|
|
Post by planner on Dec 13, 2017 13:10:25 GMT 10
Looking for some guidance from some of our SE QLD members.
We're looking at a road trip to the games in April (flights & accomm were too dear) to watch a friend compete.
I'm looking for cheap caravan sites somewhere south of Brisbane, the event is at Belmont. Not looking for rolls-royce touristy parks for this trip, just somewhere to base ourselves for a couple of days.
I'm thinking of free camping sites, showgrounds etc. any suggestions?
Planner
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrenk on Dec 14, 2017 19:50:35 GMT 10
There is/was a free camp at Beenleigh near the railway stn, but I wouldn't leave my caravan unattended there. Showgrounds are scarce in this area, on the west side of Brisbane is Ipswich which is about 50min away from Belmont. The trip to Belmont can be accessed by motorway/toll road and usually is a pleasant drive outside of peak hour which can get a bit congested. On the northside of Brisbane there is a showground at Lawnton I think which also close to the motorway for the 35 min trip to Belmont, but there is a toll on the Gateway Bridge. There is also some nice caravan parks in the Redcliffe Peninsula (northside of Brisbane) which are about 35min away from Belment. Again it is a quick access to the motorway with the toll bridge. I think the traffic congestion on the northside can get bad at times. Out of all the areas, although a bit more expensive, I think the Redcliffe Peninsula would be a nice place to stay. There are other caravan parks closer to Belmont at Eight Mile Plains and Rochedale, but as they are close to Belmont(15min) they might try a bit price gouging like the Gold Coast caravan parks are doing.
Warren
|
|
|
|
Post by planner on Dec 15, 2017 12:27:46 GMT 10
There is/was a free camp at Beenleigh near the railway stn, but I wouldn't leave my caravan unattended there. Showgrounds are scarce in this area, on the west side of Brisbane is Ipswich which is about 50min away from Belmont. The trip to Belmont can be accessed by motorway/toll road and usually is a pleasant drive outside of peak hour which can get a bit congested. On the northside of Brisbane there is a showground at Lawnton I think which also close to the motorway for the 35 min trip to Belmont, but there is a toll on the Gateway Bridge. There is also some nice caravan parks in the Redcliffe Peninsula (northside of Brisbane) which are about 35min away from Belment. Again it is a quick access to the motorway with the toll bridge. I think the traffic congestion on the northside can get bad at times. Out of all the areas, although a bit more expensive, I think the Redcliffe Peninsula would be a nice place to stay. There are other caravan parks closer to Belmont at Eight Mile Plains and Rochedale, but as they are close to Belmont(15min) they might try a bit price gouging like the Gold Coast caravan parks are doing. Warren Thanks Warren We had looked at Ipswich, and will investigate further. I'm told the showgrounds are charging $25-$30/night. Thanks for the tip on Redcliffe area, I'll look into it. Looked at a caravan park at Eight Mile Plains, was getting a bit pricey so we passed. Regarding price gouging, how about another park asking $1,000/week for a powered site?  Cheers Planner |
|
|
|
Post by Zippo on Dec 15, 2017 22:19:36 GMT 10
Have a look through these - Currently set on 25K's from Belmont. * Google the one at Thornside and see what it's like - $28 per night powered and very close to Belmont. * Scarborough Holiday Village (Redcliffe) - easy enough to get to Belmont (over the Gateway and back - toll each way) - from $38 / night ($50 / night Peak) There are 15 to look at but there are a few that would be too difficult to get to Belmont - Amity Point would be great except for the barge ride each way  Find a Camp
Hope you find something suitable.
|
|
|
|
Post by atefooterz on Dec 15, 2017 23:24:19 GMT 10
Have a look through these - Currently set on 25K's from Belmont. * Google the one at Thornside and see what it's like - $28 per night powered and very close to Belmont. * Scarborough Holiday Village (Redcliffe) - easy enough to get to Belmont (over the Gateway and back - toll each way) - from $38 / night ($50 / night Peak) There are 15 to look at but there are a few that would be too difficult to get to Belmont - Amity Point would be great except for the barge ride each way Find a Camp
Hope you find something suitable.
EDiT: Trying to google around & do a dummy booking quote for April 2018, it looks like all require a phone call to negotiate a booking!  I would imagine that booking, during the games window, will be very different to prices above! Gateway toll is one of my faves as tug & caravan same cheap price as a car, unlike the Sydney one that was from $4.60 to $16.50! New changes now see my less than 12m long or 2.8m high rig being charged as a car... but 3 years later the $4.60 is now $22.23!!!! Agggh |
|
|
|
Post by Mustang on Dec 18, 2017 6:55:52 GMT 10
I think the Redcliffe area is pleasant, you also want to enjoy yourselves!!!
Hasn't the accommodation industry got their act together, no stock, they have slightly lower prices in winter & jack up the prices in summer, then gouge for any special event.
Retail now slash prices at peak seasons & other events, pay hideous overheads, & offer stock for stealing (around 5%)
|
|
|
|
Post by atefooterz on Dec 18, 2017 9:53:52 GMT 10
Worlds biggest taxi company has no taxis (uber)
Worlds largest accommodation business has no rooms ( airbnb )
Worlds most expensive coin cannot be tossed ( bitcoin)
We must be heading towards the mid 21st centuary!
|
|
|
|
Post by bobt on Dec 18, 2017 12:12:35 GMT 10
The park we regularly stay in on the Gold Coast told us in July they only had a couple of sites left. They told us they were charging their regular 'peak season' rate, they are one of the Gold Coast Council parks. We kept hearing about the 'price gouging' so we asked them.. Don't get me wrong peak season is not cheap. We paid $64 per night powered sited for 2 in another Gold Coast caravan park during school holidays, add kids... $$$ We couldn't afford to do it when we had kids living with us.
Planner Good luck with your hunt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrenk on Dec 18, 2017 13:29:59 GMT 10
The park we regularly stay in on the Gold Coast told us in July they only had a couple of sites left. They told us they were charging their regular 'peak season' rate, they are one of the Gold Coast Council parks. We kept hearing about the 'price gouging' so we asked them.. Don't get me wrong peak season is not cheap. We paid $64 per night powered sited for 2 in another Gold Coast caravan park during school holidays, add kids... $$$ We couldn't afford to do it when we had kids living with us. Planner Good luck with your hunt. The Big 4 at Tweed Heads is charging on average just under $200 a night for the 2 weeks of the games. Warren |
|
|
|
Post by atefooterz on Dec 18, 2017 18:52:06 GMT 10
Many years ago when the Olympics hit town, a lot of gouging but at that time living about 1 hour away by public transport & 40 mins via road on average, the days i signed up for as a volunteer ( every day lol) and early starts i seriously considered the share of then $300 a night rooms, normlly $70-95pnght back then.
Luckily the mob i was with allowed a gypsie camp in their huge carpark, next to the Anzac Bridge.
So the trusty L300 8 seater van had the seats ripped out & mattress fitted.
The joy of not only being allowed access to the MSB/ Waterways aka RMS shead for cuppers & sponsor Samsung gave us a huge tv with roaming feeds to ch7, so we also had extra non broadcast sports to watch off duty.( no multi channels back then)
Bonus was the walk across the Anzac bridge to the city & the night life, apart from 2 nights i was on harbour night patrol.
Thinking back to not long ago and the 1 -1& 1/2 hour crawl from Nudgee to the Gold Coast, in normal times i really wonder about being so far away from the GC?
Today the cost to see a 90 minute movie & 20 minutes of commercials $49.70 for two with a drink & choc top is extra $25.00 combo for two, locally, So $200 for two over 24 hours is value, not losing several hours commute each day priceless.
|
|
|
|
Post by thehohars on Jan 7, 2018 14:34:05 GMT 10
Beenleigh Showgrounds has a caravan section.
|
|
|
|
Post by planner on Jan 9, 2018 10:39:03 GMT 10
Looks like we've had some luck.  On the weekend we were telling a friend about our planned trip, turns out her sister-in-law lives at Burliegh Heads and is looking to get out of town while the games are on. We can rent her 4BR house at the right price. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. The additional fuel we would burn towing the van is about the same as the rent (shared with another family), so it looks viable. Bit of extra travel into Brissy, but it's only a couple of days. Thanks for all the suggestions, they have been passed to another friend who is still looking at camping/van options. Planner |
|
|
|
Post by Mustang on Jan 12, 2018 16:38:16 GMT 10
The park we regularly stay in on the Gold Coast told us in July they only had a couple of sites left. They told us they were charging their regular 'peak season' rate, they are one of the Gold Coast Council parks. We kept hearing about the 'price gouging' so we asked them.. Don't get me wrong peak season is not cheap. We paid $64 per night powered sited for 2 in another Gold Coast caravan park during school holidays, add kids... $$$ We couldn't afford to do it when we had kids living with us. Planner Good luck with your hunt. The Big 4 at Tweed Heads is charging on average just under $200 a night for the 2 weeks of the games. Warren Come on ACCC where are you now, chasing down retailers I suspect?  ? what about these gougers?? |
|
|
|
Post by atefooterz on Jan 13, 2018 19:01:08 GMT 10
OK in what universe, out side of us in poverty or on fixed incomes affected, is something standard in hospitality way before any of us still living were born,wrong to peak (gouge)as variable pricing is known as Dynamic pricing a common practice in many industries including hospitality, travel, entertainment, retail, electricity, and public transport.
Each industry takes a slightly different approach to repricing based on its needs and the demand for the product.
(wiki the bit after(gouge)
|
|
? what about these gougers??