Many caravan parks have apparently been overwhelmed by an unexpected influx of guests seeking a ‘Plan B’ as bushfires burn across popular holiday destinations.
In places such as Warrnambool in Victoria, some parks have simply been unable to cope with demand.
Ray McGillivray from Warrnambool Discovery Parks said their phones had been running hot for weeks.
“We’ve had lots of calls from people in fire-affected areas but we haven’t been able to look after them because we haven’t had the space,” he told the Warrnambool Standard. “We’ve been at capacity with about 2,800 people a week and have got hardly any space until after the Australia Day weekend.”
Warrnambool City Council chief executive officer Peter Schneider told the Standard that things had eased as many holiday-makers returning to work this week after an extended Christmas and New Year break.
“After a record-breaking year in 2018-2019 the Surfside and Shipwreck Bay holiday parks have recorded similar numbers so far this summer,” he said. “At peak periods the holiday parks team services in excess of 1,000 camping sites accommodating more than 3000 people.
Moyne Shire acting economic development and planning director Adam Boyle said Port Fairy had also experienced an increase in bookings this summer season.
“Typically, some limited vacancies occur from the second week of January, but we are near 100% booking,” he said. “We believe this is somewhat due to the bushfires and holidaymakers who may have otherwise visited the east of the state, looking for alternate options.”
its probably not people in bushfire effected areas seeking accommodtion, rather people who were planning a holiday in the now effected areas looking for an alternative
They need to look past the end of their vans and see that many van parks and campsites in bush affected places are open and screaming for them to come back and help them to financially recover.
Come on Aussies
Interesting article. I have read so much about the “I will never stay in those Rip Off Caravan Parks” ever again. from so many Grey Nomads. Enjoy those caravan parks.
I reckon your wrong, the parks in this article are in a area that has`nt been devastated by fire, there full of the family holiday makers who have changed plans for a safer alternative, it would be interesting to know there vacancy rate after the end of January .