Not all grey nomads are huge fans, but there seems little doubt that online booking systems for camping in national parks are here to stay.
Not there haven’t been problems, of course. Systems have been overloaded, would-be campers in mobile reception blackspots have been left frustrated and, due to the clunkiness in some systems, many ‘booked’ campsites have been left unused.
However, the various jurisdictions are slowly trying to iron out the wrinkles and improve user-friendliness.
The WA Government, for example, has just upgraded its Park Stay WA online campsite booking system, and it says it allows for better management of WA’s campsites and gives campers more flexibility to cancel or change bookings.
WA's online national park camping system has been upgraded. PIC: Cizza
Under the previous system, some campsites went unused if the person who booked the site did not arrive on the date it was booked.
It is hoped the changes to the system will reduce the number of bookings that are made but go unused when campers do not take possession of the site on the booked date, arrive at the site late, or leave early.
WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby said both the Explore Parks and Park Stay WA websites would now be more intuitive and user-friendly.
“Camping is a popular leisure activity and many of WA’s campgrounds are extremely popular and book out well in advance, particularly during peak periods, meaning no shows cause frustration for campground hosts and other campers,” he said. “We know circumstances can change and the upgrades that have been made to the Park Stay WA booking system will make it easier for campers to change or cancel their bookings when required, meaning sites can be easily re-booked and more people can experience the enjoyment of camping in national parks.”
There are 65 campgrounds with 1,953 campsites available for booking through Park Stay WA. About 120,000 campsite bookings were processed through Park Stay WA in 2021, resulting in about 971,000 camper nights booked.
WA’s parks receive about 20 million visits per year.
Perhaps look at improving internet coverage – too hard to book ahead/change bookings when already on the road
I just wont use the system now, I made a comment recently on here about this same issue, and the majority of the comments were the same, no internet access at the time you just wanted to rock up and stay at a particular Nat. Park anywhere in Australia. You just can’t do that anymore. It may suit the young one’s to book 6 months ahead, but it doesn’t suit us oldies, to do that. No more spontanaety in accessing Nat. Parks anymore.
We have been camping winderabandi and north Lefroy for a while now and always have stresses getting a spot.
But the issue is not getting our preferred spot,but to find it empty for two weeks along with other premium spots.Particularly
during the eclipse( half full of If was to be generous).
Last year at North Lefroy the park had 7 camps at one point in school holidays.
It seems quite clear that there is not enough deterrent to NOT turn up.
Been able to cancel the day before is plain ridiculous.
Bit disgruntled as have somehow missed a few sites at winderabandi by literally seconds after midnight.
Need big deposits and much longer cancellation periods so genuine campers/ fisherman can get up there.
A clunky system that does not allow for communication black spots
whilst the people in charge continue to take advice from public servants who have no eyes or boots on the ground experience you can expect a dysfunction system why not take advise from ranger’s. camp hosts and grey nomads who used the old system and had no problems with thee working of the old ways
as an old camp host there should be a system where rangers can cancel bookings if in formed by the camp host of a no show and no refund and no future bookings allowed. these sites can then be be made available on booking system or some other way like only the
local ranger can approve the booking. Camp hosts usually have daily contact with rangers and can be informed which sites to allow people to use after no shows.
RANGERS AND CAMP HOSTS MUST BE GIVEN THE POWER OVER A COMPUTER SYTEM
which is failing itsoriginal reason for its use
9no refund and baned