Hi from Kate and Aaron at Gemtree
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:43 pm
Hi everyone,
My husband Aaron and I have just taken over Gemtree Caravan Park, 140km NE of Alice Springs. We have worked here for my parents on and off for the last 6 years, but they have now retired and we are in the driving seat. We have three little boys. Our youngest, Tom (7) and Mac (4) do School of the Air here at Gemtree. Our oldest son, Will (12) has multiple disabilities, and he boards in Alice Springs during the week to attend the special school. He comes home to us on weekends and school holidays.
I am finding it so interesting reading through the different forums and posts and I really do feel for everyone travelling on tighter and tighter budgets each year. We SHOULD all be able to travel this beautiful country of ours, and I have been closely following Queensland debates about free roadside camping.
If I was travelling, I would want to be able to pull up for free as often as possible. With my pastoral background, I will just remind travellers in the outback to please not camp at bores on cattle stations. It is a common problem along the Plenty Highway - when a caravan is at a bore the cattle won't drink. They have a lot of land to cover each day to get back out to where the grass is and they need their evening and morning drinks to cope. I suppose that is a little self explanatory, but you would be surprised how many people do stop at the bores along our highway. We don't have cattle here though, we just have tourists!
My final thinking is this - when there is a free spot, use it! With the money you save, budget to explore some of the more genuine 'real deal' caravan parks out there. They are offering memories and experiences that you will dine on for years to come, and small businesses like our own really go out of their way to make you welcome and give you plenty of bang for your buck. Do your homework on forums such as this before you travel and you will soon see which parks are worth the paid site. Because we have just recently taken over the management I have been 'googling' Gemtree, to see what it is that our guests want and don't want, and to see just how we can make their Red Centre adventure the very best it can be. I think when we all understand that caravanners are here to see as much as they can and to fill their life with memories and unique experiences, and that caravan park owners are here to help provide that for you, you will then be able to budget accordingly and use your freedom of choice to visit the parks that you want to. Don't bypass ALL parks because I worry that you will miss out and sell your adventure short. Perhaps we will meet some day! Safe travelling everyone, and Happy New Year to you all. Kate xo
My husband Aaron and I have just taken over Gemtree Caravan Park, 140km NE of Alice Springs. We have worked here for my parents on and off for the last 6 years, but they have now retired and we are in the driving seat. We have three little boys. Our youngest, Tom (7) and Mac (4) do School of the Air here at Gemtree. Our oldest son, Will (12) has multiple disabilities, and he boards in Alice Springs during the week to attend the special school. He comes home to us on weekends and school holidays.
I am finding it so interesting reading through the different forums and posts and I really do feel for everyone travelling on tighter and tighter budgets each year. We SHOULD all be able to travel this beautiful country of ours, and I have been closely following Queensland debates about free roadside camping.
If I was travelling, I would want to be able to pull up for free as often as possible. With my pastoral background, I will just remind travellers in the outback to please not camp at bores on cattle stations. It is a common problem along the Plenty Highway - when a caravan is at a bore the cattle won't drink. They have a lot of land to cover each day to get back out to where the grass is and they need their evening and morning drinks to cope. I suppose that is a little self explanatory, but you would be surprised how many people do stop at the bores along our highway. We don't have cattle here though, we just have tourists!
My final thinking is this - when there is a free spot, use it! With the money you save, budget to explore some of the more genuine 'real deal' caravan parks out there. They are offering memories and experiences that you will dine on for years to come, and small businesses like our own really go out of their way to make you welcome and give you plenty of bang for your buck. Do your homework on forums such as this before you travel and you will soon see which parks are worth the paid site. Because we have just recently taken over the management I have been 'googling' Gemtree, to see what it is that our guests want and don't want, and to see just how we can make their Red Centre adventure the very best it can be. I think when we all understand that caravanners are here to see as much as they can and to fill their life with memories and unique experiences, and that caravan park owners are here to help provide that for you, you will then be able to budget accordingly and use your freedom of choice to visit the parks that you want to. Don't bypass ALL parks because I worry that you will miss out and sell your adventure short. Perhaps we will meet some day! Safe travelling everyone, and Happy New Year to you all. Kate xo
