People complain about NT van park prices

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

I have been on the net looking at caravan parks from Brisbane to Melbourne for January and my god some of the prices for just a powered grassed site are amazing.
I know people complain about the prices up here in the territory, but from what I have just seen I don't think they can complain to much.

Fair enough its peak season, and yep most expensive were on the coast as expected, but if people are encouraged to holiday in Australia, then I can see why every rest spot on the side of the road is full after 3pm.

Anyway would still rather travel this great country than overseas so no use complaining.

Cheers Ean

[Davo]

Okay, I'll bite: how much?

[Ean Austral]

Okay, I'll bite: how much?

I wasn't really fishing ,I was more just commenting as I have heard plenty complaints about Darwin prices in peak season. Seeing you asked there wasn't many the were less than $50 a night for a grass site with power, most of the coastal parks were around the $70. Then throw in the minimum 7 night stay.

Can start to see why people look at Bali etc for a holiday.

Cheers Ean

[UncleHo]

G'day Ean

It might be worth getting a book called "camp7" it is about $60 bucks but my wife tells me it is very worthwhile.


Also look at staying at equestrian centres as they only have minimum charges for the horse mob.


cheers

[Bundalene]

G'day Ean,

We are going to be home in January. You and your family are more than welcome to camp at our place....we live on acres so have heaps of room.

Lots of grass as well....


Plus there are a few AULRO members who live fairly close by and we would be happy to arrange a meet up if you would like to. :D:D:D

Cheers, Erich

[Graeme]

You need to get away from the crowds! Mid August $16 for a powered slab at Tottenham with a late arrival solo biker the only other person.

[Davo]

I wasn't really fishing ,I was more just commenting as I have heard plenty complaints about Darwin prices in peak season. Seeing you asked there wasn't many the were less than $50 a night for a grass site with power, most of the coastal parks were around the $70. Then throw in the minimum 7 night stay.

Can start to see why people look at Bali etc for a holiday.

Cheers Ean

Erk. I see what you mean.

[Bigbjorn]

Same with our hotels and motels. $150 for a concrete block cell. $110 for a cabin in a caravan park full of ferals. In the USA this year I paid US$104 for a 5 star suite in a Hilton in Phoenix and $117 for a 5 star suite in Omaha, $134 for 4 star in Hermosa Beach. Our tourism industry wonders why Australians holiday overseas. Well, it is miles cheaper and the service and facilities are miles better.

[vogue]

Some caravan parks base rate for a site is only for 2 people and every extra person is extra money. If you have 4 kids, it's not cheap:o

[d2dave]

Ean. If you travel from Brissy to Melb you almost go past my place(about 15KM out of your way)

I own a caravan park, the cheapest you will find, it is free.(conditions apply, see below)

To qualify for and receive free site fees, applicant must join park owner for a beer.

[Vern]

Paid nearly $80 for a powered site in lakes bloody entrance once, nearly fell over:mad:

[Ean Austral]

G'day Ean,

We are going to be home in January. You and your family are more than welcome to camp at our place....we live on acres so have heaps of room.

Lots of grass as well....


Plus there are a few AULRO members who live fairly close by and we would be happy to arrange a meet up if you would like to. :D:D:D

Cheers, Erich

Gday Erich,

Thanks for the offer and we may well take you up on it. Our car and camper trailer will be in brissie so we will head off from there and see where we end up. Was thinking of cruising down and into Vic then when our time is up bolt from there to Darwin up the stuart hwy.

We are not making any plans just have 5 weeks to look around.:D

It would be great to meet up with some aulro folk along the way

Cheers Ean

[Ean Austral]

Ean. If you travel from Brissy to Melb you almost go past my place(about 15KM out of your way)

I own a caravan park, the cheapest you will find, it is free.(conditions apply, see below)

To qualify for and receive free site fees, applicant must join park owner for a beer.

Sounds like a great idea, just have to get the map out and see where you are.

Thats a very generous offer ,with that sort of offer, you must drink lotsa beers on some of the holidays.:p:p

Cheers Ean

[Ean Austral]

Paid nearly $80 for a powered site in lakes bloody entrance once, nearly fell over:mad:

Yeh well that's the most expensive place I seen, $72 for 2 people per night. Batemans bay was same price.


Cheers Ean

[Eevo]

Our tourism industry wonders why Australians holiday overseas. Well, it is miles cheaper and the service and facilities are miles better.

plus 1.

[Ean Austral]

You need to get away from the crowds! Mid August $16 for a powered slab at Tottenham with a late arrival solo biker the only other person.

Unfortunately everywhere was cheaper in august, but we are having holidays the same time as everyone else..January..

Cheers Ean

[Bigbjorn]

You need to get away from the crowds! Mid August $16 for a powered slab at Tottenham with a late arrival solo biker the only other person.

Freeze your ass off in blink-and-you-miss-it Tottenham in August? You would have to pay me and a good bit more than $16

[weeds]

Hey Mr Whippy

Had an interesting chat to my mum and dad who are on the road.....they are about to stay in a caravan park charges for electricity I.e. There is a base rate for the site and on checkout the read the meter for your site.......I can only assume so e the massive vans and motor homes chew some electricity? My parents aren't to worried as they rarely turn on their air-con and use bugger all in lighting

Will this become more and more common..........

[Don 130]

Ean, The 'camp' book that Uncle Ho mentioned has all the details of free and other campsites along with all the facilities/services etc that they provide. It is a very handy bit of gear. It also has a comprehensive road atlas. You'd probably save the price of the book by having it, and no I don't work for them.

http://www.campsaustraliawide.com/

Don.

[DiscoMick]

If parks set aside an area of grass with unpowered sites for people who don't want power they would get more grey nomads spending money in their shops who now shun the parks and go for the free stops to avoid the park charges.

[d2dave]

Hey Mr Whippy

Had an interesting chat to my mum and dad who are on the road.....they are about to stay in a caravan park charges for electricity I.e. There is a base rate for the site and on checkout the read the meter for your site.......I can only assume so e the massive vans and motor homes chew some electricity? My parents aren't to worried as they rarely turn on their air-con and use bugger all in lighting

Will this become more and more common..........

We run a system for when people want to stay for a while. First two weeks are a daily rate which includes power. Pay for six nights get seventh free.

After two weeks they then go on a much reduced weekly rate and then they pay for power.

What your Mum has experienced I have not heard of, but I reckon with soaring electricity prices it might one day become more common.

It is a good idea though, because the ones that come and are fugal with power, end up subsidizing the ones that come and leave their air conditioners on 24/7. When power is included people will waste it. I am guilty of it myself.

Many years ago I had a permanent caravan in a park as a holiday destination. (we call them annuals) Our yearly site fees included power.

This park also allowed camp fires. We would be there in winter sitting by the fire, with two heaters running, one in the caravan and the other in the annex.

[Bigbjorn]

Most park around here charge permanents for power by meter. Redlands Mobile Home Village has new owners who are also installing water meters.

[d2dave]

Most park around here charge permanents for power by meter. Redlands Mobile Home Village has new owners who are also installing water meters.

We do the same here for the permanents.

[Davo]

This reminds me of how, every winter, there's a letter in the local paper from some caravanner about how they've just found out that in Broome they can't stay for longer than about a week or whatever it is, and they can't come back sooner than after a certain time, and so on and so forth with all these restrictions. And the poor letter-writer had come up to stay for a good deal of the winter, seeing the sights and spending their money, only to find they're not allowed . . . and then the Broome tourism industry seems to wonder why times aren't so good anymore.

[d2dave]

Why do they have these restrictions? Why can't they stay for a month?

[Ranga]

Ean. If you travel from Brissy to Melb you almost go past my place(about 15KM out of your way)

I own a caravan park, the cheapest you will find, it is free.(conditions apply, see below)

To qualify for and receive free site fees, applicant must join park owner for a beer.

I can confirm that a better park and hosts you will not find :)

[Bigbjorn]

Unless the rules have changed recently, Qld. caravan parks have to offer a Residential Tenancy Lease after six weeks stay. The tenant may not wish to take up a lease but by law the offer has to be made. The idea was to give security of tenure to permanent residents of van parks. Before this they could be ordered out on a minimum of notice. I was a Social Security field officer for a while and we spent a lot of time in caravan parks chasing liars, cheats, ferals, determined dole bludgers etc. Other than the Relocatable Home Villages, most van parks that had a lot of permanents were pretty bloody grotty. A match for the residents.

[Davo]

Why do they have these restrictions? Why can't they stay for a month?

I haven't paid too much attention to it, but it seems that every year every caravan park is full, and then they open the "overflow" areas, which are big fenced paddocks or something, (we've driven by these shadeless places and they look like upmarket refugee camps), so I'm guessing it's to do with overcrowding. Now, why they haven't organised to build more parks with even basic facilities, and welcomed everyone to stay as long as they can, within reason, is beyond me . . . oh no, wait, this is Broome we're talking about.

They also have trouble with people setting up in carparks until they're kicked out. I'd imagine that lots of cheap camping areas would help stop that, or at least give people fewer excuses. It's a funny town.

[d2dave]

Unless the rules have changed recently, Qld. caravan parks have to offer a Residential Tenancy Lease after six weeks stay. The tenant may not wish to take up a lease but by law the offer has to be made. The idea was to give security of tenure to permanent residents of van parks. Before this they could be ordered out on a minimum of notice. I was a Social Security field officer for a while and we spent a lot of time in caravan parks chasing liars, cheats, ferals, determined dole bludgers etc. Other than the Relocatable Home Villages, most van parks that had a lot of permanents were pretty bloody grotty. A match for the residents.

In Vic it is 60 days. To get around this is you kick em out at 59 days and let them back in on a different site, start again, day one.

We have a lot of permanents but we are very fussy who we let in, and usually we have found that people that can afford to own a van are not to bad. It is the one that want to rent one of our vans/cabin that can be problems. The ferals(trailer trash) all go to the other park in town.

In Vic the above law only applies, if the park is the tenants principle place of residence. In other words, if they own a home somewhere and are on an extended holiday, their van and site in a park is not principle place of residence.

[ADMIRAL]

I haven't paid too much attention to it, but it seems that every year every caravan park is full, and then they open the "overflow" areas, which are big fenced paddocks or something, (we've driven by these shadeless places and they look like upmarket refugee camps), so I'm guessing it's to do with overcrowding. Now, why they haven't organised to build more parks with even basic facilities, and welcomed everyone to stay as long as they can, within reason, is beyond me . . . oh no, wait, this is Broome we're talking about.

They also have trouble with people setting up in carparks until they're kicked out. I'd imagine that lots of cheap camping areas would help stop that, or at least give people fewer excuses. It's a funny town.

Yes, got me stuffed why you would bother. I particularly dislike the practice of the locals in putting prices up once the tourist season commences. I prefer Kunnunurra to Broome, and it is a far better base to jump off to other places.

[Davo]

Yes, got me stuffed why you would bother. I particularly dislike the practice of the locals in putting prices up once the tourist season commences. I prefer Kunnunurra to Broome, and it is a far better base to jump off to other places.

:D:D:D It seems Broome had quite the tourist boom a few years ago, and started to think it was normal, hence the snotty attitudes. I get the impression that lately they've been wondering where it all went wrong now that things have quietened down. We've been stuffed around a bit there so I dread trying to get decent accommodation each visit. In fact, I haven't been there for two years!

[weeds]

Hey Mr Whippy

Had an interesting chat to my mum and dad who are on the road.....they are about to stay in a caravan park charges for electricity I.e. There is a base rate for the site and on checkout the read the meter for your site.......I can only assume so e the massive vans and motor homes chew some electricity? My parents aren't to worried as they rarely turn on their air-con and use bugger all in lighting

Will this become more and more common..........

its seawinds caravan park at Mackay.....read some reviews and travellers it works out cheaper if you are sensible with your air-cons and other big electricity users

[TheTree]

Hi

I was just checking out the Camps7 app, and the reviews and pricing are none too stellar !

However the reviews pointed me to wikicamps which seems to get much better reviews and is $2.99 :D

Steve

[goingbush]

We have Camps 7 , its invaluable - For telling us where NOT to camp. ( Did I mention I have Agorophobia )

If we find a great spot, we look it up in Camp 7, if its not listed BONUS, we set up camp. To be truthful we have stayed in some of their sites, the ones without toilets are much preferred, beggars belief how anyone could use one of those horrible stinky things anyway.

As for Van park prices, the most we have paid is $35 a night at Karumba, even found Broome to be quite reasonable, but we do try to stay away from tourist spots in School Hols


Concur with Brian, a USA road trip can be quite economical, Many motels are cheaper than our caravan parks, (That is if you dare to venture inside a Motel 6 ) but not sure I would want to stay in a Trailer Park over there. Then there is always free overnight RV / motorhome sites in any Walmart Carpark

[Bigbjorn]

Concur with Brian, a USA road trip can be quite economical, Many motels are cheaper than our caravan parks, (That is if you dare to venture inside a Motel 6 ) but not sure I would want to stay in a Trailer Park over there. Then there is always free overnight RV / motorhome sites in any Walmart Carpark

My USA trips, which are now nearly every year to catch up with historic racing goings on, are all pre-booked into 4 or 5 star hotels, not motels. I feel a couple of the 4star houses I have used need re-assessing as they are on the borderline of being 3 star. Hilton chain are very good, and I now have a silver customer card. If you are going to a town/city with a Little America hotel don't look elsewhere. They are magnificent and not expensive. US state liquor laws can be a bind. All outlets in Indiana except restaurants are closed on Sundays and all customers must show ID in a liquor store. Utah has a Mormon majority in the government and the liquor laws are thus somewhat strange. In a hotel you have to order a meal to buy a drink at the bar. Mormons don't even drink tea or coffee. In most states take away beer is sold in corner stores and gas stations, supermarkets, and pharmacies. In Montana the liquor stores can't sell beer, only wine and spirits. The bars can't sell take away. In a spot on the map village in Iowa the one chair barber shop sold beer. The redneck bar across the street couldn't sell take away. Go figure.

[Utemad]

However the reviews pointed me to wikicamps which seems to get much better reviews and is $2.99 :D

Steve

Wikicamps is excellent. I use it all the time.

It is like a sport adding out of the way places when on work trips etc.

Between that and Geocaching I'm not sure how I get any work done :D

[DoubleChevron]

Try having young kids.... I have a 6, 8 and 1year old. It's getting to the point where we simply cant' afford to go on holiday ... And will take the kids out of school to go away out off peak times. Were talking ~~$100 a night for a dead square of dirt/grass on a powered tent site, and filthy toilets/amenities that need to be cleaned several times a day (not once every two days like Queenscliff was last time we went there).

Generally $70+ a night for the site ... upto $5 -> $15 per child.

Were not talking motels/cabin here ... were talking tiny dead patch of grass.

[weeds]

We have Camps 7 , its invaluable - For telling us where NOT to camp. ( Did I mention I have Agorophobia )

If we find a great spot, we look it up in Camp 7, if its not listed BONUS, we set up camp. To be truthful we have stayed in some of their sites, the ones without toilets are much preferred, beggars belief how anyone could use one of those horrible stinky things anyway.

As for Van park prices, the most we have paid is $35 a night at Karumba, even found Broome to be quite reasonable, but we do try to stay away from tourist spots in School Hols


Concur with Brian, a USA road trip can be quite economical, Many motels are cheaper than our caravan parks, (That is if you dare to venture inside a Motel 6 ) but not sure I would want to stay in a Trailer Park over there. Then there is always free overnight RV / motorhome sites in any Walmart Carpark

yes, i have found it its in camps 5 than its going to be busy........they are all generally good for van however sometimes they are pain for camper trailers if you need pegs

i used used wikicamps on my last trip and found it useful

[Eevo]

:D:D:D It seems Broome had quite the tourist boom a few years ago, and started to think it was normal, hence the snotty attitudes. I get the impression that lately they've been wondering where it all went wrong now that things have quietened down. We've been stuffed around a bit there so I dread trying to get decent accommodation each visit. In fact, I haven't been there for two years!

i went to broome in may/june this year.
although accommodation was expensive compared to adelaide, melb or syd, it was cheaper than anywhere else we had been to in WA (fitzroy crossing, derby, pt hedland)

i really loved broome, everyone was friendly, good facilities, well signposted, etc etc.