Author Topic: Bloody Minded, or as my mate Paul said, Recalcitrant! (Read 8073 times)

TOPNDR · « **on:** August 05, 2011, 05:06:45 PM »

I'm in Townsville at the Rowes Bay caravan park. It's well situated, nicely laid out and the amenities are spotless. But.

I won't be back because they won't take bookings. One has to ring at 8:30 am on the day of intended arrival to see if there's a powered site available! If not, they have unpowered sites but won't take a booking for them either, and one has to turn up and hope there's a spot!

When one checks in, one is snapped at and told, "no powered sites available".

When one is then asked, "would you like a powered site tomorrow if there's a vacancy" and one accepts the offer, one is then told, "you probably won't get one because you checked in so late today"!!

The place is obviously popular because it's chockers, but not being able to reserve a place (even offered to pay up front months in advance), having to take pot luck, and then getting the surly treatment tells me that I'll look else where next time.

I wonder if there are any other commercial van parks that won't take a reservation?

Bird · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:15:46 PM »

I feel sorry for one.. Tell one to try elsewhere.. One should do better next time.

Trackaprado · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:20:23 PM »

Makes you wonder why folk with such people skills work in a field that involves dealing with the public.

Talking of annoying caravan park policy, the Big 4 @ Harrington will only take bookings this xmas break from a Monday to Monday. Doesn't affect me so much as I work shifts but everyone else we go away with has to take an extra day off work to get their 7 day holiday.

Stupid People

Grant

morgue · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:21:35 PM »

It must be run by the nephew of Basel Faulty, just check he is not out side thrashing his car with a tree branch.

Just some guy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:40:24 PM »

Thats lousy. I've had several pretty average dealings with caravan park management but nothing that bad. There is one at Mooloolaba that i have always wanted to stay at but every time i call, they are just too dificult to deal with. Maybe if i ever get there it will be like your experience.

idlegossip · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2011, 07:58:25 PM »

We stayed at this CP on our way to the myswag Cape York trip. we got there at about 5pm and were lucky as we got the last powered site they had, but the staff were more than helpful when we had questions.

To get into it and set up was a bit of a nightmare as the site was very cramped and awkwardly shaped. The front of our camper was about 1 mt from the poor couple that had set up there tent next to us and the power and water were about 15 - 20 mt away. The guys that were set up behind us came over and offered us to drive through their site to make things easier which was excepted and made life easier.

We couldn't book at Kings Creek Station and it was a first come first served basis, and were told that we couldn't book at King Canyon Resort apparently but can't confirm this.

Captain · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2011, 11:22:37 PM »

Quote from: idlegossip on August 05, 2011, 07:58:25 PM

...We couldn't book at Kings Creek Station and it was a first come first served basis, ...

We recently stayed at the Kings Creek Station with the "first come, first served" policy. The policy served us well as we left Uluru early and got there before midday so was one of the first for the day. But would certainly makes things hard for people coming from further afield only to find no sites left.

This type of policy seems to suit the unstructured traveller better, but at the expense of those who try and plan their itinerary. There are many van parks that unless you book 12 months in advance, there is no way you get a site. This makes for a "closed shop" at peak school holiday times as the regulars always have them booked out. The "first come" policy overcomes this, but dont know if thats fair

But there is no excuse for surly behaviour by staff

Cheers

Captain

HEM19X · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2011, 06:42:57 AM »

Not sure if is still the case but from memory, Weipa CP was the same, 1st in best dressed. Very unorganised - one of our party had a slide-on camper on the back of his single cab, went to get some fuel & someone started setting up on his site!!

Hem

GeeQue · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2011, 08:11:45 AM »

Quote from: HEM19X on August 06, 2011, 06:42:57 AM

Not sure if is still the case but from memory, Weipa CP was the same, 1st in best dressed. Very unorganised - one of our party had a slide-on camper on the back of his single cab, went to get some fuel & someone started setting up on his site!!

Hem

Similar experience in Birdsville CP. Paid upfront several days, setup for the first night (all good) we were using rooftops on this trip and we (2 vehicles) went out for the day to Big Red. As is the case with rooftops we packed it all up, went out for the day and came back with both adjoining sites filled. Went to see admin and had my head torn off and told to find another empty site in the park and that I should have left some gear behind to let people know the spots were taken, plus told, that's the way we do things in the bush.

Not worth the argument, walked away and moved to another spot.

It's all a learning experience.

GeeQue

heath74 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2011, 08:33:59 AM »

Correct me if you've been there but I remember reading somewhere that a park around broome had a similar system?

briann532 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2011, 10:06:29 AM »

Quote from: Captain on August 05, 2011, 11:22:37 PM

We recently stayed at the Kings Creek Station with the "first come, first served" policy. The policy served us well as we left Uluru early and got there before midday so was one of the first for the day. But would certainly makes things hard for people coming from further afield only to find no sites left.

This type of policy seems to suit the unstructured traveller better, but at the expense of those who try and plan their itinerary. There are many van parks that unless you book 12 months in advance, there is no way you get a site. This makes for a "closed shop" at peak school holiday times as the regulars always have them booked out. The "first come" policy overcomes this, but dont know if thats fair But there is no excuse for surly behaviour by staff

Cheers

We stayed at Kings Creek a couple months ago and had the same. I asked why we couldn't book as we had a group of 5 campers and didn't want to end up not getting in.
They explained that they were fed up with people booking then not turning up and they have allready turned away people.
Fairenough, I reckon. they gave a rational explanation for their policy.
In regards to King Creek station, I have never come across friendlier staff anywhere in my life.
Everybody there was fantastic. I would make it a holiday in itself just going there.
If anyone is there don't miss the opportunity to chat to Margaret in the shop and also hear the story of the Conway kids.
Support them if you can.

Cheers
Brian

Captain

Moto Mech · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2011, 10:07:29 AM »

Most parks in Kununurra are the same, just have to arrive early morning and go on the waiting list. As people leave they let you in but cannot pre book a powered or unpowered camp site.

D4D · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2011, 10:11:10 AM »

When we went up the centre the only places we booked were Uluru and Alice Springs Big4. Everywhere else you had to be there by 3 to get a site otherwise good luck.

Scotty · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2011, 10:38:09 AM »

Years ago the wife and I went to a place in Queensland to see the turtles lay eggs. Friendly bloke running the place gave us each a key for a five dollar deposit. Female and Male amenities keys they were. Just before ten in the morning, this friendly bloek gave me a wave and hopped into his ute and dissappeared. Eventually, by the time 10.00AM arrived, there was quite a longline of camperswaiting to get away after collecting the $10.00 per couple deposit. Time dragged on and a few of them decided reluctantly to leave the key and forget the deposit. When I heard those grumbles, I called an impromptu meeting of the gathered, and told them the I felt I should keep both keys as a solemn reminder of this caravan park and all others, as this bloke could buy the keys for a few bucks per hundred, and he was scamming us.

It was a nice earner for him, because beer was $15.00 a slab back then, and I saw at least twenty keys get taken away, plus a few that were left, "because it could cause trouble". The fee for camping there was twice the price advertised as well, so this was another scam he was running at his turtle camping camp near the Great Rum Distillery.

outbackogre · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2011, 06:57:08 PM »

What I found frustrating on a recent trip were the caravan parks that couldn't guarantee we could extend our stay (eg. by notifying the office by 9am on the day of departure) because they had no control over who booked online. I guess this is fair enough. If we want to extend we need to compete with everyone else. It was ironic to see Frankie J Holden (in yesterday's episode of What's Up Downunder) condemn free camping because it makes life tough for caravan parks. Admittedly, my recent travels were during school hols, but the caravan parks were full everywhere we went (esp. Alice Springs, Broome, Darwin, and in towns along the Great Northern Highway). We occasionally chose to free camp not to save money but to escape the noise. Cheers.

D4D · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2011, 07:00:12 PM »

Quote from: outbackogre on August 07, 2011, 06:57:08 PM

It was ironic to see Frankie J Holden (in yesterday's episode of What's Up Downunder) condemn free camping because it makes life tough for caravan parks.

That would be because he owns a caravan park...

carinya · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2011, 09:10:06 PM »

We visited friends a while back at a CP right on the beach at Coolum. Apparently it was hit and miss with the council as to whether it will still be there a few years on as it was a great spot. Right across the road from the bowls club, real good meals and cheap grog there, shops a hundred metres up and like I said, ON the beach. They would not take any bookings, first come etc. Seemed a shame, as I doubt anyone gets lost on the tar and can't make it in to the park.

GU Rich · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2011, 09:50:17 PM »

Quote from: heath74 on August 07, 2011, 08:33:59 AM

Correct me if you've been there but I remember reading somewhere that a park around broome had a similar system?

This is true, When we were at a Broome caravan park and we stayed in 2 different ones it was a first is basis. We were lucky and never had a problem setting up for over 4 nights each time.

I was in the office of one particular park up there and they wouldn't take a booking for 12 months in advance buy a customer that was already there wanting to make the booking in case there "Regulars" wanted to book and didn't want them to miss out...

So much for the first in system.

Rich

outbackogre · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2011, 09:38:38 AM »

Quote from: D4D on August 07, 2011, 07:00:12 PM

That would be because he owns a caravan park...

Surely you're not suggesting Frankie has a conflict of interest ....

....., and don't call me Shirley

Matto · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2011, 02:03:07 PM »

Quote from: Lost on August 05, 2011, 05:15:46 PM

I feel sorry for one.. Tell one to try elsewhere.. One should do better next time.

+1. that's lousy. I for one (since that seems to be the tone of this thread) won't go anywhere that won't take a booking in advance. I'm happy to pay in advance, but I see no sense in spending hours packing up, then driving for hours to get somewhere that might not have a spot for me.

There's got to be some responsibility from both sides, I commit to come and stay with you, and you commit to hold a spot for me.

The only thing more annoying than that is someone like QLD Parks taking your money up front, then overbooking and there being no spots left. If that were private enterprise it would be an uproar, but alas, it's government, and that seems to be the best you can hope for.

Quote from: Scotty on August 07, 2011, 10:38:09 AM

... at his turtle camping camp near the Great Rum Distillery.

You'll be happy to know Scotty that that caravan park is no more. Well, when I saw that, I mean you can't camp there any more - it turned to cabin-only accommodation a year and a bit ago, but I think the plans are to make it more resort-style in future. Price is already quite up there for the cabins, so will be quite a tidy earner for the owners (that bit, you probably didn't want to hear). We have stayed there in the past, and while it was in a perfect spot, it was never really camper friendly.

Still, if it helps with the turtles, it will be good. When we were there last a number of campers had left their sites to go to the turtle tour, but had left lights blazing away right along the shoreline. Unfortunately it wasn't just one site, and with signs up everywhere about it, it wasn't simply that they'd forgotten about the light situation rather just chosen to ignore it. Sad, and potentially one of the reasons which has led to the current situation.

</offtopic>

Good luck Topndr - hope you get it sorted. There's enough places that will go out of their way for your business, to have to put up with ones that don't seem to want you there.

Thanks!
Matto

Kit_e_kat9 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2011, 02:11:59 PM »

I guess all the above reasons are why I much prefer to bush camp where possible and keep driving where not ...

I much prefer 1 million stars to just 5.

Why limit yourself?

Kit_e

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Author Topic: Bloody Minded, or as my mate Paul said, Recalcitrant! (Read 8073 times)