Caravan parks a necessary evil?

Long before Paul Hogan coined the ‘shrimp on the barbie’ phrase, hard-working Aussies have been dreaming of long summer days fishing, swimming and generally relaxing next to our rivers and oceans.

During the holidays, folks are attracted to the Australian coastline and waterways like paperclips to a magnet but despite our country having more beaches than most, premium oceanside and riverview land is disappearing fast.

Between the clever developers and cashed up private land owners, our holiday dream locations are all but snapped up, but not everything went in the land grab.

The choice parcels -- the very best of the best – have been put aside and made available to us all on a low cost ‘user pays’ system that’s preserving the dreamiest land of all for everyday Aussies who may or may not have access to millions but get to experience the dream regardless.

I am, of course talking about caravan parks. These often prime location, beach front, ocean view, riverside oases where, regardless of income, we all get to live in proximity to the rolling swell or the great Murray Cod.

Yet despite the face value awesomeness of caravan parks, a quick search of most caravan and camping forums will turn up often scathing comments that beg to differ.

I admit I haven’t always felt the warmth I feel now for these land custodians for the common man. Over-priced; badly run; too many jumping pillows; too few showers; too dirty; too clean; too many rules; not enough rules -- yep, the only problem with creating a space for everyone is that well known truth: ‘you can’t make everyone happy’.

I, for one, don’t like the fact that too few caravan parks accept pets.

I’m not talking the acre jawed, slathering Cujo beasts (I prefer my arms, legs and children intact) , nor the slithery mouse-gulping kind (not that they seem to be much of an issue outside Harry Potter books).

No, I’m talking about the cuddly, cute, sweet or just well-mannered pooches people keep for no other reason than good company.

The very point of well-behaved dogs (or cats) is to accompany us so it’s quite normal they should be with us when we’re on holidays.

Fortunately, the times are a changing even at quite lofty parks and mild-mannered mutts are becoming more acceptable -- which is a step and a shuffle in the right direction.  

When I commenced RV ownership in my mid-twenties (about two decades ago) I wasn’t too fussed on the cost of caravan parks either. Back then, I was low on cash and high on brash so I would think nothing of pulling up at the nearest beachfront or reserve nook and taking a nap for naught.

These days, our primary consideration is the security and safety of our children and fortunately money has become less of an issue. I see talk in the forums from older travellers who lament they feel they’re paying for services and facilities they just don’t use.

At the one end, premium Big4 caravan parks offer jumping pillows, splash parks and more but I would argue that we all benefit from the peace and quiet these child-friendly facilities provide.

Like many people, I’ve investigated the cost of owning a little cottage by the sea but in this era of property tax, land erosion and the fact I like the flexibility of moving location from time to time, the caravan park makes an attractive proposition and one that I don’t have to maintain.

Yes ‘freedom camping’ is cheap and in some locations my absolute preference but while I don’t want to maintain the grass while on holiday, I do want someone to do the job.

There’s a lovely little spot by the river not far from Bellingen in NSW but boy, is the grass long. We camped there once and I lost the van twice in the overgrown scrub!

Paying $70 per night, per couple when you’re on the road full time isn’t super sustainable for a lot of retirees but those kind of fees are usually limited to holiday seasons and they’re still a heck of a lot cheaper than the mortgage most of us ‘young folk’ are paying.

Speaking for myself, I do hope that when I reach retirement, my wife and I have enough put away that we can continue to support these glorious coastal and riverside locations from time to time. 

We need to keep these businesses afloat for future generations to enjoy because once they’re sold off and developed, we will have lost them forever.