Port Lincoln Times

Caravan Industry Association of Australia http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayF... Copyright 2015 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited All Rights Reserved Port Lincoln Times January 6, 2015 Tuesday SECTION: EARLY GENERAL NEWS; Pg. 5 LENGTH: 470 words HEADLINE: Tourists fill up parks BODY: CARAVAN parks across Lower Eyre Peninsula are filled up as tourists and travellers stop by to celebrate New Year and beyond. Most caravan parks across the region were filled and many had to turn people away as people prepared to celebrate the arrival of 2015. With nearly 90 caravan sites and 30 cabins, the Port Lincoln Caravan Park put people wherever they could fit for New Year's Eve. Manager Carly Bache, who took over the park's operations 14 months ago, said it was busier this year compared to last year with more travellers on the road. "We've had a few coming in for January who are frequent visitors," she said. "A lot of the travellers have little ones, there were a few grey nomads here and a few families come in for two to three nights and then usually extend. "It's excellent, and is great for Port Lincoln as well." The Coffin Bay Caravan Park had been full since December 27, with more than 150 caravan sites and 15 cabins filled, including for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. This was great news for owners Sharon and Andrew Bowey, who had taken over managing the park about three weeks ago. "New Year's was busy, we had lots of people wanting to come, and had to turn some away," Mrs Bowey said. "It was a good New Year's Eve, everyone was well behaved and we were very pleased with the crowd here." The Tumby Bay Caravan Park was filled for New Year's Day, which was helped by the town hosting a national sailing title. Caravan park owner Diana James said she had seen people from interstate, including from Queensland and Western Australia, come to Tumby Bay for New Year's and for the sailing titles. "Families, couples and groups got together over the new year," she said. "There were a lot of people here, and in the hotel." Meanwhile in Elliston, there were varied numbers at the two caravan parks. Elliston's Waterloo Bay was full for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and had to turn people away on both days. Maryann Van Dyk, who is co-owner with her partner Michael Slape, said the park was normally full at this time of the year, with new year and Easter being the busiest times of the year. "Some celebrated new year and others came off the road; there was a reasonably large group from Port Augusta," she said. 1 of 2 19/01/2015 4:07 PM Caravan Industry Association of Australia http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayF... "We're very happy with the numbers, it's a safe place for children to play, and the town is close by." The Elliston Caravan Park did manage to fill all cabins, however only about half of the caravan sites were filled. Manager Hayden Richards said the park was still busy for New Year's, but had noticed a drop in numbers over recent years. "Our bumper years were 2010/11, and it's slowly been dropping off," he said. "I don't know if it's the weather, or fuel prices, or a bit of both." Mr Richards said he was hoping for an increase in numbers later in the year with the next busy period being Easter. LOAD-DATE: January 5, 2015 Copyright © 2015 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy 2 of 2 19/01/2015 4:07 PM.

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