A Winton caravan park is upping the ante in its battle to stop free camping in or near the town in central western Queensland.
Park owner Narelle Lenton is said to be considering her legal options after 40 caravans recently parked and stayed in the town for free.
She says free camping is not allowed in town and even camping just outside of Winton is becoming an issue for park owners. Ms Lenton would like to see council prohibit free camping close to the town limits.
“Solicitors are pursuing that,” she told the ABC. “It is happening everywhere, Charters Towers I believe is implementing a 20-kilometre radius.”
The issue came to a head earlier this month when a collection of vans were allowed to park behind a local hotel and on council land in Winton, even though there were vacancies at Ms Lenton’s registered caravan park.
“We are just looking for a little bit of support from council,” she said. “The usual situation is the caravan parks are phoned to ask them if they are full – the town then opens up the showgrounds.”
Winton council says it is looking to develop ways to manage ‘free campers’ within its town limits, but CEO Tom Upton told the ABC that a balance needed to be struck.
“We will go to council with a series of recommendations but it is important to strike a balance in respect of free campers because they are an important market for the west and the outback,” he said. “They just will not stay at caravan parks or accommodation houses, but they do support other businesses in town, such as attractions and shops.”
Do you think a no-free camping ‘radius’ around rural towns is fair? How big should the radius be? Does Winton risk losing grey nomad visitors of it takes a harder line against free camping near the town limits? Comment below.
Its about time the caravan parks realized that they need to come up with a solution themselves, not just expect others to fix the issue. People do not stay at caravan parks because they do not offer what the traveler wants. Different section with lower rates for those that do not want to use the facilities, (toilet, shower, power etc) will see these people start to use parks again.
I agree why would you stay in a caravan park when jammed in like sheep,yes some have a communal fireplace but not many,caravan parks need to change their attitude,just because I get fuel and food,doesnt mean I have to use their park or just because I stay in the caravan park it doesnt mean I need to buy the fuel and food there.
Caravan Parks should realize that by doing this they are killing off the town. Grey Nomads are keeping these town alive buy what they spend in the way of groceries fuel etc. We don’t have to be ripped off with high caravan park fees, we have our own power, toilet and shower, so why do we have to pay such high fees for a small block of concrete, any town that imposes these rules and regulations I will drive through and spend my money else where as will hundreds of others.
I will not pay to stay in a caravan park, on the coast on school holidays they charge $80 per night. I won’t go into there town if I can’t stay for a very cheap fee
towns schould have free parking they get our money caravan parks are too expensive i have solar on roof off my van park any where
I’m with you Kurt! plus there are times when you just want some time to yourself, some isolation or peace and quiet which you just can’t get in a caravan park- caravan parks are also home to families with kids (noisy or not), pets, people coming and going at all hours……if you’ve just done a long haul for a couple of days you sometimes want to just pull up and recoup for 2-3 days. My van is big, manouvering in a caravan park is always stressful too. and yes we spend plenty – the happier we are the more we spend. She’s being greedy. I have stayed in one of her cabins when out opal buying and she has no shortage of business from commercial visitors, workers on mines, telstra workers, all kinds of visitors. For her to think she is entitled to income from every single individual who passes through Winton is selfish.
Is she also responsible for shutting down the farmer we just saw have his farm seized on A current Affair? (he also had farm stay accommodation which I’m sure would have made this greedy caravan park owner unhappy as well)
but you will park in a free camp with 40 others?
Perhaps, but usually those 40 other are spread out to give each other privacy & room to relax, not squshed in like sardines.
The best towns offer free/donation camps in the city limit, the really good ones provide free hot showers also.
More open space rv parks for fully self contained travellers are what is needed, not less.
I agree. For every dollar I spend at a caravan park, it’s one dollar less the I spend in the town. Personally I prefer to camp about 20 – 30 k’s out of town. Usually quieter and safer. Seems the undesirables don’t travel that far. Cheers Bill
Where do you think the money comes from to buy a caravan park to start with and the set up costs of operating and running the park. What allot of you people dont realise is that out of the $30 you may pay for a night park owners have to pay rent, insurance, power, gas,water,rubbish pick up, wages, advertising the lists goes on and security and upkeep. How about asking for a discount if staying the week and join caravan park club for further discount.
So dont think park owners make much out of $30 per night. And then when you stay in a park you charge all your batteries, fill your water tanks, power to run your Engals, dump your rubbish, empty toilets and use your own washing machines in your $75k caravans towed by your $50k vehicle watching satellite tv. Those that free camp should do so 20km from the closest town.And you want us to sign your paper work for rent assistance.
You forget when you free camp in town rate payers cover you for dumping of rubbish and using town water.
Some of you say you cant afford to stay in caravan park but you can afford the expensive set ups you have with all the mods and cons you pay a very high fuel price from outback towns and I bet most of you drink beer/wine, play the pokies some of you may smoke. And above all, when you stay in a caravan park you benefit from the safety & security of the parks environment…No one can put a price on a peaceful nights sleep in a safe and secure caravan park, as opposed to “free camping” which is not patrolled in anyway.And you know when you go out for day trips your property is secure in a caravan park.
Phew! have you finished Steve? What people are saying is they want to bloody Camp not be forced by people like you and councils who Go into this business obviously without doing your homework
People have only a van and vehicle why should they be Dictated by Caravan Parks to stay there ,they spend money in your town but because the money is not going to the caravan parks they start to sook ,,How many free camp spots have been vandalised by caravan park owners or townspeople and blamed onto the free campers ,we don’t mind paying for over night fees but not over charged i spend maybe $100-200 for shopping ,we go to your markets by your produce we will even pay for dump site no problem ,but when you get Caravan park sooks say your van is over 21 feet so you will be charged extra ,like a particular one in hervey bay were im from near the boat harbour wanted to charge extra and then if they wanted to use the amenities block extra $4:00 a night ,this is why people are pissed off with some Caravan Parks ,not all there are some Genuine ones out there who are great ,To me if i come across a town like Winton doing this easy word of mouth i wont spend a cent there ,Fuel cost around $220 to fill my tank, Supplies may be another $100-200 and if there is a nice local Pub with meals there goes another $50.00 for us ,so if your town dosent want my business to keep you going through markets fuel stations or Pubs ,Put up a council sign and say we don’t want free campers here and we will take business else were ,one more thing you say Security that’s a joke ,Hervey bay half the parks constant theft,in-skip point another place last week alone 7 vans robbed and these are security ,parks and wild life have said the locals don’t like to say because no one will come back ,well as i said word of Mouth and if Winton is going to place a 20 klm limit i wont spend money there.
here here Robert, well said. I totally agree. if we can’t free camp we go where we can AND spend our there too.
Winton is on my itinerary but it may get a miss now. Also I have tried to get into parks with my dog. “Do you take dogs?” ” yes, on a lead” “She’s a German Shepherd” “No, sorry, not them” I wonder if I could sue them for discrimination? Might be worth thinking about. Any one else had this problem? Cheers Bill
I have an old 1980’s caravan. I have been discriminated against at some caravan parks, for having an old caravan. I have no wish to upgrade to a newer caravan, just to satisfy the snobbish managers of some caravan parks. This is why I like to camp outside towns, rather than try and get into a caravan park. I have solar panels and I am able to camp for days, without having to go into a caravan park. I also have a dog.
PLEASE PLEASE Tell me you are joking Bill!? SUING?? For dog Discrimination?? We own 360 acres of pristine, lush cattle property with 2 flowing creeks 10 km outside Sarina Qld and we are thinking about opening it up for travelers passing through for a quiet place to stay far away from loud,messy campers but our fear is exactly what you said Bill being sued for something SO ridiculous….its that type of thinking that has insurance companies running the show making billions…cant trust anyone with just a hand shake anymore, you never know who is going to sue…….we have to pay insurance to cover OUR asses so some idiot doesn’t sue us for stubbing their toe on a river rock…….unreal
Bill, try travelling with a cat. The amount of van parks that will take dogs but not cats is insane. Our cat is never off her harness, doesn’t bark and doesn’t pee or poop on other peoples lawn. Half the time you’d not know she was there, but we still get told, we take dogs but not cats. REALLY frustrating.
Gwizz
Totally agree with Robert. I have made the choice to spend my money on a self contained rig. I don’t need caravan parks dictating where I should stay. What next – Will the pubs want councils to legislate against travellers bringing alcohol into the town and dictating that you can only drink beverage purchased in the town, or eat food for that matter.
Caravan park fees are far too expensive for a long term traveller. Example 250 days/year on road x $30/night = $7500/year. What pensioner can afford that as well as food, fuel, clothing and maintaining a home base.
Caravan parks are an essential park of the travelling and recreation community, but like any other business they should have to stand on their own feet or close, just like any other business in the town. Councils supporting caravan parks are canvassing against support for every other business in town. As well as travellers being up in arms against caravan parks demands, so should every other business in town.
Caravan parks don’t seem to mind reducing the number of sites and replacing with cabins, once the domain of pubs and motels. They want it both ways. To Steve I say “Too bad so sad. If you cant survive in a capitalist society move on.”
I live in mission beach and the mess left by ‘free campers’ is really bad, back packers and oldies with nice rigs alike . So my rates go to clean up ..how about you tell me your address in sydney or wherever and i will park outside your place and dump stuff. .u have to eat so dont get all full if self importance at spending money on food … have a bit generisity to these towns and stop being so stingy , yes they could be a bit kinder to people with dogs, mjne is better behaved then most grumpy grey nomads . But hey leave your address and we will come and free camp in your street
hope you have good fuel tanks – long way between Longreach and Cloncurry
Don’t tell me about security in caravan parks, we were robbed while we were asleep in one of the big name tourist parks in NSW. We paid the highest fee we have ever paid off peak and in my opinion were ripped off.
How about naming the park so that we can dodge it !
Well Steve… You and your attitude are why we dont use caravan parks. One park owner told us we were a drain on the parks resources..using so mant squares of toilet paper and so many litres of water etc. WTF do we pay for then. Ive costed it out..power for 24 hours..one or two showers.. Obe or two visits to the loo..total $7. Max!! The coast parks charge above $50 a night so tell me how that is justafied for a van to park on a patch of ground? Dont talk about safety or security..there is none. Nor is it quiet.. Free camps give us one option parks can never match.. If your neighbours are a problem..just move
Try asking a park for a different site..or complain when neighbours shout and play music til 3 am. You have achieved on thing..Winton will be bypassed in future years. Good riddence I say.
you left an awful lot of large costs out of your equation
In Aug 2005, I know, a few years ago, we stayed at the Top Tourist Park in Winton and vowed never to stay at that park again. It was a dump. In 2000 we bought an old motel and owned and managed it for 5 years. We understand highs and lows of the tourist season so in the low season we worked hard to get our place back up to scratch but I hate to say it, some folk are lazy and don’t use the quiet times to maintain there properties. we have stayed at some beautiful parks and their owners need to be commended for the effort put in.
Well Steve, many have their own washing machines because those at a lot of caravan parks leave the clothes covered in fluff or dirt due to lack of cleaning by management. We do a combination of parks and free camping, too many parks cram the vans in like sardines, many are overpriced, and as for security some parks we have been in there are warning signs everywhere about securing property, dont leave anything unattended, make sure to lockup etc. We have felt very safe free camping and have made many more friends than in the caravan parks. Some parks are excellent others leave a great deal to be desired. Towns that do not allowed for short term stays will end up being bypassed. I certainly will not pay $30 a night for a shower and small amount of power. When staying longer in an area yes we do pay for a park but only if the park is good with reasonable rates.
I am a landscape maintenance provider and have run a successful business with a lot of repeat clients and ongoing agreements for over a decade. It has given me through hard work and long hours the opportunity to purchase a van and tow vehicle and I’m looking forward to a mix of free camping and van parks.
Firstly to maintain a successful I’ve had to listen to what my clients wanted and needed and establish a price that is fair to both them and myself, like any business market prices are not dictated by me If I over charge then I would lose clients and money. Just because I’ve bought a new tractor or whatever doesn’t mean that I can jack up everybody’s price.
I accept that insurance is a major factor in caravan parks and the cost of things like BBQ areas, pools and jumping pillows are expensive to establish and maintain, but, are all these extras put in because the clients want them or because you are trying to change the nature of the park for a more up market clientele.
All the grey nomads (GN) usually want from a camp site is to be able to top up their tanks recharge their batteries and have a shower. If a park can’t supply these at a cost that GN are prepared to pay then like any business you need to either look for different clients, meet GN requirements or maybe close your doors, not demand that the GN who believe that you are not being supplying the service they need at a price they can afford, be forced to stay in your park, As can be seen from a lot of the comments the whole town could end up suffering.
As for security in parks, we have stayed in good parks and had things nicked along with others, we have had trouble with drunken behaviour form ignorant campers and the parks have failed to do anything about it.
BTW I don’t gamble or smoke and the wine that I enjoy with fellow campers normally comes from the local town along with meat and food supplies.
Gee Steve, you sound as tho’ you reckon you have done us all a huge favour by going into business – just for us – not for profit for yourself! Any business enterprise is a risk – a risk that people will buy your product or service. If you can’t sell then you are either in the wrong business or you are a poor business person or you are not supplying what your customers want – ie. the law of supply and demand. When things go bad, don’t go bleating to the authorities for protection (eg. 20km exclusion zones or banning free camping sites). If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.
when did FREE become competition to PAID? That is NOT fair competition.
You are obviously not on a disability pension. After fuel, I am flat out buying food let alone affording $30 a night to stay in a caravan park but God Bless you anyway!
John Nicholas is right not every body is well off we all don’t own $90.000caravans and $50.000 cars. the pension is around $400 a week thats for a single guy. it’s not easy trying to travel on that sort of money. no wonder we camp on the side of the road at times.
How do you afford to travel at all on a disability pension?
unfortunately Steve, the antagonistic attitude you display comes across the moment we enter the office to book in. you may not realise it but we recognise it straight up & advise fellow travellers of our thoughts. This is why people are avoiding some caravan parks!
Caravan Park owners should read their own parks reviews on the internet to improve their service to the traveller. The comments should be a learning curve.
What a lot of rubbish. We also have expenses – the initial purchase of the van, the insurance and maintenance and the loss of funds for the money which could be earning us interest. Who wants to spend time squashed in like fleas, jumping on the castle, swimming in the pool or using the games room. We don’t even need the power, amenities, laundry or camp kitchen. If you want to stay in a park, great, but let the rest of us do as we choose, too.
Steve, you sound like a very jealous and bitter caravan park owner. Damned if I will pay $30 upwards for a caravan site, jammed in so tightly I can’t swing a cat or open my awning, when I am travelling thru a town. I stop and spend on fuel and groceries and other incidentals, so don’t whinge when I choose not to spend money in your overpriced, dump of a caravan park. When my wife and I want to spend a few days in a town and explore the surrounding area, then we do stay in a caravan park.
Hi Steve, you and us can argue until the cows come home, $30 for a night or $175 for a week is not a bad tariff, Most of the complaints on here are about the $40 upwards, midweek then double for weekends that some places hit you with. May I ask if you have cabins on your park? Did you get permission from the Hotels and Motels in your area to put them there? Do they feel you are taking their custom away from them? Do they get a little agro with you for “stealing” their customers? Good luck with your business Steve, Bill from Western Australia
What is your problem, I too owned a business covered all my costs and made a profit. Now I am retired, my money is distributed over a variety of other small business’s during my travels. Caravan Parks do not have a right to force me into there parks every night. Why is it, parks near double the fee’s at Christmas and Easter?. Are you going to tell me, costs only increase at those times.
so the business you owned made the same amount of money EVERY day/week of the year? Caravan Parks charge more during peak seasons to make up for the times YOU do NOT stay because they still have to pay the same rates, the same insurance etc, etc whether you are there or not.
So I drive into town on a $50.00 + fuel budget , I spend $40.00 with you the rest of the town gets $10.00 You are just a selfish piece of works.
Do we need a permit in your town to brew our own beer, after all what about the poor publican, Steve , wakeup! Winton is overpriced to the max with the attractions just not worth the asking $
I like many others are just as happy to fuel elsewhere and drive on tro.
If you win in total you will go broke as no one talks on the road more than a pissed off caravanner
Colin
They tried to stop free parking some years ago in Queensland & the rvs said we wont come up to Queensland in that case. they soon changed there mind. On the other hand I have nothing against c p as its a seven days a week job 52 week a year.
Maybe Caravan Parks should be thinking about how they can ATTRACT campers NOT how they can FORCE them to stay, otherwise it will only FORCE them to go elsewhere.
It would be good to hear what other businesses in the town think about this issue.
I love the hotels in little outback towns that allow you to stay for free, funny how I always end up spending more at that hotel 🙂
I agree with you Lewis. Caravan parks would help themselves by offering low cost areas (and I mean low cost) with plenty of room for self contained rvs. What caravan park operators need to realise is that if free (or low cost) camping is prohibited then travellers are just going to bypass these areas and not spend any money there at all. YOU CAN’T FORCE PEOPLE TO USE CARAVAN PARKS. It doesn’t work! You just drive people away from your area. What caravan park owners also need to realise is that people were camping (in tents and vehicles) long before caravan parks came into existence. It is a way of life chosen by many.
Caravan parks should realise that the gray nomads are not choosing to stay free because of the money. they do not want to be jammed in parks along side noisy children with Jumpy Castles/pillows and playgrounds. we want peace and quiet – leave that to the families who need that for their children
I agree we don’t want jumping castle, kids playground ,bikes, and other things for kids. So why should we have to pay for the things no use to us. I would be happy to pay for what electricity we use, as we only use the toilets.
I agree with you Lewis. I am a single girl and lately I have been paying up to $36 – $40 a night to pitch my dome tent on an unpowered site! I have paid this at Uluru, Nhulunbuy, Hervey Bay and several other places. I am self sufficient and much prefer to free camp, there are plenty of places you can do it.
come on caravan parks, we fully contained vans, don’t need you BUT we would be happy to stay down the back for security reasons for a nominal amount
What the ……. Hitlerism raising it’s head. Most of the travelling fraternity are responsible intelligent people and being dictated to by a CP owner does not sit well. I hate van parks with a vengeance when they try to dictate just who when where and how. It begs the question about the breakdown of monies spent in the area by the traveling Public. I really don’t think that one business should be able to dictate policy that affects other businesses and their income should this be put in place. I for one and I am sure there are many who agree that bypassing these areas is what I do. Maybe just maybe the CP owners should look at what they offer and cash in by having low cost sites that are drive in drive out and either metered power or unpowered for an overnight stay. I would think that a charge around the $15 unpowered or $20 powered would attract the public. No use of the facilities unless full fees were paid. Might well attract those that don’t want the full CP experience if it’s only a one night stay. Have a separated area for those patrons.
But I would never stop in an area where policy has been dictated by CP owners.
If you don’t give the public what they want you will lose the custom.
Couldn’t agree more heartily! More often than not I have ended up paying an exorbitant amount of money to an indifferent CP owner for an overnight stay…when I will be gone by 9-10 the next morning!
AGREE AGREE AGREE – the CP owners need to realize in TRYING to take away free camping, they take away from every business in town as we like most others drive on through…to towns that do provide free camps.
Isn’t it amazing how caravan parks put in more and more cabins taking business away from hotels and motels, put in jumping bags and other things that the average grey nomad doesn’t want and charge like a wounded bull then bitch when they free camp. Sorry. I’ll just bypass the town and go to where I’m wanted.
We have noticed the proliferation of cabins and permanent sites at the expense of travellers on our annual trip north. Don`t mind paying $35-$50 per night as long as the facilities are reflected in the price. This we find is the exception rather than the rule so we tend to return to the same CPs every year as we know we`ll be welcome and the facilities are first class. It`s taken 8 years of travel to narrow the good parks down to what we consider value for money though we will keep on experimenting with different CPs, the good ones will receive a tick, the rest we will ignore in future.
OMG $30 to $50 per night ..you know mate we are not all made of money some of us are on the pension only and our Vans are our permanent homes ..if you can afford that kind of money every night then with respect i dont think you have a clue as to what free camps mean to us …
Winton is a destination on my next tour. I WILL free camp, spend my money at the servo, grocery store and hotel. I am sure these business people will appreciate my spending. Anything more than a 5km free camp exclusion zone will see people bypass Winton altogether. Businesses will close, jobs will be lost and locals will relocate.
Winton ismy destination next April Am going there to do some family history research as well as having a good look around. WAS planning to stay several weeks.My plan is always to free camp where possible BUT spend in the town..restaurants, tours,souvenirs, attractions etc.That way the whole town gets a share of my money.May have to rethink where I will stay and how long I will stay there when it comes to WInton.
We are heading to Brisbane next month from Lakes Entrance. Could you please give us your advice on good overnight stops and relevant costs.Thanks.
Go inland of the ranges and look for old blue/white metal dumps, waste ground (be selective), etc and you could possibly go all the way for very little. And I find the further you are away from the coast the nicer people are, with the possible exception of Winton, maybe. Cheers Bill ps after this , do you think I could stay at the Winton Caravan Park? Cheers Bill
John and I have free camped at Winton recently… We shopped in the local stores, bought fruit veggies and groceries went to the local Attractions and loved the area…. However if forced by a caravan park to stay solely in their park we would visit shop and move on as a sign of objection …. We like to mix up the experience between parks and free camping isn’t this a free choice
winton is on route on my next trip north i have set my van up to free camp so will be stopping at free camps and caravan parks who try and stop free camps are doing nothing for people like us and their own town they have to remember that the tourist trade is not just them so butt out and maybe some will forget and use your caravan park
Cannot believe that these people are daring to try and get rid of free camps. We support the towns we go through but opt for free camping as fees are ridiculously high in most parks. We only use the toilets and power when in them as we are self sufficient. Most parks we have been to are ok but some are pretty ordinary and they charge like a wounded bull, ie a park in Darwin.
Some of them owners/Managers still do not get it.And never will….Can’t expect much from Councils……
I couldn’t agree more to the above comments. Why don’t Caravan Parks offer an area where Nomads can camp overnight for a gold coin donation and not have access to the parks facilities. It would bring more people in and have a secure spot to camp overnight. Why should we need to pay $30 and over when we are totally self sufficient, after all this is why we purchased this type of vehicle, to save costs but allow us the freedom to travel. Come on CP’s get real, you will do your towns more harm than good if you take this attitude.
My wife and I recently stayed behind the Great Gregory Hotel near the wall of neglect & I can say without fear of contradiction, the highlight of our stay in Winton. Everyone so friendly and open (cold beer as the fee). Free camping was openly encouraged, even directions to the waterhole f/camp, road closures, the lot, all when the so called CVP wanted a fortune to stay, why wouldn’t, one stay where it’s free and friendly….. CVP,s need to attract Rvers with realistic prices such as Barcaldine top tourist park (damper, tea & low tariffs)””””
the park we are in at the moment allows camping for $5 per night in the paddock but you can not use the facilities Dump station costs $5 extra water and showers much the same or it is $25 per night full use of facilities,or $150 week, no jumping bags etc nice friendly management, this is about the maximum we are prepared to pay, not all grey nomads are wealthy some of us are pensioners trying to enjoy the last few year of our lives.
Please tell me how a park can justify $30-50 a night for use of electricity, a shower and toilet? How much sheer profit do parks make? Many high turnover CPs must be absolute gold mines. Owners need to justify their fees and they and councils be told emphatically if they try to impose where people stay travellers will simply go elsewhere.
We set out being loyal to caravan parks but afyer being let down and treated as insignificant outsiders by a few parks i have learnt to remain self sufficiant.. Caravan park wins WINTON WILL GET NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. I didnt get a discount on my caravan pronising to pay greedy park owners they do not have ownership of anything but the land they are based on.. Lift your game, ceep it clean treat people with respect the word will spread. Staying in a perk each and every night some of us cant afford, perhaps they want us not to come to their town at all. Winton caravan park i ask is 100% of nothing really better than the town getting 75% of something.
We are full time travelers – threw off the shackles of a house some years ago. When we free camp close to a town, we do make a point of spending a few dollars in the town – we also make a point of telling the shops where we spend money that we would not visit and spend $$$$ if we had to be paying an exorbitant rate for accommodation.
Hi Terry and Val, I agree with you and all the other comments. We have done some caravan trips over the past 8 years and have just sold our house to live on the road permanent…..to be free to choose our outlook each day and it sounds like it won’t be WINTON…..CP owners need to realise that at our age, we don’t want jumping castles, slippery dips and water slides, don’t even want a pool really, nor to be stuck in like sardines. And, yes, we have an expensive tow vehicle and will be upgrading our van, but we have worked for it, the money didn’t just appear. Would love to have personal contact with you guys to see what your experiences on the road have been. How can we do that? Do you have a blog?
I’m the same, been on he road for 8 years. I collect all, and I mean all, my rubbish and stop and put it in a roadside bin. Takes all of 30 seconds. Cheers Bill
I am not self-sufficient, having only a mini-van but I try to free camp at rest areas where a toilet is provided. The prices at caravan parks are outlandish – particularly those that say they only have powered sites and no discount for single person – my van is not even wired for power, so I feel totally exploited. I have stayed behind the hotel in Winton and bought both dinner and breakfast there and had a lovely stopover among friendly fellow travellers.
Thanks, Wynn, I’ll have to check out the pub, that’s if the CP hasn’t closed it down. Cheers Bill
Solution is easy. When arriving in Winton, just keep going. Caravan Parks need to realise that they are not the only business in town and it’s not all about them.
Its about time caravan park owners stopped whinging and listened to travellers who are sick of getting ripped of with high over the hill prices,i will remember to go past this park and i hope all others do the same.
I have been wondering, with the CP’s trying to get their local council to outlaw so called Free Camping within 6000 km of their site, do Wollies also moan when Coles opens down the street, maybe with Free Parking.
Also a little hint for cost savings in the Caravan Parks….STOP putting up all those signs #Don’t walk on the Grass” #Don’t go near the Grass”, #Don’t look at the Grass etc etc etc. The best is “Don’t use the shower unless supervised by your Gran Mother” by order of the management !
Well, this has really raised a storm. As grey nomads on the pension we like to potter on the road and stay where we like, whatever the Camps book suggests for free camps. Funnily enough at Winton is one of the nicest free camps we’ve stayed at – about 4kms from town around a small lake. And yes we did shop in town, got fuel etc so spent plenty.
Gee Steve, that attitude and lack of understanding is why many hate to stay at CP’s. What a person owns in terms of vehicle and rig has nothing to do with the discussion. Many grey nomads have sold their homes to hit the road and travel where they want when they want and how they want, un hindered by restrictions, especially those imposed by CP’s. This is a country that is vast and it is expensive to travel, so charging me $45.00 a night to pull up at 5pm and leave at 9 am and all i had was a shower and absolute minimul electricity is a rought. Steve $30.00 a night times how many sites x 365 days a year CP’s are doing ok I think.
I use free camp and CP’s about 50 / 50 am self contained and spend a few bob in the towns we travel through, any town that stands up and declares they are against the free campers would be a town I would not go to unless absolute necessary. Have a good one long live the freedom of choice.
We have just returned to OZ after a 2 month RV holiday in USA…….free camped in Walmarts, Wendys etc ..BUT when we stayed in a RV park……maybe 2 showers/toilets for a park that can cater for 100 Rvs!!!!! All the RVs have their own toilets and showers – even little vans!
Cheapest RV park we stayed in = $40 with poor facilities…National park/forest with no facilites = $45 per night
I am getting tired of those with vested interests trying to stop free camping. Isn’t it up to the land owners what they do with there property. I use both types of camping and get Peed off when one does not state there vested interest. For example. Charters Tower Council are also being led by at least two councillors who want to close down “Fletcher Creek”. despite the fact that when we were there, both Caravan Parks had No Vacancy signs up, and yet there were a reported 250 Caravans and Motorhomes. All of which are spending money in the nearby towns. The same applies to Winton and why is one establishment being singled out. Maybe if this park owner was more approachable and interested in their customers. There would not be an issue. Maybe the Managers of these Parks should undertake a course in Customer Service.
I was one of the MH that stayed in Winton those nights, As far asI know it was NOT free camping, we stayed at the rear of Tatts Hotel some stayed in the C/van park owned by Tatts Hotel. I personally spent in that town $650 over three nights. This was distributed over the town,. 3 dinners [at different hotels] lunch at 3 different shops, Went to the picture show, The Age of the Dinosours, Larks Quarry, the Matilda Centre, the Bakery, the food store, filled up with fuel, bought a slab of beer and numerous glasses. Of the 40 odd MH the others might of spent more as I’m single.
I love to free camp, it has a special ambience to it that the rules and regs of a lot of caravan parks don’t. Some CP’s are awesome and I use them once or twice a week when travelling. However, if there is no option of a free camp, I’ll just drive through or around a town.
We are full time travellers for over 7 years now….we use CP’s & free camps about 40/60 – it all depends on where we are. CP’s do themselves out of clients due to price hikes especially in peak periods. We live on a budget, and if CP’s are too expensive we don’t stay, we all have a choice. A no free camp zone outside of towns probably would work in big towns – but at least the small towns embrace us – and that is where we frequent most often – one day CP’s might wake up to this!
What a selfish attitude! People do not want to stay at my caravan park, so I will spoil the tourist trade for the whole town.
As for being supported by their rate payers, we like a lot of people still pay rates on our home which are used to support rubbish bins and public toilets etc for travellers from other towns and cities. Maybe even travellers from Winton.
David
A caravan park is only one business in a town! If caravaners are free parking in or around a town then they are usually spending their money in other businesses in that town! Congratulations to Councils that attract and cater for caravaners!!!
I think its time for restaurants in these towns to start asking council to ban cooking in caravans and forcing the people to eat at their restaurant, no matter what they charge. After all it takes a lot of money to open a restaurant.
I like the way you think!!! Hope Narelle and Winton Council read your comment but I somehow don’t think they will be bothered as they are not listening to the traveling public ….. love your comparison though. They should think about it.
If you ask me, this CP owner sounds like our politicians!!! We are FULLY self contained, and our motor home & trailer’s combined length is 50′. We have just spent time in the free camp at Winton also and appreciated it, as I reckon most of the other campers that were there did also. When we have approached CP’s whether on the coast or inland, it is such a big issue to fit us in, and of course the price increases. As for who owns what, everyone will have a different tale to tell. We are pensioners, went without for 7 bloody years to build what we have. What about all the young families, (2+children) who have probably been saving for a year or so to go on their holiday, still having to pay rent or mortgage, by free camping they can enjoy more tourism activities etc with their children. So to all those who can afford it please go to the whinging C.Ps. so they leave us alone.
People like this Steve bloke make me sick! And are the very reason why I prefer to free camp ,so as to avoid them and their rip off CP’s
Like all of the above Travellers ,we are all but ” over ” camping in van parks, this last 10 week trip up north qld , we camped in a lot more parks than free camping , and one of our biggest gripes ,is the overcrowding in c’ van parks, we were always sandwiched in so close to our neighbors that we couldn’t even put our awning out often .
We are only a small ( by most rig standards ) coaster bus 7 m all up, no trailer, car , or other baggage.
We never get discounts because we are small, more often than not they poke us in the car parking space of ” drive through ” sites ,thus inconveniencing the other patron, and taking a double fee for the one site . Cairns district is one of the worst ,they have almost no free camps anywhere , and we got turned away ,because the parks were full , 3 days in a row, then got placed in the overflow area,@ $42 unpowered!
Councils are really going to have to adress the problem of where Travellers can park for the night, when the parks are full , especially self contained rigs,
Have a look at what Cooktown has done , wonderful $5 night ,right in the middle of town, needless to say we spent a lot of money in town .
We buy rigs that are fully contained thats why they cost so much money.And why would we want to stay in parks, that have facilities we don’t need but have to pay for. We have had no problems with vandalising when free camping, we are all there for the same reason, to enjoy what this big country has to offer. Everyone needs fuel and food and all that is spent in the town as well as extras, such as mechanical work, souvenirs,counter meals.There are a lot of people out there who prefer to stay in parks…… Get over it Steve and try and make your visitors welcome,and offer them reasons to go to your park.
Gee Steve, I presume you don’t have any cabins in your park as they would take away patronage from the local motel. Don’t hear the motel owners complaining about caravan parks providing same accomodation as they offer.
We stayed at the free camp just out of Winton – one night- but spent about $300 – could not afford to travel if we had to pay each night
I have emailed Winton council direct to lodge my personal objection to Ms Lenton’s action. Informed them Winton will be bypassed on our future trips. If enough ppl do the same maybe Ms Lenton will be over ruled.
Me too Gail – c’mon folks if you don’t speak up it’s presumed there is no problem or objection!
I’ve had the thought that maybe a complaint to the local Chamber of Commerce might do some good. There has been a lot of people saying the’ll pass thru but in doing so no one gets to hear why they’re passing thru. I also wonder how many business people actually know about the caravan parks campaign and how it will affect them? If they know it will hit them where it hurts, the hip pocket, they may bring pressure to bear to correct the situation. Cheers Bill
I cannot believe the vitriol from some people.just completed 16k trip and found parks great. The dozen or so free camps we stayed at we’re a disgrace with the litter, toilet waste food scraps etc and not a backpacker in sight.All were so called self contained vans!
We use free camps. I have sat and watched people come and go. I have seen with my own eyes LOCALS coming in, dumping there rubbish, leaving beer bottles all over the place. You might get the odd one do that but mainly it’s done by locals or Backpackers. As a rule Grey Nomads actually pick rubbish up and dispose of it properly. We certainly do. We picked up 6 big bags of rubbish from a rest area recently.
My husband and I have a $60,000 van and a $50,000 car that we have spent years working to afford. We have just finished a six month trip around Australia. We stayed in both free camps and CP’s. In Longreach alone we spent in excess of $2000 on, mechanical, medical, tourist attractions, restaurants, food and even clothing. Whilst we stayed in a CP at Longreach, I would like to think that the Local Council would welcome our dollars even if we stayed at the free camp just 4 klms from town. Like many others we don’t want jumping castles and slippery slides, just reasonable rates and discounted longer stays but we will never stop free camping as well, because its one of the highlights of our lives. Steve, customer service classes are even available online, perhaps you should enrol.
The best advice I can offer Steve is to have a look at how many vacant spots he has in his Park and then try to work out how to fill them and then once he has a 90% occupancy rate he can then set about working out how to spend all his profits..
Steve sounds very much like someone that has had everything dished out to him before he entered private enterprise. I have always worked for myself in the retail business and I can tell you Steve when the going gets tough you need to find better ways to sell your product coz while ever you have unsold product (Vacant site in your park) you are going to go down hill fast and abusing to very people that could fill those spots isn’t good for business…
Try giving us extra incentive to come to your park and then tell all our friends about how good it is there..
Without trying to harp on the matter we goto a park up on the tablelands north of Atherton that provides a big 15m x 15m shed enclosed on 2 sides with tables and chairs and a couple of fridges a gas stove and also 2 microwaves and a gas BBQ and big fireplace with a couple of lounge chairs lots of Jigsaws and packs of cards and a dart board for the benifit of the nomads and most days the owner come over in the afternoon to enjoy happy hour with her mates (thats ALL of us nomads) .
This park is very reasonably priced and is usually restricted to travelers that have been there before or have been invited by someone know to the owner, it is a very popular park and it is a squillion miles from nowhere so it isn’t the location but the atmosphere that owner has created..
Having traveled through Winton on our way to Darwin last year We found the caravan parks expensive and very ordinary in most of the QLD towns we stayed. Mostly we were packed in close and the hospitality was not the greatest compared with other places we have visited. I agree with the general mood that caravan parks need to lift there game before winging about free campers. Price is not normally our consideration to free camp
A happy medium needs to be found, as Mr Tom Upton the CEO of the Winton Shire Council has stated and I support. What the edited article did not say was that I said Mr Upton had been a very fair man during these proceedings. A comment was made about the potential 20km radius in Charters Towers; however this is not what was implied for Winton. This issue has all stemmed from 40 vans which were allowed to stay on crown land and behind a hotel for free. This was a breach of the local by-laws. It was an unregistered van park. Before this day, it was a level playing field in town and everyone supported each other. The land in question happens to be in close proximity to my registered caravan park which on the nights in question was not filled to capacity. We had a couple of people check out of our park and ask for a refund because they did not know that you could camp behind the hotel for free. Parks in Winton pay Rates of about $16000 to $24000 per annum. We have to protect our investment in a tough economic climate. There are also other issues which cannot be commented on due to legal proceedings. So to reiterate, as a Caravan Park owner I understand there are different needs for various travelers and I believe that “Long Waterhole” located minutes from town serves these different groups, however overnight stays within the town boundary should not be allowed. I have a great deal invested (1.2 million to be precise) in this great town and am just looking for a level playing field. I have met many wonderful grey nomads in my park. There are three types of travelers, Grey Nomads, Free Campers and Bush Campers. In these groups, we have made many friends and they love our park. We spend time with all of our clients and ask many questions regarding their views. Our repeat business is very high and we appreciate the custom. Winton has so much to offer you all. A lot of good people are involved in this decision. This story is simply about a publican who invited 40 vans to stay behind his hotel and on crown land in unregistered van parks, making it difficult to compete fairly.
I think this depends on why the publican decided to invite campers to stay behind his hotel when there is a free camping site just outside the town limits.There is a place for all types of caravanners and campers and I feel that low income pensioners will still need to use caravan park amenities on a average of a couple of nights a week even though the fees are high that is about all they can afford where by other people want all a caravan park has to offer .Remember that a lot of the coastal parks are going more into cabins and there are less caravan park sites for fellow travellers who do not need all a park has to offer. Motel owners are not complaining about this completion for beds etc. I for one would not object to paying $15 a night for a non powered site but do not like being crammed in.therefore chose low cost camping for 75% of the time and full rates 25% of the time. I budget my pension wisely to enable me to buy food and feul in small towns to support the locals .I think a happy medium can be reached by all and maybe if all the sites are not full work out ways that pensioners can afford the rates that parks charge
Googled The Pelican Caravan Park & could not find any web presence at all. No web site, no Email. Very poor quality pics.
Described on some free listing sites as a “fuel stop” with a CP attached.
If you wanted the 40 motorhomes to stay at the Pelican go out & drum up the business. It will not come by antagonising the very customers you seek to attract.
This has been a poorly thought out strategy & I only hope the damage caused will not see your hard work already put in amount to nought.
I don’t doubt what you say but the I would not stay in your CP or any other for that matter if it was free. Showgrounds and race courses are generally not free and I stay in them if they are available. What I want is a good distance between me and the next camper and some peace and quiet. No other business tries to force people to patronise them and I am sure a lot would have as much or more invested as you have.
To survive or thrive one needs to embrace change. Grey Nomads are a growing massive flood in progress. You need to ride the wave or get swept under. People who have worked hard all their lives will not stay home and stare at the walls . They have multiple options . You need to make yourself one of these options. They want to live out their remaining years enjoying whats left of their lifes struggle. The fact is you will simply be left out of the equation. A lot of GN’s simply could not afford to travel if there is no free camping. They WILL travel and they will give absolutely no consideration to places that they cannot afford or are not user friendly in assisting them to do so. They will scratch the caviar off the shopping list. Embrace Change. Adapt
For years we supported Caravan Parks, but now being retired we have opted for Free Camping with Caravan Parks being used as and when needed.
We are fully self contained, with water being our only draw back, albeit we have 2 x 80 litre tanks.
I have been a great supporter of freedom camping and have written to a number of council and government ministers etc to voice my view. Will so same to Winton City fathers.
Caravan park owners are a some what selfish mob. The C.P today advertise more as a resort rather than park.
Very little promotion for caravans, but always heaps of photos of cabins.
On cabins, as detailed in my aforesaid correspondence to authorities, I have said that when the park owners decided to introduce cabins or chalets, I will bet my rig on the fact that they did not approach the Hotel or Motel owners in their areas and ask them.
” Our business is struggling at the moment, you do not mind if we install cabins to improve our revenue and try and take your particular business away from you”
No way did they do that. And yet they have the audacity as per Winton, to complain re our right to free camp.
Caravan Park owners are more interested in capturing the travelling sedan motor car traveller, then us, yet they complain because we do not wish to support them.
In Bateman bay, we pulled into a C.Park -well the sign said C.Park-, only to be told that they only have 2 caravan sites in their park, When question as to why, they gain more $$$ from Cabins during the peak seasons. So I told them to pull down there Caravan Park sign as it was false advertising. We found another park, but again no more than 12 sites but heaps of cabins.
We the Grey Nomad community need to be the “squeaky wheel ” in this issue, so we get greater attention to our rights and needs.
J&D.
Councils need to provide an alternative to the caravan parks for people who are self contained and do not require any of the services the CP offers, other than a slab of ground to park! Where else can they stay? We have our own, power, water, toilet and shower and take care of our own rubbish. What are we paying for in a CP. We would like to camp close to towns to support them by shopping etc but if there is a no free camp attitude we will move on.
Keep away from caravan parks, do as we do free camp within a short drive of town do your shopping and fuel up then head to your next beautiful free camp spot all in a leisurely days drive.cheers bottoms up and bon appetite.
We returned from a northern excursion from Geraldton to Darwin in September 2013 and found the caravan parks were charging way to higher fees , one park in Coolalinga NT $40 a night with no discounts available weekly or seniors in a dusty paddock with no shade no grass due to cost of water and atrocious old and wet ablutions, we had an extended stay due to our fridge retiring. On the way home in a caravan park close to the heart of Carnarvon WA again $39 for a night in a drive through bay which was more a road side park and dusty. i filled our water tank up probably took about 30ltrs or less then as the wind was blowing dampened the ground around the van so we could sit outside without getting too much of a sand blasting, lo and behold the water sheriff snuck up and asked if everything was ok, when i went for my one shower i saw the reason for the visit from the water police, the sign said to assist with keeping their water usage accreditation to restrict your shower time to 4 mins, this is wonderful if they can keep their accreditation while the caravan park becomes a people less desert as the lawn is all dying and the trees are looking really stressed. Our next trip will not include places such as these and will only have a walk through to see how much more degradation these parks water policies have affected their clientele. ( soon to be and wiser GREY NOMADS. ) We have camped in so very much nicer free spots than these parks are charging exorbitant fees for a dust bowl.
Sorry Coolalinga was $40 for unpowered site with no discounts available.
On the coast they charge over $100 per night I dropped into one on the way up the east coast they wanted $127 per night. I said no I’ve got my own van I just want to park the night and they yes that’s write it’s $127 per night to park and that was about 9 years ago. I said forget it and parked up the road for free.
So, what’s the situation now at Stevetown er Wintown.
My father was born there in 1910 and my grandfather was a Cobb & Coach driver (from Longreach to Winton).
Won’t go if there if the Caravan Park bushwackers rule.
What a bloody joke. Let’s just transpose this to a baker or a butcher or even a pub, imagine them having a whinge about people not buying their bread or drinking at there pub. Business is business, offer something people want and will pay for instead of trying to force them to buy your product. The free camps are what attract travelers to a town not the bloody caravan parks. The town of Winton should be mad about your comments Ms CP Owner, you have annoyed a lot of good people. It’s now Dec 2013. I wonder if you are still in business.
Grow a brain and think outside that Box head of yours and go have a bit of a sook in the corner.
CP owners certainly need to be realistic in their hopes to channel RVers into their businesses. I doubt very much if they will have any chance of succeeding at all. The solicitors will love it though. I wonder if Winton will close down the BBQs in the local park to force people to eat at the town’s cafe. Will they stop the kids from swimming in the local creek to make them go to the town’s swimming pool? I’m about to take delivery of my new van and have already planned trips to western Qld. Sorry Winton, I’ll give you a wave as I pass through. You’ve got some great tourist attractions but your attitude to RVers negates that well and truly. Pity, free camping RVers would bring big bucks to your town’s businesses. By the way, the CP owners had better watch the motel owners as the cheaper CP cabins are taking business away from the motels. I wonder what they are thinking.
As I said, How many business people in Winton actually know about the CP’s agenda and how it will affect them?
Cheers nBill
Going through there again soon,and I mean going through ,so that lady is loosing a lot of business for the town
Are caravan parks set up to serve caravanners or do we exist to keep parks in business. Maybe all parks should be shut down and we humble travellers forced to stay in motels. 🙂
Camp 20 kms outside winton? How far is the next town?
I understand that it cost a lot of money to own and run a CP however I also think that a lot of CP owners are very poor business people.
I haven’t seen any of them offer discount sites at anytime anywhere. Other businesses do, big and small, even hotels. Isn’t better to cover costs rather than having empty sites?
CP go with the flow. There are an awful lot of grey nomads on the road and the numbers are growing and our generation will not put up with your nonsense.
I think the key issue here is that free campers do use a mix free camping and caravan parks. There are enough campers out there, including those who don’t free camp, to enable both types of camping. Remember also a lot of travellers would not travel the distances they do if they had to pay accommodation all the time.
There just gready people trying to forse there rules for there gready lifestyle. Besides you camp in a CP and your just sloted in beside another noisy caravan with a great view at there windows. I have been free camping all my life since I was young it’s part of me heritage and I’m not about to stop now it’s my right as a free Australian. Back in the day you could pull up on the side of the road and pitch a tent or a swag. I rember once we were tired
and pulled up on a highway just down the road a bit from a lonely house and pitched a 2 man tent for the night and the lady from the house bought us some food down. How things have changed from the good old days. Where loosing our freedom.
Omg , When will we wake up to the fact that people who free camp near towns spend money , fuel , food, gifts, entrance fees, clothes I could go on and on , I am not condoning setting up permanant living arrangements but 48hrs 72hrs can boost the economy of towns , caravan parks charge 25 30 dollars or more for unpowered sites to park for a few hours in some cases and this greedy woman complains , these older people have contributed to thier country and still do so by spending thier hard earned retirement in your little out of the way towns that would lose a boost to your economy if it was stopped , I believe that if you can’t make a living in your chosen business get out don’t try and blame one group of people for your short comings.
i have a 36 foot bus fully self contained beaut old beddy parks are out due to size just mum and me attract me and if it feels good we spend money free camps for us but some dont appriecite it stock the freezer 500 lits water fuelup 300 lits the world is yours