Many country towns find it difficult to walk the fine line between attracting free camp loving grey nomads and not upsetting local caravan parks … and Orange in New South Wales is no different.
After facing some criticism for not doing more to cater to the needs of budget-minded travellers, Orange City Council has vigorously defended itself, and says it simply has to charge appropriately for the infrastructure that travellers use.
“The council also has to balance the need to provide van sites against the reality of going into competition with a local business,” said council spokesperson, Nick Redmond.
While the town does have a free camp inside the showgrounds for fully self-contained caravans and RVs, it is only available for 24-hour stays. However, Mr Redmond said the single-night limit is in line with requirements.
“Once travellers have looked around Orange, there are other paid options if they want to have a longer stay,” he said. “Macquarie Woods is another free option.”
The Macquarie Woods Forestry Reserve Campground is located about 30 kilometres south east of Orange. It is a large area in the beautiful Vittoria State Forest with approximately 50 sites and is suitable for caravans and has long drop toilets.
The council was responding to criticism in a letter to the Central Western newspaper written by grey nomad David Rickkert, who said he preferred to visit towns where we was made to feel welcome.
“Spending six months in Victoria and New South Wales over Christmas we bypassed Orange as we don’t stay in caravan parks,” Mr Rickkert said. “Our camping fees were around $2.50 because Victoria has free or donation camps in most of their major towns.”
Mr Rickkerrt, who travels long-term, says many towns have benefitted hugely by having free camps. He quotes Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Geraldton and Port Lincoln as examples.
“And Home Hill in north Queensland was almost broke with shops closed everywhere and they opened up a free camp and they took $7000 in four days … the shops are open again and a Super IGA has been built,” Mr Rickerrt said. “Condobolin has a big camp and the town runs a free bus to take people to the club for a meal … most nights there are 60 or 70 vans and it has created a lot of employment.”
Orange isnt interested in attracting nomads as they have a great revenue source from the various mines around them along with its ample rural industry’s.
If Mr Ricketts spent 6 mths on the road and his camping fees were $2.50 that shows he doesn’t pay up at donation sites.
I stopped there once, the most unfriendly town. One caravan park refused us because we travel with a cat, only allow dogs. One offered us a site in an area set aside for the financially disadvantaged. A council caravan park just outside of town had roped off any suitable sites and tried to evict us even though we had already paid at the council offices. Never again will we go within a cooee of Orange.
Orange is a very hard place to find parking to use the shops irregardless of towing a caravan. We now by-pass the town altogether and shop at Bathurst or Molong to restock if going North.
Loved the show ground generous people easy access.
bad luck Orange & any other place like that will be avoided…… They have to understand times are hard for some one way to get free camping is to save dollars .. if people choose to detour around towns like Orange they will loose out on fuel $$ & supermarket $$$$….
Conflicts of interest are rife through local governments. Donations made to councillors from local businesses can be detrimental to that extra money that free campers can contribute to businesses Other than van parks.
Then there are the councillors that have financial interests in their towns caravan parks, then there are the councils Themselves that own local parks and ban free camping within blah distance of the town.
So, those Free Loading free campers who Never Ever spend any money in caravan parks (money spent at the local service stations and shops don’t count to van park owners) just pass on by, word soon gets out if you’re town is RV or Free Camper Unfriendly.
good comment. I have tried for years to have a 24 /36 he free by for self contained tv’s. but with no avail, the caravan parks control the town & our councilors dont have the balls to allow a freeby
.there are more businesses in town than carava n parks.how dare they control where the dollars are spent .let people have some freedom of choice
Orange is missing out on a lot off money with their ideas one night at show grown isnt going to attract the grey nomads to stop here and have a good look around thats not long enough so the will give us a miss.As for our caravan parks they are to expensive as a caravaner i would no pay the price ,I’ve been to nicer parks that charge less and I live here,we free camp alot and always spend money in the towns with petro,l supplys and coffee as well as visiting anything of interest,than we spread the word to anyone we talk to on our travels. So the counselers should rethink about the amount of money Oange is loosing and the bad rapp from the traveler because we spread the word good and the bad, we have two caravan parks in Orange so to keep them happy the rest of the town misses out not good for the town we have a beautiful city but it seems we don’t won’t to share it I think as a rate payer that we shoud have a say oh come next council election we will
Have only ever passed through Orange and by the sounds of things we didn’t miss much. Whether councils like to admit it or not, grey nomads do generate substantial income for a town as.most will stay a few days if facilities are good and the town is RV friendly. We were in Julia Creek last year at a free camp and the local caravan park puts on a BBQ and invites the free campers. The council runs a free mini bus to pick up the free campers and guess what? The bus driver was the local mayor. Procceds go to the community and free campers help out on properties for a couple of weeks. Take a leave out of the Julia Creek hymn book Orange and the other towns that don’t welcome free campers could also improve their town image as well.
Bevan Julia Creek council owns both the free camp and the paid caravan park thats why they put on the BBQ
Yep what you loose on the swings you make up for on the roundabout, you cant have it both ways Orange.A lot of businesses are suffering because of a short sited council, and like Pat.G. said a lot of these places have conflicting interests I also agree with Charley its one place I wont return to, caravan park disgusting,people unfriendly and nothing for the rv nomad anyway.Cheers Stevo.
I would like to emphasize last sentence above (from Pat. G): Don’t underestimate the mouth to mouth propaganda of grey nomads! I have already crossed out the town of Orange off my list. Councils also should not try to cash in with us grey nomads (like in Agnes Water).
Its been said b4..if you travel and csnt afford the fees asked by either council run or private camp sits stay at home sit in the dark wrapped in your bunny rug and watch the microwave. Its cheaper and think of the money you would save on fuel.You could spend that by updating your microwave.
Agree, I find there is an element of self titlement with grey nomads, pay your way, where can you live for free. We just completed 35 days on the road and were embarrassed by some comments from people & their miserly comments. Yes counsellors & mayors all have interests, it’s called business. Safe travels everyone.
A lot of these campsites charge as much as a motel or small hotel. I provide my own bed, linen and kitchen and dining area. Why do you expect me to pay $50 +for a shower and toilet with $3:00 worth of electrity per night.
Have to agree that some towns are not interested in grey nomads. But am also aware of those who flaunt the system by not leaving meaningful donations or paying prescribed fees. Many people also appear to not know what self contained means. Play by the rules and we will continue to have low cost and free camps this also means taking away your rubbish and not deficating in the bush
Cant see the point in paying 30 to 40 dollars to stop overnight and sleep when you are on route. In any event in a one night stop over you cant get in till 2pm and you’re booted out by 10am.
I agree with most free campers if you free camp you seem to spend more money in town
Towns without free camp areas should try them out. Let the caravan parks know what they are doing, give them a rebate on their rates to compensate and see what happens !.
Geraldton WA is a typical beautiful tourist town, it has a free camp a short walk from the Main Street, restaurants, movie theatre, pubs, water park for the kids and that beautiful harbour, can’t wait to get back……
if u can aford caravan an something to tow it with then y cant u aford 2$ 10$ or what ever for a camp site for the night
Hi what century are you in $2/$10 to stay in c/p try $36 to $50 plus, you don’t camp do ??????
Murgon Qld a perfect example of an rv friendly town. A free camp in town which significantly impacts on the local retail sales. We will spend $600 in 3 days on diesel, gas, food and medications. We would not stay if on top of that there were park fees. (Ballarat and Geelong no go areas in Vic, not even dump sites that we know of).
Many believe that having lived most of their lives regimented by Council decisions, they now want to experience freedom. This includes not being packed in like Sardines.
Qlds success in attracting all tourists is their ability to provide for a visitor’s.
Home Hill comfort stop (free camp area) also has hot showers for travellers when they stop there with the laundromat in the same vacinity so you can do your washing while your there. It is a 48 hour stopover
We agree as we spent money there at
IGA, hotels, etc.Lovely town & people.
In one way or another the grey nomad uses all the retailers, be it grocery shopping, fuel, haircuts, vehicle repairs, vets and many others. I for one have no objection paying a small fee (free is better) to park up somewhere safe for a few nights. Caravan parks think they can dominate travellers to their own liking. It is our choice not theirs. They will benefit one way or the other by compromising. As for the council, get a grip and get on with providing us with somewhere safe to park for the night. We will decide if that be a caravan park or not.
The free camping in Rockhampton and elsewhere is under threat the caravan park owners association not the local c/ parks are taking Rocky Council to court over allowing the parking in the Kershaw Gardens. If they win they will pressure all other councils.
We traveled full time on the road for 6 years. We did both caravan parks and free camping. We supported the caravan parks as they are a local business and we would still spend money in the towns with or without free camping. Why miss out on an area that has places to explore just because you need to spend money on accommodation sounds like a few are holding councils to ransom to me. Bit silly really as you are not hurting the council by not visiting the area.
I live in a town where this has been a big issue for the tourist parks and our council has stopped all free camping in the town boundaries. This is very sad as out town businesses have also missed out due to some greedy operators. This word travels fast sadly.
Do not visit Philip Island and surrounds as a Grey Nomad! The entire Bass Strait Shire doesn’t even offer a dump point! Even existing campings focus more on cabin hire than on accommodating caravans etc. Parking for big rigs, even at the tourist attractions is near impossible. Shame!
Don’t know where the free camp is at Port Lincoln. Is he dreaming?
Surely it’s a choice. No-one is forced to stay anywhere. If people are travelling on the cheap they probably wouldn’t spend much in town anyway. They’ve paid a lot for their self contained vans and don’t want to pay for services that they don’t need. We have a small van – no shower and toilet, so we stay in CP. Everyones needs are different. Labelling towns is unfair. If you don’t like quietly go somewhere else. Personally I love National Parks.
I was planning to go through Orange on my way home to Tassie, but i think i will bypass.
This is one way to distract tourists to your town — especially when the country need tourism ??
The caravan park complaining about the freecampers but you don’t read about the motel complaining about the business they are loosing from the caravan parks cabins
We are great supporters of bush camping / or low cost /donations etc.
What really P****s me off is the rv’ers who want to use the facilities but do not want to make a small donation. To many Rvers out there with those long pocket and short arms. Just a simple gold coin donated by every one would help the council and may just provide better facilities for us in the future.
We spent a night at Chinchilla weir and then made a donation at the Info centre. Of the 20 campers there for the night ( some longer) the lady in the info said that they would be lucky to get 50% of the campers to donate.
I reckon it would be more like 20%.
Hey !!! guys… this is 2018 not 1918, things change. so put some change in the donation box
“”The caravan park complaining about the free campers but you don’t read about the motel complaining about the business they are loosing from the caravan parks cabins””
So very true.