Vic Fires and camping dissapointment

I think those are pretty standard prices for a Caravan Park these days though charging for the 2 year old may be a little steep........Going to a Caravan park isn't cheap any more.....

Do you really know if the prices were inflated ,did you check what therate was eg website ,brochures etc Not many unpowered sites at a c/van park for 3 people for $10 / n

Drive into any farm. Ask if they would let you camp in their front paddock for $20. You might just make a friend, and get a lovely camping spot.

Hi Robnicko, I can understand your dissapointment. However fires are unpredictable and what you were told by the ranger may have changed by the following week. We always check dse and parks web pages for latest info. radio and tv are not reliable unless there is a super emergency. Otherwise they lose interest and stop reporting so people think the threat has passed. I have been speaking with friends from Bruthen for the past few weeks who have assured me that the threat was not gone and knew that the lack of media reporting on major stations would give the impression that things were fine again.
As for the caravan park, it sounds steepish but I would not begrudge them. They need to eat and run their business and this is the time of year that they make the most money. I'm tipping this particular year they are suffering as people will have stayed away in droves. The best thing you could have done for them was stay there and spend your hard earned.
Next time check the source of the info (ie. dse, cfa,parks vic) before leaving. Don't just rely on the media.

I spent the same period in and around Bright and camped at a property that my mates parents owned in the Kiewa Valley.
Cost us nothing and we had a great time.
We have been invited back when ever we want and if they are away then they will let us stay in the house to look after it for them.

Great area and it looks like we will be back down there soon to explore the area some more after the fires have finished.

Kev

Should charge more for a 2 year old if it's still in nappies!

A friend of mine owns a CP & spends half his time unblocking toilets blocked with?

You guessed it .... disposable nappies!

Bob, It often happens when Vic roads or the Police open roads around a fire zone for Parks or other local councils to then close camp sites or public area's as they see fit. Obviously all public areas need to be inspected for half burnt trees & other dangers exposed by the fires. (mine shafts, land slides, dead animals in the water etc) The immediate danger may have past but thats not to say hot winds could not reignite a fire in the area, not until they get heavy rain will that threat pass. You may have noticed that they are still busy fighting the fires & I'd suggest they haven't had time to inspect your camp site (or many others for that matter). If that has inconvienienced your long planned holiday well sorry bad luck. Maybe opening up a web page or making a couple of calls would have given you the detail you needed. I would have thought that great big illuminated sign out of Mansfield saying no camping past Jamieson would have been a givaway. Probably the easiest way to see whats open would be to put a simple post on ExOz. Having been up to Woods Point & Jamieson just before Xmas I certainly would have steered you clear.
There are still heaps of great camping spots in Victoria without the need to go anywhere near the fires. Everyone should give the fire fighters some room & keep off the roads.
And where did I go for Xmas? Beechport. No smoke, great 4 wheeling, no crowds & $20 a night for a family of 5 :-)
Cheers Craig.............