free camp etiquette or lack of it

poor but proud

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Aug 25, 2018
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redlands
my wife and i are reasonably new at the whole free camp scene, as retirement got closer and we bought a van we started by going to established van parks to learn the ropes and as we became more experienced we branched out to national parks etc, now we are actually retired our first few trips have been a mix of van parks , national parks and free camps.
on our last trip i can clearly see why a lot of councils and small towns are trying to limit or close listed free camps, some free campers arrive at popular free camps then set up in such a way to exclude all others from the area they have chosen. how ?? block roadways , park along lakes and rivers unhook tow rig park it on the next site then run a clothes line through what would have been another three sites, run out yelling you cant park there you will spoil our view ,then stay there for weeks or even months dumping their black water around the lake or river if you think i am being over dramatic look on wiki camp for places like Corella dam ,and the real gem is Gregory Downs at the river camp. oh by the way dont steal the toilet paper or hand soap and if there is no rubbish bin take your rubbish with you and finally pick up your dog poo ps we had a really good trip
 
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Crusty181

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Feb 7, 2010
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Mentone, VIC
Not all freecampers are selfish grubs. Your right, the council should stop fluffing about. We were camped in Mystery Bay a few months back, and there were permanant camps dotted through the place being treated as private property, and some of them were vacant. I presume because you pay per person, you can leave your humpy empty for free
 
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poor but proud

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Aug 25, 2018
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redlands
99 percent are really nice decent travellers its the 1 percent who give us all a bad reputation ,the same can be said about backpackers, its the few who give the lot a bad deal
 

mikerezny

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Sep 11, 2016
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Mount Waverley, VIC
I agree, this is an ever increasing problem and has gotten well out of hand.

We had a bad experience this weekend in a Victorian National Park. I talked to a ranger and discussed the need for a Statewide contact number to report breaches of the rules and the rego numbers of the vehicles. In the first instance, a warning letter would be sent to the car owner noting that a breach of rules has been reported and this is a first warning and that your vehicle details have been put into the Statewide database. Subsequent breaches may incur fines or being banned from entering Vic National Parks.

It may not be the best or even a good solution. But the situation we have at present is untenable.

cheers
Mike
 
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poor but proud

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Aug 25, 2018
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557
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redlands
I agree, this is an ever increasing problem and has gotten well out of hand.

We had a bad experience this weekend in a Victorian National Park. I talked to a ranger and discussed the need for a Statewide contact number to report breaches of the rules and the rego numbers of the vehicles. In the first instance, a warning letter would be sent to the car owner noting that a breach of rules has been reported and this is a first warning and that your vehicle details have been put into the Statewide database. Subsequent breaches may incur fines or being banned from entering Vic National Parks.

It may not be the best or even a good solution. But the situation we have at present is untenable.

cheers
Mike
 

poor but proud

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Aug 25, 2018
446
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redlands
where ever you go you will run into bullies who think that rules are made for other people, but when you are forced to speak up or act to protect yourself suddenly they become the victims of society. who then try and turn it back on you ,it really becomes an issue when these bullies get the pack mentality and try and stand over or threaten their target . that sermon may upset some bogans amen
 

1DayIll

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Apr 26, 2016
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South Morang, Victoria
where ever you go you will run into bullies who think that rules are made for other people, but when you are forced to speak up or act to protect yourself suddenly they become the victims of society. who then try and turn it back on you ,it really becomes an issue when these bullies get the pack mentality and try and stand over or threaten their target . that sermon may upset some bogans amen
I agree, this also happens in caravan parks and did to me over Christmas last year where regular stayers acted like they own the place. I did complain to management but never really heard anything. I wanted to make it easier for the next people that stayed there. Sad part, the people at the park knew whjo i was talking about as soon as I started so had obviously heard it before.
 

Drover

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Nov 7, 2013
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98% Free Camper and I agree you do find some just plain grubs but a majority of the time have found wonderful friendly people more so than in Van Parks but the inconsiderate ones really pee me off, now after a quick survey of the place I can usually spot them, when heading to an unknown camp area I try to have a back up picked out, arrive early to allow for changes, I try to arrive at some places around midday, those that are leaving that day are usually gone and the new arrivals are still on the road so I can get best pic, taking into account wind direction, mongrel dogs and gennys on dispplay, Big Mal is usually the rig parked well away from others, I have found that flying my White Ensign while it attracts questions, few try to crowd me which is good...................stay away from National Parks and areas like them as I find too many holier than though types or just plain ignorant priks........out beyond is way better.
 

Crusty181

Well-Known Member
Feb 7, 2010
6,854
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Mentone, VIC
where ever you go you will run into bullies who think that rules are made for other people, but when you are forced to speak up or act to protect yourself suddenly they become the victims of society. who then try and turn it back on you ,it really becomes an issue when these bullies get the pack mentality and try and stand over or threaten their target . that sermon may upset some bogans amen
Youll find a lot of "fors" and not to many "againsts" on here I suspect
 

Drover

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Nov 7, 2013
12,723
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QLD
I'm staying out of that one, all my brilliant comments would attract the censor/P C brigade........