Caravan park fees....

It sounds harsh, but maybe from a park owners point of view, she contributes to laundry usage, rubbish disposal, play equipment etc.

hi kloggie
we have just started our trip around oz 6 weeks ago, we also have a 2 year old. we have found the same thing- they charge us for him too. we have found a few parks that dont tho. we just check out other parks in the area to see if any dont charge. i guess a fee is justified as someone else mentioned, rubbish, hot water, play equipment.
we have just accepted it as part of the gig.

enjoy your trip

I travel on my own and usually get charged the 2 person rate. Such is life

Hi Kloggie

If there are choices in the towns you plan to visit, find out ahead of time which is the best value for you.

Similarly, when there is no choice, we have to pay for swimming pools, playgrounds, spas, recreation rooms and any other facilities we don't use.

When we do stay in towns, we try and choose a CP that meets our needs - basic, low costs and most of all quiet and well away from the main traffic routes.

Motherhen

I am still trying to figure out how a child of 12 is classed as an adult.
Maybe the govt. is running out of volunteers.

Theatres Child $5, 12yrs and under, Adults $10

this also includes some babies whom cant even talk,I mean how can a 2 yo appreciate a movie,yet are charged $5

I've ever seen one theatre which allowed those babies under 3,free admission

I find the Easter show most offensive with their ridiculous pricing system,its murder for a family of 5-6 with 3 teenagers

Try calling ahead guys - often the caravan parks under certain banners have standard rates, often the smaller parks with the managers serving the clientele are a little more flexible with prices depending on how many days you are staying. Be honest and ask what their policy is on charging young kids. Better still - free camp or use the national parks.

G`day Kloggie,
We just dodge the "Bannered " ones, Big 4, Top Tourist, Family Park, etc. and the ones with "Resort" on their name.
You will find you pay much higher rates at these parks for the Tennis court, Gymnasium, Spar, pool, etc, all things we don`t use.

Shop(ask) around ,ring ahead if possible.

On a 20 week trip last winter we soon learned what to look for.
$6 per night for a powered site was the best we found.

Safe travels,

Scrubby

The 'Mango Farm' c/van park on the Daly river wanted an extra $10 per night for our young fella , asked why so much answer was "kids use and play with the toilet paper ,$10 extra per night take it or leave it "', we left.

I have yet to find a caravan park that offers a single rate for single travellers.
I find it absurd that the lowest rate is for 2 persons, when so many people travel on their own. I can understand it with motels, but not C/P's, when we are self contained and only want a bit of water and power.
Charging for a 2 year old child is nothing short of extortion.

Have a wonderful trip never the less Kloggie.

Fred.

Hi Kloggie,

We have recently completed our "lap of the paddock" we were charged anywhere between $5 - $10 per child per night in all parks (we have 3 children) - this made the trip VERY difficult, we have a shower and loo in our van so we don't always use the amenities.

I feel it should be a one off site fee, especially in parks that have NO pool, playground, recreation room ect which in quite a few parks we stayed at was the case.

We did a LOT of free camping, buy camps 5 (available here at the shop) and do some free camping.

Cheers

We just completed a trip from broome to Nth QLD,

We founf the Coucil Parks the best value for money. We also used National Parks where available.

The best advice is to avoid the Franchise Parks. We the vanners and campers have to pay for the empty cabins and cottages. When are the Big 4 crowd going to realise that you stay cheaper in a 5 star hotel than their cabin rooms??

Just a quick note to add to this - we have 4 kids & planned a weekend away in our van on the Bellarine Pennisula, Vic. Were quoted $150 per night for a powered site! Needless to say we said thanks but no thanks & they suggested we come back in winter when it was 'only' $80 a night. Depending on where you go sometimes up to 4yo are free, its just a matter of finding the right park at the right price for you