Caravan park fees

Collo · Senior Member

Caravan park fees

travelyounger · Guru

Collo wrote:
Got a quote for a few days down along the Great Ocean road here in Vic.....$60 for a grassed power site, tried another park, $55.
Not sure if we will go. May try free camping, except our van toilet doesn't work.
Planning on going to far north QLD next year for four months, will be a big cost plus diesel.
Collo.

Hi Collo

I dont no if you are aware but free camping on the great ocean road is very limited to rest areas and some cheap camps in some towns.

Best to give that place a wide berth and go to places that are not so hectic but if you want to see the sights it can quite easily be done in a day.

Cheers

Possum3 · Guru

Collo, purchase a portable toilet www.bcf.com.au/p/elemental-thunder-down-under-portable-toilet/213924.html that will allow you to free camp. You can also get folding camp stool type for around $20 - Use when no public facilities available - cheap effective and not held to ransom by exorbitant fees of caravan parks. When staying in a place for a longer time use a collapseable/folding shower tent cost around $30.

2trout · Senior Member

Another option is to camp at Camperdown or Colac and do day trips. The parks are reasonably priced in these towns and you can do a 1-day round trip taking in the Great Ocean Road. eg. Camperdown to Port Campbell to Warrnambool and back home via Mortlake. Check out the lovely little deli in Timboon on the way through. This is a lovely 1-day trip. The added benefit is that there are 2 great pubs in Camperdown, one of the best bakeries that I have seen and some great views from Mt. Leura. Similar trips can be done out of Colac and you will not have to donate money to overpriced campgrounds. Worth a thought!

Collo · Senior Member

Decided to go to Port Campbell, $44 a night. Thanks Possum3, I like to have a flushing toilet!!

40 odd dollars is not too bad. And we have friends down there.

smile Collo.

-- Edited by Collo on Thursday 30th of September 2021 08:02:34 PM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Collo,
We stayed at Warrnambool about 5 years ago & the fees in two of the closer parks were $52 a night then. Also stayed there in winter - they close one of the parks but the fees were reasonable.

There is a small caravan park west of Warrnambool called Killarney Beach - a spot we were going to investigate further but then Covid came along! I would assume the park is administered by the Warrnambool Council.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Warren, I hope you and Pat are well and avoiding the germs being spread.

I stayed at Killarney back in 2014 and still had the Avan camper. It wasn't actually called a caravan park back then, just a camp area around the sport oval. The caretaker, I think, Jeremy, came around to collect the fees, nice young bloke. The showers were at the back of the club house but very old and in a state of repair. A new block had just been finished near entrance but no hot water at time and not full functional yet. A good week was had though camped next to a mate who has sadly ridden on ahead.

Great alternative and not far from everything in the area.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi again Collo,
Regarding your trip next year to FNQ (I assume Cairns or Karumba or ...,) - there are many ways of getting there e.g. up the coast via the Bruce Highway; via the inland through Springsure, Emerald, Charters Towers & beyond; also via Blackall, Barcaldine, Aramac (do the Sculpture Loop) & Torrens Creek, etc. The most expensive fuel in the area is at Torrens Creek (159.9c per litre, petrol & diesel). Fuel is always cheaper in the larger towns.

For others interested the road from Aramac to TC has only 15kms of dirt left & they are working on the road to fully seal it soon. The remain dirt at the moment is much better than some of the woefull "sealed" roads that we sometimes strike further south.

If you are heading for the "Gulf" (Normanton, Karumba), don't leave your bookings too late as they are popular retreats from the "cold south".

Hi Doug, we both have a cold (not Covid), so both wearing masks if we're out. Were going to the Tablelands on Saturday to chase up some birds & "do" the Herberton museums but will delay the trip until Monday. I wonder how the escapees from the southern states are fairing as our humidity is starting to climb (60% yesterday). Still lots of caravans travelling north, south & west.

Take care

chappy · Senior Member

Hi Collo if you do decide to make your way up to Cairns please do your planning. This year has been crazy with travellers in Qld. Many NSW and Vic people just lapping the state waiting for southern borders to open. Prices reflect supply and demand. Factor into this no staff and businesses are struggling to provide services. Cairns local tourism has taken a real hit so many places haven't been able to operate each day. But this area is full of beautiful places with fantastic weather in winter. Maybe it will come down to either warm sunny days or cold and windy down south. Good luck choosing.

the rocket · Guru

Hi, we stayed at a scout park. cheaper. Lots of shade. Did day drives. Not far from great ocean road

PeterD · Guru

Collo wrote:
Got a quote for a few days down along the Great Ocean road here in Vic.....$60 for a grassed power site, tried another park, $55.

Which parks are those. There are some good parks along that coast if you do not want 4 to 5 star types. There are a couple I can recommend near Apollo Bay - Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve and Marengo Holiday Park. Both under $40. The small sites at Marengo are mostly down at the more popular far end. We had nice large sites down near the amenities block.