FAQs

Camping and caravan travellers are the mainstay of tourism to the Central Highlands. A lack of designated overnight sites for fully self-contained vehicles is causing frustration and negative commentary amongst these travellers. While the Central Highlands region is traversed by long haul travellers as they journey around the country, the majority of visitors to the region are day trippers. The region is not providing enough reasons to encourage these travellers to stop and stay. A policy for the management of sites for self-contained and other caravan and camping vehicles is critical to provide clarity for visitors and the local industry on the facilities and services to be provided as the region is risking brand reputation and appeal amongst caravan and camping visitors.

The region has a range of commercial caravan parks to meet the needs of those requiring onsite facilities. During peak season however, these facilities are at capacity and overflow parking areas are critical.

The RV market is a rapidly growing segment of the industry and its nature has evolved rapidly as technology has opened up much greater opportunities for self-contained travel. RV travellers are characterised by:

• Couples and couples travelling in convoy
• Self-drive with caravans/motorhomes/campervans and camper trailers (increasingly fully self-contained) and capable of independent travel for several days (food, water, power, grey and black water storage, communication)
• Seekers of soft adventure, new places, natural and cultural history
• Travel to attend events (sports, arts/culture and leisure)
• Night-time activities (sunset/campfire activities, markets, music)
• Value for money is important
• Camping sites in natural settings
• Need for access to services to allow them to travel for extended periods
• Mainly travelling Queensland in the milder seasonal months - April to September
• Increasingly plan their travel online and communicate through social media.

The strategy will include recommendations for the development of RV and camping facilities in the Central Queensland Highlands that link to attractions and create tour routes. It will identify options for the location, size, scale and type of facilities that are required to meet current and future demands.

The strategy will report on existing sites that can be commissioned readily. It will identify other sites for RV and camping facilities in the Central Queensland Highlands including the infrastructure recommendations to transition them into RV/camping facilities. There will be an investigation into temporary options for peak-periods during events and the holiday season.