:
ya gotta admit that parking under the railway bridge in Emerald when the 3am train rolls across ya head is a bit special, is fun to do the different occasionally.

Sarge

Drove past the area once, looked like hobo jungle, wouldn't stay there if you paid me.

msg · Guru

I slept there once. Must have slept well. Missed the 3am. Heard the trucks going over the bridge though. Not so many there these days. Only allowed to park on Bituman area. Not allowed on grass.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Sarge9 wrote:
ya gotta admit that parking under the railway bridge in Emerald when the 3am train rolls across ya head is a bit special, is fun to do the different occasionally.

Sarge

We stayed near Nombinnee for 2 nights right near the intersection of the Kidman Way & the Broken Hill railway line. Every morning around 5am a goods train with up to 110 carriages.

Apologies for going OT.

newhorizons · Senior Member

@ Dickodownunder & Sarge...re the freecamp at Emerald.
Luckily I read the comments on Wikicamps before deciding to go to the campground. I did walk through the botanic gardens and past the freecamp and was so glad to be paying $12 a night for the CP that I stayed 2 nights. I agree that the CP is very well run and they have even fenced off a small dog-run at the back so owners can let their dogs off for some exercise. Also, the hot showers and bathroom setup was to die for.
The manager told me they plan to put down a bore so they can water the campground and put in a few trees. There were at least 20 vans in the camp area, plus most of the powered sites were full, so it seems to be going well.

dazren · Guru

If you like to travel and support local pubs and towns, then this is a great site to help plan your trip https://www.facebook.com/groups/CountryPubsOzCamping

Dickodownunder · Guru

newhorizons wrote:
@ Dickodownunder & Sarge...re the freecamp at Emerald.
Luckily I read the comments on Wikicamps before deciding to go to the campground. I did walk through the botanic gardens and past the freecamp and was so glad to be paying $12 a night for the CP that I stayed 2 nights. I agree that the CP is very well run and they have even fenced off a small dog-run at the back so owners can let their dogs off for some exercise. Also, the hot showers and bathroom setup was to die for.
The manager told me they plan to put down a bore so they can water the campground and put in a few trees. There were at least 20 vans in the camp area, plus most of the powered sites were full, so it seems to be going well.

As I said we were there waiting out the cyclone as were many others.

After the winds had abaited the park was a bit of a mess with some small branches and foliage blown off trees and loads of seed pods from the jacarandas all over the place.

On the Saturday two of my close neighbours and I decided to grab some rakes and help the managers tidy up.

As the manager said, it would have taken him and his wife three days to do what we did on a Saturday arvo.

Later on the Saturday night there was a quiet knock on our van and when I went out it was the manager with a six pack of beer a bottle of wine and a voucher for two free nights on our site to say thank you for the help. Needless to say we were very thankful and we did stay the extra couple of days.

I was not aware that it was only twelve dollars for the grassed area but that is certainly great value considering the facilities.

As I said, many people took advantage of that area for overnite and extended stays while we were there.

now I am completely off topic but we loved the Irish Pub in the centre of town (no bloody pokies).. biggrin

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Straight back to freecamping!!! The experience I've had in the last two weeks has reiterated why I HATE caravan parks.
When last in Northampton I stayed at Nev and Paulies - old gravel pit - great....and didn't have to put up with crap from caravan park operators. You can make the best of a gravel pit. I was there for two days....off the road....hard base in the crap weather we were having.....MUCH more pleasant than paying money to be underhandedly abused by idiots that run caravan parks (not speaking about ALL.....but in 6 years this time....wonder why I freecamp 99% of the time).

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Santa wrote:
Seems to be a lot of concern re this sort of thing coming from WA since the down turn in mining, people have long memories, many wont forget just how poorly they were treated in the West during the mining boom.
This headline quote from the Grey Nomad Times says it all, we won't be giving them another go, way to far to travel, only to find your regarded as little more than a traveling wallet, NEVER AGAIN.

"Port Hedland made errors
during the boom but please
give us another go ... mayor"

Too right Santa - particulary the w$&@ker from the BP. I will NEVER forget how I was treated by him!!!