While may grey nomads may say they prefer the low-budget, ‘basic’ caravan parks, times they are a-changin’.
Luxury cabins and bouncing castles have become almost de rigeur at parks across the country, it seems we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
A $10 million federal government grant will see upgrades carried out to 110 caravan parks across the country and these will include the building of a drive-in movie site, an animal enclosure for emus, and the refurbishment of a pool that used to house a four-metre crocodile.
The ABC reports that upgrades will also include the building of accessible swimming pools at multiples sites, upgrades to a putt putt golf course at a caravan park in Sutton, NSW, and the building of a playground with a giant Tasmanian Tiger at Strahan on Tasmania’s west coast.
Just what we need.! Do van parks need drive-in cinemas?
While the former home of saltwater croc, Doris, will be revamped into a pool for people at a caravan park in Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest.
The caravan park grants are aimed to help owners develop facilities that broaden their markets.
Tourism Minister, Don Farrell told the ABC the funding will boost tourism in regional areas where 90% of domestic caravan and camping trips take place.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of our local communities, and the classic Aussie holiday holds a lot of special memories for many Aussies and their families,” he said. “That’s why our government is backing in these local businesses to upgrade their facilities and allow more people to experience the magic of a great Aussie caravan park holiday for years to come.”
Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO, Stuart Lamont, told the ABC the funding has helped caravan parks become more accessible.
“This has been a real game changer for customers with unique needs,” he said. “From accessible camp kitchens and waterpark infrastructure, to upgraded camp sites and cabins.”
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The more amenities they add the less accessible they become for those of us on a limited budget.
Increased facilities = increased cost to overnight stayers.
If you want to see Crocodiles and Emu’s go to Australia Zoo!
Emu’s and crocodiles. What are you on about.
Yes. Wholeheartedly agree.
In our travels we have noted how some caravan parks have priced themselves out of the market for the average family. We tend to avoid these parks and look for a cheaper, but well cared for alternative. As older travellers we don’t need all the fancy extras. A tidy park with clean and cared for facilities are what we look for and there are plenty of those around if you like to look away from the most popular expensive tourist spots. And in most cases the people running these parks are welcoming and look forward to your patronage.
Totally agree with you comments Sandy. It’s outrageous what some parks charge, and some of these parks could do with a damn good clean up
There are plenty of parking spaces outside of a stupid caravan park, you just have to use some common sense
10 million grant should have restrictions, at least not to be for the provision of cabins, pools and play grounds, just for budget sites for those who do not want the too expensive cabins, also use it for fixing prices of sites so the increase of costs per site does not increase more than 15% max during peak times. I was quoted $290 for 3 nights in early December on the south coast of NSW, Not allowed to fit a tent on the same site for 1 person. So another site would have been paid for. Another park close to where we wanted to go charged about half of that for 3 people and a tent on the same site, guess where we will go anytime. This was at Werri Beach caravan park near Gerringong NSW.
Well said! I have certainly seen council funded “improvements” used to build more cabins, ie FEWER places for RV travellers while still allowing those shires to outlaw freecamping as “there are caravan parks.” They are essentially huge motels with a tiny CP attached.
Dont NEED more motels in such places….travelling to Gold Coast for some reason, it was cheaper to stay 2 nights in a good motel that had space for my little mh than to go to the NRMA park! And in spite of being egregiously expensive the park had scathing reviews particularly wrt extra costs for using recreation facilities such as tennis court.
My wife and I go bush, and find cheap camping sites, rather than get stuffed into tight caravan parks, cheek to jowl, with everyone else.
We do not holiday, anywhere near the coast, over summer holidays.
Let those that require the jumping pillows and water parks pay for them.
We just need a clear spot to park, on relatively flat ground, and ‘that’ doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. A show ground, private area, farm stay, free camping areas, national parks or even the roadside, will serve us well.
Most nights we need no power, no water, and no ablutions. We certainly don’t need (nor to pay for) a whole range of park features we’ll never use.
We’re not cheapskates – we just don’t need it, so why pay?
Caravan parks might be getting 10 million to upgrade but they will be pricing themselves well out of our reach, when they ask to be payed for the services they’ll offer.
Good luck to them, but don’t try to shut down cheap campsites, when you lose custom because you’re too expensive , for a large part of the travelling public.
The expensive parks just might “cook their own goose”, one way or another, and that would be a crying shame for travellers.
All these attractions bring more people..Not for me..Going away camping is getting away from people..listening to nature..having a small camp fire and a drink or 2.
No crazy music.
People are their own worst enemy.
Especially on the coast.
Go bush.
Its too dear for Ptensioners who don’t need all the extras and now they are charging per night for pet dogs.
I believe that parks could locate these extra facilities in a fenced off area with a locked access gate which would occur an extra charge. Those of us that do not require a jumping castle etc. (I would probably break it anyway) would then only have to pay for the basic caravan park facilities.
I did not renew my Big 4 membership. I probably won’t renew my G’Day membership when it expires. I’ll see how Kui Parks does before I cancel it. I am a solo traveller with a self-contained Caravan. At the major Parks, I am charged for two people even though I am alone and have no pets. Before Covid affected us all, I would stay primarily at Caravan Parks as I travelled around the country. Many Parks would offer a small discount for solo travellers. I haven’t used the swimming pool in at least 10 years. I have no use for the playground, or jumping pillow, and rarely use the Camp Kitchen. Perhaps if these “Resorts” had a separate area away from the family fun areas for the nomads/full-time travellers who don’t need the extras, they could offer a reduced price over the full price. I use the amenities, toilets and occasionally the showers.
I will stay with the Free/Donation camps, showgrounds, Pubs and Rec Reserves and use the Major Parks as a last option.
Totally agree that budget and older traveller’s are being forced to pay for ‘frills’ they don’t need or want in these expensive resorts. If you want to stay on the coast you have to stay in a resort or squash in in between permanents who think they own the place. However I do think those traveller’s in massive rigs and back packers have also caused friction in some areas. Thank goodness for showgrounds etc. And please don’t abuse honesty box and donation sites fees in those great ‘free’ camping areas. If you can afford to travel you can afford to help people keep the area mowed and clean.
Support need to have cheaper access to parks for people wanting basic services. Thank goodness for show grounds , free spots behind pubs and clubs. Need 24 to 48 hrs stops on highways for travellers.
Open up rest stops for this. Stops fatigue. Supports local small communities as we progress through.
Too much money for resort style caravan parks. Cabin Central. Need separate cv park. Help to keep people moving around .
We camped at Mareeba Drive-In Theatre and Camping. What a unique experience. $14 per adult which included our safe place to camp and a couple of movies. We got our dinner and icecream from the kiosk at interval.
This is a large parking space, like many car parks that should allow self contained campers to stay overnight, like they do in America at Walmart. It adds extra security for both them and the camper.
Ideal places here would be Bunnings, Supermarkets, RSL and Sports Clubs. They could make the car parks available after hours only.
We avoid these like the plauge… Camping is camping.. If you want to see animals or movies go to a theatre or park for animals.. We look for free out of the way places to AVOID people.. Each to their own I suppose.. To me it’s a waste of funding…
We used to like going to the drive-in with most of the action happening in the rear of of my Holden Sandman.
Great days.
We finished a year in our van with our two young boys last year. Travellers (not temporary holiday makers)don’t care about fancy caravan parks and their ridiculous prices. Unfortunately, you get herded into them along the coast and in areas with high crime. Tasmania and South Oz are the best for travellers with heaps of low cost community or sport club overnight stays. Then our money went into the local businesses. I came to despise Discovery, Big 4 ECT.
I can’t believe they are about to spend $10m of tax payers money on businesses that are already overcharging their customers. It’s disgraceful! Prices will only go higher with the extra add-ons installed.
Unless they keep prices down for pensioners having all these amendities will only put up prices which are dear enough at the moment
What a lot of people don’t realise and I suspect that the Govt isn’t smart enough either to fully appreciate it, that there are hundreds of Park’s across the Country that have been corporatized and are no longer single owner run caravan parks, and are in fact owned by just a handful of companies, some are even listed on the ASX and as a result profit is the game and as a result the fees gave gone through the roof. They are parks run by paid managers.
By increasing facilities they make more revenue and profit, so finding traditional caravan parks will get harder and harder.
With these Govt grants much of it will be going to just a few actual owners and all are wealthy enough and yes even to Public companies, to not need Govt handouts to improve their Parks, so open your eyes Govt and see who is really receiving our money!!!!!
To many of you campers, there are companies that now make 12v equivalents of just about every decent kitchen appliance there is, so don’t think you need to stay in these corporate parks for their 240v power.
Free camp when you can but do it responsibly so that you don’t spoil it for us all.
Now almost out of reach to stay in caravan park for “oldies”. We just need clean amenities, power and water. Prices ok for family as they only stay week/two, while we like to spend a lot longer and we travel a long way from south australia
I have been put off camping by the cost of campsites. All you want is a campsite with toilet facilities, not a theme park! If you want entertainment and animals, go to the Australia Zoo!