Very Significant Reduction in Camp Sites over 2 Years

Probably a good point. Do you know of any other references which list free camp sites? Nearly all sites which have been recommended to us by fellow travellers are in the book. We subscribe to Caravan & Motorhome magazine, and to Free Camping and, again, virtually all sites recommended/named are in the book!

There has been a significant reduction in the area where we live (the Kimberley, Wyndham, GRR etc).

And mainly due to rubbish, damage to roadside areas (firewood collection), toilet waste and people found camping longer than allowed.

Grey nomads, visitors, overnighters and travellers, call them what you will, local communities, whilst loving the tourist dollar are fed up with their money being spent on services that do not seem to be appreciated nor generates a reasonable return.

I can only anticipate it getting worse, as Councils stretch the dollar further. Whilst many travellers do the right thing, it is the minority that would seem to have done the damage. And property owners are fed up with their roads being chopped up and corrugated by travellers who insist on driving at speed to 'ride the surface' out. They have to travel them far more often than visitors. It is becoming increasingly evident the 'grey nomad' is no longer looked upon as the cash injection it was. All too often very little benefit is brought to the communities compared to the costs of upkeep.

J&R,
I gotta agree with you when you see what some do at free sites.

I can't remember where it was but it does stick in my brain that is was 150k from a town. Water tank that was obviously filled by the shire and being drained into a well to do caravan. Toilet paper stolen is another is one, plus some of the filth they leave behind. Many seem to think others are there to clean up after them.

I know at Guthalungra the servo was glad when main roads put in toilets. Even though the main roads paid them to service their toilets they were happy to see the back of free campers. The trade they picked up from the campers just wasn't worth it.

Guess it is human nature.

RA.

Patrol is correct in this one guys. Lynton not sure where you got your information from but the number of CAMPS locations has increased.

Camps 4 claims "over 3,000 listings". Does anyone have Camps 5? It would be good to fill in the gap.
Cheers,
Kevin

From Camps 5 cover - Over 3,500 listings



Motherhen

Patrol GU IV: Don't judge a book by its cover. What alerted me to the possible reduction was my checking the number of Queensland sites listed in both editions: In Camps 6, there were 935 [Site Nos 1 - 935]; in Camps 7 there are 791. I then checked the sites listed in both editions for all States: Totals of 4966 in Camps 6; 3910 in Camps 7 - in my mind a very significant reduction Australia-wide.

The Proprietors of Camps Australia Wide have advised most of the sites removed as unsuitable were sites for day use. Only about a dozen overnight sites have been closed or changed to day use by local authorities.

When I have more time, I will check this out for Tas and NT [the smaller States which also have significant reductions.

Lynton.

If you have a closer look at the numbering you will find that the Camps 6 book has gaps in the numbering to allow for additional campsites to be manually added. This is what would cause the huge variation in your totals.

I am currently trying to get some figures on exactly how many sites we have in the POI files for Camps 6/7 that is loaded onto the HN6. I will hopefully be able to get them to you in the next day or 2.

While I am not saying that their has been an increase or decrease in campsites overall, the Camps publication would indicate that in fact it has increased.

As a few members have mentioned campsites that are being trashed are ending up closed and this is sad to hear and hopefully something that changes!

Hi Hema.
You are absolutely correct! I checked Camps 6 & 7 for gaps; but QLD only. No gaps in 7; but significant gaps in 6 [best seen at changes of routes]. As a consequence, many more sites [for QLD] listed in 7. I expect the same holds true for some of the other states, if not all! Some sites have closed and I have little doubt most closures are due to abuse.

We call oursleves the "lucky country".......Why?

probably because it makes us feel good about ourselves but the cliche originated to illustrate that we're lucky to have the natural/mineral resources that have kept us financially viable. Nothing to do with any tourist, political or jingoistic reasons.


Camps 5, 6, 7.......19? A decent enough guide but hardly the "bible" it's cracked up to be.

There is nothing stopping any of us doing a quick cleanup when we get to a sight. I know we should not have to do this, but it is the new "lay of the land" so to speak.

If we clean up some of the rubbish we see then it helps the councils to keep the sites open and stops the whole travelling community getting a bad name.

The other important thing is to call into the local community wherever possible and let them know that you appreciate the facilities they have provided and that caused you to spend money in their town. Be right up from about it so the message gets home. Only in this way will these towns be assured that their money is being well spent.

Think of it like this, if we merely call into town and refuel or pick up a couple of things without saying we are camped out at "whetever place" then they may think we are just travellers passing through and had to fuel up anyway.

Make a big deal out of their camp sites and make it clear that you are thanking them for such facilities.

I did this at baraba NSW and got a lot of good feedback, just as I was giving them good feedback.

The other thing is that many times it is locals that do this rubbishing of these sites as I have witnessed on one occassion. And what a mess they left behind too.

I made sure the council guys who came out to clean up knew who they were.

Cheers, Bruce.

I think pinko/red greenies might be too colour confused to hatch any plots. If Brown was still in charge it would be Brown's pinko/red greenies, maybe having a blue with some black fellas?

Hi Mike ,
Thats very colourful language

I couldnt have said it better myself ; )

Please see my response 4 of 4 to Patrol GU IV above

Yep I am in agreement with this.
Let everyone else use the dirty, crowded free camps. I have found some magic places by looking down tracks & finding a small area to set up in.
The trick to it is start looking early afternoon rather than leaving it to late in the day.
Lets not give away too many secrets though or we might lose our solitude!

Cheers
Stu