OUTRAGED caravanners have blasted a New South Wales caravan park which attempted to charge them just to visit friends at the park.

The Sydney couple wanted to call on pals at the four-star BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park at the South Coast seaside town of Kiama but were asked to cough up $13 for the privilege.

The furious retired electrical engineer and his wife have now posted their grouse on a popular web-based caravanners' forum.

"We were not day guests using the pool, showers and other facilities at the park ... just a couple of retired caravanners visiting friends for a cuppa," they wrote.

They explained how they went to the office "to do the right thing" and to ask where they should park their car.

"Easts advised that to visit, my wife and I would need to pay $4 each plus a $5 parking fee. That's $13 to share a cuppa with friends," they wrote. "Once bitten, twice shy ... we will not get caught again by Easts."

The news drew an avalanche of wrath from fellow caravanners, some slamming it as greed.

"Totally petty," wrote one. "Something like charging visitors to come into your home when you are paying rent for it."

Another fumed: "How on earth two people stopping to visit friends for an hour can cost a caravan park $13 is way beyond belief."

One traveller said that in his experience he had he had never heard of a hotel, motel or resort charging guests' friends who dropped by for a drink.

But the 218-site park, which features a 25m resort-style pool, heated spa, children's wading pool, tennis courts, children's playground, internet kiosk, cafe and shop, was unrepentant.

Office manager Diane Cahill said the park was a business with all the associated costs, adding that it had to remain viable and competitive "or another caravan park would close for development".

"Guests staying at our park are made aware of day visitor charges in our literature as well as verbally if they expect anyone. We also make it clear to day visitors that we will refund this charge if they leave within the hour.

"This gives ample opportunity to make arrangements to meet in town if they wish to share a longer cuppa or lunch, but no doubt it may cost a little more than $13 - the choice is there."

She said it was extremely disappointing that a small minority did not appreciate the park's right to place a value on the product it offered.

"Nor does it do credit for a smaller minority to sneak into the park, believing they are unobserved. Our park is family owned and has operated for over 70 years, and most of our guests are return visitors. I feel this speaks for itself."

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