We are planning a trip that will involve a stay of about 10 days in Alice Springs, and during that period we would leave our car and van unattended in a caravan park while we fly out to a remote area.
We are aware of 3 persons having been stabbed, requiring hospital attention in the last week, and this is causing us some concern.

How safe are the caravan parks?

We stayed at the Alice Springs Heritage Caravan Park 2 weeks ago. It felt very safe. It also looks like they do van storage as well in a paddock that has a security fence surrounding it. It is about a 10 minutes drive south of town, just off the Stuart Hwy.

Mcdonnell Ranges is as good as any Stayed there for 2 weeks and never saw any problems or skulkers

Just spent 2 weeks at Stuart CP, very safe. They have gates they lock at night. Key boomgate entry.
Number of people staying there while they work around the area.
Cheers
Glenda

The fears which led to our original post were unfounded. We felt as safe in Alice Springs as we have anywhere else in Australia.
The only down side was that we stayed at the Heritage Caravan Park, and we heard several reports from returning visitors that this park has deteriorated since a recent change in ownership.
I compiled a long list of shortcomings, which I will pass on to OZ Parks, the chains headquarters, among them:-
overflowing stinking garbage bins
ignored request for new bins
inadequate site maintenance
double booking of sites

the list goes on....and on.
Avoid it if you can.

Outside the park, we enjoyed Alice Springs immensly

McDonnell Ranges would be the pick of them and they have a huge area out the back where they have workshops and build their own cabins.
They will let you do oil changes etc out there so I guess there is room for a van or two for a while
Area is all surrounded with security fencing
Why not ring and ask them Was a great camp when we stayed there in 2009.

Only trouble was down by the bottle store at Heavytree but the worst ones couldnt walk across the road never mind as far as McDonnell Ranges Park ROFL

Stayed at the G'Day Mate C/P in June for a week no trouble staff are great good rates as well, there was a couple of vans left there for storage
Advised by taxi driver to avoid centre of town at night didn't go in at night but never heard of any trouble either

Hi Queensmanian

If you don't mind low budget amenities and a price to match - see if you can get a booking at Temple Bar CP which is 9 kms along Ilparpa Road and back a bit from the road. No trouble makers go that far out of town and there are a number of permanents so leaving your van won't be like leaving it unattended. There is another CP that has since re-opened close by, but closer to the road - Wanngardi CP. Perfectly safe and secure, and in a lovely scenic area. Check them out - both are reviewed on Badger's.

Queensmanian,
Posting a letter of complaint to the Oz Parks Head office will be a waste of time, as the 'Heritage' is no longer a member of the Oz Parks chain.
The new park owners will however continue to honour Oz Parks Member Discounts until the end of the year as a legal requirement.
Cheers, ozjohn.

Hi John, Glad to see Heritage no longer in the Oz Parks stable. Queensmanian, i hope the new owners are addressing the problems you mention - which were evident with the previous ownership.