Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat … and all the best camping spots are getting booked as holiday destinations roll out the welcome mat.
Already there have been reports of some ‘early-bird’ campers leaving vans at popular free camping spots weeks in advance – notably along the Murray River – in a bid to ‘reserve’ prime locations for the festive period.
And, of course, this is also a time when would-be spontaneous campers are thwarted by ‘ghost campers’ who book a site at a national park, and then simply don’t show up and don’t cancel.
The arrival of online booking requirements for most national park campsites appears to have compounded this issue.
Camping at stunning Trial Bay, Arakoon, is very popular over the holidays. PIC: NPWS/Glen Ellis
Having said that, there are still options for grey nomads who haven’t yet nailed down their Christmas holiday campsite.
For example, in New South Wales, a National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS) spokesperson said that, as of late last week, almost 200 of its more than 365 campgrounds still had some availability for the week after Christmas.
Not surprisingly though, the most spectacular coastal campsites – like the recently upgraded Trial Bay Gaol campground at Arakoon on the Mid North Coast – are in extremely high demand.
And, in Queensland, popular camping areas such as the Cooloola Coast, K’gari and Bribie Island have been booked out for months.
A national parks spokesperson said new regulations regarding ghost camping were introduced earlier this year.
“A person must attend their booked campsite within 24 hours of the permit start time (from 2pm onwards),” the spokesperson said. “Campers found to be ghost camping in Queensland national parks, state forests, and recreation areas can face on-the-spot fines of $322.60 … and the maximum penalty can be as high as $3,226.”
A Parks Victoria spokesperson said its 131 bookable campgrounds were currently around 70% full through January.
“Outside Melbourne, it’s still possible to book incredible campgrounds at popular sites in parks such as the Buchan Caves Reserve, Budj Bim National Park and Grampians National Park,” the spokesperson said. “And, if you prefer a more spontaneous trip, there are more than 1,000 free campgrounds in national and state parks across the state … these sites are first-come, first served.”
In South Australia, the majority of national park campsites are full for summer but there is availability at spots such as Bool Lagoon Game Reserve, Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, Coffin Bay National Park, Coorong National Park, Fowlers Bay Conservation Park, Lincoln National Park, Loch Luna and Moorook Game Reserve, and Ngarkat Conservation Park.
“This year’s bookings are on par with previous years with some availability for last minute campers,” said an SA national parks spokesperson. “Customers are advised to continue to monitor the website for cancellations.”
In Tasmania, where a new online booking system is in the pipeline, campsites at popular locations such as Freycinet National Park and Fortescue Bay are, of course, heavily booked.
“Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is procuring an online booking system which will enable visitors to pre-book PWS products and plan their trip in advance, providing reassurance and the confidence to explore regional areas,” a PWS spokesperson told the Grey Nomads.
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
“Stayin home for Xmas..no driving in ma car”…!!
We’re staying home in the airconditioned comfort of our beachside home.
We’ll begin our travels again late February after the Christmas/New Year rush has finished.