Caravan Park Pricing

Businesses can charge how they like. What the market will bear probably!

And that is exactly the reason why caravan parks charge so much: people keep paying regardless. I refuse to stay in caravan parks that charge like wounded bulls. If more people refused to pay these fees - prices would come tumbling down. Unfortunately it wont happen.

Supply and demand - try to find a cheap camping option in a town with a local mine...

And while we're at it....

50% lawyers workload probono
Same for dentists, doctors, in fact everyone who is prepared to put their lives on hold to make a bit of money catering to people who only want something for nothing.

It has been estimated that it costs somewhere between $20k and $30k to set up each bay including all the facilities required for a caravan park.
Then there is the cost of maintaining everything, cleaning toilets, camp kitchens and grounds etc.
With a yearly average occupancy rate of around 50% is it any wonder that a lot of former parks have been sold off for development, or been filled up with chalets to the detriment of the travelling caravanner.

This of course does not apply to those van parks around towns with minesites, accommodation there is even more expensive ($700 p/wk unpowered) and there is a waiting list for any vacancy that may come up.

Disco.

Caravan parks cost millions of dollars to buy into, obviously the people that buy into them have too much money and they see it as a good way to be rid of it - makes sense.

From memory this topic gets a good rogering at the beginning of every nomad season. Curiosity aside some are very uncomplimentary in their comments. And it will get worse as the dry looms up here in Broome. People will be downright rude.

So perhaps a word of advice is in order. If people don't like it or feel the need to disparage those who provide a service to others and whose industry dictates a 4 or 5 month season to make their living, those people should stay south and freeze their proverbials off.

Please don't bring your dissatisfaction of life into our piece of paradise.

Rant over southerners.

Obviously there is more money in resorts and the like, pricing yourself out of the market is not going to help you stay in business. If I can rent a cabin for not much more than a caravan site, why on earth would I rent a caravan site. And before anybody wises up,; no, you can't get a cabin for the price of a caravan site - YET, but it's not that far off. There are obviously a lot of people willing to pay exorbitant fees for caravan sites, I'm not and I don't. For those that are, good luck to you, just be aware that as long as you keep paying these exorbitant prices they will continue to skyrocket as a direct result of your 'head in the sand attitude'. Eventually you will have no choice other than to stay in a resort simply because you wont be able to afford a caravan park. And of course these same caravan park owners will continue lobbying local councils to ban free camping sites. And, to quote a few: 'it's simply a matter of supply and demand' or 'what the market can sustain', blah, blah, blah..

Hi Doug

Consider land costs and rates due to location - cities will have higher overheads than rural towns. Electricity prices vary between the states, and electricity use is not confined to the caravan site outlet.

Some areas are seasonal, yet they have to cover most overheads year round with very few customers and get their annual living from the profit in peak season. Some may have high occupancy year round due to location or number of permanents. Others may have only a few each night, and counting the fees you can't see how they could even cover costs. They deserve to make some profit to live on an make up for spending seven days a week cleaning toilets and putting up with the occasional customer from hell amongst the happy people.

As a private business, it is up to them to work out what works best at there location and where discounts can be offered. Most charge a site fee covering two, and just a few give a discount for a solo traveller. Some charge extra for additional people and children (age can vary). It is what ever works best for them.

Some caravan parks have an unpowered rate or an unpowered section for caravans and discount varies from around $2 to $10. Many don't have an unpowered rate except in their tent section.

A few parks, particularly if small privately owned ones, will offer a discount for Seniors Card holders. It pays to ask if you are eligible.

How can you expect regulation in private enterprise? We have a system in Australia in all areas of business where competition and what the customer is willing to pay keeps prices competitive. If you set your prices to cover costs plus a bit in your business, whatever it may be, and a law was made to tell you how much you could charge which may be below cost for you and a tidy profit for the person in a similar business in another location, how would you react?

Council run caravan parks, particularly in rural towns where custom is too low for private enterprise, are usually very good value, well maintained without frills, and usually don't charge extra for children. They cover the maintenance from their budgets and provide a service to visitors. Worth looking for when touring.

Motherhen

I don't usually become involved in these emotive issues, but on reading the subjective responses from some commentaries, I just had to. Not adding to the debate, and as an occasional Caravan Park user, I was when driving through Chinchilla a few months ago. This is an extract from my Blog "2013.2 Western Qld Second Trip - Day 21
Friday, Oct 11, 2013 at 22:41" Take note of the relevant photograph in the Blog.
"I spoke with the friendly park management (at St George) about the next leg of my trek to Chinchilla. It seems the main caravan park if now pretty full of demountable cabins to accommodate the growing population of workers in the oil exploration and allied occupations. I hadn't intended to do it tough in a Caravan Park in any event.
...
A few more km west along the Warrego Highway and I hit Chinchilla. Driving through the town I passed Stalag 13. There were some caravans in the Tourist Park, but there were also rows upon rows of identical "delux" cabins. The travelling public seems to take second place if a Caravan Park is their choice for an overnighter, or longer stay. And a caravan site requires a two night minimum stay for $86! Ned Kelly is still alive it seems. Don't waste your money!"
I would not enjoy a stay at that, or a similar, Park. There are other options. Most Grey Nomads are not cash cows to be milked or sheep to be fleeced.
Form your own opinion Doug. My decision to camp at the Chinchilla Weir was reasonably enjoyable, and free.
End of my input!

alot here seem to have missed the question riderau
has asked why some places charge for the site and other per person - not about weather its an expensive place to stay

would say it sounds a bit odd to charge per person. I thought alot of places charged just for the site although stating how many people that covers (2 adults and 2 kids with extra adults a few more$$)

pretty much like a hotel room

havnt heard of places that charge per person although I dont go to parks much.

anyway the answer to the question was given
- they can charge how they like

I guess the only answer is to get online in advance and try and find places that offer the best value for your situation (yes often no other choice or not much competition)

but in

Thank you to all the reply's to a simple question, which seems to have caused a bit of a stir amongst some of you. TO the gentleman that is the electrician from Broom I can certainly understand YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
If I have ever been ripped off in the building game it is the electricians that do the best job of doing it.
This may be a bit harsh, but trust me some people get a little bit uppity on here. Any way thank those that tried to answer the Question for what I was asking. Looks like I wont visit Broom Ha Ha. By the way my ex daughter in law is from there lol.