When did you last queue to get into a van park?
New research shows that the great Australian tradition of taking a beachside caravan holiday is in significant decline.
A study conducted on behalf of the Caravan Industry Association of WA shows occupancy rates have dropped significantly in recent years … with peak season bookings down 10% since 2008, and off-peak bookings down 7%.
The association chief executive, Simon Glossop, told the ABC that the findings were no surprise.
“People used to take four weeks’ holiday, and go away… with their family for four weeks camping, but now people are taking a week’s leave, they’re going on shorter overseas holidays,” he said. “You’d have to say it’s the cheaper airfares to South East Asia, and of course Bali.”
The decline is arguably most evident in traditional grey nomad hotspots such as Broome. The ABC reports that the Easter weekend traditionally marks the start of the northern tourist season … but the early signs are not good.
“There haven’t been the people lining up to get in, like we have known at other times,” Cable Beach Caravan Park owner, Ron Beacham, told the ABC. “In the past it’s been unbelievable, the number of people competing for a campsite. They’re just not here in quite the same numbers now.”
Mr Beacham says that, apart from declining occupancy rates, the soaring cost of power, water and rent, as well as greater regulation and the increase in red tape has squeezed caravan park margins.
The WA State Government is aware of the trends and is spending almost $35 million to see a range of changes implemented through to 2018.
The money will be reportedly used to expand camping areas in national parks, streamline the approvals process for new parks to be established, and upskill caravan park managers and staff.
Have you noticed less people staying in caravan parks? Given that park operators are facing increased overseas what can be done to reverse the trend? Comment below.
Could be a good chance for people that don’t book in 2 years in advance to get into some of the hotspots for a look . Once people know there is site accommodation available then the holes may be filled
ITs bloody obvious what the problem is,The cost. They have had it so good for so long,jacking the prices up,counting on the mining boom.Like I have said many times before they chased us away with high prices,no service and take it or leave it attitude.Most us grey nomads have long memories.PLaces like Gladstone and Bundaberg in QLD said we don’t need annoying tourists when we can get up to $65 a site from mining companies,know the mining boom is slowing they want you back.Along the way they filled there parks with cabins stuffing up the motel industry they have hide complaining.Then they complain about power increases,most vans like mine are fully self sufficient so use little or no power.Sorry but you brought it all on yourself.In fact there is a book being compiled by some grey nomads listing all RV Unfriendly towns and over priced caravan parks,towns that have closed there free camps,and generally the ones that rip us off.I have said it many times you had us and drove us away.TOO old and cranky for that crap now.STEVO.
Well said Stevo. Let them suffer and maybe they will wake up to their high prices for a small piece of dirt that we use. Free camping is more enjoyable with a better view than a row of vans.
Hey would like to point out that your free camping is not free camping. Someone has to pay for getting rid of your rubbish, feces maintenance of the area and the list goes on. No one minds someone pulling up on the side of the road if they are tired but it is the old adage, user pays.
Caravan Parks have had to increase their prices because between the Councils and the CFA, Insurances etc their prices have gone through the roof. Maybe if you have 30 or 40 RVs pull into a town over the course of 24 hours the businesses may get something out of it but not the rate payers who pay rates and the Councils use that money to look after the facilities you use.
It sort of put the Shires in competition with the caravan parks.
Did you know that if a caravan park offers 1 trampoline for the kids to use the insurance alone on that is over $2,000.00. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Caravan Parks are just like any other business they have to compete and if they do not offer services etc that others offer then they are behind.
I do agree that some caravan parks really do boost their fees too high during peak season and maybe that is over the top.
Don’t be too hard on caravan park that have to pay for all the things that Shires/CFA insist they have but do not have to give it to the free campers.
We’ve travelled great distances, we have seen prices from $16 to $ 50 a night in various caravan parks. First of all, the sites are often so cramped, you feel like sardines in a can. The amenities are often dirty and the washing machines appalling. We have a dog so we are limited to where we can go. Many parks we’ve been in do not have any sullage outlets for waste water, so it just flows out of hoses onto the ground. Children are often very noisy and many parents don’t control them, taking no notice of park rules. We don’t often free camp, but I can tell you that I would rather find a free camp site than used these firthy caravan parks with rude managers. The country caravan parks are much nicer, cleaner and friendlier. Keep your prices within reason, make sure your amenities are kept clean throughout the day, by regular checks. Nothing worse than finding blocked toilets and in poor maintenance. I was disgusted at many coastal caravan parks, praise God for Wiki camps, because now we study the reviews and prices and this has been a blessing.
Well said not to mention the ten thousand a year for standard insurance and another ten k for rates and another ten for electricity or the ten % get on every dollar and the list goes on this is 2016 in the most over taxed country on earth how much do you think we get to keep out the 25 dollars you pay for a powered site while you charge up your battery bank and run your heater or aircon all night
Where do you get a site for $25 a night?
The fact of the matter is, many caravan parks do not make sure their facilities are clean, particularly in coastal caravan parks. Most are cleaned once a day, but not checked enough to make sure they that way during the course of the day. Families are hit very hard, especially the ones who are doing it tough during the year. The cost in caravan parks is fairly high, particularly if they have to take their holidays in peak times. Caravan parks squash you in like sardines, their sites hardly cater for anything over 22 feet. My husband and I are nomads, we have visited many caravan parks, the majority of them and health standards are very poor. I don’t blame any of them that prefer to free camp, particularly if you have a dog like we do. If travellers only want an overnight stay, the cost is of 35 dollars or more is a bit steep. We are very thankful for Wiki camps because the comments on some of these dodgy caravan parks are very helpful to many nomads. Nomads contribute to each place they visit and most towns and businesses are very grateful. Caravan parks do not have to be so greedy
So tell me Rosemary what are these facilities we use, mmm?
My RV has it’s own water tank which we fill up when we buy fuel in your town, its own solar power, own toilet, own shower. What facilities do we use. Oh of course the roads.
Listen dopey, I live in the Snowy Mountains, a huge tourist area, do you think I winge like a stuck pig when tourists you MY Facilities in Jindabyne but stay in Thredbo or Perisher Valley. No I don’t and one day one of them could be you.
You are the type of clown that’s living in the 60’s and 70’s when I TOOK MY FAMILY TO YOUR PARKS.
Have you heard of the internet? The way you dopes are sending us away with overpricing is no ones fault but yours.
You have failed to move with technology. You expect someone with the facilities that modern vehicles have to be hearded into one of your rotten overpriced overcrowded parks when all we need is paddock.
You have been caught in your own trap and it will get a lot worse. If the CMCA’s plans go ahead we will have 100 of our own parks within 5 years.
I had a business in Jindabyne that relied on local as well as tourist trade. Do you think I could have gone to Council and demanded no one shop outside the area…….what!
No what I had to do was meet the market to stop people shopping in Canberra.
Where would you park Rosemary , in the pay for carpark (paying all the rates, insurances, overheads etc) or the free car park down the road.
I travelled for 8 months in 2010 when I first set out and did something that escapes your one track brains. I STAYED FOR 13 WEEKS in C. Parks.
Did you ever consider that a van parked “FREELOADING” on your facilities may have done the same as I and my wife.
This is my view now, and we all talk, and we all blog, and we are all computer and Google literate SHOVE YOUR PARKS.
Stevo, I would very much like to obtain the book on the unfriendly RV towns. Regard,.Brian.
Wagin CP $20.00 per nite or ???$88.00 per week
RV park $10.00 per nite with many staying as ITS CENTRAL
Many great comments on both a great place to stay
Next town $25.00 not one van to be seen
Water is bout $2.40 for a 1000 lts free dump point
Only power I use is for the battery charger
Wrest point in Walpole cost us $144.00 for 8 days
Of coarse heavily booked ;)) at these prices
Thought that was very reasonable but better to be booked at
Cheaper rates and the word spreads as I’m doing
In this case a good spread dosnt take much and news travels quick
For bad or expensive parks
I’m too old for a bouncy castle
So I stop and shop where I can afford to stay !!!
you are so right Stevo, we too are pretty self contained and really use very little power, it is the cost that turns us Nomads away .
Absolutely Stevo. Two years I was in WA and swore I would never go back. some truly beautiful places I would love to go back to, however I refuse to be ripped off by anyone. Have been spreading my disappointment with their elevated prices now for almost three ywears.
WAYNEand others:
I have read many and various comments in this section. Many I agree with. Others I say GET OVER IT. Many of the complaints are about BROOME and how it costs so much to visit there now. The broome phenomenom has not changed in twenty + years. My inlaws drove thru there 20 odd years ago and refused to stay as i was too expensive then, and nothing has changed over that time. Others say it is expensive to stay in CP’s in WA, what a load of…… I have stayed in many CP’s around Aus, and some are just as expensive as those in Broome, including VIC & NSW. As for those who will not be returning to WA because of cost, stay in the EASTERN SIDE. I will make it easier for me to see this great contry and enjoy the sites and beautiful contry side. I boils done to IF IT’S EXPENSIVE, DON’T STAY, MOVE ON, find a cheaper stay.
Graham,
I suggest you are missing the point and your SHOUTY text supports the general point of the expense to stay in some CP’s!
Well said, Stevo
They make no allowances for single travellers but will charge you $10pn per person if there is more than 2 adults, or families.
Very rarely do you here Motel owners complain only the van park operators, some of whom can be very short on good service.
Agree with this post 100%
You can add Bowen to the list of GN unfriendly towns. During picking when every where is full of seasonal workers, you can’t even stay at the rest area just south of town without being fined $110. It is a beautiful town but the CP owners have the council’s ear. In the off season they spend our money to promote Bowen, as if we are that stupid. Our club has notified all the member’s not to support the township in any way, don’t buy fuel, fruit or groceries, until there is a change in attitude.
Spot on . Now the horse has bolted. Let us know when andwhere the book is available
Well said Steve! When and where will this book be available? As for Broome, they will never get another cent of mine, high costs with less than average dirt bowls for a site, attitude plus at reception, and to have your over flow camp site dictated to by a caravan park owning mayor. Broome, where is that!!
Couldn’t agree more.stevo you hit the nail right on the head.end of story.
YEA Steve, also they dont think of the single ully self conntained either. The same price as a double & even when a discount is given it s usually only a couple of dollars.
All Caravan parks now need a area for self contained with just a secure park area. Pavement would be nice so we dont have a problem with getting bogged in the wet.
Well said Stevo. We were so looking forward to visiting Brrome until I read recently how unfriendly their council was towards grey nomads and freedom camping so we are going to give that area a miss completely. I think that other businesses need to get off their backsides if they want the tourist dollar and lobby their council to entice the tourists to visit. There is a lot of ’emptiness’ to get to some of these places so they need to make it worth our while. We can not afford top price accommodation and certainly won’t drive these long distances to only stay a day or two. I should have the choice to be able to freedom camp in this great land, just the same as the choice I make about going to the local pub for dinner or a restaurant. A lady I worked with once said “advertising by word of mouth can make or break a business”. We now have the power of Facebook, Twitter etc. that makes poor decisions by unfriendly towns even more public.
I’ve been free camping just 25kms out of Broome for a month now and I fully understand why people in the RV community bypass Broome. The whole town is RV Unfriendly and targets’ rich tourists. The overpriced caravan parks are unable to provide enough power for customers to run their air conditioning which is usually the only reason for a powered site in the first place. However; the beach is still free, well at least until the Broome Council work out how to charge their victims. Broome itself is NOT the Council so I just don’t spend as much as I would in other RV friendly towns. eventually they will shoot themselves in the foot when and if people stop staying in there overpriced over populated under maintained parks. Action speaks louder than words; hit them in the pocket for the best result…
Get you. I was virtually asked to leave Cable Beach Park when I complained about the high fees. Now they want me back! Sorry but you had your chance!
Mate.ur too right…
I’ve been traveling for the last ten yrs and the changes made by our overlords(government ) is very in Australian .
People should rep the rewards, when we take time an money to free camp and now they want us to pay to camp…..W.T.F….?
Well said Stevo! But I wonder if the drop in numbers is reflecting the councils decision on FREE CAMPING around Broome!
well said stevo…what i find quite amazing is the amount of grumpy frazzled managers at various caravan parks- showgrounds and council parks…i was in business for years and also gave sales training…courtesy and enthusiasm are prime requirements to run any business…probably 10% of managers i have met i would offer a job…many even resent their visitors and cant wait for them to leave…and thats a fact…especially council owned parks…so they need some training and education…cheers
CUSTOMER
Company
self
In reply to Stevo about falling occupancy in caravan parks — Caravanners come primarily in two types of people – those thinking they are having a cheap holiday
by not paying out exhorbitant motel/hotel costs and thinking that caravan parks provide a cheaper
alternative for the grey nomad. This might not be the case as documented in ‘Steve’s’ comments
on that website – higher costs for use of the facilities are making this sort of holiday out of the
reach of many grey nomads. Also there are those grey nomads who travel with their pets and
many parks are not pet friendly or accommodating.
The other type of person who heads off caravanning is the person with every facility in their
caravan – they often come from high powered jobs and just want peace and quiet, not necessarily
the added unwelcome attraction of people ‘camped’ very close to them. They wish to commune
with nature and do not need the trappings offered by a caravan park – their vans have it all – hot
water, showers, cooking facilities, refrigeration, washing machine. Often a roadside private camp
site will suffice for a short duration – or the use of the local showgrounds by campers is becoming
an attractive alternative.
I think you will also find that some people ‘free camp’ for a few nights and then decide they need
a few more mod cons so head to a caravan park for a night or so before heading off again.
Not everyone falls into the above categories and it is foolish to stereotype people. Whilst it
is disappointing that caravan park patronage has declined it is inevitable given the above two
reasons. There will be many other reasons too – maybe less people out there ‘doing it’ – the
global financial crisis and personal circumstances.
Maybe caravan park operators need to look at costings / services / locations / facilities etc – only
a thought. Whilst I am disappointed for the operators of these parks, it should be recognised that
caravan parks aren’t for everyone – just as well!!! There would be no room left!
Couldn’t agree more matey couldn’t agree more
Well said Steve I Travelled for 6 years with a cat and the amount of Parks animal unfriendly was bad enough.
I am 71 now and this is how it is for me; I will stay where I want and when I want if I need to rest That is a basic human necessity.
I rarely stay in Parks as I am retired and would rather spend my money benefiting me such as a nice meal in a restaurant.
I am now staying in Thailand where they really enjoy the money I spend and welcome me with open arms……..sad huh.
I still have an RV that is parked for 8 months whilst in Thailand and I do 4 in Australia RV ing.
Got a ticket in Bowen back in for 2013 “illegal” overnight rest for $400 at 4.17 in the morning. Fair dinkum there are dickheads working at that time in the morning to give some poor bastard a fine.
I rang the Council and said to I wipe my arse with this or throw it in a bin.
They wiped the fine the poor dears as I would never have paid it anyway.
I’m too old and cranky to put up with moronic conduct
The lucky country maybe, the stupid country 100%.
I just don’t give a rat’s anymore and park where I want too as long as it is a legal parking spot
The price of caravans is extortionist too. Caravanning on the whole is now so costly for me it does not make financial sense. Cost of a caravan a vehicle to pull it plus mods, plus creating parking at home, the cost per site per night. It is cheaper, more comfortable and no effort to just hop in a car and stay in their cabins, motels or B&B’s
I agree stevo, greedy parks are going to die and good luck to them.
Small towns should offer free campsites money is spent on other facilities, they just are not thinking.
I personally love using the 24 hr stops provided all the way up the west coast
The true cost of living as opposed to the cpi is forcing us to rethink our travelling. Some caravan parks are charging over $40.00 per night and they wonder why we no longer come.
Stevo is 100% right, greedy caravan parks have priced themselves out of ordinary people’s reach, then have the gall to whinge! And has anyone ever told them that you don’t win friends by being UNfriendly to your CUSTOMERS. Well we don’t NEED to give them custom and inreasingly won’t. When a Shire spends thousands of dollars on Rangers to chase us away, then don’t be surprised when we go away.
Funny that they have not blamed the free campers as they normally do. I can remember the long lines of caravan outside of Broomes Caravan Parks and this long line, along with the high cost was our incentive not to go back to Broome. I wonder if the CP outside of Broome is having the same issues as the ones in town. It’s was a reasonably priced park.
The problem is you all want to free camp and when you need to fill up with water and dump your poo then you take advantage of a caravan park.Have any of you consided the cost of running a caravan park these day, purchase of the park, rent, overheads, rates, water, power, gases sewage, wages insurance, maintaince, workcover,CPI,taxes gst, the list goes on. Most of the blame in site fees goes to all the about they charge more so parks have to charge more. Free camping should only be allowed 30km on the outside radias of a town.. Dont be tight wades you all can afford high end 4×4 and huge caravans with everything in them,smoke drink go out for dinner, and want your rent assistance formed signed when staying in a park so stop your wineing.
Steve you know full well that caravan parks are a lucrative source of income plus a lot of cash. I believe most of us like to do a bit of freedom camping along with a bit of reasonable caravan park camping. No matter how much park owners whine the majority of us grey nomads will not pay what we see as unreasonable tariffs and exercise our right to freedom of choice. It is not whether we can afford to pay it is that we will not pay over what we see as reasonable. The Australian motor industry has learnt that there is a ceiling to what buyers will pay and therefore how much they can sell their product for . Now we have no industry. If the caravan park industry goes the same way we will only have freedom camping or low cost sites so all will be well. Then again all us retired folks can stay home and the fallout will be just like Mission Beach is now, the place is dead because no one wants to go there. The costs are too great.
so you think we should be forced to pay your exorbitant prices.People are deciding with their feet.
thats ok to say that but i only want to rent the site not buy the bloody thing
Well actually most country towns over here have a free dump point just out of town and most servos let us fill up with water if we buy fuel. Also most tourist information centres let us fill with water the reasoning there is we spend money in town so we don’t really need the parks If the prices were more reasonable I would use them remember we might have big flash cars and vans but they have cost us most of what we have
really wish you would tell where you are so i can bypass your park.
Steve, just for a brief minute could I ask that you take your blinkers off and then re-read your comment.
You say that we are tight wads who can afford high end 4×4 and huge caravans, with everything in them,smoke drink go out for dinner.
If as you say, and you are correct in what you say, yes we do (well some) smoke, go out for dinner and a few drinks in the towns we visit.
By spending our money in this manner we are actually keeping local people in employment. we are spreading the wealth throughout the town and not just centralising the expenditure on one location, that being the local CP.
I would have thought it would have been more beneficial to spread to load across the community rather that just one operator.
How much money do CP’s inject into the local economy?
Yet you have the audacity to call us tight wads.
Steve I don’t own an expensive motorhome, but I am fully self-contained. I do stay in Caravan Parks every few days as I choose. I don’t smoke, drink excessively or gamble -don’t judge everyone by your standards. I ALSO don’t just fill up water and dump poo when I freedom camp. I fill up the fuel tank and reserve, replenish food stocks, visit local attractions that appeal to me, eat out if a place looks like good value, maybe have the vehicle serviced if needed, buy needed hardware or some item we feel would be useful, replace worn shoes and clothing, and buy souveniers within my budget, etc,etc,etc. ALL of these purchases are by MY choice, where value, service and product meet my expectations. None but yours are demanded by Council. Travellers everywhere have had enough of the combined action of Caravan Parks and Councils removing the right of consumers to choose, and I will bypass or avoid any town that does this. There are RV Friendly towns where a constant flow of travellers keep them afloat. Every business in Town, including Caravan Parks will suffer, as a result of Councils removing our right to ‘vote with our feet’. In the words of a song, “You don’t OWN me!”
I drive a 22 year old Land Cruiser towing a 21′ fully self contained Jayco. I don’t need to use the over priced facilities in any caravan park and that’s not because I’m a tightwad, but because I enjoy the Australian landscape, not being jammed in a caravan park like a sardine.
Steve I have a new caravan and an expensive 4 wheel drive paid for out of my super. We enjoy free camping and also caravan parks, but refuse to pay excessive fees to park there for a few hours overnight. Most of us don’t get in till late afternoon and have to be out by 10a.m so why do we have to pay huge fees for 18 or 20 hours in a dust bowl. If we are forced to free camp a fair distance from the town, we settle down for the night and do not enter the town for any reason. So the town loses out as we would probably had a meal, a drink or two and stocked up on supples probably spending more than $100 in the town.
Greedy caravan park owners are depriving other business in the town and will eventually cause more and more businesses to fail as people will avoid these towns. There are many caravan parks that are well kept and very pleasant charging under $30 a night, and they seem to be doing okay, so why do the other parks need to charge $65+.
When you go to some parks and all you get for your $35+ is a place to park for the night with power and water, some places are not fit to use as a cow paddock.
Truly, its that b#@!@# obvious, that they charge too much for what we want. That being a powered site, that’s all, most are self sufficient. The price of everything now is to much, Govt charges, fuel, poor roads, heavy repair/upkeep costs and b#@#@! caravan parks, mate why bother, its nearly over, catch a plane to Fiji or Bali and enjoy the ambience.
have they considered that the cost per night might be the cause, caravan park holidays used to be something people could afford but not any more, greed is coming in to even the family holiday now, all the fancy things being put in to parks now days, greedy council and the rates are another rip off, that have to be passed on to the campers, litigation insurances also being passed on , what do they expect, sites disappearing in favour of cabins that are being priced out of peoples budgets, we knew a family of 2 adults and 4 kids that owned an on site van in Tassie, it cost them 45 dollars per night when they came down, this is on top of the quartly fees, they had no shower or toilet in the van and the park charged $1.00 per shower for 7mins talk about greed, they sold the van and got one elsewhere at half the cost, this is the problem, we had a shower in our van that we used, we did not pay the cost of showers on top of the weekly rates, or the on site fees as we were in our van, and moved off after 1 month.
We sure didn’t stay in Broome. It was VERY expensive and we travel with a dog and they aren’t welcome. We stayed in a wonderful and cheap caravan park outside of Broome and we noticed lots of caravans free camping at a spot along the road.
Cost of parking your caravan is possibly one reason but here on the WA coast I feel the the constant input of more units, chalets and cabins into CV parks has also taken a blow on the number of available sites for vans etc.
Costs are always a hot topic, but at the end of the day it is expensive to set up a park, the owners have to make a living and expenses to cover.
But the loading of CVP rates during school and pubic holidays I feel is a bit rude (though I stay home during these times and my kids are off my hands)..another point was I was staying at a CVPark in the Flinders in my little Jayco Hawk with only a small fan, fridge and 2 x LED lights and yet I got charged the same rates as the fifth wheel home next to me with twin aircons on its roof, HWS, bar fridge and washing machines. 🙂
Perhaps they should have a serious look at their prices and the way they pack us in. Over paying for overpriced parks who give ups very little for our hard earned dollars .
Well said Stevo. They made their bed, now they can lie in it. Do i feel sorry for them? Hell no.
I agree with STEVO 100% the cost of staying any more than a couple of days at most C.P’s is way to expensive for the Grey Nomad or any Family man with a medium income.
I would like to see all the Motels, ( that have been sent near broke by the C.P’s placing cabins on site) open up their back yards with very cheap parking for the travellers, give the damn C.P’s some of their own back !!
That’s a great idea Jim. Lots of hotels and motels have room out the back for RVs and caravans. Charge a nominal fee and make money on drinks or meals.
Recently I spoke with the owner of rental apartments in a coastal town. The local caravan park has been putting in more and more cabins, so he allows low cost parking behind his units tit for tat. However having to meet stringent caravan park regulations generally prevent this from happening.
Well said Tony.
Can add a vote for the pub at Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. Exactly that. A 10.00 fee and stay for up to three nights. The 10.00 can be applied to purchases at the pub or local store.
No facilities in the car park but friendly people at the pub and if you need a loo there is a public one close by.
Well said Stevo. Not all ‘Retired travellers’ are “cashed up retirees’!! We certainly are not. We do our travelling on the pension. $30 t0 $40 per night ($210 to $280 per week) takes way to much for us to sustain on extended trips…..then throw in high fuel costs and it becomes way to hard. If some of these parks that are complaining provided some sites that are basic (no frills) at between $10 an $20 per night instead of putting in more cabins, sand-pits and jumping castles, maybe they would be full all year round!!
As a park that tries to charge low prices, we still get lumped in with everyone else, and get no thanks for trying to keep our prices to levels that we feel are affordable for travellers. And when we applied to the council to put in sites for Self sufficient campers, which we thought was a service to not only the traveller but also the shire, were told we would probably have to put in a bitumen entrance road. Sorry, can’t afford that so we can’t supply the type of site you are looking for at a price we feel is fair for Self Sufficient campers ie $5.50 per head per night. What do you think of this?
At $5,50 per head this is more than reasonable and I hope you get plenty of customers at your park for those people not needing showers or power
Congratulations on your efforts, pity your council have dinosaur’s for councilors.
RMW on the road
We would gladly pay $10 to have access to water. We leased a council owned park but my husband’s theory was 50per cent of something is better than a 100per cent of nothing!! We aren’t spring chickens and each year was getting busier and busier and remains so.
I have said for years that if caravan parks can charge just a few dollars for fully self contained rv’s there would be people use them, that would be better for the owners than a half empty caravan park.
Dont most parks offer weekly rates, maybe not during peak season or weekends but I thought parks offer weekly rates
I agree with Stevo. If I canfree camp, I will.They can go to hell.
Where and when will we be able to buy this list of not so good Caravan Parks for I would be one to bypass these towns and Caravan Parks.
By the way Stevo you hit the nail on the head.
Totally agree with Stevo, we do a mixture of both, caravan parks & what I prefer to call freedom camping, (freedom of choice), we have found some lovely parks, run by friendly owners & managers, mostly charging $25 a night or less, we recommend & pass the information on to fellow travellers, so maybe word of mouth is spreading & the over priced parks with the rude managers or staff are getting what they deserve. I worked 30 years in various retail positions & would never treat customers the way we have been treated in some parks we have stayed in, its disgusting, I find it hard to understand how they can keep their positions or business’s. The most we have paid is $55 a night, but have heard stories of people paying up to a hundred for a powered sight, that’s ridiculous, if caravan parks claim they need to charge these unreasonable prices to survive, how the hell do parks that charge up to $25 a night manage to survive? Have heard of a number of parks that have received government grants to improve their facilities, then immediately put their prices up after the improvements are finished, really don’t understand how they qualify for government help to line their pockets, no other business gets any :/. They demand that councils close state park & crown land camping areas so everyone has to stay with them, its a disgrace, imagine if every business could demand those privilege’s, coffee shops should demand, that driver reviver stations shouldn’t be allowed as they lose business, supermarkets shouldn’t be allowed to sell alcohol as that takes business away from the pub etc doesn’t even make sense.
Bundaberg Qld has so much area available that could be used for free camping but we need to give them a push. lots of unused park lands around on the river, Queens park for one by the hospital, and the old caravan park that was flooded, its gone nut the facilities are there.
Its actually about time that retailers in these towns got up in arms over the caravan parks. Caravan parks are declaring war on freedom camping and doing these retailers out of business 🙁 Doubt the retailers are aware of how much potential business they are losing
Yes well said Steve ,you give crap sooner or later it comes back in bucket loads this may well be the clean out we had to have ,I’m a middle 50s getting away when possible and I’m over the attitudes of some operators and excessive costs as our RV is fully self contained then some want to charge me 2 site fees when we have our bike trailer ,I want one of these don’t go too advice infact I would like to add some of our own to it ,These people seem to forget the industry their making a living out of is full of smart people that just don’t need there crap ,I also own a business and I need my clients and Value them as they put food on my table and pay my bills work it out CVP and you will survive quiet nicely ,Stop slugging people and have a good occupancy all year round it’s called cash flow
Thanks for the info guys , now what we need is a techy guy that can make a spread sheet to allow us to input a list of these greedy bludgers , caravan parks for years now have lived on our blood , sweat and tears and as many have said it is coming to an end .I was talking to a chap yesterday waiting in the doctors surgery and he was saying that he wanted to go fishing for a couple of days on the river near Warburton in Victoria , the CP wanted $50 a night so he could sleep in his station wagon so he decided to drive back to Lilydale each night instead. Cost him $20 bucks in fuel and the CP missed out again , when are these greedy pr#&ks going to learn, my 2 bobs worth.
I agree with Stevo, we freedom camp wherever we can, we don’t need the services of a CP and especially when they charge over $30 per night. We stayed in Merimbula in an RV park for $10 per night, if we wanted to use the dump point or water they would charge an extra $5 per time, which we were happy to pay, We used the dump point once in 2 weeks, and filled up with water once in two weeks paying a total of $150 for 2 weeks. We then used the rest of our holiday money in the town, shopping, restaurants, tours etc. If we had been paying $30-$40 per night, which in Merimbula is impossible, it’s all dearer than that, we wouldn’t have had any money to spend anywhere else. CP’s should have an area for self contained units at a much cheaper rate and then charge extra for the use of extras if the travellers want to use them…they would be better off.
That sounds like a good idea
I am sick of the constant bleating by caravan park owners and managers. I find it amusing that CPs would rather have lower occupancy, than drop their rates and have occupancy rates improve. The fact that “tourist season” rates are higher might also have an impact, it doesn’t cost any more to run a caravan park during “high season, school holidays etc” – quite absurd that there should be an impost on the travellers. It might be too late now, but perhaps CP operators would have been better served by asking the travelling public exactly what they wanted as far as facilities go and what is stopping them from staying at their establishment. There are many self contained units (as we are) on the road and the reason we did this is so that WE could make a choice as to how we camped, it is after all our life to lead. We are back in Broome after being away for 10 years. As we head into the tourist season, it is quiet to say the least. We are in a park where we are packed in like sardines, but plenty of space available. Prices are still ridiculous and the fact that there IS NOT one park in town that allows animals (although that doesn’t affect us) certainly does make it very clear that travellers with pets aren’t welcome, what total arrogance, that these people aren’t deserving enough to stay in Broome!!! I wonder how long it will take before the rules change as the travelling public with animals are giving Broome a wide berth, they have no choice. Caravan park owners/managers wonder why people choose to free camp!!! I have never heard of a caravan park that went broke….they have simply bitten the hand that has fed them for so many years. Travellers are speaking with their feet and wheels. Broome like so many towns (especially coastal) most certainly is not traveller friendly and word on the road is “Broome isn’t that great and terribly expensive don’t waste your time”. Travellers aren’t! I will watch with interest how the “tourist season” unfolds here should we choose to stay that long.
A number of these CPs that are complaining are also the ones who banned Pets in their camps..A number have realized their mistakes and now making areas available and allowing Pets….So many travelling now with their pooch’s….for a many…They are the only companionship the ”Oldies” have left after losing a partner….
Rosco you comments about pets are correct some parks have the hide to want to charge for a dog or a bond we now ask if they demand a bond for the dog if they have a bond. for kids and when they say no we walk out our dog is better behaved than most kids it’s not that I don’t like children I just can’t eat a whole one
This is fantastic. Caravan Park owners are hurting …. yippee.
Now they may realise that we the travellers are sick and tired of being ripped off through the extortionate fees charged particularly during peak tourist seasons and are voting with our feet.
Broome is a great example where we queued up for several hours last year to get into the park and then had to pay $70 per night to be jammed in like sardines.
We have made a point of telling everyone on the road to avoid Broome which although having some beautiful points of interest is no longer viable for us grey nomads. Tourism and trade in the town are being killed off by these park owners “take it or leave it” attitude and until the powers to be step in and create more appropriate low cost camp sites for self contained travellers Broome and many other towns around the country will continue to decline. Ian on the road.
We are currently at Busselton WA near the beach: the park is stuffed to the hilt with holidaymakers (some with pets) and we had to move out over Easter to accommodate the FULL bookings. Here we are offered a pensioner discount of $185 per week for a powered site and we can walk into town. Being a full-time nomad in a self-contained rig, I don’t normally sing the praises of a CP as I much prefer to free camp – unfortunately I can’t find many of those at all here in WA, sigh. It seems most of the camp sites listed in the Camps books are illegal and users can be subjected to horrific fines. If we can’t find friendly pubs etc. along the way, we may have to cut short our travels in this State.
Janet, move away from the coastal areas and explore the goldfields and wheatbelt. Very friendly people everywhere and plenty of free or cheap campsites. We even found a powered site for $5 per night. Meals are much cheaper too!
Gosh your electricity could cost $5.00. They working for nothing.
Come south. We will supply you a powered site for $140 a week. Lots to see and do. We also have a large camp kitchen and free washing machine.
I hope you find that fair. Comments welcome.
By the sound of it WA doesn’t want the Grey Nomad dollars, so I will give it a miss, for friendlier places with free camps, so I can spend my money in the nearby towns.
Head north, plenty of nice sites and low cost sites.
Agree with Stevo, have a look at Bollen west Qld the town didn’t want the council owned CP so they opened up free camping within the town along the river, kept the toilets and showers of the CP, made the rest into a beautiful park, put a dump point in and they welcome everyone and everyone supports the pub, general store and other businesses in that town. Should be more towns like them.
Too bad, so sad. The CP mob can bleat to someone who care.
Let’s be fair. Many of the comments so far are from those who just bash the caravan parks with not real insights into the costs and workloads, the seasonal nature of many, and the right to make a fair profit to live on. The article talks about rising costs and anyone in business knows how true this is.
Steve – You have acknowledged their costs and given an insight into some of the costs businesses face. However regardless of what rig someone has, it does not give you the right to tell them where they can park it. You complain the y choose to spend their money on smoking, drinking and going out to dinner. It is their choice which businesses get their money. You cannot dictate that to them, any more than I can insist on you choosing a certain food for your dinners.
If a caravan park is losing trade, it is time to reassess how they can better meet the market to attract their customers. If they have lost out to cheap overseas holidays – join the many other businesses and manufacturers that have lost out to cheap imported products. Shut the door and walk. Sad but true.
Maybe Broome should start dropping the ridiculous priced of their caravan parks, $75 for a powered site is really over the top, no wonder we avoid these places! We just stayed in George Town (TAS) for $15 for a powered site :).
After consistently being ripped off the closest we ‘camp’ to Broome on the south side is Barn Hill Station…a brilliant spot, and as we drive past Broome we head for anywhere on the ‘Cape’ or towards Derby and beyond. Be assured that Broome is not the only culprit in WA there are many destinations along the south coast and and SW coast where prices in parks skyrocket to hotel/motel prices during peak times ..all are to be avoided!
Have no sympathy for Caravan Parks at all. The whole lot of the greedy buggars could close for all I care.
Some caravan parks (usually in prime places on the coast) are charging far too much. I know costs have gone up but seriously, some of the prices being charged are nothing but price gouging. People are packed in like sardines and are faced with all sorts of terms and conditions. Many just want a quiet spot to get away from it all and caravan parks simply do not provide that. Cheap well regulated campsites are the only answer. There are many travellers who just do not want to stay in a caravan park and they never will, high price or not. There have to be a range of options for travellers not just a ‘one size fits all’ dictate. Personally I don’t want power, running water or playgrounds full of screaming kids. I want the peace and quiet of the bush and a place I can get away from crowds of people.
A perfect example of CP greed was in Bridgetown last year. We called in at about 3pm looking for a cabin overnight and the price – $130 per night. We balked at that and drove further to Manjimup and booked into the local hotel there – still expensive but cheaper at $90 per night. We also enjoyed a good meal at the hotel for around $30 each. Bridgetown’s loss – Manjimup’s gain.
In general, fees for caravan parks have risen dramatically over the last 3 years. Some of these increases may be justified but many are price gouging. Broome was quoted in the article, the difference in fees and conditions(eg, pet policy) changes dramatically between high and low seasons. The costs of providing the service does not change, just supply and demand. Hopefully demand will continue to drop and the caravan parks will b forced by market demand to charge more realistic fees. I hope so but in the meantime will bypass Broome
I completely agree with Stevo- of course caravan parks aren’t going to get our business with the prices that they charge!! And the doubling or tripling of prices at peak time compared to off peak is completely unfair, for campsites that are usually smaller and amenities not as clean due to lots of people in the parks.
I have read every comment about this very debatable topic which will not end any time soon. My opinion is that caravan parks are a business and like any other business is there to make money. I am going to try and sit on the fence here and not get yelled at. But all the people saying the prices are too high, have you not owned a business before? I am sure that any business owners out there no what increases there have been in the last few years and that cannot be worn by the owner of the park otherwise there will be no caravan parks in the future. A lot of people who retire have had to sell their homes because they actually can’t afford to live in them because of the price increase in electricity, gas and water, and that is just for two people. Imagine what costs caravan parks are up for when there is anywhere from 500-1000 people in their parks, all with heaters, fridges, air conditioners and computers going. I am not saying that the prices are right but it just seems that if you haven’t owned or run a caravan park, then you don’t know what their costs are.
On the other side of the fence though, we are travelling the country as we speak and we have been to a couple of parks where the price was just ridiculous so we moved on. We went to one park where on the Thursday night it cost us $26 for a site and then we decided to stay another night, so I went to the office and she said Friday night was going to be $76. Now that is absolutely a rip off if I have ever heard. We didn’t stay of course and we gave them a terrible review on trip advisor regarding the charges. The issue is now, that families head away for holiday season and usually only have between two and four weeks a yr. So for them to pay what they do at caravan parks at that period is a lot cheaper than units on the coast. The caravan parks do not allow for all year round travellers. It’s like fuel companies who up the price over the holiday period but forget to drop the prices back down after the period is gone. I just think there is two sides to this article and I agree with both. I just think if we do not know the circumstances and the costs, we really have no way of judging. I am sure there are people travelling that have had business and wanted to make money so they can retire comfortably but then have a go at caravan parks for trying to do the same thing. We do a lot of free camping as well as we are fully self-sufficient with our van. I also noticed that a lot of people say that they support the town when free camping, that supports the shops, not the caravan park. I don’t want to get a heap of negative comments about my post as I just wanted to try and be neutral, I just think we need to find a neutral ground between both topics, otherwise we might end up with NO free camping and NO caravan parks….
Wayne, I have had a business and totally agree with you that profit was my motive and rising costs had to be recovered with price increases. BUT I didn’t lobby nor did I expect the local council or the government to close down all my competitors because my sales were falling and so force customers into my store. This is what the CP owners are doing by calling for free camps to be closed. I had to change my product range and pricing to meet customers expectations and CP owners need to do the same.
STEVO AGAIN. Another thing a lot of us grey nomads are ex business owners,myself ex hotels and other interests,so it is not that we don’t know the costs involved.However the principals are the same for a $50 fish and chip shop or $5 million pub.ten caravan sites at $25 a nite will out last three sites at $55 a nite every time,its called turnover.NOT rocket science.I did a lot of watching and learning in my 40 odd years in business and in the pub game two old regulars will generate more in the til at the end of the day l than eight young bucks only in to look at a barmaids boob Start using your heads,there has never been a better promotion than word of mouth,a tool that you are using to your detriment. Stevo..
Hi Stevo, Like I said in my comment, I am trying to be neutral about things as all businesses need to make money, I guess the profit margin is up to them. The other thing is, I said in my comment that there would be a lot of ex business owners that are grey nomads but the percentage increase in power, gas and water has never been greater than in the last 5 years EVER so costs have changed. Regards to turnover – It doesn’t matter what the turnover is, It could be a business with a million dollar turnover, but if expenses for the business and wages go up and add up to $1.1mil, the business is going to go broke. Its called Profit and Loss, not turnover. When you go to the bank to get a loan on a business, they don’t ask for a Turnover, they ask for the profit and loss. 10 sites rented out for $25 per night is more income than 3 sites at $55 per night but IF having 20 people using electricity, water, gas, showers etc costs more than 6 people than turnover means nothing. You said you owned a hotel for a long time, for the 40 years you owned a hotel, did you not raise the price of beer to cover overheads and increases in wages etc. If you kept the beer at the same price for 40 years but the wages, electricity, water, phone, rent, licence fees went up, you wouldn’t have a business. The principles are not the same for a fish and chip shop and a pub, a pub has had to add beer gardens, family events and pokies to raise extra income. a lot of fish and chip shops go broke because expenses increase but they cannot add pokies to make more money. There is hardly a pub anymore that just has beer, 95% of pubs now have pokies – WHY, to now cover increased costs so they don’t have to increase beer prices, because a pub with just beer these days, wouldn’t last. Just remember, I didn’t say that caravan parks should increase their rates to a ridiculous level over holiday periods, but unless you own a business NOW, at this exact moment, I don’t think we have the right to say we know what their expenses are. Also, I agree completely with your comment regarding word of mouth being the best promotion, but we all complain about Telstra and their costs but we still use them, wether it be through their own company or another mobile company. Telstra says they increase their costs to us to cover their increase in expenses. Do we just hand our mobile phones in and never use them again? The banks do the same thing, tell us they increase their charges to cover their costs, do we stop using banks? Why do we now have a go at caravan parks for increasing their charges, do they not have increases in costs?? I don’t own or run a caravan park but use your head and don’t judge before knowing ALL facts. Do you like people telling you how to run your life when they don’t know the facts…
Obviously you havnt been to WA
We don’t have pokies here in our pubs so they ONLY sell beer as you put it but why is a country stubbie of beer over the bar $4,00 cheaper than a city beer
Beer costs are cheaper in city less fgt
Wages same power same just another case of ripping people off !!!
But they choose to drink there
But don’t get my money that’s for surr
This hoary old chestnut regarding caravan park fees and park owners objections to ‘free’ areas which evidently decimate their income will never go away. So what to do? Answer, set your van up to be totally self sufficient, consider your security and even give the ‘free’ areas a miss. There are tens of thousands of klms of coastline, river banks, lakeside areas etc where you can pull in for a camp for a night or two or more and where you wont be bothered by council officers, rangers, hoons, police and whining caravan park owners, etc, etc. In effect, plan your trip properly to avoid areas that are distasteful or overpriced and I bet you’ll have just as memorable and an enjoyable time. Folks, this debate will NEVER end! Safe travelling, Grandpa Slick
Does anyone give a hoot about the costs of the farmer or fruitgrower?, ot the costs of living of blue collar workers and oters? Nope, its market forces pure and simple. Why should Caravan Park Owners be a protected species at everyone else’s cost?
Reality bites!!
Wayne. Fully aware of not knowing everyones different circumstances but being married to the same charted accountant for longer than forty seven years. I have some knowledge of books and balancing.Yes I did raise the price of beer at times,but I concentrated on good old fashion service and the like which I am not getting now.I think you maybe missing the point just reading all the comments,however I am not going to argue with you .Its only an opinion and like I said in my first blog, I am to old and cranky for that crap Stevo.
I believe there are mainly 2 reasons. First the price of fuel. Secondly if CP’s had a tiered system with user pays rates would help everyone. i.e. $5-$8 just to park up and not use amenities, then rate ramped up to include each amenity ie washing, showers, water, toilets etc.
Donna, unless the CP has a spare paddock out the back to do this, their costs will be the same whether their customers are paying a discounted fee for a self contained or not, and they are still required to have the same ratio of amenities for the number of sites.
Also you can get what has happened where a showground has provided short term free camping for self contained, yet there are a few who will go to the free section, then go and use the amenities the full fee paying customers are using.
’bout time all caravan parks had electricity meters so user pays and that would make it a bit fairer.
So who pays for the installation of the meters. Cost will need to be covered and the general rate will increase to cover that cost.
The caravan park of course will pay as they do with all the other infrastructure in the park. And then they can charge the user for the power they consume. Folks like myself who don’t need the power will not have to pay. ‘Tis only fair and reeking of common sense TBF.
Our home electricity bill being average of $4000 a year equates to $11 a day and thats running fridges, freezer ,air con ,cooking and staying up late watching television. Our caravan is mostly self contained so when staying in a caravan park we would be using power for the battery charger for running the small fridge ,and LED lights. On absolute required times perhaps run the aircon. This bill would be struggling to make $5 per day. The use of power ,water and sewage would be around $5 per day if you happen to use the park service. $15 per day. If some parks can charge $30 , another $15 for rates ,grounds maintenance and profit how can others charge $70.
Caravan parks have lost the plot. They all want to become resorts which include everything for families/kids, ie playgrounds, pools, jumping pillows, games rooms, tv rooms etc etc etc. The majority of grey nomads don’t want any of those things. We just want a nice quiet park, with a simple (preferably) grassed powered site, and clean, well maintained amenities. But sadly, they are now so hard to find, and we are all forced to pay resort prices whether we want resort facilties or not. We have been caravanning for thirty years, including living in a caravan on and off over the years. I hate the way caravan parks have changed. They deserve to lose the grey nomads.
I agree completely Jan
I have been reading all the comments re caravan parks & free camping. To me the problem with this is the actual caravan park itself. I live on 2 hectares & so I don’t want to stay on a site the size of a motel room. We bush camp & only use regulated camping, i.e. rest areas, Camping grounds, etc. ( if we see a line of bollards, we go elsewhere) if there is no bush camping available. We travel & camp for the natural experience, not to be confined to a refugee camp or slum. We’ve seen plenty of those in Asia & Africa. That aside we now will use CP cabins, only high standard & facing out of the park at the edge of the park rather than a motel because they give a far greater experience than the motel & are not necessairly cheaper. We can recommend ones at Tin Can Bay & Iluka. One sad experience regarding the attitude of some CP operators occurred at Alice Springs some years ago. We wished to stay 1 night at the CP at the Gap because of the little wallabies on the hill there but after getting in line in the office for 20min & listening to the desk person lecturing on all the “DON’Ts”, only to be told that we had to pay for 3nights for a unpowered site for our Mitsubishi L300 camper as “the camel races are on” When we replied “why, the races finished today” we were told “do want a site or not”. We left & found a great NP spot about 30k from town. That fact that we were returning the rental van the next day & then having 2 nights at the Sheraton before flying back to Brisbane shows that the CP cost was not the issue with us. It was the CP itself
We have a fully self contained rv and do not like being jammed in like sardines and dislike noisy people right next to your vehicle. We love to free camp, we go to different places, last week we camped in Gippsland and found very nice people in other rv’s to talk to and none of us were camped too close to each other. Caravan Parks have become far too expensive when you are on a pension if you paid their fees you would not have enough left for food, fuel etc you may as well stay at home. If they could charge a minimal fee for fully self contained rv’s we would use them sometimes, surely that would be better than them having their Parks half empty? I have noticed a lot of the Caravan Parks we used to stay in now have put the cabins on the best sites leaving RV’s to stay in the back blocks and if there is water they charge so much more for those sites. It is ridiculous why should the cabins get the best sites???? As for Broome we will NEVER go there, we have heard too many bad things about their prices. What a waste of money to pay those fees!!!!
Someone made the point that land just for parking self contained (SC) vehicles is subject to the same rules as the rest of a van park re amenities per sites etc. While everyone ignored the comment I am wondering if these van parks will ever get off their complacent butts to lobby the powers that be, to change rules that are crippling them. Too busy winging to councils instead of taking action. Eventually OUR winging and lack of patronage will do it for those van parks that are left.
In the good old days before grey nomads and free camping, when the low and middle income earner took the family on a van park holiday, income for park owners WAS seasonal, they had to live the rest of the year on the high seasons. However, not anymore, cutting their own throats price gouging because petrol companies are getting away with it. Grey nomads and an increasing number of young people taking taking time out to travel are not restricted by work or school schedules and a lot of families are travelling and home schooling. Van parks that have their blinkers on…
In those good old days there were laundromats in towns, not van parks. They have had no mercy putting laundromats out of business, undermining coffee shops, local grocers and motels. The business I owned and operated was made virtually redundant overnight owing to technology, had my choice to get with the program or walk away. Although we upgraded equipment the entire industry was past it’s use by date, we retired and here we are – grey nomads. No council tried to save us and we never expected them to! Now it’s the van park’s turn to reinvent themselves.
Have not been to the west at this stage but business is business where ever it is. Australia is known for appalling customer service since it is not driven by performance. Where the price is right and the service is great we tip the manager saying why, relying on them to pass it on and good managers will. Like others have said, we do not want uncontrolled noisy kids, don’t need jumping castles, don’t want to hear your telly either side of us etc.
So… two types of parks; family parks and, woe and betide, 50s and over parks. But that’s discrimination right? There are 50s and over living villages demonstrating that it can be done… I would put money on the 50s plus parks prospering well into the future with two sections, self contained or en suite powered. En suites, not public amenities for sneaks. Self contained pay to fill water tanks, No fee on dump point to any occupants. Some SC will say but we need power and don’t need en suit. You get a powered en suite site without keys and pay to fill water tanks. Three tiered pricing. 50s plus parks require a lot of land since half this group cannot reverse and don’t want to be packed in like sardines. I just want to be far enough away from your telly/radio because you won’t deploy the hearing aids.
Passing cost of upgrading a park onto the customer is not the reason for fee increases. They bring a park up to a standard for which they can charge a new market rate while assets are depreciating on the balance sheet. Overheads (not assets) deducted from income = profit margin. Where a park is not up to standard but the fees are, you can work it out. Like valuing our assets for insurance some park owners have a radically inflated perception of minor improvements.
Family parks… well I’m not concerned about them, soon enough they will be over run by the big groups charging resort prices and shrewd Aussie battlers will find new ways to have an affordable holiday.
Someone made the point that land just for parking self contained (SC) vehicles is subject to the same rules as the rest of a van park re amenities per sites etc. While everyone ignored the comment I am wondering if these van parks will ever get off their complacent butts to lobby the powers that be, to change rules that are crippling them. Too busy winging to councils instead of taking action. Eventually OUR winging and lack of patronage will do it for those van parks that are left.
In the good old days before grey nomads and free camping, when the low and middle income earner took the family on a van park holiday, income for park owners WAS seasonal, they had to live the rest of the year on the high seasons. However, not anymore, cutting their own throats price gouging because petrol companies are getting away with it. Grey nomads and an increasing number of young people taking taking time out to travel are not restricted by work or school schedules and a lot of families are travelling and home schooling. Van parks with their blinkers on will get blind sided for being behind the times.
In those good old days there were laundromats in towns, not van parks. They have had no mercy putting laundromats out of business, undermining coffee shops, local grocers and motels. The business we owned and operated was made virtually redundant overnight owing to technology, had my choice to get with the program or walk away. Although we upgraded equipment the entire industry was past it’s use by date, we retired and here we are – grey nomads. No council tried to save us and we never expected them to!
It’s the van park’s turn to reinvent themselves.
Have not been to the west at this stage but business is business where ever it is. Australia is known for appalling customer service since it is not driven by performance. Where the price is right and the service is great we tip the manager saying why, relying on them to pass it on and good managers will. Like others have said, we do not want uncontrolled noisy kids, don’t need jumping castles, don’t want to hear your telly either side of us etc.
Two types of parks; family parks and over 50s parks. But that’s discrimination right? There are 50s and over living villages demonstrating that it can be done! I would put money on the 50s plus parks prospering well into the future with two sections, self contained parking or en suite powered. En suites, not amenities for sneaks. Some SC will say but we need power and don’t need en suit. You get a powered en suite site without ensuite keys and pay to fill water tanks. Self contained pay to fill water tanks, No fee on dump point to any occupants. Three tiered pricing. 50s plus parks require a lot of land since half this group cannot reverse and don’t want to be packed in like sardines. I just want to be far enough away from your telly/radio because you won’t deploy the hearing aids.
Passing cost of upgrading a park onto the customer is not the reason for fee increases. They bring a park up to a standard for which they can charge a new market rate while assets are depreciating on the balance sheet. Overheads (not assets) deducted from income = profit margin. Where a park is not up to standard but the fees are, you can work it out. Like valuing our assets for insurance some park owners have a radically inflated perception of minor improvements.
Family parks… well I’m not concerned about them, soon enough they will be over run by the big groups charging resort prices but shrewd Aussie battlers will find new ways to have an affordable family holiday.
We have just returned home after 10 weeks away in North Qld, we were very disappointed in some of the van parks, their costs and cramming as many as they can into the space, even the free camping was full by 2pm, I think there were more Victorians in Qld than in Victoria, who book for 3 months plus and then book again for the best site for the following year, and so on.
What chance do Queenslanders have for holidays in their own state, I think there should be a time limit on stays so it gives other travellers a chance to enjoy the good spots, like water or beach front.
Some van parks attitude are not friendly, or helpful, they seem to forget if it wasn’t for the travellers they wouldn’t be in business, the attitude is pay it or go elsewhere. So they have us over a barrel.
On a more positive note the trip to Undare and Charters towers was wonderful, roads were magnificent plenty of free camping, even the van parks were cheaper, the landscape brilliant,
So we are now questioning our preference to the wonderful beach front holiday due to the extortionate costs,availability and conditions, to the outback with the wonderful sense of freedom.