The trend towards the establishment of ever more luxurious, resort-style caravan parks is one that appears to be accelerating … and that’s not necessarily good news for budget-sensitive grey nomads.
The most common complaint – particularly from self-contained travellers – is: “why should I pay for facilities that I don’t want or need” … but ultimately the caravan park industry will go in the direction which it believes delivers most profit.
The BIG4 group, for one, is committed to offering ‘added value to the total holiday park experience’.
The Howard Springs Holiday Park in the Northern Territory has just become the tenth BIG4 in Australia to open a ‘splash park’. The new area incorporates a super-sized splash tipping bucket, spray cannons, water squirting frogs and play equipment. The splash park also has interactive ground sprays that are activated when a person stands on trigger spots and features a soft fall surface for safety.
The park’s $3 million expansion has also seen it add four spa units, two three-bedroom cabins and a toilet block.
BIG4 Holiday Parks CEO, Ray Schleibs, says the group is committed to providing the ultimate Aussie holiday experience.
“BIG4 has set the benchmark for the holiday park industry in Australia,” he said. “And the continual addition of splash parks, resort style pools, luxury cabins and more are all a part of this.”
Viv Lavender, owner of BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park, says the last year has been the busiest period the park has ever experienced … something she puts down to their extensive range of family-friendly facilities.
“Our guests know they can expect a family-friendly holiday experience full of activities for adults and kids alike,” she said. “These include a huge jumping pillow, three salt water pools, three spas and now the new splash park.”
Do you think it is fair enough that increasing numbers of van parks are just giving the ‘family’ market what it wants … or should they be also catering to the ‘more simple’ needs of grey nomads? Do you think it’s becoming harder to find an affordable, ‘no-jumping pillow’, caravan park? Comment below.
Have no worries with Caravan Parks spending up for the family market BUT as long as the town /shire they are situated in realizes that these are not for everyone and allows budget camping in their area ie: showgrounds.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a caravan park chain that just caters for the nomads, just think of the insurance savings that would be made without public liability for play grounds etc, all we need is clean amenities, some power and maybe a cement slab.Surely there is room for both of types to operate in an area. maybe then there would be more people using parks, pensioners can not afford to pay the fees some of the newer parks’ are charging now days you can get a motel room cheaper for a couple than a cabin in a caravan park
well said
Re….Resort Style Parks
We travel just about all the time, and we are fully self contained. There are a few times we look for a caravan park, …mainly when we both want to make use of a swimming pool, and that’s just about ALL we use ….stayed in a Big 4 at Xmas time, which cost $80+ a night, just the two of us! We used the pool once, it was too crowded and we particularly asked for a site well away from all the kiddy activities….no reduction because we as pensioners really don’t want to use the bouncy castle LOL….if these places had specials for the grey nomads I think we would use them more. But no. So we continue to find out of the way free camps!
Big4 is not the only caravan park ..try another. Some of the smaller parks are very happy to have our dollars and not provide children`s games. There are a lot of families who love those parks …they are entitled to have places that cater to their needs also. I would like to see more areas outside of cities that open up areas for our simple needs. Some property owners are doing it to make a little extra money..If we show appreciation and do not abuse their land …the word will spread and more will be available. In country towns they can make use of Showgrounds…picnic areas ( even mon-fri ). No facilities at these places means we have to be self contained and use a local dump point.We also have to report people who abuse the rules. NEVER will all rules suit every requirement … And SOME people want everything for free.
I agree with Jan M, It’s fine for families and it helps families enjoy their holidays together but does not address the needs of other CP visitors who want low cost with only a few amenities, power, water and dump points. Drive through and no bells and whistles.
It is also a problem when CP owners lobby councils to close low cost showgrounds etc. CP owners do not have a monopoly and should not be allowed to dictate to councils to the detriment of other businesses who would benefit from the other travellers who do not want the all bells and whistle CP’s
I agree Trevor, its OK for CP to lobby councils to try and have cheaper options stopped but the motel owners don’t seem to lobby the CP’s about putting in cabins. That also takes away motels customer base. CP’s want it all their way. I love free camping and being on a pension can’t afford high nightly prices. Free camping allows us to use a park when necessary – although sometimes it may be cheaper to park the rig and use a motel.
I love Big4 caravan parks and families should have the facilities, but I think that couples should pay a little less than families.
We are full time Nomads (not yet pension age) and we travel to expensive areas in the off peak seasons, this helps with some accommodation expenses. We do prefer showgrounds, or donation/freedom camping, but in winter (we are currently in Victoria) a bit of power is luxury. Mind you, some parks are still charging $45 & upwards a night off peak for powered sites. I wonder if they do much business in winter?? Let the families and kids have the Big4’s – as long as we ‘older’ travellers have a choice in more budget van parks. Happy travelling!
We used to be big 4 and top tourist members but all these extras put us off. I would much rather camp beside a river or in a quiet bush setting than a tourist park. It’s all horses for courses. We will stay in parks when we want to unhook the van and explore the local area, but we avoid these tourist resorts like the plague. All we want is clean amenities and a spacious site and depending on location and climate a pool to relax in.
We travel with two small dogs and it is amazing how many pet friendly parks are around. When I comment to the owners about it they mostly say that they would much prefer dogs than children as they do not do half the damage that kids do. Parents just let the kids run a muck and they block the toilets, graffiti around the park and make a lot of noise which upsets the other campers. The kids are only there over school holidays where the nomads are continual. Yes sure some parks need to be kid friendly but all should be pet friendly.
I believe there should be equal distribution of park focus.Whilst I am not against kids this whole idea of family friendly facilities is taking over at the expense of other groups who like to stay . We and some of our friends avoid these places like the plague and believe we are also entitiled to enjoy our holiday. It’s ok to promote kid friendly places but if anyone should suggest kid free zones or seniors places then suddenly that becomes wrong. Fair and equal opportunity would be great and there is possibly a good opening in the market for Nomad only parks.
Let them that has the money use the extra facilities, BUT, I thought there was a water shortage/restrictions in most states, so how come they can put in water wasting “splash” thingies etc?.
We have a Big4 membership. I totally understand the direction they are going HOWEVER they only have X amounts of sites/cabins for school holidays. What about the rest of the year when the majority of kids are at school and these Big4 parks have lots of empty sites/cabins? Big4 needs to REWARD members like grey nomads who keep their businesses operating when it is not school holidays! We will be reconsidering our membership if we find that the Big4 parks get even more pricey. Our retirement income can only go so far!
I don’t mind paying a little more for a park that has all the bells and whistles when I chose to. Who knows when I might need to bounce on a trampoline!LOL!What I don’t like is when under-equipped parks charge the same rates or similar just because they are in the same area or a popular tourist spot.
Great for families etc. but as for my wife and I we will not use these type of theme park style caravan parks if there prices do not reflect we will not be using these facilities, though I feel the majority of Grey Nomads will not use them either, don`t get me wrong we all love our little bit of luxury like a dip in a pool now and again, it is very rare we do stay in a caravan park but when we do we give it great thought to weather it warrant`s a stay, If prices reflect otherwise.
We have been on the road 61/2 months of the last 12 months , and are just about over caravan parks of any sort ! Have been in north Qld the last 7 weeks, along with about a million other ( mostly grey nomads ) we have lost track of the amount of van parks that have been full , by 12 30 pm, and we are turned away, with nowhere else to go ,
We usually stay one- two nights only in a place, so we are always put near the nearest road, the noisiest sites. A lot of parks seem to resent short term stays,
We continually are bunged up one end of a drive through site, right on top of another van ( we travel in a 7 mt Toyota coaster — no it’s not an old banger — it’s new ) we pay the same price as a big van and car/ 5 wheeler.
We love bush camping, and walking the national parks, but again we are finding it increasingly difficult to get into them, 29 years ago when we travelled up north there were more parks open to the public, and a ranger was on site to take fees- supervise ,
We wholeheartedly support councils that provide facilities for simple travel requirements, like a safe quite camp area, at a reasonable price,
( follow Cooktowns lead ) you would be surprised at the amount of money grey nomads spend in your town — and how quick word spreads if a town is ” user friendly “
We joined big 4 for our 5 month holiday……was gobsmacked at there over priced parks…….as stated we only wanted power……and did not use their facilities at all…….but payed for things we didn’t want or need…..isn’t it time they looked at on a need basis ……family needs and nomads needs….and charge accordingly….we wont be using big 4 again…..wasted our money on membership
have just finished round Australia trip and only stayed at some caravan parks during trip, most did not have any cabins as people pay for them even when the cabin is empty. as for other special items such as jumping pads and whistles and bells no thanks. I want enough space to park the van ,car and clean toilet/showers, power and water and dump point. a lot of qld and wa parks cater for the fly in miners and contractors who pay big dollars and ask for nothing in return so steer clear of these as much as possible. saying that we did enjoy our trip including 40 nights in freecamps
We have stopped our subscription for Big4 caravan parks as we don’t want jumping pillows and to be crammed into a caravan park putting up with screaming kids. We have a 20foot caravan with ensuite and don’t want to be squeezed into a small space. We enjoy natural parks or even more so free camping where we can relax and enjoy open spaces
Why not, did you see the size of the government grants they got [Big 4] to upgrade their facilities, so they can charge more as they change from C/van parks to C/van “RESORTS.”
Treasure Island Resort, Biggera Waters (Gold Coast), powered site, July 2013 school holidays, $68.00 per night!
We are a family of 4 with kids 8 & 11. We are 2 1/2 yrs into a 3 year trip and have been gobsmacked at the cost of most van parks throughout the country, with some charging up to $15 extra per chid. We have not yet stayed in a Big 4 as they are the most overpriced of all. We do school work in the morning and sightsee in the afternoons and are not interested in jumping pillows or splash parks. We just need power, water and a safe place to sleep. Thank goodness for free camps, showgrounds and national park campgrounds. By the way, we are constantly told how quiet our kids are, they have never blocked a toilet or left graffitti!
we avoid big four as much as we can ,we have a cat and small dog and are in our motor home full time we free camp as much as we can and are members of top tourist as most are pet friendly for when we do use van parks resort van parks think they just not in the baby boomers market and sure not for us
For the last 8 weeks we have been the volunteres who have been caretaking the show ground at Home Hill in Queensland, and have been thrilled with the friendliness of the many self contained caravans motor homes that have been into make this stopover so successfull.