Paying for showers at CP

[fishfinder]

Took the family for a stay at a Caravan Park from Australia Day til Sunday I had to work on the friday  (only stayed 50 minutes from work ) so I went to take a shower only to find out I needed to bring my wallet as there was a fee for the showers ? I have stayed at plenty of CP's before and never came across a fee for showers , is this common ? has any one come across this before ? as I would have thought that having a shower was part of the sight fees but obviously miss informed on this one.

[TOY80ST]

I have struck it before. Mainly in areas with water restrictions though as part of a council requirment to get the park approved.

[speewa158]

I think you nmight have missed the point 
CP brings in the Traveler
Traveler has $$ thats how they got there in the 1st place
$$ shell be removed from traveler as fast as possible
Traveler will be flung to go earn more $$ to pay yet again
 Do you follow         

[JustJim]

As said, it often happens where water supply is limited, and also where people stop to have a shower while travelling but not stopping the night.

EG: most of the roadhouses across the Nullarbor have coin operated showers.

Jim

[Jon]

They have the same thing at a local park at the bridge over the largest coastal lake in Australia, somewhere between Newcastle and Doyalson.
Last time, and I emphasise "Last time" the showers were a $1 per 10mins.

BTW, throughout the recent drought, Newcastle water supply was never placed on any restriction.

[D4D]

Yep, pretty common. As  long as it is good hot shower I don't have a problem with paying $1. In reality it is probably the time more than the water usage. Keeps people moving quickly through the showers.

[krisandkev]

We have stayed at a few in each state and only found where there are water restrictions they put a timer in for the shower.  Never had to pay extra.  Not at even the most remote parks. What was the park, how much to stay and how much for the shower?  Was the money for the shower just so a timer could be used?  Perhaps the cost to stay is cheaper than other parks?  Kevin

[bobnrob]

Have come across it in some of national parks - $1 for 3min

[Desert lover]

We have discovered the same issue (of needing your wallet in order to take a shower) at Stuart Range C/P (Coober Pedy) and at Treachery Camp in NSW. Both required 20c coins to operate and even then the water at Treachery was nothing more than luke warm! 
In Coober Pedy I think the costing is almost understandable although when you have paid for a site it does seem just a little over the top.  Then Treachery camp may be more of a control on unsupervised minors taking long long showers!
Anyway, we have taken to keeping a few coins in the wet packs now... and checking the toilet/shower blocks before we even think about going for a shower.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

Yep, pretty common.
As  long as it is good hot shower I don't have a problem with paying $1.
In reality it is probably the time more than the water usage.
Keeps people moving quickly through the showers.

Think if I had to go into a caravan park and pay camping fees I would also expect to be able to use the facilities supplied by the caravan park and would not stay there if had to pay extra for a shower, unless it was explained to me when booking in and not just left for me to find out from (bad) experience.
If I was paying extra, I would be enjoying my time under the shower, not having a quick one, but really using the water I had paid for so it would slow down the available showers 

[JethroT]

Pretty common,

I imagine it's to save water and allow everyone to have a nice hot shower.

I don't think it's a money making venture because at 20c a go it would cost more in wages to collect the coins.

Anyway we love the place so 20c isn't going to stop us having a good time.

Regards

[austastar]

Hi,
  we have often called in to a CP about 10 - 11AM and ask how much to 'buy' a shower.
We have successfully haggled on a few when the price was over the top, Strahan wanted $5 each, to which we countered Bicheno only charges $3 each and they have water restrictions.
Mid to late morning usually means the showers have just been cleaned and not many residents are using them.
If they have a coin operated laundry we may use that as well, but would offer to pay if it was a freeby.

At Alice Springs one time the free solar powered showers were cold by the time I went for a shower, so I took a bucket to the laundry where the water was still hot, and jury rigged my own shower.

cheers

[Bushman]

my eldest daughter recently stay a couple of nights in South Coast CP at $50 a night for a powered to pitch a tent, only to find they had to pay $1 per 3minutes for a shower.

I've only come across it once so far at Lake Lyell near  Lithgow, but only paying $10 a night to stay you expect to pay for showers

I remember as a kid travelling with my parents we had stop at Goulburn for a comfort stop, mum came runing back to the car to get money, seems the ladies requried 20c to use the loo, funny how the gents was free,

[MDS69]

The council run CP in White cliffs have coin operated showers.

[Redcherokee]

We have discovered the same issue (of needing your wallet in order to take a shower) at Stuart Range C/P (Coober Pedy).......

When we checked in at Stuart Range, the guy warned us and offered to provide change.  He said they had previously had issues with miners coming in and using them, and charging 'keeps the undesirables out'.

[Beachman]

I also struggle with the concept of paying for showers when your already paying a site fee.  Same goes for coin operated BBQ’s in the camp kitchen.

I hate place which quote a rate, then throw on extra’s once your all set up.

[WaituiRob]

We stayed in a National Park caravan park which has excellent facilities and didn`t mind paying  20c  for 2 mins. for a shower. Their reason was that people ignored water restrictions and a lot of irresponsible parents allowed their children to "play" under the shower for up to half an hour.

We didn`t hear any complaints, it`s such a beautiful place to stay and less expensive than most commercial caravan parks. I can`t see anything wrong in trying to conserve water. Anyone who relies on tank water does it all the time.

Robyn.

[TOPNDR]

No coin charge at Drysdale River Homestead but a not explaining that one person taking a 40 minute shower and denying all others any hot water is an abuse of the facility.

I don't object to coin in the slot showers. Innamincka has them.

[Mace]

Big 4 at Coober Pedy (in the town, not on the highway) used to have them (coin in slot showers) years ago when we first went thru (1988).

Hvnt stayed there since, not sure now.

 

[fishfinder]

It was not explained as an extra cost but at 6.30 am and finding out when I went to use the shower with no $1 coin on me or back at camp I was not the happiest grumpy person around , luckily my home was on the way to work so called in there . But I am surprised that it is more common than I expected from the replies given still at the end of the day if calling into a motel do you pay extra for a shower ? for bed and breakfast do you pay extra ? when my kids get old enough I will chge them a flat rate for bored and then extra for a shower . I understand if there is water restrictions and I as well as the majority of people that frequent cp's would respect restrictions but as far as I am concern if your paying for a nights stay some where it should include showers unless its a shire bush camp then i understand.

[D4D]

Interesting thread given the news today. Don't complain about paying $1 for a shower. It may be the last shower you have at the park as next time you want to stay there it may be closed...

[Jenko67]

More common than you think....

[Macca357]

Hi Fishfinder, interesting thread. We paid for showers at a Coober Pedy CP a few years back. As others have said you can understand it at a place like Coober Pedy. I think the park managers where you stayed for the weekend should have made it quite clear to you at time of check in. Did they charge you for Shitter paper as well?
  Macca.

[4runnernomore]

Big 4 at Coober Pedy (in the town, not on the highway) used to have them (coin in slot showers) years ago when we first went thru (1988).

Hvnt stayed there since, not sure now.

 

We travelled through Coober Pedy Christmas 2010 on our way to Darwin and stayed at the big 4. We were in Cabins but no charge for water.  We swam in there pool as well and you were required to have a shower before entering again no charge.

Cheers, Chris

[Kit_e_kat9]

I suppose paying for a shower (that's hot water not cold) means that more people will have a shorter shower.  Whilst we were in Tassie (the sis n me) we paid for showers 50% of the time.  It depended on the cost how long we stayed in the shower.  20c for 5mins is better than $1 for 5 mins ... get my drift?  Whilst at our 4th camp we were introduced to this style of bathing.   Lake St Claire asked us when we paid for the site whether we wanted "tokens" ... tokens?  What the hell for?  A shower we got told.  Not how long each token lasted which was 3 mins.  Half way through shampooing ... I discovered the time limit.  Rude!!  A lady in the next shower told me that hot water in the laundry was free and hadn't paid for a warm shower since she got here (she used a bucket in the ladies) ... so off I went wrapped in a towel, shampoo dripping all over and there I completed my shower routine with the door pushed shut (thong under the door works wonders ladies).

Kit_e