MISSING OUT: Cashed-up grey nomads want safe, inexpensive overnight sites or they will keep bypassing the Sunshine Coast.

MISSING OUT: Cashed-up grey nomads want safe, inexpensive overnight sites or they will keep bypassing the Sunshine Coast. Jason Wolcott

READY or not, they are coming, but not here.

Cashed-up grey nomads are making their way across the country in droves, but industry experts say the Sunshine Coast is missing the opportunity to grab a share of the millions of dollars they have to spend.

Motorhome travellers are bypassing the Coast in search of more welcoming towns because they say the area does not offer enough affordable stop-off rest areas.

And our reputation won't improve when the peak industry group, the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, publishes its own list of recommended places for its members to stop.

The club is growing at a rate of 800 new members every month, as 80,000 RVs hit Queensland roads every year.

The occupants of each vehicle spend an average of $700 per week as they travel.

Club director and Sunshine Coast resident Ken Kipping said he believed grey nomads should be applauded for exploring their country and keeping the dollars in the local economy.

He said they craved the "stop-and-shop" rest areas to allow them to explore and enjoy regional towns.

But while some towns embraced them, others have turned their backs on the big-spending older travellers.

"This is not about putting the caravan parks out of business, but if a vehicle is self-contained it doesn't need the facilities of a flash caravan park or the kids' waterslides and activities," Mr Kipping said.

"The days of caravan parks being low-cost aren't always around, so that's why you do need rest areas and open spaces to stay a few nights in safety at low cost.

"Certainly for self-contained vehicles there is absolutely no problem with them staying there.

"It's not that the grey nomads are going to the parks and want everything for free. They are willing to pay but they want freedom of choice. They don't need the bells and whistles that come with some caravan parks.

"They just need somewhere safe to stop and that's where service clubs can switch on to this and pick up some money."

There was a perception in grey nomad circles that the Sunshine Coast did not welcome them as economical facilities were not being provided.

"The oldies don't say anything and make a song and dance about it. If they don't feel welcome they will just drive on by and go somewhere else where they are welcome," Mr Kipping said.

"They are a constant stream of travelling bank accounts.

"Some spend a little, some spend a lot. They want to come to the Sunshine Coast, but it's all just too hard."

Word of mouth is still the go-to guide book for grey nomads.

"These grey nomads have plenty of time on their hands and they have the technology now and are using it. They are all talking," Mr Kipping said.

"If a town is not welcoming they will just drive by and it is not just one visit the town is missing out on, there are tens of thousands of motorhomes coming through Queensland.

"It's a constant stream of new money and they are travelling year round.

"I'd like to see them staying on the Sunshine Coast now. They would prefer to visit the beautiful seaside places we have to offer, but they can only travel where they can."

In the Sunshine Coast region there are camping and rest areas at Coochin Creek, Jimna, Booloumba Creek, Steve Irwin Way and Browns Creek while Beerwah is preparing to cash in on the goldmine.

Half of RV users use both caravan parks and rest areas, but statistics show that for every night they are willing to stay in a caravan park, they will spend two in a more economical rest area.

Sunshine Coast Destination Limited chief executive Steve Cooper agreed the grey nomads were a tourist market which towns ignored "at their own peril".

"The Sunshine Coast does a reasonable job at recognising the motorhome market but there's room for improvement," he said.

"What we need to happen is a coming together of industry associations, council and Sunshine Coast Destination to strategise in terms of meeting the needs of these grey nomads. We need to undergo change to better service this market."

The grey nomads

There are 400,000 RVs registered in Australia.

An estimated 80,000 RVs travel around Queensland each year.

Biggest- spending travellers in the domestic tourism market.

40% of RV owners are pensioners; 24% are pensioners with private income.

Spend on average $700 per week and up to $20,000 on their travels.

77% of RV owners are prepared to pay up to $10 for a rest site.