As most grey nomads are well aware, the arrival of cabins – and more, recently, glamping tents – has changed the ‘vibe’ of a growing number of caravan parks.
And that evolution away from the parks’ traditional role as simply being a location for tourists bringing their own accommodation … whether it be tent, camper trailer, campervan, motorhome or caravan … is only picking up pace.
For example, in Victoria, the first set of 50 glamping tents destined for Surf Coast caravan parks has just arrived, and are now up and running in Torquay.
And those behind their arrival say the hope is that they will help make caravan parks feel less traditional, and more ‘hip and groovy’.
Wanted! More hip and groovy grey nomads. PIC: RODNAE Productions / Pexels
The Surf Coast Times reports that the semi-permanent structures are being set up at existing Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) sites through to Apollo Bay.
The authority’s operations manager for caravan parks, Brendan Parker, told the newspaper that he estimated that between six and eight of the pop-up tents designed to accommodate singles or couples will be available at Torquay by Christmas … and 20 should be in place there over the next 12 months.
Accommodation costs for the tents are yet to be determined, but they will reportedly be cheaper than existing cabins offered in GORCAPA parks.
“As managers of Crown land, we do have obligations as part of policies around caravan and camping grounds on Crown land, and as part of that equity of access we want to ensure that we continue to offer varying affordable accommodation types so that all types can enjoy and access our coast,” Mr Parker told the Surf Coast Times. “You don’t have to be someone who has an $80,000 caravan to enjoy it … what we’re trying to do is make it a bit more hip and groovy, so it’s got a sort of more non-traditional feel to it to than a caravan park.”
By the time the project is complete there will reportedly be 40 of the 3.6-metre tents along the coast, complete with a queen bed, alongside another 10 ‘deluxe’ models that will include fridges and an ensuite and be Disability Discrimination Act compliant.
“We’re really excited about that access for all component,” Mr Parker said.
The Surf Coast Times reports that GORCAPA is financing the project through its $18 million grant from the Victorian government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund. The money is designed to help the state’s visitor economy bounce back from Covid.
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Makes us want to Free Camp even more
Get me out in the bush!
It doesn’t matter what you do to caravan parks! They are horrible! too expensive for solo travelers , too cramped, & not what camping is about for me!
If C.Ps want to “continue to offer varying affordable accommodation types so that all types can enjoy” they need to make sure they always have unpowered sites available for those who can’t afford ‘glamping’ because those of us who can’t afford to have fully self contained vehicles or stay in glamping tents & cabins, need to have access to showers and a kitchen now and again to stay healthy.
Will these glamping tents take up the sometimes hard to find unpowered sites and price me out of the market?
My cost of being on the road with only an average of 50 km a day is less than $40 a day. If I go to a cramped caravan park instead of mostly being on my own at a lovely gree free camp that price would at least double. For the same money I can have twice the holiday if i avoid them. I had to quit work due to an accident. I need to watch my pennies. With inflation the way it is – most will have to do that. On the road is much cheaper than home costs. One day I might sell home and hit the road.