Camping in the centre of town at Stonehenge, SW Queensland.
Camping Sites
Given the fact that many Grey Nomads have retired; turned their back on big smoke jobs or working for the ‘man’; or just taking that well deserved long holiday, access to, and need / willingness to spend, money is often reduced.
As is their demonstrated need to push back on societal norms and avoid structured caravan parks and camp grounds in preference for setting up camp behind country pubs, in regional town ‘commons’ and rest areas, roadside rest areas, truck stops, showgrounds, sports clubs and recreation grounds.
Naturally, there’s limits and restrictions on each one of these – with maximum stays and the need for campers to be self-contained to various degrees. And, let’s not go in detail on truck stops here.
That’s not to say that you won’t see a Grey Nomad in a caravan park. Caravan parks offer respite from life on the road with full amenities and laundries. Plus the occasional roasts and pizza nights and pancake Sundays (or is that just me??).
Free Camping
As I’ve commented in a previous blog (refer: https://campandtravel.com.au/free-camping-in-australia/), the concept of ‘Free’ Camping means different things to different people. This ‘Free’ can be ‘no cost’ or ‘off-grid’.
And just to confuse things, monetary costs can apply to each. It’s also interesting to note that, sometimes, these costs can be about the same as a caravan park.
Camping at Blackall at Barcoo River Camping Area, SW Qld
Some caravan parks have tried to join the fight on these matters and offered much reduced fees on the basis that travellers don’t use the park’s amenities or facilities – but can elect to pay for certain extras.
What you will see in places like Cobar (NSW), where they’ve set up an area opposite the Visitor Information Centre, is access to town water and a waste dump point. Here, you can stay in a parking space and stay the night. During the day, waves of vans, campers and mobile homes coming in, dropping their waste, filling their tanks and heading off again.
Overnight stop at Cobar with water and waste services
Yes, yes, yes… I know that some will say that they do their shopping in town and fill up with fuel etc. But, is there more that we, as travellers, should be doing to honour and respect these small country towns and regions.
Many may have dropped their gold coin or $5 into the honesty box for the night’s accommodation or even bought a pub meal and a few rounds of drinks at the hotel.
But… we all know that there’s some travellers out there who will skite about how they haven’t spent any money during this stay or bugger-all in so many days. I’ve heard them.
Camping out the back of the Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre (Hervey Bay, Qld) provided by council as overflow.
Then again though, some towns have adopted these campers with open hearts (or open cash tills). I heard of one town, where the school’s parents would come into camp on the weekend and sell pancake breakfasts.
Fight Back by the Grey Nomads
“But we’re retired!”
“We’ve paid taxes all our lives.”
“We’ve worked hard and now we want to travel.”
“These small struggling towns need us.”
“We spend money in town.”
“We come here every year.”
“But, but, but… I’m entitled…”
These (and more) will be the arguments put up by many a Grey Nomad. But, will they be enough to re-establish the Grey Nomad movement in Australia as it was in the New Normal?
New Normal for our Grey Nomads
Will regional councils need to re-affirm their love of the Grey Nomads? Will these same councils take a good hard look at the Grey Nomads’ role in their respective region’s growth and development – or even day to day life – or look to other tourism generators by providing increased amenities and charging to recover those costs? Will more city people now turn to these areas with increased passion and fervour?
Will Grey Nomads value their role in these communities differently or will they continue to adopt the roll and drop strategy as they travel to far flung places like Stonehenge (SW Qld)?
Or will they stay home, or close to it, until the feeling of safety returns fully?
I’ll be interested to see how this develops and I’ll watch with great interest – up close – in a showground or pub near you.
Feedback Welcome
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please register on www.campandtravel.com.au at https://campandtravel.com.au/engage/.
You can watch my How To video on YouTube if needed – https://youtu.be/ZwXmZaxqIjk.
Once registered and ‘In The Tent’ you can comment in our Forum at https://campandtravel.com.au/community/ under “Grey Nomads”.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Oh…, I probably should declare that I’m 59.
Dayv
GONE FISHING
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3 Comments. Leave new
When we travel each year we do so on a budget. We have a mix of free camping and caravan parks. If the price is right we will more than likely stay in a caravan park. We free camp when we consider prices are to expensive. We avoid many towns where the option of free or low cost camping is not available so not only does the caravan park miss out but also the businesses in town. There needs to be a reasonable balance.
Thanks Ron. Agreed, it’s always a balance. I’m afraid that I hate seeing the sites in caravan parks getting smaller and smaller. But, my primary message here is that someone always pays. I think that the model of paying for the site only and then paying for the extras has some merit. Anyway, we won’t slice this without a bottle of red and a campfire. See you out there. Dayv
Many people do not want to pay to stay in parks with pools, fab childrens playgrounds or curbed and guttered roads. All these things are expensive.
I used them when I had youngsters and we koved them.
Now, a shady spot with amenities and power is all some need and our budget IS small.
Free camps help the budget and we leave no trace. Unfortunately there will always be a percentage of selfish people with no conscience.
Because if these selfish people no place should use the word donation. All places should use the word fee and if you are using water, power and rubbish or black water disposal facilities you should pay for them. A $5 or $10 a night is not unreasonable (obviously this is not a caravan park).
Strategies for keeping very low fee camps makes holidaying availa
ble to everyone whilst minimising the freeloader, littering, theiving element is needed. This percentage ALWAYS spoil it for everybody else who do the right thing.