It’s here! Love it or loathe it, the holiday season is upon us and it’s time to for grey nomads to share all their favourite caravan parks and camping areas with the rest of the population not lucky enough to have the freedom and the flexibility that the grey nomad lifestyle affords.
Wherever travellers go, they are likely to have to share space with working families and overseas travellers in far greater numbers than usual.
And, of course, the domestic travel boom means things are even busier than normal this year.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) says that an estimated 1.7 million caravanners and campers will be out there this Easter Holiday.
More caravans than ever are on the road as Eater camping spots fill up quickly. PIC: Cizza
It says its recent Business Condition report showed the growth in the number of annual caravan and camping trips in Australia had overtaken the 2019 levels, with 15.1 million trips and 60.1 million visitor nights recorded at the end of 2022.
In South Australia and elsewhere, campground bookings are at 100% – or very close to it – at many of the most popular sites.
So, Easter can be a time where ‘quiet’ free camping areas become anything but, caravan parks become filled with kids on bikes and scooters, and the ‘no noise after 10pm’ tradition gets a severe testing.
Despite the odd annoyances, however, most grey nomads embrace the different atmosphere at campsites and camping grounds. It reminds them how of lucky they are to live the lifestyle around the calendar instead of having to squeeze their adventure into an annual holiday time.
For many, the influx of younger people reminds them of their own previous family camping holidays with their parents or with their children.
But this busy time – and this year more than ever – does present something of a dilemma. Where is the perfect spot to ‘ride out’ the Easter season, and perhaps even avoid the sometimes sky-high ‘holiday’ van park fees?
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We always spend peak holiday time at home. We like to let those with limited time have the camping spots.
We always “Bolt-Hole” it for school holidays.
Too much traffic/camping spots filled and rubbish left behind/ premium pricing on everything/ noisy neighbours camped too close/ kids on scooters, skateboards and bike running uncontrolled.
We always stay home during Easter, Christmas & school holiday periods.
This year the weather over Easter is predicted to be the worst for that period in many years. A good time to stay off the roads. Let young families have their fun.
Gil
We are at the National Folk Festival in Canberra.
Lots of great music but very few little kiddies
We avoid the crowds like the plague. This Easter we have been lucky enough to spend the Easter Mathew on friend’s 26 acres overlooking the Macleay River. Pure bliss❤️❤️
Of course I meant to say Easter mayhem. Gotta love spellcheck
Yep agree with you
We chose Bretti Reserve on Thunderbolt Way for a few days stopover, completely forgetting that Easter was coming up. Hardly anyone there when we arrived but the hoards kept streaming in in caravans, whizz bangs and 4wd until close to midnight and the whole 12 acres has been transformed almost overnight into a well-appointed “refugee camp”. Chain saws busy destroying habitat for smokey fires, fortress-like fire rings under construction everywhere, whippersnippers deployed to manicure the grass and multiple versions of campers’ favourite music playing to everyone within 100 metres, and so called “quiet” generators purring away.
Sigh! There goes the neighbourhood!
That is why we don’t go away.
We are in Wentworth NSW. Due to flooding of the Murray/Darling the caravan park is not operating (closed for redevelopment) the free camp on the river is still not officially open, so the locals have opened up a car park and sports ground to free camping, very peaceful and a lovely friendly town to enjoy. Where the two rivers meet, love it.
I have pity for families forced to endure holidays at peak holiday times, they are going to be gouged of every last cent from any place that provides accommodation, entertainment and sustenance. Having to constantly travel on bottle necked roads and every venue packed. Retirement certainly has its rewards.
I used to get as far away from the coast usually a quite town off the main tourist destination and let the long week enders have the beaches to them selves