Roadhouse & CP Requirements

Do you mind if I ask why you want to know?

Hi Shaun & Sarah. It seems like a very broad question that you are asking us. Do you own a Roadhouse or Caravan Park and are asking about improvements to one or are you asking for our opinion (good or bad) of what we have encountered on our travels so you can plan a better trip. From what you are asking, it sounds like you are thinking of operating, buying or managing one. More information on that would help us help you.

Hi Shaun and Sarah

For a paid camping ground or caravan park; clean amenities, adequate hot water for showers at all times of day or night, washing machines in a caravan park. I would not be looking for souvenirs or supplies in such a location. Perhaps some take away food or icecreams. Fuel of course if a road house. Of course friendly hosts which I'm sure you are, who are willing to share local knowledge and point us in the direction of lesser known places of interest to see.

Motherhen

Hi Shaun and Sarah,
I feel sure that you will do well in your new endeavour.
I second all that motherhen said and think that being able to book in after hours to either powered or un-powered sites and pay in the morning. As you know the Plenty can be unpredictable and travel times get extended.
We have stopped at Tobermoray and we did purchase a tea towel. We liked the grassy sites.
Many travellers these days want cheap/no cost camping but if you set your prices reasonably I feel that they will stop. Everyone respects that you have to make a living and we will try to assist you by stopping with you the next time we travel that way.
Kev

What a great question! There are plenty of negative posts about bad CP's (which may benefit in perusing) but it will be interesting to see what constructive ideas can be posted...it actually does require some thought.

For my mind (and I havent travelled the Plenty,yet) I would think that such a stop on the Plenty would normally be an overnighter in transit. A successful approach would be to try to attract people to stay an extra night or more. The weary traveller will normally very much appreciate a hot shower, cool or warm swim depending on the season and an ice cold beer.

Easy to park campsites, shade, a camp kitchen and a central area to gather around a fire, drink, tell long stories and be merry. These things can stick in peoples' memories and be a good word of mouth promotion to your business.

For the shop sell ice creams, marshmallows (for the kids and fire), soft drink and stubbie coolers with your business on it. Basic cooked meals maybe but this could be a matter of how far can you go. Not sure about selling fuel but maybe just start with diesel only and maybe unleaded later on if funds/demands allow.

Ammenities need not be luxurious but can be very basic, just as long as they are clean. Guessing out that way demountables will be logistically easier.

And of course friendly staff with a good sense of humour...may need it often.

Barkly Homestead springs to mind for a few reasons as it fits a similar bill but would see much more traffic and on sealed road instead of gravel.

A remote area campground/roadhouse should have all or some of the following, in no particular order: Camping area - water, power for battery charging, powered and unpowered sites, grassy sites, large sites, level sites, shade, fully equipped laundry, clean, tidy amenities, dump point, fuel availability, gas refills and/or swap bottles, camp kitchen, communal camp fire, playground, rubbish bins, public phone, internet access, cabins c/w linen. Flexibility with after-hours arrivals. Pets??
A shop could stock: bottled water, fuel, soft drinks, ice creams, bread, milk, toilet paper, limited frozen meat lines, batteries (torch type, etc), good-keeping fruit and vegetables or frozen, a few basic grocery lines (but dont try to be a supermarket), a few basic first aid needs, smokes if you must, beer and wine limited. Could also have a coffee machine but know how to use it, cash machine or facilities, take-aways such as hamburgers and steak sangers. Souvenirs could be limited to stubby holders, fridge magnets, stickers, caps/hats, but try to be a bit creative with the artwork to be different.
Such establishments should be across road conditions and weather forecasts, as well as a basic knowledge of local history, sight-seeing, a sense of humour and unlimited patience.
Haven't touched on vehicle spares or limited repairs, if you wish to go that way. It would be hard to know where to start/or finish.
We wish you good luck with your endeavours.

John and Heather

Hi Shaun and Sarah
Good luck with the feedbacks and the future. Just wanted to add swings to the list of plenty. Just a few for the kids. Ready for when I get there:)
Thanks

Shaun & Sarah. We were a bit negative with our first two replies but I thought you where a bit vague with your post. I think that we have given you some valuable information/ideas and am sure that if you ask visitors what they would like to see, as improvements, you will get all the information you want to make a really good stop-over/short stay and good amenity for the weary travellers that pass your way. All the best for the future. I hope it all works out for you.

Chances are your visitors will be overnighters and as such it would be great for most to stay hitched. So drive through sites are the go. You would have to "mark out" the sites to prevent destruction of that lovely grass.

I seem to remember that that were a few trees in the area.

I personally hate trees above my site. They drop branches etc, shade panels, and provide roosts for birds above the roof. I know some seek shade. Maybe you need both.

Somewhere to park with clean amenities is all we ask.

All the best. When I travelled through there it was time to stop but camping had been suspended. Promote the camp as "far enough" drive from Boulia or Jervois as speed is not required on the road.

Plenty Highway is a very interesting drive and deserves more than one day thrash down it.

Alan

Sounds like the type of place we would enjoy Shaun and Sarah.

We like the keep it simple approach, nothing 'fancy' for us. We use a caravan park to catch up on the washing and have a decent shower.

Price is an issue for us as we don't use the play equipment and swimming pool so don't want to stay at the higher priced caravan parks that have these.

Stubby holders always seem to be a good seller.

$20 seems to be a very good price for what you have available.

Mrs S

Hi Shaun & Sarah,

It's all been pretty much said: Clean amenities, grass, shade in summer, communal fire pit.

We would stay longer if there were interesting places to explore on the property. I thought the telescope(s) was a great suggestion. If we had been bush for a while before reaching Tobermorey we may be tempted by a camp oven stew or such. Souvenirs have to be unique and good quality before we would consider buying.

So pleased you are open again.

Min

I imagine you probably have to run a generator for your power requirements. If you do, may I suggest a shut down at 10:00PM or the like is appreciated.

We first travelled the Plenty in 1998 and really enjoyed it. We would appreciate what you already offer - a good price, clean facilities, hot showers and fuel. That is about all we would need apart from enjoying the natural environment and peace and quiet.

We would most likely have our own cold beers/drinks or wine etc, so no need for those.

Souveniers are not important, but Tea Towels depicting local "attractions" (wildlife etc) are often tempting reminders of a great experience.

I look forward to returning there - sooner rather than later.

Regards, Jack

For what its worth, I will share some insights from a seminar the Outback NSW tourism council put together to support regional business operators. The key message was to sell tourists "the experience". So, take out of the above suggestions, the things that are not tangible items you have for sale, but the things that you can offer that make your place desirable as a highlight/as an experience they will remember from the trip. Given your location, it needs to be an experience that is meaningful to their journey - ie. can you offer local stories - either bring in a local around the campfire, or sell their self-published "story" (if available), or pass on some local knowledge to excite some thought/exploration of the local area that would engage the tourists attention to stay an extra night. Can you share some GPS positions for waterholes, birds nest, can you provide a list of local birdlife, reptiles, have you got some photos to show of intersting things seen in the area - focus on natural formations not seen from the main thoroughfare and excite people to find out the history of Tobermorey - who were the pioneers, why was it here originally, what is the story of their ancestors etc. These experiences are what make a trip truely special and go way beyond any tea towel or cloth badge sourvenir.

HOpe this helps.
Michelle