Once again media coverage re prices of caravan parks in Cairns. Well I have just checked on the internet for prices for a site from 29th July to Aug 5th, in parks along the QLD and Northern NSW COASTS. Coffs Harbour and Urunga from $38 per night, Yamba $43, Byron Bay $50, Caloundra $48 and most of the Qld coastal parks, from $41 at Tannum Sands to $55 at Airlie Beach.
I am sure most southerners come to the north to enjoy the winter temps, which I can't blame them. However, we have just returned on a trip around central and western Qld, where prices are less expensive.
If I stayed in a motel in Sydney, I am quite sure it would be more expensive than one in the country.
The cost of living is more expensive than some localities, but we do live in paradise
For all the caravanners who stay here, hope you have a great time.
If you want to stay in popular places pay the money or don't go there simple , The reason they can charge more is more people want to stay there than there are places for .
Just planning a trip from Vic to Townsville and back over next 8 weeks staring this weekend. Prices vary greatly. Also it appears to be off-season 1/2 way on our trip but full season the further we go north. There are some good and bad bargains to be had. Between research on the internet & WikiCamps, I think I've got it all under control. A few one/two nighters in a free camp whilst on the highway and then a paid site close to major towns. All evens out over the 8 weeks at a reasonable price. I just can bring myself around to paying over $35 but for something on the coast with a good view I can be tempted for 2-3 nights.
With pensioner discounts, park memberships, 4 for 3, 7 for 6 nights, things can get better.
As brickies said, it is all about supply and demand. If you visit NQ in January, and can actually get there, you will get some bargain accommodation, but you probably don't want to go then, and neither do other people. This means that businesses need to make enough money during the cooler weather to keep them going when the tourists head south. If they don't make enough, then they won't be there next year, and those who are will be even more expensive.
It might be expensive but I think you will like it.
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BJC
"A year from now you'll wish you had started today."
We run a tight but happy ship. I suggest you go a little inland. We left Bundaberg Wyper Scout camp at $10 a night. Biggenden $5 a night centre of town, Murgon free, Cecil Plains free, Lake Coolmunda caravan park $28 and Texas free. Of course on principle we support the local shops and roadside stalls.
Each to their own but inland small towns are peaceful and friendly. All stops have been great.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Only a few weeks ago during the school holidays, I was quoted from one Caravan Park near a lake who allows dogs in Cairns $99 a night. Needless to say we didn't take them up on their generous offer!
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
Yes, that is similar prices we were quoted last October for a site at Coffs Harbour. Fortunately we found a great park at Grafton. Sadly, as locals, we have to put up with these prices during the cooler months. It is far to hot for us to use our van over summer.
We try to get away to the beaches in September or October, when the southern folk start to return home.
Enjoy while you can
Darmc
Most areas have low & peak season pricing based on supply & demand, more so in popular spots - we all know that, it's an obvious and long standing practice. But seriously, some of these quoted prices are getting ridiculous. The quickest way to curb demand for your product is by pricing yourself out of the market, then your customers will find alternatives. As someone else said, "if you don't want to pay the money don't go there", and that's exactly what will happen once the greed limit has been reached. There are an abundance of other "Paradises" to be found, Qld doesn't have the franchise on desired holiday locations, so vote with your wheels and make those overpriced areas hungry again!
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
We grey nomads are not the whole market, more and more cashed up young and middle age are buying caravans and staying in cabins , In North Queensland the grey nomads are only about for 3 to 4 months a year so the parks have to be set up for what their clients for the other 8 months want , the park has to make a profit after all they have outlaid lots of money to set up the park , Caravan parks in popular are worth big money some are selling to developers and taking the profit , So if some of us don't use these parks they will close and they wont be replaced by free camps the land is to valuable to give people use of it , Remember popular spot don't need grey nomads we don't spend enough money to compete with cash up younger people .
Brickies, I agree with you. A van park here just sold here in Cairns for $41 million. Other systems that may eventually come in are metered water and power. I believe some parks in WA are already using metered power. While staying at the parks in Westwen Qld, it was not uncommon to hear people just pulling in to fill up water tanks. 10 vans or more x 100 litres of water??? Not to mention the people who replenish there toilet paper supplies and cause damage to infrastructure like electricity poles and taps.
Unfortunately, we have no control over some of the costs of running a business, re - fuel, insurance (public liability), wages (superannuation, sick and holiday pay, penalty rates etc), electricity and gas and depreciation of infrastructure.
If that was less expensive I am quite sure we could all afford to stay in parks.
Remember what some people take for free, others pay for. Just like shop lifting!
Hope our southern friends are enjoying the weather up here.
When I stay in Cairns area I stay at Walkamin central caravan , It's has great central Shed and great lean shower block , It has very reasonable rate and only about 1 hour down to Cairns . It's about half way between Atherton and Mareeba , One of reason it would be cheaper than cairns no frills and cost of land would be a fraction what it would be in Cairns .
Off to SA for 6 weeks shortly and looking forward to it. We'd considered Qld, but frankly not interested enough to follow the lemmings. We have no fear of spending, but hate being ripped off and jostling with crowds. Also, for us travelling is about chasing experiences rather than temperatures.
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
Great sailing winds in SA Summers.
South of Lincoln across to Tassie. Pure magic.
With a decent ocean boat. Plastics bounce a bit though.
Freeze your nuts off in Winter though.
Just come up here through the centre.
Newell\Leichardt to Capricorn H'Way.
Then Left. inland to Emerald and up.
Or Right to coast at Yeppoon.
Don't really need to go any further than here.
Weather is PURRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrr fect. Then some.
And we not into the thieves areas so far. (i think?)
Cania. Prossie. Tinaroo. plus the rivers.
ALL the Barra fishing you could want.
Little tinny. round coast for Spanno's and such.
Heaven on a stick mate.
Only things you have down there are Snapper (in season).
and decent Kingies.
Plus that Whiting baitfish.
I've never eaten one after the first.
Tasteless.
The cheapest van park is the old Taylorwood "nudie" caravan park near Proserpine. It is now open as a "non nudie" caravan park. $20 night/ $100 a week. I found it on Wiki camps. It is 15 minutes from Airlie Beach on the Conway Beach road.
We have relatives who live in Gordonvale, 24 ks south of Cairns. There is no caravan park or any legitimate free camping areas in Gordonvale. The only public dump point is in Cairns in an obscure street and nowhere near an information centre or caravan park and access is difficult. As an ex Cairns resident, I am appalled at the attitude of the Cairns City Council but at the same time, not surprised. Cairns is not an RV friendly town, Mareeba can run rings around Cairns as an RV friendly town. Hundreds of caravaners stop in Mareeba and they are catered for by the Mareeba Council.
Great sailing winds in SA Summers. South of Lincoln across to Tassie. Pure magic. With a decent ocean boat. Plastics bounce a bit though.
Freeze your nuts off in Winter though.
Just come up here through the centre.
Newell\Leichardt to Capricorn H'Way. Then Left. inland to Emerald and up. Or Right to coast at Yeppoon.
Don't really need to go any further than here.
Weather is PURRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrr fect. Then some.
And we not into the thieves areas so far. (i think?)
Cania. Prossie. Tinaroo. plus the rivers. ALL the Barra fishing you could want.
Little tinny. round coast for Spanno's and such. Heaven on a stick mate.
Only things you have down there are Snapper (in season). and decent Kingies. Plus that Whiting baitfish. I've never eaten one after the first. Tasteless.
Qld's just not on our radar I'm afraid! We'll be staying in SA this time, much to see. Next trip will be WA (SW), then Tas. And our favourite trips are always the shorter in-betweeners here in the garden state.
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
As long as your wheels are turning mate. you're doing the thing.
"Enjoying life" You DON'T know how much you got left. Enjoy it hey.
Up here. Or down there in the cooooold.
I brought Di up from Melb. After second winter. (hah)
she said to her son. Who asked when she was coming back. You'll get me down there in a pine box boy. Not until.
Well Macka, I wholly agree with the "enjoying life" philosophy! As for climate, we're just not obsessed about it. If it mattered we'd be living in Hawaii (Oahu) = closest to perfect year round imo
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
The cheapest van park is the old Taylorwood "nudie" caravan park near Proserpine. It is now open as a "non nudie" caravan park. $20 night/ $100 a week. I found it on Wiki camps. It is 15 minutes from Airlie Beach on the Conway Beach road.
Check out their new web site, Taylorwood resort.
Bugger I was hoping to drop in their on my way back down to give my pecker a tan. Lol
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
