Bruce highway discust and crowded rest areas

Crowded rest areas is a problem that is only going to get worse.

A lot of people think there should free camping areas right in major towns. They would quickly become slums because people have, by and large, lost respect for themselves, others, and their surroundings.

The current mantra seems to be: it's all about me. The "system" owes me. I want what is due to me "first", everyone else can get out of the way. And they can pick up my rubbish on the way.

If a Park owner complains about free campers he is vilified endlessly. Yet these free camp areas that people want have to be provided by the local Council. It gets its money from rates. If businesses fail, no rates.

I can understand, but don't condone, the attitude of the shop owners you mentioned. Dealing with the public is a thankless task.

We have just done a similar trip in a caravan. Yep there are lots of vans on the road, lots of trucks and other traffic as well. The Bruce is certainly not the best road in Aus, but I found the drivers courteous and and tried to be the same. Truck drivers were friendly and were appreciative when we pulled aside or into a lay by to let them past.

We free camped in some places and stayed in van parks in others. Met some lovely people in free camps and van parks. We always tried to leave a free camp cleaner and in better condition than we found it. Even replaced a toilet seat in one of them after someone had decided to bust the original, much more comfortable I must say.

Anyhow if we all accepted the fact that everyone has the right to use the roads and do it in a manner that doesn't unnecessarily interfere with others on the road we'd all be better off I guess.

Gone bush and notso , well said

Hi Rossy,

Yes, I have to agree with you about crowded rest areas in Qld - many of the ones with flushing toilets seem particularly so. Cannot understand why people set up a camp and stay more than overnight in them, particularly when most seem reliant on generators for hours on end.
We used to use them a bit but now are beginning to believe that van parks are a quieter and more pleasant alternative, especially the unpowered sites if they are suitable for vans.

The Bruce Highway seems much like the Princes Highway south of Nowra in NSW....heavy traffic and lots of vehicles, as there is no train line down there. Its a notorious stretch of dangerous road with many fatalities. I know because it is home territory for us.

regards,

Heather

Hello rossy ,. That is part of going to the bush , not much drinking water , dirt and dust , also we cannot do anything about the tides . I know it is not good having to put up with people that are not friendly but in the cities it is worse and it is unusual for someone to thank you when you hold the door open for them or let them into a lineup of cars . I admit the the upkeep of the roads is not keeping up with the extra traffic using the roads but it will only get worse . Everywhere is the same with the roads , patches on patches , falling apart because there is not a decent foundation under the roads , the powers that be should look at the books on how Romans built roads , some are still being used in the UK approximately 2000 years later . John Macadam also designed roads that would last .I first drove up the Bruce Highway 50 years ago , it is a better road now than it was then .The roads are better and wider today than 50 years ago . I am thinking of going to Thailand for a holiday too because it is so cheap but would you work the hours they do under their conditions for the pay they receive . I hope you enjoy your next trip . Vern

School holidays was it?. I wouldn't call the coast outback either. (Goat track) Bruce Highway is in better condition than the roads where we go.

The Bruce Highway has become much busier with the mining boom in Central Queensland. It is not surprising. I drive regularly from the Sunshine Coast to Gladstone, just short of the Stanage Bay turnoff and although the road is busy I do not consider it especially hazardous when driving with due care. Caravans on this road have always been an issue, especially at school holidays as now.

The highway has suffered major damage due to floods in the past couple of years and regular ongoing rain is not helping so extensive roadworks are to be expected. As a large proportion of the caravans would be from southern states, they are not contributing much to Queensland State revenue to support these repair and maintenance costs.

Not trying to be parochially 'Maroon' but simply expressing realities. The same problems exist elsewhere also.

In Thailand you ARE a millionaire..... look beyond the tourist facade at the living standard of the Thai people.

The way to stay sane on the Bruce Hwy is to treat it as part of the adventure of the deep north & a training ground for the Gibb R Road. Bill

Hi Rossy,

I hate being around the crowds more and more & the way our polly ticians seem to want to head get used to it cause we will be crowded no matter where you are.


I believe our infrastructure is a joke and we should stop wasting our money overseas or on overseas people and look after our own backyard. Maybe itll get so bad one day that we'll get money from some bleeding heart country.

Cheers Wilko

Rossy!! Its time you took that next trip to Asia, You can find, poor drinking water, monster tidal variations, unfriendly shop owners and when you realise that they are only interested in whats in your wallet, you may also feel unwelcome and uncomfortable over there as well! Most trips to Asia are a hideous 8 hours flying and when you get there, all you get is narrow goat tracks, oh and you get goats wandering around with the locals on those tracks. As for rest areas, have you ever tried to find a park to have a rest in Asia, almost none and when you do, most are filthy. You should feel at home in Thailand!! Michael

Thank you for the feedback. I wanted to put my thoughts to paper as I believe my recent observations are worth documentation. I have traveled extensively both overseas and in Australia. Kimberly's, Gibb river, Kalumburu, Hamersley Ranges, Gammon Ranges, Cape York, Tasmania, and have worked in East Arnhem Land, so I do think I have credibility to give an informed perspective.
I don't agree with poor working conditions in Asia, but I can't easily change that. I do appreciate the sincere friendliness and courtesy shown to me in Thailand and I make the comparison of what I can get for my money and recreation there compared with Australia at present which is a relevant issue worth consideration.
I have also experienced huge hospitality and friendliness across Australia but I have come across on a number of occasions a strange coldness from some business in outback in out of the way areas which is irksome. It's like "stick to the bitumen and get out of here".
Stanage Bay as I mentioned is not that far away, but it does have an "outback feel" which you normally have to go very far a field for. It is unique with free camping right on the ocean, huge mud crabs, unfenced roads, cattle, kangaroos, snakes, flocks of birds and the like.
The Bruce Highway felt dangerous to me I had to concentrate to excess every second which is exhausting due to high volumes of traffic and poor conditions. It is way behind and is third worldish. I had a Google when I got home and read reports of the Bruce being one of the most dangerous roads in Australia which resonated highly with what I observed.

Hi Rossy, you’ve provided a reasonable account of your experiences.

Australia has seen huge growth in people wanting to explore Australia, and this is evidenced by the growth in sales of both caravans and RVs, especially to the ‘Baby-boomers’. Many of these are now almost fully self-contained and this has led to a change in what is required from an infrastructure perspective. Many just want somewhere to park the van, or RV, mostly for free, and caravan parks are cited as being far too expensive, or not catering to the requirements of this specific group.

The problem is that without private infrastructure investment the problem will get worse, we can’t rely on local councils, or State and Federal Governments to provide it, besides they usually don’t have a good record on the provision of any type of infrastructure, the condition of the Bruce Highway stands testimony to this fact alone. But for private investment to occur there needs to be a return on the investment commensurate with the risk of doing it, and looking at the anecdotal evidence, caravan parks closing etc, the return is clearly diminishing where investment in tourism infrastructure is declining at an alarming pace.

And possibly (I emphasise – possibly) part of the reason we get the attitude you describe in some places is because those patronising these facilities , whether they be shops, or caravan parks, expect to pay next to nothing for the service. Over time this would tend to wear thin on anyone. Recently there was a post on here highlighting that those catering for tourism along the Savannah Way are finding it simply doesn’t pay – there is no money in providing services or facilities to this specific group of traveller any more...

The bruce highway is nothing more than a goat track and a discrace to Qld period and no excuses will make me think otherwise, what if is wasnt sealed? where would the money come from to seal it ?, in this age of mining wealth where is all the money gone!! I have just driven from Mackay to Karratha and the road from Broome to Karratha is like a landing strip, had to take photo's to show my mates !Its time we stopped being a nation of sheep and started getting sh-t done in our country not in everybody elses !!!
Jeff

This thread makes me think of the saying about commuting in the city . . . 'You aren't stuck in traffic. You ARE traffic !'

Bush camping all the way.

I guess it is just a sign of the times. People are taking cheaper holidays now because they are either on fixed incomes (pensions) or those of us that do work - our income is eaten up in taxes and so we don't have much disposable income left. People don't want to do without their holiday so instead of renting the beach house they're buying a tent or a caravan and hitting the road. Caravan parks are getting - understandably - more expensive and there are so many gadgets and gizmos on the market that make free staying comfortable. Lots of caravans now come with showers, toilets and washing machines. There is no money left so the government hasn't much to spend on maintaining the roads. And I guess the closer you holiday to "civilisation" then the bigger the crowds. Personally I like to go where there are no crowds and no bitumen and whatever strange people and appalling customer service we come across on the way we look on as part of the adventure.

Oh come on! is no one going to say it..................? ok, its Disgusting!