Aside from perhaps a van park’s pet policy, there is probably no issue that gets grey nomads – on both sides of the argument – more hot under the collar than smoking.
Grey nomad, Ian Earl, was at an NT van park recently when three vans arrived with eight people, all of whom knew each other … and all of whom smoked. Ian said one near neighbour of the group politely asked them if they could stop smoking while his young family were eating … and things got heated.
And the situation got even worse when a bong was produced later in the evening, and other unhappy vanners got involved.
“The incident was a big conversation point amongst people in the caravan park,” said Ian. “And it appears that cigarette smokers being put with non-smokers is a hot topic amongst the grey nomads.”
Graham Reid, owner of the Charleville Bush Caravan Park made the decision not to allow smokers in his park.
Of course, there is legislation which prohibits smoking in certain public areas of a van park, but different managers take different approaches.
When Graham Reid and his wife Deb started the Charleville Bush Caravan Park 13 years ago, they decided not to mess around.
“Some parks gave ‘no smoking’ rules within the grounds,” said Graham. “But we don’t allow smokers at all … when people phone to book, we ask them if they are smokers and, if they are, we politely tell them they are not welcome … my park my rules.”
And Graham believes the hard-line policy has given his park a competitive advantage.
“The people who stay here love it and they will often share their smoking horror stories when they are sitting around the communal campfire at Happy Hour,” he said. “I can only imagine other van parks are scared that they will frighten off customers if they do something similar, but they don’t realise it will also attract plenty of others.”
Anthony Rowley from Hallidays Point Caravan Park in NSW, says it only applies a ‘no-smoking and no-vaping rule’ inside buildings to comply with legislative and regulatory requirements.
“Guests can smoke around the park … all we ask is that smokers be respectful of others,” he said. “One issue we still deal with all the time though is smokers who stub out their cigarettes on the ground. I can never get a good answer as to why people think this is okay.”
The North Star Holiday Resort, also in NSW, says it previously received so many complaints about passive smoking in the park, that it surveyed guests in 2015 asking how comprehensive its ‘smoke free’ policy should be.
“We received overwhelming support to become a fully non-smoking property,” said a North Star spokesperson. “All guests are now required to use the designated smoking area or leave the resort grounds in order to smoke.”
However, with around 10% of Australians being smokers, some are asking ‘how far is too far?’.
Certainly, being a travelling smoker is not getting any easier. For example, smoking is totally banned in all NSW national parks.
Veteran traveller Mark David says he worries that respectful smokers will feel stigmatised.
“Like everything, it’s all about showing respect to others,” he said. “Particularly when people are living in close proximity to each other, as they are in van parks and campsites.”
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Great decision Graham , had some terrible times in parks with smokers
We stayed at Charleville Bush Camp some years back. Great camp & great idea.
Same here. I have had to move because of it.
We really don’t care about smoking, we care more about caravan parks that have a NO dogs policy, there should be more of them.
Should be more with a no kids policy
I agree, we have 18 grandchildren and a great grandchild. If we want children yelling and screaming around us we go and visit them. When we park up our van, we want peace and quiet. We don’t go to Big 4 parks because we feel these sort of parks are aimed at families. We understand parks such as this are set up for the kids to play etc and we respect that. We try to stay in parks that are small, quieter and allow our little dog.
Should be a no old people policy too
Rather selfish don’t you think.
Absolutely the best park we have ever stayed in. We could breathe without choking. Way to go.
If owners are responsible there shouldn’t be an issue. We have a pen for our dog. So he can ha e off lead time when we are in our campsite. Otherwise he is on lead.
Right you are, some parks are reasonable flexible, but respect quiet at all times rule, for your neighbours sake, I agree with you some park owners are too over the top unrealistically strict.
YOU don’t care about smoking, thousands of us DO
Great idea and we would definitely support non smoking parks. Cigarette smoke has changed and is more pungent these days
Got that, it’s vile now
Well done, should be more park owners doing the same. Nothing worse than eating a meal and cigarette smoke from your neighbour wafts across your site.
From one Kerrie to another Kerrie, I agree with your comment entirely The vile stench from the cigarette smoke is appalling.
Smokers say they have every right to smoke and I say, I have every right to a smoke free camp site. Smokers don’t seem to understand that.
That is the nub of the issue and why park owners should make the decision so it’s no longer personal. It’s just the rule!
Awesome!! Coming from parents that were chain smokers (father succumbing to lung cancer) my asthma is horrible around smoking… i will certainly go to a park with no smoking… (as long as i can take my fur babies) otherwise the stay will be shorter while they stay with the kids…
I would love to go to a van park that is no smoking. I hate cigarettes and the smoke and filth of them.
Awesome we have just got back from traveling the outback for 4 months and omg what we had to put up with in parks from smokersat one park we had a van parked behind us very close awning to awning and they sat there chain smoking for 3 days only time they left was to DRIVE to the Amenities which were close bywe would go out site seeing and dread coming back to relax outside under awning, I would love it not to have to stay in a park with smokers! I’ve had breast cancer so don’t want secondary smoke from them.plus that goes for vapours too!
There should be no smoking in caravan parks agree with that but you can’t stop someone staying at caravan Park because they are a smoker that is discrimination why don’t you ban people who drink alcohol that is worse idiots
After travelling full time since 2008 we have had far more problems with ppl that consume too much alcohol and become far more aggressive and belidgerent,I have not come across a single smoker that can’t control their manners or actions,talk about discrimination,I find it disgusting that a park owner would implement such a rule .I personally will never stay at such a place,
Would be better to have a smokers sites in the park away from others.
Right you are, I agree.
I think you are missing the point
Am currently staying in a park that enforces no smoking, drinking and dogs. A very pleasant place.
You are an idiot. You can drink without annoying your neighbour but you cant smoke without annoying your neighbour
And no dogs is even more stupid
Great stuff. Non smoker here but I really hate segregation, so we’ll pass on your park. Thank you.
What will be next , Jan! Will it be only E.V s so you don’t have exhaust fumes bothering you, maybe only straight couples, this is why I free came as much as I can, because most people will have a sook about something everywhere they go.
Excellent, well said, right you are.
Well said, my sentiments exactly.
Include “NO VAPING” as well..!
Nothing worse than smokers in van parks, majority of smokers do not smoke near their own van but near other vans then the smokers cough starts beside your van.
As a Charleville resident, I roll my eyes every time I drive past this sign. Each to their own!!! If you don’t like smoking, BOOK IN. If you don’t mind/ or care,, there’s lots of other GREAT van parks in town, that don’t have this discriminatory rule.
Geez folks! Move along!
The altetnative discriminates against no smokers btw
As a smoker myself I am more than happy to smoke outside a caravan park and always remove my rubbish next thing you know people who are black or gay will be getting refused your rules I get it but Discrimination is not a good look.
You are in the minority. I thank you for smoking outside a caravan park, that there is consideration for others. Unfortunately most don’t care and when asked just scoff at us non smokers. The smell and health issues are what we are concerned about. Black or Gay or otherwise are not a health issue, this is not about discrimination it’s health.
Excellent, well said s
Shaun, right you are.
Don’t want to stay if smoking not allowed. I respectfull of others and never butt out on ground. Take my money elsewhere or free camp. Don’t worry me.
No Smoking how about No Dogs as well as I hate walking in dog shit when I’m camping , and there’s always plenty of that on the ground for kids to run inn, But Please don’t start on the No Kids Policy, just remember you were a child once yourself , kids love camping it’s always going to be that way, and I bet it was for you to once upon a time
Excellent, well said Kate, some camp ground owners don’t remember when they were children too, all the rules are becoming not worth staying in their camp area, David C
Absolute discrimination!!! If a person banned indigenous people from entering their park they could be charged with discrimination,if a person is vegaterian should they have to smell your roast cooking on your Weber outside? Where does this insanity stop, shame on you Charleville for letting this happt
Right you are, some people have complained about meat cooking smells, next they will ban that as well.
If smokers had been respectful in the past, there would be much less angst amongst the non smokers
Too true
Amazing how the word discrimination is always thrown around if the subject is not what you agree with. For decades non-smokers had to put up with 2nd smoke in restaurants, sports clubs, on flights etc yet we just suffered in silence.
Let them smoke if they want to, they won’t be around for much longer. LOL.
I agree, they are free to smoke themselves right into the operating theatre however I have doubts in regard to the 10% of the population still being smokers. They are a dieing breed. Of all the friends, relatives and acquaintances I can think of I can only think of 1 friend and 2 relatives that still smoke. It may be an assumption however I don’t believe smokers have any appreciation of how far their stench travels and how offensive it is to non smokers. In any case, if a park advertises it is ‘smoke free’ that is the park for us.
Fantastic Graham.
I think it’s the same as all other contentious issues. A small minority will ruin it for the greater majority. Some people think they are not bound by rules. It’s no different to the people who refuse to pick up after their dog. Fairly soon there is a no pet policy. I was recently with a group of people and one of the guys wives was a smoker. She would blow smoke in everyone’s face on purpose and then got annoyed when she was asked to stay in camp as none of us who had boats wanted her in our boat.
As an ex smoker I understand the reasoning behind the no smokers policy. It’s filthy and bad for everyone’s health and the environment ( with stubs on the ground)
No smoking ,no pets that’s the way to go. I like pay and go to parks without dog excrement and cigarette buts destroy my pleasure. Regards
No smoking or designated smoking area only. We are often camped too close to annexes where smokers light up.
How good is that. I have nothing against smokers but for those that force me to inhale their smoke. A smoking area at one end of camp with all smokers camped that end would be a compromise. As for the comment of no dogs would be good. If an owner follows the camp ground rules there is no issue. Yes I have 3 dogs. We don’t let them near other campers, we always have them on leads, they don’t make nuisance with barking and we pick up after them. Basic camp rules no harm to others! Children, well you were one once and they can not harm you! If you don’t want to be troubled by their noise either free camp or camp outside of school holidays.
The smoking, that’s a health issue.
All you people commenting saying it’s discrimination, you do realise that parks that have a no pet policy or adults only is also discrimination….
As non smokers we’d be happy to stay at a non smoking park .. I agree seeing buts everywhere is horrible.
Sitting outside with neighbours smoking is not nice
It’s time for total ban on smoking in public, disgusting habit.
I wish smoking was banned in all public areas inside and outside… nothing worse than walking down the street and coping a mouthful of someone else’s cigarette smoke. Same in caravan parks and camp sites. Nothing worse than pulling up and finding out your neighbours a smoker. Especially if you are down wind.
For smokers who are responsible people also I have managed a few parks
Well I was a grey nomad for 12yrs I am a the so called non smokers I found were the dirtiest putting there portable toilets down the amenities toilets leaving there rubbish behind also never picking up dogs poo complain about smokers yet sit on top of camp-fires drunken argument and lea ving their animals at the park’s without water or a care of how they behave while the owners are out all day. I say let smokers, children,animals and drinkers alone,many park’s cater for no children and no animals. Do your travel much more effectively and book where it best suits your needs, caravan’s at least the one’s we have met want to enjoy themselves and meet new people and swap stories about destinations.. In other words stop winging and I personally wouldn’t ever stop where there are REDICULOUS rules in place especially for that large sighn. NO SMOKERS ALLOWED WHAT A WELCOME TO THAT TOWN. AND I WOULD BYPASS THE WHOLE TOWN .IF ONE FEELS LIKE THAT I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR HOW THE OTHER BUSINESSES BEHAVE. WE GREYNOMADES SPEND A LOT OF MONEY WHEREVER WE PULL IN FOR REST AND RECREATION.
Grey nomads spend a lot of money!!!!!! I don’t think so
Should be in all parks nothing worst than smelling stinking smoke
Smoking should only be allowed within your home…nowhere else is acceptable as you cannot control your passive smoke impact.
It’s a good idea, smoke stinks, your park your rules, look at the park in Howard Qld, over 50 only and no kids, and these parks are very busy,
That’s great Graham your park sounds wonderful people can now enjoy Happy Hour without smelling cigarette smoke
I also agree with person who posted that parks should have NO PETS had a quite a bad trip with barking dogs & poop everywhere
The thing that annoys me most is that smokers don’t smoke in their vans ,but think it’s ok to smoke outside and share it around . Stay in your vans and smoke !
Good on you for banning smokers .If we are in the area we would definitely stay at your park.
Non smoking caravan and camping grounds is a fantstic idea. Lets be real this dicusting product should banned as well as these stupid Vapes.
I know we all make our own choices in life but smoking should not be thrust upon people who do not want any part of it and nor should we. Good on them for making a stand and I for one would drive past all the other parks who allow it to stay at a smoke free venue
Graham, you are to be congratulated on your decision. Australia would be a better place if the whole country was declared smoke free.
A breath of fresh air is something to savour. I agree with another park owner comment with regard to stubbing out their butts and leaving on the ground, disgusting. Look forward to getting to your park one day.
We saw this park while passing through Charleville recently & thought what a great idea. It amazes me how people drive 1000s of km to enjoy the fresh air of the outback only to light up a ciggy.
I always camp rough and alone, if I smell smoke it means someone is around.
Bloody awsome decision nothing worse than smelling the disgusting smoke when you are at a caravan park or camping grounds
Respectful of others. Now thats a term unknown to recent generations. First hand experience of disrepectful smokers in a caravan park.
Instead of banning them completely, assign a designated area far from the main area.
People should give up smoking end of story .It bad for there health ,bad for the environment , bad for there pocket and buts start fires .
As far as I am concerned it’s discrimination and yes we should respect non smokers but the same goes the other way it’s opened to possible representation of the law
Way to go. Love Thargo & will be back. Hate that smokers think its THEIR right to blow their smoke into my lungs. Smoke in your van, ok. Outside, NO WAY.
If you smoke you have no respect for yourself so why would you have respect for others