It’s long been the assumption that rural towns and remote areas are keen to attract more tourists to boost their local economies … but they have to be able to accommodate them.
The housing crisis is changing the equation in many regions, and has local authorities wondering what the best way forward is.
Last month, for example, UNESCO granted World Heritage status to the Murujuga Cultural Landscape — an area of ancient Aboriginal rock art in WA’s Pilbara area.
The publicity surrounding the area’s million ancient petroglyphs is expected to trigger a sharp increase in tourist numbers … but, as well as presenting opportunities, the listing will present challenges.
More travellers are expected to make their way to the Pilbara. PIC: Mr Black / Pixabay
City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott told the ABC the area there was a chronic housing shortage in Karratha and the town was not yet ready to cope with an increase in tourists.
“We’re in an accommodation crisis at the moment,” he said. “We’ve got everything here we need, now we just need the entrepreneurs and those people that see the opportunity to come to Karratha and help us take advantage of it.”
Pilbara Tourism Association chair Barry Harrison said part of the issue was that so much accommodation was sucked up by mining and the resources sector.
“As we’ve seen around the world, in other locations, people will just flock to this region to see it,” he told the ABC. “Make no mistake — people will come.”
The City of Karratha believes an international airport is essential to make the most out of Murujuga’s listing. The ABC reports that the only international airport in the Pilbara is in Port Hedland, a two-and-a-half-hour drive further north.
And, of course, the issue is not exclusive to the Pilbara or areas that have World Heritage listed attractions.
Most grey nomads will have come across the challenges of finding caravan parks in locations across the country booked out weeks and months in advance, and struggled to even get into ‘overflow’ areas during peak periods in some towns.
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Obviously, grey nomads stay in their van, at a caravan park, free camp, National Park or like we have done a few times, stay overnight on a road reserve.
These days many people buy tough off road caravans designed for off grid camping.
Why would they be looking for a caravan park, there’s a lot of bush out there to enjoy?
Exmouth to Coral Bay at the moment is awash with visitors many of whom arrive with no bookings. Told they had to book online 6 – 12 months ago doesn’t help! Overflow camps are not readily available or very strict as in Exmouth where they only allow 3 days. And numbers are limited each day. And free camping is not allowed in the region. There are plenty of places that could be used for self sufficient campers but they are not opening them.
Makes it hard for the nomads that are not on a strict holiday plan!
I heard last month you had a code to book on line, and if you were lucky, you might get in.
There is a over flow area were they pay $60 a night for self contained vans.
If you want to make money from the world heritage listing, you don’t fly people in to the site and then out! You sell them the whole state, long tours, lots of experiences!
The worst place we found was Broome. Vans were parked up on the roadside outside the caravan park from daybreak waiting for folk to vacate. In the end we gave up and free camped behind a layby about 40 km east. We also had the same problem at Exmouth.
As you know more and more places are closing besides the excuses we all know the real reason ,this will mean lest tourists,and if we’re going to be forced into caravan parks they need to get together and work out a fair short stay price.I’ve been caravaning part time for over twenty years and what’s happening will only get worse if something is done soon
We could not get a camping spot at Karratha, as it was booked out for days.
That was in July 2025.
But, we saw red dog.
I feel I am the only one left in Australia, using a small tent in the boot of a Sedan ( remember them ) ?
Plenty of us still do
Australia needs to look at free camping in Europe and learn how to cater for campers .
,that system has been developed over 40. Years and works very well for local economies
I recently returned from the Pilbara. I was unimpressed at having to pay an entry fee to go to the limited areas where all but Aboriginal people are prohibited. $65.00 per person for half a day at Ayres Rock in Uluru was a bit rich. Most places are charging almost $500.00 per week to park on a piece of dirt with no power or water.
The way things are in the whole area for off grid set ups and everything else it will be some time before I contemplate entering that area of Australia, things need to change!
Maybe the councils could put in roadside areas for campers.for up to 10 vehicles. Every 500kms, Not too hard a task.and couple of bins
Spent the night in the free RV camp at Norseman. Town also has publicly accessible showers and toilets. More places should follow the Shire of Dundas and look at putting in these sort of basic facilities. They are aimed at RVers but take the pressure off
Looks like we’re cutting WA off our big lap… can’t stand greedy people searching for ways to get money from ordinary Australians.