While the popularity of camping and caravanning as a whole continues to boom, a growing divide has been opening up between travellers … and it’s transforming the campsite landscape.
For decades, caravan parks have catered to the needs of allcomers, but a trend is emerging which is seeing parks specialise in a specific section of the market. Pulling in one direction are the increasingly self-contained, budget-minded, long-term grey nomads … and pulling in the other are the facility-hungry, annual holidaying young families.
Many caravan parks, already being squeezed by spiralling power costs and the rise of free camping, have been caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place. Investing in bouncing pillows and pools risks frightening away cost-sensitive nomads, while failing to do so risks losing out on the big-spending family market.
Increasingly, parks are being forced to jump one way or the other.
William Condon from the Black River Stadium caravan park in Townsville says the writing has been on the wall for a while.
“It’s like water and oil to put grey nomads with families,” he said. “Most grey nomads are trying to escape from families, so the last thing they want to do is to be put in with somebody else’s family.”
The Black River Stadium is proudly an over-50s, bouncing-pillow-free park, and Mr Condon says its grey nomad friendly activities, lack of noisy kids, and lower prices, has made it a hit with older travellers.
“I think specialisation in this day and age is the only way to go if you are in business,” he said. “I think you just have to be prepared to drop off some section of the market in order to gain a higher percentage of the market that you’re after.”
The shifting camping culture was also recognised by veteran caravanner Bert van Spronsen who set up his Kui Parks business several years ago to fill the void between free camping and high-amenity parks.
“Some 25% of grey nomads will only ever stay at a free camp, 25% will only stay at a caravan park, while 50% will be looking for both,” he said. “So, for me, there was an opportunity to offer that 75% exactly what they wanted in a park.”
Mr van Spronsen has been signing up parks to his Kui Park brand, based on the criteria of clean amenities; reasonable prices; good maintenance; and friendly staff. He says caravan parks that are super welcoming and go the extra mile organising things like Happy Hours and campfire evenings will be well rewarded.
“Caravan parks that offer these added value items are generally absolutely chockers,” he said. “Guests seek them out even if they are a bit more expensive than free camping.”
Interestingly, Mr van Spronsen says a number of Kui Parks now offer separate areas for self-contained vehicles for $7-$10 a day, but these have yet to really take off.
An increasing number of parks are also adopting a dual strategic approach to meet the needs of grey nomads in the off-season, and families in the holiday season.
The President of the Caravan & Camping Industry Association (NSW), Theo Whitmont, said many parks offer seasonal discounts.
“Grey nomads often travel outside peak times which ensures they get great rates and can enjoy their travels at a pace which is more enjoyable than the hurly burly of school holidays,” he said. “The economic value of the grey nomad sector brings a level of stability to the countercyclical nature of school holiday peak demand and supports regional economies.”
And, he said, parks had learned some hard lessons.
“The message that grey nomads are not looking for bouncy castles and kids club has been clearly heard,” he said.
The grey nomad caravaner market goes on most of the year while the family market is at select times.The changes to super and retirement age means grey nomads have less money to spend.Thats why there has been a massive growth in free and low cost camping. Most caravaners really only use laundry and toilets and $50 a night is excessive for grey nomads.On top of that some even add power.We had one use the excuse it was fairer as in iur small van and only 2 people we would use less power that a family in a big van,. So glad some are listening.
So wrong! We will be grey nomads soon, but I can still remember the hostility we received from a group of ‘greys’ when they pulled up the vans across ours, and seen our two primary schools kids in the Broome caravan park some 20 years ago. Within 2 days we were part of their happy hour group!! Thoroughly enjoyed our 2 whole months at the park with several groups of ‘greys’ becoming our kids fostered grandparents!!
Hallelua, someone is finally listening to what we want and not what the caravan parks want to give us. Hopefully and eventually the bullying tactics from council rangers wiil come to an end. We just want to enjoy a peaceful life doing it our way and not be told otherwise. A registered vehicle should be able to park anywhere other registered vehicles park. What we do inside our vehicle is our business not theirs.
What the parks need is very reasonable price $5 to $10 with no power no shower or toilet but camp fire even a bar to sell drinks thats how parks will make money
I couldn’t believe it when one evening a few years back one of the Big camps wanted to charge me about $35 for a tent site for 1 night. Ended up getting a basic cabin at another park for about $20, and saved putting my tent up in the rain.
I am a permanent traveller ,self contained, who is happy to stay at caravan but can only afford up to $25 per night. This precludes me from much of the coast around Australia. I often alternate between National Parks and caravan parks. In small doses I don’t have an issue with noisy children as they often have sleep times close to mine as a 66 year old.
If the park is big with a water park and jumping pillow we try to avoid them in school holidays but often get good deals at other times. I think a park can service both market segments just at different times. Cheers Keith