What do you look for in a camp site

livin the dream

New Member
doing a bit of future planning and would like some ideas on what attracts people to a campground. If you can also provide some info on your usual setup/situation (tent, trailer, caravan. single camper, couple, family, large group etc) and without turning this thread into a whingefest what puts you off a campsite?

I know for me generators are a pet hate, I go camping to get away from all the suburban noises, the last thing I want is to listen to a 2 stroke engine humming along all day and night.

a few ideas which you call elobarate on would be:
Large spread out campsites so you don't feel over crouded during the popular weekends. (how much space would you reasonably expect to be allocated to set up your camp) and do you prefer allocated sites or more of a free for all where you set up where ever you want.

Good clean ameneites would be a must for the majority.

entertainment? do you like the idea of live bands on the popular weekends or are you happy to make your own entertainment.

kids activities? what would keep your kids occupied and safe.

are you happy to pay for firewood, do you like to cut your own from fallen trees at the camp property, do you think it should be provided for free

cost. is a flat campsite rate preffered (regardless of number of people). or is a per person or per vehicle rate your choice. also what do you consider a reasonable cost for the facilitys you like to have provided.

how far are you prepared to travel for: an overnight stay, a weekend stay, a long weekend stay and more then a week stay.

any other Ideas and opinions will be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
Livin the dream.


PS: thanks for the great forum, been browsing for a while and have decided to finally join up and post.

cheers.
 

Grumpy

Moderator
Now that can have so many answers let's just say it depends on who is going with me as to weather I Swag it, Tent it small or larger, camper van ect, and also weather it is a rolling camp or not, as for camping hates Generators top the list all though if I'm going over the beach where there are heaps of gennies I will sometimes take one, Another great hate is when you go away and are having a session late at night and some A Hole camps close to the fire and tells you all to shutup cos he can't sleep when it's not even midnight.
 

tankbloke

4x4 Earth Contributer
Now that can have so many answers let's just say it depends on who is going with me as to weather I Swag it, Tent it small or larger, camper van ect, and also weather it is a rolling camp or not, as for camping hates Generators top the list all though if I'm going over the beach where there are heaps of gennies I will sometimes take one, Another great hate is when you go away and are having a session late at night and some A Hole camps close to the fire and tells you all to shutup cos he can't sleep when it's not even midnight.

Hole in one Grumpy.Your last sentence nailed my pet hate.
 

Swaggie

Moderator
As my name implies a campsite has to be clean (no shit paper,rubbush etc) and next to a nice clear flowing river with a nice grassy spot for my swag (river swaggie)...I hav been known to sleep on river rocks but i hav a dunlop eggcup foam as well as 50mm foam under that so i get away with it...:)

Oh a nice young blonde peeling the spuds by the river was a bonus..She didnt need my help..lmao

Cheers
 

98GU

New Member
So many questions ;)

Cleanliness is the first and foremost point and ideally plenty of grassed areas, the more space the better however it would be subject to the location. Toilet facilities woud be preferred and this only needs to be a reasonably clean long drop (easier with kids and wife LOL :D).

If there is cut firewood all the better, preferably not pine cut-offs though. If the firewood was coming from on the site itself then maybe it would be free, however if it has been carted in from an external supplier then I would be happy to pay or it could be included in the fee.

For kids as long as there was enough room to kick a ball or maybe ride a bike that would be about right.

I would prefer to pay a flat rate per vehicle particularly if it was more of just a "bush camp" type site i.e just the site and some firewood, however I can see the argument for a per person type fee if there were more amenities on the site, particularly powered amenities.

Weekend stay I would probably travel up to three hour radius from Sydney (particulary given that I currently have young kids and Friday night traffic sucks). I would go somewhere like Dingo Dell for an overnighter. Long weekend I would probably push out to four or five hours and take an early mark on the Friday or leave before sunup on Saturday.

Week long stay pretty much as long as took to get there, preferably within a day

For my final point and this is probably a contentious issue for some is a restriction on numbers in the site, I think this would alleviate some of the probs you see and hear with regards to noise and overcrowding and allow people to enjoy their time in a more relaxing environment.

I am also with Grumpy, if you choose to turn up and set up close to an already well established "group" then don't complain when the talking is still going after dark. On the flipside I don't believe I should have to be subjected to tunes being belted out at a volume that the next town let alone campsite can hear :mad:

I think what people fail to realise, particularly those that haven't camped before, is just how much noise can travel in an environment that is not subject to the usual surburban nightmare that we are used to hearing everyday, it is amazing just how much you can hear of a conversation that is taking place a good 50mts away and also how much of your conversation can be heard, particularly when casting dispersions on those in the other campsite :)
 

Dusty666

New Member
Far enough away from the next campers, so you cant hear them and they cant hear my kids, my pet hate when camping is yelling at the kids. (shouldnt need to)
There has to be swimmable water and no mozzies, sandflies etc
 

livin the dream

New Member
great feedback so far guys, thankyou and keep it coming.

split pin your on the money there. I am looking into developing a campground with good facilities. The overcrowding of every campground on any long weekend or holiday period shows that there is a market there.
now it may not be a huge money maker but I would be very happy if it was able to comfortably cover the running costs, camping is something I love doing and will never tire of it. it has long been a popular Australian pastime and doesn't look like going out of fasion any time soon.

I have put this out to see what are the 'nice to haves' and what are the necessities for campers. so I know what to look into first and what can be developed later on.
cleanliness is obviously a big Issue and I totally agree. theres nothing worse then going to use the dunny and deciding your better off holding off til you get home 'it's only another couple of days.....' :eek:
from my own experience with family and friends, most women NEED hot showers.
The other big one is being setup too close to other campers (or them setting up too close to you). often because they have no sense and while they want to 'get away from it all' they really dont want to be alone! but usually it's because the campground is that full there is little other option for them.

I have a lot of ideas already (most of which I will keep to myself) and I know what I look for in a good campground and you all seem to be looking for the same thing.

everyone is going to have a different answer and that is why I want your input.

Thanks,
Livin the dream.
 

jack48

Active Member
Check out the farmstay at Charleville. Clean portable amenaties blocks, shower/toilet in each cubicle,bloody fantastic.
Large area with a 10 metre fire pit, under cover BBQ area, large campsites- all drive through. pets OK, they have poddy calves roamong in the camp area. A hugh property where you can explore it for yourself with permission. Wood supplied for the pit.
Most outback caravan parks have the firepits for 5.00 pm drinks and getting to know you, which usually go till very late, some provide meals at a cost [ Cunnamulla, $21 for 3 courses] Barcaldine {pronounced- barkolden] free tea & damper every night as well as entertainment,
These examples are caravan parks in outback towns, cost per night per site 2 people ave $18 .
Powered sites would be handy, but mayby a recharging point or a super long extension lead would be usfull for those without solar panels LOL

Good luck with your venture, please keep us informed.
 

98GU

New Member
Jack1948 makes a good point re: power. Whilst most of us would ideally be self sufficient it would be nice to know that mains power is close by for those times that you need it.

I think some of the station stays have a mix of sites that mean if you want power you can have it, otherwise you can wander off to a remote bush camp type site.
 

baldman

Member
Being selfish I prefer smaller campsites where you can set up and position the cars so no one else gets in to use it.:eek:

Before I get flamed I did say smaller campsites, generally don't need to much in except a running creek.;)

It's not that I don't like sociaiising I just like being able to sit and relax, and be able to put my head down for a sleep without others making excessive noise. Like to have asleep in some mornings to.

We go away, to get away, if we wanted to be surrounded by drunk, loud partygoers we would go to a resort hotel.:p

my 2 cents
 

WILKAT

Member
Being selfish I prefer smaller campsites where you can set up and position the cars so no one else gets in to use it.:eek:

Before I get flamed I did say smaller campsites, generally don't need to much in except a running creek.;)

It's not that I don't like sociaiising I just like being able to sit and relax, and be able to put my head down for a sleep without others making excessive noise. Like to have asleep in some mornings to.

We go away, to get away, if we wanted to be surrounded by drunk, loud partygoers we would go to a resort hotel.:p

my 2 cents

I hear you!!,
There have been a few places that have really shit my wife & i.Where there are idiots being loud,swearing,driving fast past your site,having there kids running amuk very late at night & having them disrupt us & all other campers (alot of kids know a days have NO respect tought to them,so they act like morons,(like some of there parents!!!)
& YES WE HAVE KIDS THAT RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE!!!! & go to bed at resonable hours.

YES,WE ALL SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE PEACE & QUITE WHILE CAMPING,THATS WHY WE GO CAMPING!!!!
If people want to be in party mode STAY HOME or GO TO THE PUB,A LONG LONG LONG WAY FROM WHERE PEOPLE ARE CAMPING!
Leave campers in peace!!!!!!!!!!
 

Dusty666

New Member
splitting powered sites is a great idea but you cant have designated areas as most groups have setups that need it and some dont, you dont want to go camping with your group and be seperated because of power, those who have spent the dollars to be self powered shouldnt have to pay extra for something they are not using
and there needs to be designated generator chargeup times, I have a honda so you cant hear mine anyway but for the other noisy ones, (piss off:mad:) we went camping at Inskip Point at christmas and the guy next to us did his charge up from 4 till about 8pm, right when we are all there cooking dinner and relaxing after the day in the sun and on the beach, he was fine, this is when he goes into his caravan and closes the door, nice old couple untill we said something about it and they turned into nasty old arsholes, we could tell then that they had had problems previosly.:mad:
one huge important part of a good campsite in a payed area is it has to be mowed;)
 

WILKAT

Member
one huge important part of a good campsite in a payed area is it has to be mowed;)

We haven't had trouble with generators as of yet,& hope we don't either!
BUT about mowed areas,
we have turned up at some places & that we have booked a week or more ahead & get to our site & it hasn't been mowed,if your paying $$$$ for your site they should at least mow it before you arrive.
Have also been at a couple of places that when you have organised months before hand that you intend to stay for a few months on the one site that they forget that you are there & don't mow or snip around your site!!:mad::mad::mad:
So that when other campers arrive & drive by,they look at our site that is knee deep in grass,although you ask them to mow & snip they end up breaking some of your guyropes in the process & leave mounts of grass that they didn't take away.:mad:
 

jack48

Active Member
Maybe if the area is large enough put generator people in one area, generators in a ditch, cover them with soil,LOL, and all the others in a seperate place. Generators should only be used between 2 & 4 PM if at all, if it takes longer than 2 hours to recharge, you need new batteries or using too much power, rethink the situation you are in. It is a holiday, relaxing peace & quite or music, whatever . just not noisy generators, that's why I suggested long extension leads to the people that need recharging.
 

Split pin

Active Member
Cool.
I think the first question you need to answer is.
1 are you going to set up for campers only

2 Camper trailers only.

3 Campers and camper trailers.

4 Caravans.

5 motor Homes
Or will you be catering for all 4 I:E campers (tents) Camper trailers, motoe homes and Caravans. If so each one has a very different needs. And no one site will cater for all four.
Or Will you seperate the vans, Motor homes from the tents and Camper trailers.

Just food for thought.

I have a camper trailer and our son camps with us so a normal Trailer / Caravan park bays are two small and usually come with a concrete pad that I dont like and it gets in our way.
 

curtly

New Member
I'm off for a couple of days camping before I get married in August.I've been umming and ahhing about Sundown for about 2weeks now, but August + Sundown= -8 some nights:eek:that really isn't my cuppa tea and I love the cold.
so decided to head to Pebbly Beach.......

The place is clean,and has dunnies sure as the name suggests it can get busy during the summer months (I take the missus and boys each xmas) there are 60 sites, but with a creek crossing that's tide dependent it keeps all those without a 4x4 away, so there is a commeradiery and I'm slowly getting to know all the regulars. During winter there is a good chance of having it all to yourself (fingers crossed).

The added bonus is if the tides are low in the morning say 7am you can head out and do some tracks around Coffs and be back for the next low to get back into camp. The best part I think is the free firewood, all cut to a reasonable size. The careteker (Rob) is a great guy and is always willing to help you out with info. There's also a number of bushwalks that gets you tosome nice isolated beaches.:D

Curt.
 

Dunerunner

Member
I am past the weekend camping thing and so avoid crowded places.

When travelling I usually look for an accessible river or creek or open space away from traffic for overnight or a couple of days. If there are other campers there I would camp as far as possible away from them.

There is nothing worse than to have to listen to (as mentioned above) a couple of drunken idiots talking crap till the early hours of the morning around a campfire. I avoid popular roadside stops as all and sundry in their Winnebagos and huge caravans tend to run generators. When in van parks one has little choice of neighbours but I limit my use of CP's

I travel fully self sufficient so there is no requirement for amenities
 

billolga

4x4 Earth Contributer
BLIMY! - I didn't know picking a camp site could get so complicated.:eek:

I will camp almost anywhere. When your at the height of the season "Up Top" that's exactly what you have to do, like the grass in front of the Reception area at Winton (Four tents fitted there).

The main thing I avoid is camping next to the GRISWALDS - the ones with heaps of "BEEN THERE" stickers & a map of Australia with the lines all over.

Second thoughts - Maybe it's US others are trying to avoid!:cool:
 

knot_gillty

Active Member
BLIMY! - I didn't know picking a camp site could get so complicated.:eek:

I will camp almost anywhere. When your at the height of the season "Up Top" that's exactly what you have to do, like the grass in front of the Reception area at Winton (Four tents fitted there).

The main thing I avoid is camping next to the GRISWALDS - the ones with heaps of "BEEN THERE" stickers & a map of Australia with the lines all over.

Second thoughts - Maybe it's US others are trying to avoid!:cool:

I've camped with you before Bill and I'd do it again!! :D:D

I LOVE water so i would prefer to camp near a river or lake or beach. Apart from that, as Bill said, i'd camp almost anywhere i can. Mainly near water though...
 
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