The scourge of ghost camping is continuing to haunt the Victorian Government, as its decision to scrap fees at national park campsites comes under sustained fire.
Anecdotal suggests that the practice of booking a campsite and then not using it without cancelling the booking has surged in recent months.
And the trend is apparently being fuelled by the removal of site booking fees in the state’s national parks this summer.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, recently went to the ‘booked’ Tidal River campground at Wilson’s Prom and found dozens of campsites sitting empty.
Some sites seems to have more ghosts than flesh-and-blood campers. PIC MONTAGE: Cizza
“Sadly, many people have booked campsites and then not turned up, leaving the booking website and signs up saying ‘Campsite Fully Booked’, but dozens of them sitting empty,” he said. “It’s a shame people are so thoughtless but this could’ve been avoided with some foresight … require a refundable deposit or re-let sites if someone doesn’t show up within 24 hours etc.”
Mr O’Brien described the free camping initiative as ‘a monumental stuff up’, which he said might have been based on good intentions.
“Several campers stopped me as I had a look tonight to complain at what a waste it is, with international visitors and many others turned away when there are sites sitting unused,” he said. “This has been repeated around the state and will certainly have robbed many communities of vital summer income as visitor numbers are artificially depressed.”
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A refundable deposit is probably the best way to go but finding a happy medium between a paltry amount and an excessive amount might be a challenge.I would certainly be happy to pay.
Small deposit doesn’t work in WA. Too many campers now to cater for the selfish. Full whack up front, non refundable after 1 week from start date.
Weed out the committed from the selfish.
Just first in best dressed. No bookings at all, because clearly it doesn’t work. Some campgrounds have too many rules. Free camping, no rules, no bookings. We should be free to go where please at anytime and anywhere.
So what happens when 100 people turn up to 10 sites? How many do you think will camp illegally? Who Wants to drive 500km hoping? Not me! It can probably work well for a lot of the year. But at Christmas and Easter forget it. I have no idea why anyone serious about turning up would be opposed to a paying a refundable deposit (and I don’t think that making the deposit too small is a good idea either)!
We booked and stayed at Sheringa Beach and Lipson Cove on the Eyre Peninsula, SA, in early January. On checking once we arrived, Sheringa Beach was booked out online but had more than half the sites free. I booked Lipson Cove last minute for one night and snagged the last campsite available online. When we arrived and left the next morning it was under half full. I believe that, as with any other booking, if you don’t cancel within the cut-off times, or you don’t show, you lose your money. Simple.
It’s just a sign of the times Michelle. The ME GENERATION has now made way for the “STUFF YOU GENERATION.”
Spot on.
Right on
A fifty percent deposit and no refund would cure the problem. If all sights are free, first in first served. Cut out the booking habit, of just in case we get there or can’t get in at the other place. Then it could be a 5.00 p.m. cut-off time and empty sites come open to those requesting one. Do something before areas are avoided because they are not reliable.
The people who fail to cancel should be fined, Simple I think $250/day should do it.
Entirely predictable – in fact many did make that prediction. A cheap attempt at buying votes by the Victorian government that may end up having the opposite effect to what was intended.
When visiting Exmouth it was the same. Full full… so we drove to the camp host who allowed us to camp but if someone turned up we agreed to move on. They didn’t turn up at all. Not good enough!!!!
If it’s fully booked and empty, stay anyway. Enough travellers doing so and any complaints.
Then, just Maybe, authorities may do something about multiple bookings.
Here’s hoping, though I don’t think so as they’ve been paid. Free money, no worries of how many are inconvenienced.
Injoy the complimentary free camp.
We have had occasions in NSW, specifically Jervis Bay, where all the weekends are booked out and weekdays are free. We don’t go because we can’t get a week on the same site.
We have just spent 9 months on the road in QLD / NSW and South Australia returning to WA our home we spent many a night in free or low cost parks as most national parks had fully booked sites yet when you past through the camp area it was half full
sorry this is not a very good system
simple put RANGERS back on to collect fees on site first in best dressed stop being stingey employ some people
Agreed
I’ll second that.
Yep, that’s a good solution.
the whole idea of booking is a fiasco brought on by our big brother governments at all levels. I am sure first in best dressed did not cause that many headaches, if they are really only half full
I believe this is just another government control, “Please can I camp” situation where we have to beg big brother.
A rego number is usually recorded when booking a site. It would be easy to block the number of any no-shows from booking future sites at any national parks for a designated time – say 3 or 6 months. Cheaper than fines and all computerised. Would hurt offenders much more than losing a booking fee or fine.
Got it right with this excellent suggestion. Kick the bums of those who ruin everything for the rest of us.
I agree that a check at say 6.30 by a ranger on the empty sites compared to a check on the rego of the person who booked and blacklisting that person for a period of time perhaps even making it two strikes and your out but this would require a ranger to check these sites and they seem far and few between.
We just spent 4 days in our caravan at Tidal R and yes, on one day, it was about 50% full, yet the park was supposed to be fully booked out. What was frustrating was having to move camp site 3 times to have our 4 days, especially when no one turned up on the site you vacated. And we won’t the only ones having to move sites. We agree with other comments that a deposit eg $200 could have been charged at the time of booking and refunded when you presented yourself to the Office at Tidal R.
We also noticed problems with the booking system. 1. When you click on the Manage My Booking link National Parks sends you in an email two days before you are due there, you are taken to a Sign In page. If you made your booking without going though the Sign In process, why would you want to go through the hassle of signing up to cancel your booking. 2. If you had made more than one booking as we expect many people did, the booking system is confusing if you are looking to make a cancellation, as it refers to itinerary numbers with one or more booking numbers which don’t clearly associate to booking dates.
Our experience was exactly the same at Tidal R this week
The cancellation process needs to improve as well. You can’t cancel on short notice.
We came early to our site at Wilsons Prom and didn’t like the location. Found and booked another camping site, but where not able to cancel the first one.
Felt really bad.
Send an automatic “please confirm” message a few days before arrival. If there is no confirmation, cancel the booking. Make it VERY EASY to cancel the booking
I agree. We’re full-time traveller’s (nomads), thought I’d try to book ahead with some of these free-camps-ALL BOOKED ☹️. We’ve managed c’parks and often had no shows, especially on busy times- very disappointing We like to use c’parks, free-camps, low cost camping.
I say have there credit card details with a deposit $$ and if a no show they lose there deposit. If they do show up deposit $$ refunded. I’d be happy to do that.
We love staying at National Parks as it’s still low costing for us and we really don’t mind having to pay.
Why can’t they have a pay station on site. With technology today surely they can set up a satellite pay station so you just arrive and pay. There’s one at Burdekin Dam caravan park qld. Worked very well. It’s better than getting there and finding out it’s not what you wanted and get stuck with an unsuited site that you have already paid for.
What were the issues that drove the push for online booking in the first place? Was it necessary? Was it a money grab? Did communities nearby request a change? Is it possible to go back to no booking, first in best dressed, no spaces left move on. Something obviously has to be done. There have been too many glitches in the present system.
Can’t believe people don’t realized it’s the greenies and tree huggers booking these sites so nobody can go there.
Now that’s thinking outside of the box. Very possible.
Not just tree hugers, but campers who want the place to them self,s booking multiple sites
The whole system is stuffed, bring back rangers or some one to collect money.
We live in western australia
Same goes on here
I overheard a woman in a Darwin caravan park saying this is what they do all the time. Book a bush campsite & not show up if something appeals elsewhere. Nothing more than self centered & selfish. But that pretty well sums up today’s society.
How about we take off the booking all together, it could just be first in best dressed like it used to? Maybe use cameras to read plates at the entrance?
Yes, Tidal River is bad. To possibly overcome this situation the normal booking fee should be charged, with a refund issued after arrival or when the booking is cancelled.
Yes refundable bookings would have stopped this situation but know it’s turned into a farce and stopped people visiting these area’s. We looked to book after coming back from Tasmania but it stated all booked out and I’m sure the ghost booking is stopping people like us visiting and spending money in your area
Missed the chance to stay at Tidal River in Feb, after everyone’s gone back to school/work. The whole 480 odd sites were full for the whole month. I highly doubt it! I emailed Parks Vic to complain and offer 4 suggested solutions but it’s the relevant Govt dept that’s responsible, I was told. They couldn’t change anything at all.
MANY Doctors appointments etc send you a text message and or email the day before to confirm Y Yes or N No for the appointment. Victoria send a text message saying …. Your camping trip is coming soon. Can’t go. Click the link in your confirmation email to cancel your booking so someone else can enjoy it. Thanks. HOWEVER…. why not change the message like the Doctors etc system so that if they reply N No its quick and simple instead of trying to find the booking email amongst many and if they don’t confirm or show up by 12pm or set time, the booking can alert the local ranger to check and cancel as a no show. The reason no to simply cancel is because some may be travelling outside mobile phone coverage. Something like this idea may have been better as people can’t be bothered to cancel.
Go back to no bookings. First in best dressed never had empty sites then and it puts a stop to people over hogging prime sites.
We went to the eyre peninsula last year and tne site we had booked wasnt suitable. We tried to cancel but it won’t let you if it’s less than 24 hours ( i thi k that was the time frame). As it was the weekend we couldn’t contact them to.cancel as they only work Monday.to Friday so that campsite stayed empty for the whole weekend. We tried to sp the right thing
I agree it is a problem in most States. We recently spent a month camping around Tasmania
In national parks, however, where they have a booking system but one that does not nominate a particular site. This means you get to pick a site when you arrive and get to stay on it.
Beware of the WA (Govt booking system). Deposits are much too low. People book a number of sites and even book sites at different locations. They probably pick one at the last minute and go, leaving any other sites booked but vacant.
The whole deal is that DEPOSITS ARE TOO LOW. With camping now so popular the Govt sites need to be attracting only the serious bookings. The full bookin fee up front, non refundable later than 1 week prior to first date of the booking.
People that book multiple sites/places are ruining it by being selfish or waiting to see where “the group” wants to go at the last minute. UNFAIR. Too many people enjoying camping to cater for the selfish or couldn’t care set.
We are currently travelling WA and have been here 7 months now. We have found it so difficult trying to book and coordinate our trip. The booking system is rediculous. I think either get rid of the system altogether or if they have to have a booking system charge a bond (deposit) Dont most of the camps have a camp host? Dont they mark off who arrives now. so If someone doesnt turn up they loose their bond (deposit). Make it $200. Substantial. This could be charged on your credit card if dont turn up. I also think increasing the cost of the camps per night is not the answer either.we are already paying too much in some camps. Camping used to be an affordable holiday.
We arrived at cape conran coastal c.g.was told by ranger only 2 sites available,and it is huge campground.more than half the sites were empty and stayed that way while we were there for 2nights,such a shame.
Prime example. So unfair to the people struggling to book sites.
We as a group actually were discussing this last night and threw a number of suggestions in the hat and the most agreed a refundable substantial deposit be issued and refunded on leave of the site and if no show be used as needed.
If you book a caravan park and pay the fees and don’t turn up I’m more than sure you wouldn’t get a refund
There should be a ranger to inspect if they’ve turned up. Maybe a time frame for set up or cancellation. Also rangers should be contact able by phone.
Not just Victoria. A caretaker/manager is the ideal option but that person will end up being abused etc, for just doing their job. (Like a parking officer is/was) no easy solution. Refundable deposits need to be substantial. Interstate the fee is under $10 per site 1 person. Sites are booked and fee forfeited because it is insignificant. People are selfish greedy and not nice. Except for you and me of course. Sarge.
I recently booked a site at the popular Thredbo Diggings Campground only for my circumstances to change and I at least cancelled the booking to free up the site ( a simple process in the booking conformation provided by NPWS). I now have booked the site again and have received a sternly worded text from the NPWS asking that I confirm the booking and advising me that if I did not turn up by 2 pm they reserved the right to reallocate the site. As I have to travel some distance and booked the site weeks in advance I find this attitude over the top as I have always done the right thing when booking in the past with NPWS.