While so many country towns crave more grey nomad visitors – even it’s just for a quick look around or a shop up – many still seem unable to provide places for people travelling with caravans or in large motorhomes to park.
It’s a problem that was brought to the attention of the powers-that-be in Sale in Victoria recently … but it hasn’t really made a lot of difference.
A petition tabled last month urged “our leaders to act now to change (or modify) the Desailly St car park (known as the old Castles car park) to suit ute and trailer, car and caravans and any other large vehicles”.
The Gippsland Times reports that Wellington Shire council quickly responded by voting to provide two long vehicle parking spaces in Desailly St.
However it seems there are long vehicle parking spaces … and there long enough parking spaces!
While the two car parks will be designated for long vehicles, they reportedly won’t be able to accommodate caravans and ‘seriously long’ vehicles!
Cr Scott Rossetti said the re-signed parking spaces would not be suitable for ‘seriously long’ vehicles such as caravans and trucks because of the ‘awkward’ turning requirements of such vehicles.
Sale resident and Victorian member of the Australian Caravan Club, Derek Hale, told the Gippsland Times that the lack of caravan-suitable parking spaces in Sale made the town a ‘laughing stock’.
“You’ll see caravanners driving around town looking for parks, and then they have to take up two spaces to be able to stop,” he said.
However, the council insists it will “continue to engage with the Sale Business and Tourism Association in relation to future Sale CBD improvements”. It also says clear signs will also be provided to indicate other possible areas for parking, especially for long vehicles.
We usually try the nearest supermarket where if their layout is sensible you can get two parks together, one behind the other. We have however been aware that at times this does annoy the locals, who complain about you occupying two spaces. They obviously don’t recognise that we are buying there also. However a lot of country towns do provide longer spaces in their back streets, but it’s often a fairly extensive distance from their main town area, which in some people’s case could be prohibitive.
We haven’t found that many towns which offer caravan parking closer to the shops. Sure, there are ones two or three blocks away from the heart of most towns, but what is forgotten is that most grey nomads are older and can’t cart bags of groceries for miles or push the trolley. On the whole, Sale is not really an RV friendly town in my opinion…..just saying.
Gawler S.A. is shocking, there is nowhere to park. We find that we only stop to shop at places where we can park relatively easy.
Try parking van near a side street and walk to main area ☺️
Try parking anywhere near the info centre or the cbd in Ballarat. It’s a joke. No grey nomads wanted. Maybe move on.
Tollay agree with your comment. Ballarat is not a RV friendly town in any way.
Good fun trying to park anywhere near the info centre or the cbd in Ballarat. It’s a joke. No grey nomads wanted. Maybe move on.
I saw in Mareeba a country town in far north QLD they had a large bitumen area for long vehicles directly opposite Coles. Big enough for B double trucks, vans motorhomes. And also some grass paddock to pull into. Makes parking and shopping very easy
Mansfield, VIC. Hopeless, and the dump point was cmc members only when we were there.
We have just traveled up the coast road from Nowra on NSW south coast and found that everyone told us was right,it has improved so much. But a very big BUT with pulling a big van we enjoy pulling up to a rest stop to make a morning tea break(as all the signs say to do ) alas there are every couple of klms a truck stopping bays suitable for a BW and that’s all. No rest spots for travelers and the general public as it is illegal to stop in truck stopping area so they expect us to go into the towns when we don’t have to do that diversion as we have everything we with us and like all the previous comments, not only is it hard to find a parking a lot of the time it’s not practical to go out of your way. So thumbs down to taking all the rest spot away on the new roads as truckers that need to stop and survive
We found Kalgoorlie a fantastic place for Rvs. Caravan and Motor Home parking provided not far from coles. Just around the corner from parking area, at the end of the block a dump point and separate potable water tap provided. Very easy if just shopping and passing through. Also they have 24hr free camp area. We have been through Kalgoorlie many times always stock up on water,food,fuel,gas and anything else we need. Wish there were more towns like this.
Childers in Qld have a fantastic parking area for caravans & other large vehicles & you walk a short distance to the main CBD.
Simple! If their is no room,move along.
Even with just a camper trailer there were many towns we could not stop in to explore. In Hahndorf, SA we drove the back streets for over 20 minutes in the hope of finding a place to park while we had lunch and explored the shops. Sadly, we were unsuccessful, not even finding a park to enjoy. I was keen to explore Bellingen in NSW but same story. Even in my home town of Bundaberg, the newly renovated Bundaberg Rum Distillery centre does not have parking for larger vehicles or anyone towing.
What these towns and attractions don’t consider is that it is hard to park with a trailer or larger vehicle and each time people move on they have lost money. Even with a small spend if you add up all the missed opportunities this really adds up.
I urge all councils, shopping centres and attractions to consider trailers and RVs the same as they consider disabled parking or parents with prams.
Maybe there are apps available for long vehicle parking. I’ve seen people in Emu Park Qld leave their vehicles and use a bicycle. Others have just walked a little and asked public or Shop keepers but I have to say maybe you have to adapt to the situation and don’t expect too much from little towns that maybe are just getting by
Huonville in Tasmania,has parking for larger vehicles behind Woolworths. Use the back street entrance, 2hr limit.
I am from Sale.. there are quite a few places around the shopping centre suitable for long vehicle parking. On the western end of Gippsland Centre Sale there is a large car park. I often see long vehicles parked safely but not in that Desailly Street park because it is way to tight (as Scott said).. we always skirt around the shops on the towns we visit and always find suitable parking..
DARWIN IS NOT RV FRIENDLY, THE VISITORS INFORMATION CENTRE IS IN THE CBD AND PROVIDES NO PARKING, ALSO NO FREE CAMPING,N0 DUMP POINT AND CERTAINLY NO PARKING PROVISION FOR MOTORHOMES ANYWHERE, A GREAT PITY AS DARWIN HAS GREAT POTENTIAL
we normally look for the show grounds and unhitch the rig for a couple of hours. The care takers usually dont mind. If we decide we want to stay longer we just wait for the care taker to collect fees in the evenings.