Author Topic: Caravan park kitchen facilities  (Read 5496 times)

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Offline lilstookie

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Caravan park kitchen facilities
« on: March 12, 2012, 08:13:46 PM »
Having never really stayed in CP before, I'm not sure what facilities they have. I was thinking there would be a fridge for general use (do people nick stuff?), and a cooktop and oven? Do they have any utensils or equipment like baking trays?

Lil :)


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Offline D4D

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2012, 08:20:22 PM »
Totally BYO, I wouldn't use their fridges. We only use a CP kitchen to wash up, even then some of the people who use the facilites aren't the cleanest.
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Offline Estelle

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2012, 08:25:12 PM »
Hi Lil,
Each CP is different, but the 'camp kitchen' often has a fridge, microwave, toaster jug and hotplates plus washing up facilities. Never seen an oven.

 Popular CPs often have a line waiting for 'camp kitchen' facilities, but if you get in early or late. No probs.

Utensils vary, often supply yourself.

I would assume stuff gets nicked. There are human beans in the park after all.

If you can, run your own fridge utensils washing up stuff etc, you will be better off. Also,be prepared to clean the hot plate before using.

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Offline Mace

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2012, 08:35:15 PM »
We have stayed in Big4 and are currently Top Tourist Parks members. 

We've usually found the camp kitchens to be clean and tidy, usually with the basics, Fridge, Microwave,  toasters, stove/ovens.

No utensils usually provided.

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Offline Kit_e_kat9

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2012, 08:35:28 PM »


I guess it also matters who runs the park too.  Some owners make the camp kitchen a place where people meet & socialise, rather than just a kitchen people use in a camping ground.  Some owners have "tours" come through and use the camp kitchen, so it would want to be clean for them.

When we were down in Tassie, one camp kitchen was a large "rec" room with a tele and all the mod cons and a heater (twas rather cold outside).  We liked the kettle for coffee's and the power points for the lappie downloading photo's and charging phones etc.  But it was a rather busy place, so keep your food and equipment with you at all times.  Nearly lost some kitchen equipment that came with our rental vehicle, when I headed for the loo and she was pre-occupied with photo downloads. 

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Offline krisandkev

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2012, 09:20:43 PM »
Camp kitchens are so varied around the country, some fantastic, some very basic.  We never use the fridges except to make ice and we always clean up after ourselves.  On some occasions we just used the kitchen to wash up our plates and pans.
Be aware that camp kitchens where there are back packers are usually taken over by the back packers.  I recall one caravan park the manager even told us it may be hard for us to use it, as the back packers have taken it over! We were a bit shocked that he was not concerned, until we realized the back packers were working in the area and they were needed.  We just got in there early and used it. A camp kitchen at Richmond, Tassie, was taken over by young overseas persons. I think they did not realise the kitchen was there for others. We did not even try and use that one. What a mess.
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Offline Hairs

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2012, 05:18:46 AM »
We have stayed in Big4 and are currently Top Tourist Parks members. 
We've usually found the camp kitchens to be clean and tidy, usually with the basics, Fridge, Microwave,  toasters, stove/ovens.
No utensils usually provided.
 :cheers:

We used a lot of camp kitchens when we traveled last year, staying in Big4's.
They were all clean and tidy, but it was the odd other traveler that would leave it in a mess.
Not cleaning the hot plate or leaving their beer bottles or cans on the benches.
But has a whole they were good. Got to meet a lot of other travelers and socialize with many.
One thing I don't get,
Why do people wash their plates off under a tap and leave food scraps under the tap, especially when there is a bin next them to put the scraps in.  ???
I just don't get it.
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Offline Muso

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2012, 05:38:02 AM »
As for the bbq hotplate, get yourself (from Woolies) a BBQ plastic mat for cooking. That way you wont be cooking on a dirty or contaminated hot plate. We use one at home all the time. Just wash the mat and re-use.

Also, we live in a residential and caravan park, and we have backpackers (French) here at the moment, and the best I could describe them is "slobs".  And yes they think the kitchen and the rec room is just for them.

They're going to get a big shock next weekend because it's our annual fund-raising for the Cancer foundation and we use the BBQ area and the rec room is set up with stalls.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2012, 05:45:30 AM by Muso »
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Offline jaycamrie

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2012, 06:00:50 AM »
The big 4 park at cania gorge qld is very tidy it has a oven hotplates , jug (kettle),toaster,heaps bench space very good gas bbq with utensils ,camp oven recess  ,sink hot and cold water ,heaps of tables , and a big flat screen tv

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2012, 07:08:13 AM »
As for the bbq hotplate, get yourself (from Woolies) a BBQ plastic mat for cooking.
Yep, It's on the must get list, been meaning to for awhile now.
 :cheers:
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Offline Desert lover

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2012, 07:21:31 AM »
We use "baking paper" on the hot plates at all public BBQ areas.  Easy to carry a roll or two in the supplies box.  Then just screw it up and dump it in the bin when finished.  Keeps the plate clean underneath too.
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Offline apsilon

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2012, 09:16:42 AM »
As for the bbq hotplate, get yourself (from Woolies) a BBQ plastic mat for cooking. That way you wont be cooking on a dirty or contaminated hot plate. We use one at home all the time. Just wash the mat and re-use.

Intersting. I'd never even heard of these before so just googled them. Might have to get one to try.

I haven't stayed in caravan parks much but the facilities generally fall into two types from what I've seen. The ones that are filthy and you wouldn't want to use and the ones that are clean and well kept that there's always a line for. Personally I don't want to use the filthy ones and I don't want to wait or eat dinner at 3pm or 11pm so I make sure I'm always fully self sufficent.

Offline BigJules

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2012, 09:31:28 AM »
We used the camp kitchen at Happy Hallidays when we stayed there a few weeks ago. I'd never seen it before, but the park left a roll of baking paper next to the BBQ for people to use. It was OK, though one missed the sizzle a little. Certainly easier to clean up. Most I've been in have been spotless, other than mess left by campers through the day.
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Offline lilstookie

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2012, 11:36:15 AM »
We use "baking paper" on the hot plates at all public BBQ areas.  Easy to carry a roll or two in the supplies box.  Then just screw it up and dump it in the bin when finished.  Keeps the plate clean underneath too.

Hadn't thought to try that. I always have baking paper, so may be a good thing...two uses for everything ;)

Lil :)
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Offline Crisp Image

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2012, 02:18:00 PM »
Big 4 at Pt Augusta is amazing. Big clean and everything was there including cups and glasses except knives and forks.
One a Geelong is good too.
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Offline WaituiRob

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2012, 03:25:39 PM »
We were supposed to stay at Mount Beauty Holiday Centre in Tawonga, Vic.on a recent trip but were unable to go due to the floods. Their facilities look really good, these pics. from their website,
fees are good too at $23.00 pn 2 people on the river bank.

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Offline Robertsons

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2012, 05:16:30 PM »
During our trips in the last couple of years we have utilised the camp kitchens. Easier than lugging out the gear in the camper especially if you set up camp late. One we stayed at even had cooking utensils. Grab a bbq sheet from bunnings. Its in a red box in the bbq section. Then you dont have to worry about dirty hot plates and its easy to clean ready for the next use. We started to get an unpowered site and utilised the camp kitchen. Most of the time you get to meet other people and can find out about the track/road your about to embark on from others that did it that day.
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Offline dazzawhipple

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Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2012, 08:34:16 PM »
We were at a caravan park last week it's facilities included oven and a plasma tv

Very clean and tidy
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Offline HEM19X

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #18 on: March 15, 2012, 07:18:31 AM »
Some are big, some are small. Some are good & some are crappy [Lets not mention Wilmington]


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Offline hairymick

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #19 on: March 15, 2012, 03:55:45 PM »
Most of the CPs I have been to, have quite good camp kitchens. The only drawback is that invariable some grey nomad has backed his caravan or motor home right up to it and is using it as his own private kitchen.

Often seen it at Woodgate Beach and Imbil.

We just couldn't be bothered with them.
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Offline krisandkev

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #20 on: March 15, 2012, 05:40:49 PM »
Caravan park at Richmond, Tassie, had a camp kitchen on one side of the unpowered camping area and on the other side there was a building similar to a camp kitchen, but no fridge or cooking aids, just some chairs and tables.  Beside this building looked like a nice spot to set up our camper. Wrong!  >:(  First night was good, second night it was a long weekend and a large group of people form Hobart came and took over the building, drinking and being very loud late into the night.  Learnt a lesson there, or maybe two lessons.  Some Hobart people do not travel far with their caravans and tents on a long weekend.   :laugh:
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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #21 on: March 15, 2012, 07:36:36 PM »
As for the bbq hotplate, get yourself (from Woolies) a BBQ plastic mat for cooking.

We use one in the bottom of our oven at home. Really good for easy cleaning there too.

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Offline hargs

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Re: Caravan park kitchen facilities
« Reply #22 on: March 15, 2012, 09:24:47 PM »
We use one in the bottom of our oven at home. Really good for easy cleaning there too.


now thats a great idea.......
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