Generators in National Parks

Jo I am pretty damn sure that generators are banned in all Australian National Parks.

Jo i don't know if they are banned or not but i believe they should be. Go solar it may cost a little more to set up but you will be glad you payed the extra when you are sitting out bush and the only things you can hear is silence. I have been in a few camp site with people running gennies and they are very annoying to listen to all through the night. I have been lucky on most occasions due to the fact that there is ussually some one else in the camp that it annoys more than me and they often tell the offending party to shut it off or they may find the damn thing floating in the creek. Go solar Go silent.

At the last Caravan & Camping show in Perth they had these niftly little Hondas with plastic housing on them which were extremely quite. I don't know the model but your nearest honda dealer would have them. I'm not bullsh*tting about what follows; About four years ago we were in the Warren River National Park in Southwest W.A. and a ranger came up to us and said that we shouldn't really have our Engel running due to the humming noise he could hear ten feet away while the tailgate was open. We paid our fees and he walked off - and yes he was a park ranger. I couldn't believe it, he looked like one of the old school type (about 60) so he was probably full of it.
RegardsLove the bush.
Chris

The Honda Eu10i and 20i are quiet- but if you are camped near other people they are not quiet enough. You might get away with running one during the day to charge- but don't even contemplate running it at night- you'll become VERY unpopular VERY quickly.

To my knowledge and experience generators are not banned in all national parks. For instance Karijini NP in WA has designated generator area and this is well signposted so that people who may be offended can choose to camp at a sight further away. There are quite a few from which to select. While I have to agree generators can be irritating, some are big and very noisy, our Nissan 650 is fairly quiet. Despite shutting it down at least an hour before the 2100 hrs limit we still drew applause and derisive jeering from the next closest camp area. Many people like us do have small generators and from our experience most comply with camp rules. What some people need to remember is that not everyone can afford to just ditch their gen and go solar-friendly as much as we'd all love to. Also extended travel with family required us to stock up on food at major centres and run our Engels as a freezer. For us running our generator was essential whilst complying with NP rules.

Jo

The replies so far are correct in that generators are not banned in all National Parks and indeed they have seperate areas for generators in some.
Like you we often have one of our engels running as a freezer and require proper power to keep this up for any long period.

I think as long as people are sensible with regard to the use of generators the ought not be a problem. Yes I have tried solar panels and they are OK but as you stated there are some problems with regard to moving them around and following the sun, and even then it is a loosing battle with 2 Engels.

The new Honda IO and Yamaha generators are by far the quietest on the market

Regards

There is a designated generator area at Windjana NP also and we opted to stay there even though we have no generator as it was "quieter" than the designated camping area so that's saying something. Couple next to us had a genny running and can't say as I noticed it at all. Have heard people snoring that's louder than a generator - what do you do 'bout that? Some people are way over the top with their expectations and I'd rather listen to a small genny rattling away to 9 or 10 o'clock than have that group of bikies or young blokes out on an Easter run.

Go Solar. You'll love the silence.
I use 3 x 43w panels and run an Autofridge no probs.
My worst experience was in the Kimberly when a guy nearby ran his LC diesel at 3000rpm for about 2 hours one evening to get his batteries up.
rgds Gerry

Yep your going to get a different answer every where you go, every Ranger will have a different answer generally. Basically go for solar but if you go for a small generator call ahead to the camp ground and see what the story is; or use the generator during daylight hours to charge batteries, keep away from others, talk to the ranger/field officer if around and he may give you a shut down time. Most people go to national parks for quiet otherwise they would go to a C'van park.
PS. Last year we went to Twin Falls (Cape York) and yes the most noisey thing was tour operators trying to chat up young tourists whilst bleep - putting on a Ocka accent and telling rude jokes.Cheers, Beddo
Surf KZN185
<- Nifold Plain, Cape York