Where the bloody hell are you? Businesses feel the pinch as nomads stay south!

Published: June 23, 2024

It’s been talked about, the statistics indicated it was a ‘thing’ and, now, the real-world experience of tourism operators is confirming it … grey nomads really aren’t heading up to north Queensland in anything like their normal numbers.

The ABC reports that businesses are ‘cautiously concerned to pessimistic’ about whether the usual midyear influx of caravanners is coming at all.

Yvonne Tunney, who runs a cafe and accommodation operation in the Gulf Country town of Karumba says the contrast is startling compared to previous years.

“It’s been perfect weather and fishing’s been great … but like everywhere else is reporting, it’s very quiet as far as tourism numbers and activity goes,” she told the ABC. “For those who come out here regularly, they just can’t believe it.”

Alan Smith, owner of Outback Aussie Tours, said the lacklustre start to the Dry Season was going to hurt a lot of small, tourism-dependent towns.

“When you get a stinger like this when it’s slow to start, it’s really going to put them under a lot of pressure,” he told the ABC. “You can only make so much money out of two or three months. I think we’re going to lose people out of the communities and out of the business if this stuff continues much longer.”

Even iconic Outback events like the Birdsville Big Red Bash are apparently feeling h pinch.

Organiser Greg Donovan told the ABC that ticket sales were down compared to previous years ‘like all other festivals at the moment’.

“A lot of people are now moving back to overseas travel … particularly the demographic that comes out to the bush,” he said.

The state government is stepping in and investing $10 million to fund 57 regional tourism projects.

The hope is these projects, which range from installing accessible footpaths to building an equine healing therapy centre in Chinchilla, will entice tourists to travel in Queensland, rather than go abroad.

Minister for Tourism Michael Healy said the money will bring nearly 300,000 additional visitors to the regions.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to experience the wonders of Outback Queensland,” he said.

However, the cost-of-living crisis and high fuel costs and van park fees are making plenty of grey nomads re-think – or delay – their domestic travel plans.

“I’m a full-time nomad, but I’m traveling no further than the Queensland border this year,” said Erick Booth.  “My thinking is to save money the cost of fuel is the main factor, and then I can save money so I can do the big trip in 2026 … Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Broome, and Darwin.”

  • Did you abandon your northward travel plans this year … or are you in the Tropics enjoying a quieter than expected camping experience?

Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.


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Can’t do much about the cost of living crisis or fuel but maybe cps can look at what they are charging for accommodation. $90 to $100 a night is high considering we supply the accommodation. Cheaper fees means more people which means better turn over

Absolutely agree

Not a truer word, fees are becoming unaffordable for the average nomad

Could not agree more.

Sadly agree . Parks are getting too expensive . Looking at caravan upgrades for long off grid holidays . Feel sorry for the small business we are not supporting.

Totally agree.

Couldn’t agree more, how can caravan parks justify charging from $80 per night and above for the use of a shower and toilet when caravanners supply their own accomodation?
Despite the best efforts of councils to destroy tourism and stop free camping caravanners can still find somewhere to free camp or pay a small charge.
When councils wake-up to reality and realise tourists spend money on fuel and food and coffees etcetera and caravan parks stop being greedy maybe tourists will stop bypassing them or simply staying home or going elsewhere. Somewhere tourist friendly..

We find Show Grounds are less expensive ($15 – $25 pr night) and have amenities plus power and water. But and the big but is the cost of fuel to get there.

Agree totally, Tasmania is probably the best state for caravan park fees and cheap camping

Normally we would be north or west somewhere and I’d be there if I could. Maybe in a month or so if health issues get sorted. I love it up there so its sad to know everyone is feeling the pinch with a slow tourist season

Yes, we cancelled our tropical QLD trip this year.
We felt like doing something different for a change.
Fuel prices didn’t come into the equation.

Everyone is in WA! Trying to flee the rain over east. Everywhere is packed and booked out over here. By booked out, I mean you can’t get into anywhere unless you book months ahead. There are very few free camps in WA compared to when I was here in 2012, I think thanks to Covid.

We’ve delayed our trip North this year. We are just too busy down South to leave home and travel. As much as we would like to be warmer, there are too many things to do at home.

I’ve made the trek north for winter as I have several other years but this year I’m not going any further north than where I am at the moment – Hervey Bay. The cost of fuel and an expensive engine repair on the way up really put the brakes on this trip. I’m using free/donation camps only as C/Pks are a ridiculous price & this will be my last trip. When I look at what I’ve spent over the last 6 yrs travelling north I think I could’ve easily done a world cruise.

We have been going up to Cairns and Karumba in previous years but no longer, the state of the Bruce Hwy has changed all that , our vehicle gets to knocked around and the maintenance costs are increasing. Bundeburg is as far as we come now.

Greedy caravan parks are pricing themselves out of business. Can anyone tell me why they aren’t regulated to an Australia wide standard. They should have ratings which determine what price they can charge! Some are so bad they should be shut down!

Last edited 4 months ago by Garry Tisdale

Been up north and now heading south, their own fault, paid almost $3 / litre for petrol up the centre, worse in the gulf, the roads the barkley you are down to 20kph in places road that bad and the Dawson hwy Qld should be ashamed. Some parks were $42 for power no water and digusting toilets. Next trip west.

You had better win Lotto before heading West.

We left our home in Rockingham WA early March and are now in Longreach Qld. We have not seen a decrease in numbers in outback Qld but we have suffered a lot as far as the cost of fuel, van parks and tourist places are concerned. We cannot afford the exorbitant costs that tourist venues are charging, take for example the Qantas Founders Museum and the stock mans hall of fame as an example. $2.00+ per litre of fuel, upwards of $60+ for Van parks. Pensioners just can’t afford to do these things. There really needs to be an investigation on the price gouging that Big 4, Discovery etc are charging for a van site. Ridiculous.

Doesn’t sound right to me! Tried to book into Clermont for next week and no sites available. Emerald chockers too. School holidays I know, but normally not this busy!

Hi, hope you will except this comment. We have just returned to Brisbane after a full three months on the road. Went to WA and back. All up it was about 12000ks. Towing our 17 and a half foot full off road van. We had used about $5500 worth of fuel. And the one thing we noticed was not very heavy with other vans. If people are concerned about the cost of fuel check out your own back yard. This way you are not doing the big mileage. All stay safe.

The cost of caravan parks is prohibitive, my wife and I have almost completed the big lap, fuel costs are high but caravan park prices can be ridiculous, usually ranging from around $45 to $86 dollars a night with showgrounds and sporting facilities $30 to $35 a night. We have been travelling for 10 months and have spent over $10,500 on accomodation alone.

Few reasons
Cost of fuel, lousy roads, cost of RV parks for those who have to use them (we never do) , perceived lawlessness in many northern towns, alcohol purchase restrictions impinging on our freedom to buy alcohol as we do down south, long distances to travel to experience nothing much to write home about etc etc

Last edited 4 months ago by Tony Lee

I believe it will continue while greedy caravan park owners keep increasing the cost of caravan sites and add more demanding rules, eg. Tenure of stays to secure a site.

Caravan Parks are gouging us and now they’ll reap the rewards of their greed.

We left Adelaide 13th June arrived in Townsville 28th June sunny Queensland ha ha it has not stopped raining since Calliope and still raining but warm diesel so far just under 2dollars show ground 28dollars caravan park Townsville 40 dollars not bad some of the roads were terrible but some were really good a bit like Adelaide roads heading to lake Tinaroo in a few days hopefully the rain will stop by then. Happy travelling.Bob &Shirl.

Some places did not want us during Covid ,so they may be paying the price, I certainly try to avoid those places which we wern’t welcome. plus fuel costs .lousy roads ,expensive caravan parks.

It is a pity our news letter did not keep a list of those towns that did not want us during covid.

We had to cancel our trip up north this winter, as we were hit with very high Land Tax. So much for being self funded.

Actually it is not just the price of fuel that is keeping us out of NT – it is the high risk of theft, vandalism and worry about leaving the van as they are not always safe in van parks. How come no one else mentioned this, although a lot of travellers we talk to say it has influenced this year’s travels.
Certain towns we will avoid in Qld too, so they will miss out as the child crime can’t be controlled there.
And as others pointed out – Longreach, Winton is crazy busy and if you can’t go unpowered you will be left without a site unless pre booked. Plenty of free camping!
Enjoying travelling slower and spending time in smaller towns along the way as they are so welcoming.

Caravan parks charges are over the top for a small piece of ground. They’re had it to good for too long! A quote from a caravan park owner to a patron. Time it went back the other way.

I question the veracity of this report as I am presently travelling north & north west to Broome. If it is as quiet as the report suggests then why is it so difficult to find a vacant site in a caravan park, making this holiday not only expensive but stressful.

Selling our van

We are third night into our first serious travel Narrabri in NSW
We have stayed in 3 Showgrounds camping
Fantastic amenities first class sites great fuel expensive
The roads up the Newell highway good so far happy
Heading for Kenilworth

Park costs are so inconsistent and over the top. Coastal areas are a complete joke so we will now avoid them. Not sure how sustainable it is though as I’m sure the outback parks will then increase prices and cash in. Still cheaper than overseas trips though.

We planned to go to North Queensland and booked into Palm Cove for 10 days however were put off by the terrible road and trucks north of Gympie on the Bruce highway and the condition and pot holes on quieter inland roads.We have just completed and two and half month trip South from Brisbane on the smooth and plenty of room for trucks to pass Pacific Highway and wonderfully comfortable cruising Hume Highway through to Bright Vic.Totally effortless driving ,not one pothole not one truck issue.Yes it was colder than NQ however we just can’t and won’t ever risk the road ever again.Thats why we are not coming!

We’re paying $25. A night at a big 4 on the south east coast of nsw. Why would I pay more going back home to qld. Not likely to happen anytime soon

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