It may not be universally popular with grey nomads, but the online booking systems of national park campgrounds across the country continue to expand.
In WA, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has just added eight locations to its online booking system, Park Stay WA, allowing visitors to book and pay for their spots a full six months in advance.
The eight new online bookable campsites are at various locations in Blackwood River National Park, Rapids Conservation Park, Powlalup Nature Reserve, St John Brook Conservation Park, and LeeuwinNaturaliste National Park.
And the DBCA hopes that ‘ghost camping’ whereby campers book a spot and don’t turn up won’t be an issue.
New campsites have been added to the WA online booking system. PIC: DBCA
Assistant Director of Visitor Services, Rod Annear, said Park Stay WA enables people to cancel a booking up to one day before arrival if needed, so the campsite can be made available to another camper.
“The changes are about fairness, flexibility and assurance of accommodation on arrival,” he said. “Given the popularity of the South West as a holiday destination, people who can’t travel spontaneously due to work, family or other commitments, need the security of being able to book campsites in advance to guarantee accommodation.”
The DBCA says that, for campers who prefer spontaneity, last-minute bookings may still be available in some of the most popular sites on the day of their intended stay.
“Currently, sites in 69 campgrounds across the state can be booked through Park Stay WA,” Mr Annear said. “And DBCA is continually improving the online booking experience for our customers.”
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Nope, will not work as I know of travellers whom book a few days either side of planned arrival to retain flexibility in arrival. IE lets say a NP camp is popular so you book 3-6 months ahead for your week or 10 days but you are not sure on exact arrival date, so add a few days in advance and after your preferred week, its cheap insurance for a ‘holiday’ to ensure flexibility.
We arrived at a few NP campgrounds, spoke to others when we mention camp is booked out we are informed one or two sites remain empty for a couple of days before a camper turns up or they just dont turn up.
Campers providing phone numbers, camp hosts and active Rangers (which they hardly ever are in camping grounds) looking at who does and doesnt turn up and NParks threaten a black ban for campers booking extra unused days without calling in.Will NParks ever do this active monitoring, I think not as few govts will pay them after knock off time, often 4.15pm ish. Others may have good ideas but will NParks ever listen to outside ideas????
We have just had 3 nights at Lake Kepwari, which we booked online. We made an error in reading the signage and setup on the site opposite, but didn’t realise until after we had everything set up. As we were the ONLY people there we thought we’ll stay there, go back online and change the site, however the website sends a verification code to out email address – and we didn’t bring the laptop and don’t have email on our phones. So I called the specified phone number and spoke to an employee who informed me she could do nothing to change sending the verification code to my mobile not email, nor as not 24 hours notice could not alter the booking. Subsequently we stayed there on the wrong site having made every effort to rectify our error.
The 2nd day 2 vans turned up, and you guessed, it had booked the site we were on and the one next to it! We pointed out they could go on the site we had booked opposite or on the site on the other side. They were very unpleasant and insistent that we move even though it would have been an effort for my 81 year old partner. They called the ranger out who somehow talked them into a reasonable decision and he was able to alter the bookings! But it made for a rather unpleasant stay.
The system is inflexible, and should allow for rangers/staff to alter a booking, if needed, as was our case. Especially as by Friday pm there were the maximum number there for the whole of our 3 days – 5 vans from 21 sites!!