The Time For Budget Camping Options Is Now

This is it for caravan parks - the ones that are doing all the right things by vanners are the ones making a profits. Dollars go where dollars are deserved.

I read an article recently about disgruntled caravan park owners in the Alice Springs area - they’re upset that that nomads are choosing cheaper camping options just south.

There were complaints that caravans parks would suffer if this cheaper option continued. Parks argued that local business would suffer and they themselves have more overheads, wages, rates to deal with.

In response, the chair of the board that runs the alternative budget park-stay claims they also have significant overheads, pay for utilities and pay staff. Upwards of $400,000 a year no less - with $145,000 of that being funded.

The budget-park doesn’t advertise and encourages RVers to experience other local parks. RVers interviewed said that they’d chosen the southern alternative as it was cheaper and that they didn’t need jumping castles , game-rooms and flash facilitates. If a cheaper alternative was offered at Alice Springs, they would have stayed. Prices around $40 per night are just too expensive - especially when you’re paying for facilities and services you don’t need.

The way I see it is that the time of caravan parks operating in blissful ignorance of vanner wants and needs are over. This is it. There are options for vanners now, and if you ignore the fact that the majority of grey nomads won’t use your pools, jumping castles etc. You won’t be getting their business. And quite frankly, the “victim of free camping” argument just doesn’t fly any more. Vanners want to spend money in caravan parks. They want to support local business - just provide budget camping options with prices that reflect services and facilities needed!

For me it really just boils down to that if you’re doing right by me, I’ll do right by you - simple. What are your ideas for fair pricing structures in van parks - what facilities and services are important to you? Let me know! [email protected]