Bailey Bar Top Tourist Park Charleville

Submitted: Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 08:38

ThreadID: 81142 Views:3953 Replies:9 FollowUps:8

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shanegu6

Anyone thinking of going to Bailey Bar Top Tourist Park in Charleville would be seriously advised not to go based on our experience. We arrived midday yesterday for a two night stay and were shown to a site and the female owner was willing to help guide (reverse) us into our spot. We have a nissan patrol and 5.46m Coromal van, on a around Australia holiday with my wife and 2 kids, aged 6 and 2.

An incident took place whilst reversing where my daughters bike and my mountain bike were both damaged by reversing to into a tree (bikes mounted on bike rack on rear of van). My daughters bike is beyond repair and my front wheel is totally destroyed. The female owner just stood there and let us reverse straight into a tree without yelling out. After we had hit the tree she had yelled out.

She then went in through her office and went on resuming relaxing out the back (cup of some liquid seen in hand). I called for their attention and said I would like my money back and I proceeded to get more and more angry with the owners of the van park. My money was given to me, but not before I was told we are not obliged to. The male owner then commented to me saying its your generation! I am 33 years old.

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Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:01

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:01

I like to park our van our selves, if there is a mishap it's my fault. if you follow somebody elses directions and things go Pear Shape it will be their word against yours, also when we stay at Charleville we go to the Cobb& Co caravan park, there is plenty of room and you are allowed camp fires supplied by the owners, also they are great hosts.

Cheers

AnswerID: 429391

Follow Up By: shanegu6 - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:29

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:29

Hi Dazza, I have never relied on anyone to help me reverse apart from the better half occasionaly. My concern is either they need to fully help or walk away and let the driver do it all, not half help. Thats whn accidents occur.

FollowupID: 700157

Reply By: happytravelers - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:21

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:21

I'm sorry to hear of your mishap, but I wouldn't discredit a caravan park because of an accident that could have happened anywhere, any time. We have stayed at the Bailey Bar park a couple of times and it would be hard to find a more friendly and welcoming park anywhere. Admittedly the park is small and tight, but the owners go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. It has to be one of the friendliest little parks in Qld. this is what makes it so popular.
Once again sorry to hear about your accident.

Jon

AnswerID: 429393

Follow Up By: shanegu6 - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:35

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:35

Hi Jon,

We decided to stay at the Cobb and Co and let the accident be forgotten. But to then hear that the owner of the Bailey Bar Top Tourist came to this park to bad mouth us was when I decided to advertise my unpleasant experience.

FollowupID: 700159

Follow Up By: bennyzbit - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 13:37

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 13:37

we went to the Charleville observatory to book and spoke to another caravan tourist. He told us that the sites at Bailey Bar were tight to get into and that he had found Cobb and Co after he had booked in to BB. As we touristed about we had a look at BB... just like as described by he other caravanner.

We went to Cobb & Co and stayed for 2 days and because it was so good extended for another 2 days. The newer part of C&C has large drive through grass sites and the owner feeds the visiting birds with an interesting pulley system to get the feed high. GREAT !!!!

PS We found the Charleville Observatory the worst tourist rip off of our trip ($22 concession). The viewing is for 1 hour, 10 people per group per telescope (i.e. 3 minutes each, less talking by the guide). The telescopes are not super powerful (about the size of an aluminium beer keg) and we saw what appeared to be a bunsun burner light source flickering away.

PPS. Save you money and have a great meal in Charleville RSL. Best meal we had on our 1 months trip away.

BENNY

FollowupID: 700183

Reply By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:28

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 09:28

mmmmmmmm

Always 2 sides to the story.

Did you discuss signals to be used, where she should stand so you could see her (if she had to yell out then you couldn't have been able to see her).

When I reverse if I can not see the person guiding me I stop until they move so I can see them, stops me hitting things I can not see ;)

Cheers Kev

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He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

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AnswerID: 429395

Follow Up By: Fred G NSW - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 10:02

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 10:02

It is a bit over the top to come on here and discredit a CP based on an unfortunate incident such as this one, with only one side of the story.

I have a stayed there, and have very high regard for the park and its very friendly owners. Yes it is somewhat cramped, but it is the best "cramped for room" park I have stayed at. It is obviously very popular.

It's always easy to blame someone else when things go pear shaped, especially if you didn't follow their directions or chose to ignore them, or misinterpreted them. We only have your version of events.

A bit rude to then come on here and straight out bag the park.

I had a over zealous owner try to direct me onto a sight at Cowra one time, and I lost sight of the power box/pole. I stopped and got out and double checked, and found if I had continued I would have taken it out with the back R/H corner of the van. The rather embarassed owner then realised he had something else to do and left me to continue locating onto the site.

Mate, surely you knew there were trees around you. Get out and have a look.

Happy Fathers Day all you Dads and Grand Dads, aye.

Fred.

FollowupID: 700164

Reply By: Member - neville G (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 10:16

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 10:16

Sorry to hear about your mishap and hope that the rest of your trip is trouble free.
Having said that I must say that Bailey Bar is one of my favorite parks, having stayed there on two occasions and been looked after extremely well. I always take care of my own parking even when the park owner tries to assist, as they do at Bailey, ultimately it is my responsibility to see that our van is parked safely. I always have my wife look out for obstacles at the rear of the van, and after 60000klms. or thereabouts, we have not had the misfortune to collide with anything although we did go close to knocking down a brick wall in Robe a few years back.
My advice for what it is worth is to put it down to experience and look forward to a wonderful trouble free trip.
Cheers, Nev.

AnswerID: 429400

Follow Up By: Racey - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 16:29

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 16:29

My wife and I agree Bailey Bar is one of the friendliest parks we have stayed and would have no hesitation staying there again.

Racey

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FollowupID: 700301

Reply By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 12:36

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 12:36

Hi Shane

Gotta agree with the others here. If I hit something when reversing, it's MY fault, regardless of who is directing me.

I realise its a pain to have an accident such as this, that probably shouldn't have happened, and you are upset about it, but you have 'badmouthed' the owners of the park on here, and at the other park when you got there. Sorry, but YOU backed the van into the obstacle.

My wife is not so good at guiding, but she tries, and I appreciate that, but in the end, its the drivers resposibility.

Cheers, Dave

AnswerID: 429411

Follow Up By: shanegu6 - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 13:10

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 13:10

To Dave I dont know where You got the idea that i bad mouthed the owners of the park to the Cobb and Co where we are staying. The incident was not mentioned. I was happy to the let the incident lie and accept as others have said that I was the one driving the car. But to have Julian the owner of the bailey bar come here and bad mouth us to the owner of the Cobb and Co and have him mention in it to me in friendly conversation was when I did decide to make it an issue on this forum.

FollowupID: 700179

Follow Up By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 14:23

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 14:23

Hi Shane, my apologies.

I mis-read your follow up, I thought you said you advertised your disappointment when you got to the Cobb, I didn't see that you only did this AFTER the owner of the other park badmouthed you. Again, my sincere apologies for that comment.

Cheers, Dave

FollowupID: 700189

Reply By: Patrol22 - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 13:09

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 13:09

I agree the general consensus here but I don't think I would ever return to this particular park in peak season again...based on my own personal experience. We arrived around 6pm on a Wed night.....the place was crammed pack. We had booked ahead for a touring party of 6 vehicles 3 with campertrailers and 3 with tents .....and the space provided for us was barely able to accommodate the campertrailers and tents. All vehicles were parked in various places around the park off the roadways and 2 were outside the entrance. Thankfully just one night before we headed out for points towards Cape York. Gotta say though the staff were courteous at all times and the amenities were spotless.

AnswerID: 429418

Reply By: wendys - Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 19:59

Sunday, Sep 05, 2010 at 19:59

Our last time through Charleville, in 2009, we stayed at the new Evening Star caravan park - about 9km out on the Adavale road. It was great. We have previously stayed several times at Bailey Bar and found it pleasant enough, but extremely crowded and sometimes noisy. At Evening Star, sites are drive through, with room for annexe and separated from next site by gardens. Amenities are the unisex variety - lovely and new and scrupulously clean. It is a working property and offers a tour, central campfire etc. Recommended.

AnswerID: 429457

Follow Up By: Member - Russnic [NZ] - Thursday, Sep 09, 2010 at 09:00

Thursday, Sep 09, 2010 at 09:00

I have stayed in all three Caravan Parks now and will defintely go back to Evening Star ahead of the others.

FollowupID: 700507

Reply By: honest - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 07:02

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 07:02

Have to agree wiyh Wendy's a thumbs up for evening star resort very laid back and freindly good amenities and a nice young couple running it when we were there

AnswerID: 429496

Reply By: caddz - Wednesday, Sep 08, 2010 at 22:05

Wednesday, Sep 08, 2010 at 22:05

We booked in there 6/8 for the night, 2 camper trailers that they put on the 1 site for us (which suited) rather than a site each. Staff were very helpfull & great in directing us into our site. Have stayed there before & would do so again. Might be a bit tight but still a good CP.

AnswerID: 429711