Camping in Australia during long weekends and public holidays.

 

Lovely Suzana rang me yesterday with the question "when can we start booking for Easter 2014?" We luckily had 1 powered campsite left and about 6 unpowered.

This question got me thinking ....

Before Rohan and I bought Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park we lived in Lorne for 13 years. Every summer our friends booked the same site at the same foreshore caravan park (in Lorne) for the last 30 years. It absolutely blew me away. I was intrigued. It was not only them, the park was full of people with the same story. They all knew eachother, their children spend every summer holiday together, it was like a little village within a little village! Only when somebodies health would not allow them to come any longer, they would release their site to make it available for the next generation of campers  for the next 30 years or so.

So when we bought Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park I said to myself, I am not going to do that, I believed it was just unfair for all the people who would like to camp one day at our gorgeous park during these very special occasions like Easter, Australia Day, Melbourne Cup weekend etc. I was going to give everybody a fair chance! Me being the naive migrant from Holland! I soon worked out that that was NOT going to happen. What was I thinking? Changing the Australian culture!?

Australians love their public holidays, their routines, their gatherings with friends or family, their campfires! They know that if they have a spot it is worth gold, because to get another spot in a different park in a different town is close to impossible. It does mean that  motorhomes (mostely Europeans) often get stranded on these public holidays.

So here to all Europeans travelling to Australia. Check out the public holidays for the state you are travelling to and ring ahead! (or check availability online and book at least for the public holidays) We do always keep a few unpowered spots spare because it is just too sad to see a stranded European family with some very tired kids who have been driving all day hopeful of a spot to rest their heads for the night.

I collected the following information form the migration office, just to inform migrants and travellers. Please be aware that each state celebrates different public holidays. The ones below are for Victoria. 

 

"Australians hold certain days each year as special days of national meaning. We may recognise the day with a holiday for everyone or we can celebrate the day as a nation with special events. Most states and territories observe some of the public holidays on the same date. They have others on different dates or have some days that only their state or territory celebrates. In larger cities, most shops, restaurants and public transport continue to operate on public holidays. In smaller towns, most shops and restaurants close. "

Christmas and Easter are two of the main public holidays. Some other important national dates are:

Australia Day

Australia Day, January 26, is the day we as a people and place celebrate our nationhood. The day is a public holiday. The day marks the founding of the first settlement in our nation by European people.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is on April 25 the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 during World War 1. This day is set apart to hold dear the memory of those who fought for our nation and those who lost their life to war. The day is a public holiday. We remember with ceremonies, wreath laying and military parades.

Melbourne Cup Day

Melbourne Cup Day happens on the first Tuesday of November each year. The cup is a world famous horse race. Most people whether at work, school or home, stop and watch the race on television. It is a public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne. In other places and mainly in the workplace, many people have a lunch or party to celebrate Melbourne Cup.

For those who like to score a spot!!!

When we are fully booked for a particular long weekend or event we allow our guests to rebook their site or cabin up to 10 days after they leave. On day 11 anybody can book the unconfirmed/available sites. Cancellations are posted on our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/hallsgaplakeside
We do not keep waiting lists!

If you are keen to read more about the history of camping in Australia, Bill Garner is publishing his book "born in a tent, how camping makes us Australian" in October 2013. Have a read on his blogpost if you are interested!

http://wheelercentre.com/dailies/post/c5c2a08b6632/

In October we will have a copy available for our guests, just give me a chance to read it first!

Cheers

Josephina