MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: MR MAC GU on January 07, 2012, 04:46:42 PM
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Hi guys,
I have just put my name down on the waiting list for Hastings Point Big 4 Caravan Park for Christmas 2012.
My question is... with a cost of nearly $1000 per week for a powered site is it really worth it? we have three kids and we know they will love it there but at about $140/night to camp seems steep even for peak times.
I also find it odd that you can't book for Christmas 2012 until this years people have decided if they want to go back or not, all you can do is join a waiting list and find out if you get in late January or early Feburary. Shouldn't it be first in first served?
Does anyone on here go there for Christmas?
Cheers
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My question is... with a cost of nearly $1000 per week for a powered site is it really worth it?
I'm sorry mate, there is no way in hell we'd pay that.
We are moving away from coastal parks and prefer to free camp on river banks if we can with good mates or family over Chrissy & New Years.
Having said that, we have stayed in popular parks and we are Big4 members, we enjoy their facilities and closeness to other attractions.
I believe that most coastal parks are setup now as you said with booking in advanced isn't an option. Last year, to help out mates who were going overseas and couldn't afford their permanent 4 week stay at a park close by, we were to be there for two weeks, we loaned our mates the camper for the two weeks, setup on their site, then we stayed there for the other two weeks. There was no other way of doing it. Other camper have been trying to get sites and, yeah well it would of caused a fight to pull down one setup and erect another.
This is why we have moved away from parks and really enjoy camping as we do now.
Good luck with it all.
:cheers:
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I don't know the location but $140/n for assuming 4 people isn't that bad. A good idea is to work out what a hotel costs in the same area. You will probably be surprised. I've never been to a dodgy Big4.
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I also find it odd that you can't book for Christmas 2012 until this years people have decided if they want to go back or not, all you can do is join a waiting list and find out if you get in late January or early Feburary. Shouldn't it be first in first served?
that's the way it's always been there, basically those that are regulars get first option at staying there again. i guess atleast they then know what sort of clientel are coming back into their park.
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We stayed for a few days about 18 months ago, nice park with good size sites and great activities for the kids.
Seems expensive but most places are getting ridiculous in peak season.
Considering this park is not located on the water I think they are asking a premium.
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Hi guys,
I also find it odd that you can't book for Christmas 2012 until this years people have decided if they want to go back or not, all you can do is join a waiting list and find out if you get in late January or early Feburary. Shouldn't it be first in first served?
Cheers
We just spent 7 nights at Big 4 Island View at Narooma. We were given a form to nominate if we wanted the same site for the same dates this year (Boxing Day onwards) and you had to pay in installments at certain times through the year to secure that spot. After a certain date if you hadn't taken up the option the site was open to next enquiry.
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I drove past the Island View CP at Narooma over Christmas and it was, to say the least, packed in like a tin of sardines stuff. Couldn't believe how busy it was.
We stayed at the Lake Wallaga C/P and whilst it was busy it wasn't filled to the brim like Narooma. It is a lovely spot though.
Cheers.
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We live just down the road from Hasto's. The park appears to have been done up in the last 6-12 months. There is a new water park, like the one at Coconuts Resort - Cairns. Not sure if I would pay $1000 for the week, but horses for courses. It is certainly a nice area, with the creek about 100 metres away and the surf beach, just across the road.
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Mr Mac GU The idear of spending 1K a week on a camp site with another herd of campers almost dose my head in . We have a copy of Camps5 which travels with us where ever we go . That has become our Bible for all the options it has to offer. Parks might be the go but all the bods wandering around all day & night no there must be another option .
Might be a few weekends out with other Swaggers can introduce you a whole new world . Free Camping .
l am thinking that a nice spot beside a river , stream , on the beach or in the bush could be more relaxing . Iust a thought :cheers:
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Might be a few weekends out with other Swaggers can introduce you a whole new world . Free Camping .
;D ;D ;D yeah Glen, you need to try and get away from staying at caravan parks all the time, something more like the Simpson Desert and Gulf trips you have done in the last 2 years ;) ;D ;D
sorry for laughing Speewa, but he knows about free camping already, he's just looking at different options for xmas time next year.
cheers.
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a one year option is better than the 2 years out that some of the other parks in the area (coast) want (fingal- and then its just to keep the park owners happy- a waiting list rather than saying no......)
If you like the spot it can become a family tradition- but be prepared to pay for it.
I know of families that have some of these van parks every Christmas for over 30 years (or longer) now passed down to the next generation (growing up in Ballina, my mates families had traditions of staying at Broken head and another at Woody head and that was 20 years ago.
I look to head to the quieter parts- that prob has a lot to do with growing up in a coastal town (and now working on Straddie) with the influx of people- it did my head in.
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Hi MR MAC GU. Not sure if it's in your interest or not but there is a new Big 4 caravan park at Caloundra. Its the old Hibiscus Caravan park.
http://caloundra-waterfront-holiday-park.qld.big4.com.au/ (http://caloundra-waterfront-holiday-park.qld.big4.com.au/) it's only new so you might be able to get a definite booking at Christmas.
bnk
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I recently stayed at the Council run caravan park at Hastings Point.
It was basic, but we were right on the creek and across the road from the surf.
We went and had a wonder around the BIG 4 there, and whilst it is newly renovated it doesnt work for us. The caravan were jam packed and as for the water park, well it was absolutely chockers and didnt look that appealing, not as much as being able to drfit down the creek to the creek mouth and snorkel and fish and stuff was IMO anyway. I think I paid $175 for 4 nights and that was shoulder so maybe 350 for the same at christmas.
It would be great if there was somewhere around there readily accessable that you could free camp.
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Mr Mac GU The idear of spending 1K a week on a camp site with another herd of campers almost dose my head in . We have a copy of Camps5 which travels with us where ever we go . That has become our Bible for all the options it has to offer. Parks might be the go but all the bods wandering around all day & night no there must be another option .
Might be a few weekends out with other Swaggers can introduce you a whole new world . Free Camping .
l am thinking that a nice spot beside a river , stream , on the beach or in the bush could be more relaxing . Iust a thought :cheers:
x2 :cup:
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Mr Mac GU The idear of spending 1K a week on a camp site with another herd of campers almost dose my head in . We have a copy of Camps5 which travels with us where ever we go . That has become our Bible for all the options it has to offer. Parks might be the go but all the bods wandering around all day & night no there must be another option .
Might be a few weekends out with other Swaggers can introduce you a whole new world . Free Camping .
l am thinking that a nice spot beside a river , stream , on the beach or in the bush could be more relaxing . Iust a thought :cheers:
Hi speewa,
Free camping and touring is pretty much what we have been doing for many,many,many years now and we would never stop doing it as a rule, but as our three kids are now growing we have decided to try something different where our kids can enjoy playing with other kids and we don't have to drive a long way. We looked at many alternatives but this Caravan Park seems to come up trumps with its million dollar water park with water slides, play grounds, kids clubs etc not to mention the surrounding areas to explore.
We asked the kids this year what they wanted to do and gave them options like Fraser Island, Going Bush, Going on a Cruise Ship or staying home etc. They all replied they want to go somewhere that they can take their bikes and meet heaps of kids and go swimming, hence why we are looking at Hastings Point.
If we were happy enough with the place we would probably make it our destination for every Christmas but we will still do our major outback touring trips every one or two years as well as plenty of bush camping in between.
I am not sure if you are aware that we probably get away camping more regularly than most on this website, but it would be a rarity to see us at a caravan park anywhere in Australia as we generally head to areas that I enjoy, are remote, quiet and that have enough quality so I can write stories about it...
We are just looking for something very different this time...It sound weired but the kids want the crowds for a change...
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Hi MR MAC GU. Not sure if it's in your interest or not but there is a new Big 4 caravan park at Caloundra. Its the old Hibiscus Caravan park.
http://caloundra-waterfront-holiday-park.qld.big4.com.au/ (http://caloundra-waterfront-holiday-park.qld.big4.com.au/) it's only new so you might be able to get a definite booking at Christmas.
bnk
Thanks bnk,
I have looked at that one as an option but it doesn't quite measure up to Hastings Point from what i have seen.
Cheers
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Price wise it sounds about right for a modern Big 4 in a prime location, with all the gear.
Angelsea Big 4 in Victoria is a similar price over the peak period.
We do not generally spend time in any caravan parks during the peak times if we can avoid it however this Christmas we will be, as a few friends are keen to book a few sites for a week over Christmas/new year. The parks have alot for the kids to do/kids holiday program so we will give it a go. I sure the kids will have a great time riding there bikes etc... And meeting new friends.
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Thanks bnk,
I have looked at that one as an option but it doesn't quite measure up to Hastings Point from what i have seen.
Cheers
No worries. It was just a thought.
We are very much like yourselves, Done plenty of free camping and enjoyed every minute of it, but we also enjoy the facilities the modern Caravan parks (Big 4's) offer for the kids and have enjoyed them just as much as our free camping trips away.
Bnk
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I've had a play in that water park.....gotta say it's like heaven for most kids...even I had a ball on the slides.
I live just down the road and whilst I can think of nothing worse than staying in a van park at Christmas....its seems pretty popular. The council park is well attended too. the Unpowered section over the road on the creek mouth is always packed full with huge canvas hotels. There were a few packing up today though.