Appendix 5 Campground Summary

Let me start with the good news:  my overall reaction to the owners/managers of caravan parks we encountered on this trip was strongly positive.  They were as helpful as possible and the problems we had in a couple of places were due to other visitors who seemed to need some help in understanding the concept of sociability

Given the negative views I have encountered in some (admittedly special interest) situations that is a tad surprising, but I call 'em as I find 'em.

Location of camp: Dubbo
Number of nights: 2
Comment on Location: Adjacent to Highway and thus not quiet, but convenient for access.
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant
Comment on facilities: All that we needed.
View on other guests: Friendly traveler types.

Location of camp: Cobar
Number of nights: 1
Comment on Location: Adjacent to Highway but not heavy traffic and convenient for access.
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant
Comment on facilities: All that we needed.
View on other guests: Friendly traveler types.

Location of camp: Trilby Station
Number of nights: 3
Comment on Location: Excellent noting that it is a remote area so weather can be an issue.  Only noise at our site was the grunting of pelicans in the River.
Comment on Operator: Excellent.  She has put in a lot of effort to make this a great place.
Comment on facilities: We had an unpowered site, but the way the site had been set up was great and the amenities block at the homestead was excellent.
View on other guests:  We had little contact with them, but basically friendly traveler types.

Location of camp: Bourke
Number of nights: 1
Comment on Location: Adjacent to Highway but not unduly heavy traffic.  The major problem was the incredible noise of the town dogs.  It was convenient for town facilities.
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant
Comment on facilities: All that we needed.
View on other guests: Friendly traveler types albeit with noisy heaters
Overall comment. The place was basically a good operation in a very crappy town.  But they did allow dogs unlike the place about 5km out of town.

Location of camp: Lorne Station, Lightning Ridge
Number of nights: 2
Comment on Location: A reasonable distance out of town and a lot of area to explore
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant
Comment on facilities: All that we needed.
View on other guests: Mainly friendly traveler types with one lot not aware of the noise from their TV and one family of gooses on the second night.

Location of camp: Inverell
Number of nights: 1
Comment on Location: Adjacent to Highway but no traffic and convenient for access.  Also abutted the walking track along the river.  Very good
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant
Comment on facilities: All that we needed.
View on other guests: No real contact: certainly no problems.

Location of camp: Tenterfield
Number of nights: 1
Comment on Location: 2km off the Highway and quiet
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant
Comment on facilities: All that we needed.
View on other guests: Very friendly traveler types.

Location of camp: Hosanna Farmstay Stokers Siding
Number of nights: 5
Comment on Location: Beside a country road and - in terms of ambient noise - very peaceful.
Comment on Operator: They have done a lot of work building entertainment stuff for their core clientele - family funsters - but I suspect don't really know (and probably don't care) what people in other demographics need
Comment on facilities: Poor.  Female showers didn't work - and would take 10 days to repair - and the area was noisy when others showered or used the dunnies.
View on other guests: Some of them were arrogant bogans with no consideration for anyone else.  It only takes a few like that to totally wreck the place.
Overall Comment: Avoid this place like the plague.

Location of camp: Corindi Beach
Number of nights: 1
Comment on Location: On the highway but traffic noise not a problem.  Beside Peel River and well treed made it pleasant.
Comment on Operator: Brief dealings but very cooperative.
Comment on facilities: Entirely adequate for our needs.
View on other guests: Friendly traveler types.

Location of camp: Nulkaba (Cessnock)
Number of nights: 2
Comment on Location: On man road so a bit of traffic noise but not a great problem
Comment on Operator: very helpful and pleasant.  Spotted a potential issue with a slope on our site and provided some wood to level it out.
Comment on facilities: Entirely adequate.  A unique feature was that a small off-leash dog run had been created - possibly to meet the needs of a few long-term residents' dogs but the important bit is the owners were aware of their clients needs.
View on other guests: Quite a few long term residents, but very friendly.  One couple, unfortunately close to us,seemed to feel that we needed to hear their TV, which they played from mid-day onwards.
Overall comment:   The only negative was the noisy neighbours.  The attitude of the owners was great and it was very close to the wineries.