Latest news with #WikiCamps
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Van traveller shares best free camping spots as price hike looms for national parks
Whether it's international travellers or young Aussie families, more and more people are hitting the road for camping and caravan trips around the country. With the rising cost of living, it seems many Australians are opting for the more affordable domestic option of holidaying in campgrounds and national parks. Of course it's long been the remit of international backpackers to find a van and "do a lap" of the continent, and in the age of social media both young travellers and parents are sharing their hidden gems and tips on how best to see Australia's backyard on a budget. British backpacker Melissa Perry has been travelling up the east coast of Australia for the past three months, driving a van from Melbourne to Cairns. "There are some great travel Apps out there such as WikiCamps and CamperMate that show areas you can free camp in. However, I will say that some are not always the best or cleanest campsites, which is why I like to share on my social media the best free ones that can be found," she told Yahoo News. Her favourite places so far are the Victorian High Country, Mt Kosciusko, K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) and the Whitsundays. In 2024, Australians took 15.2 million caravan and camping trips, according to Tourism Research Australia. But the surge in popularity has coincided with increased reports of problems such as illegal dumping from caravan travellers and increased attention on the issue of ghost camping. "Free camps can often require you to book a space online especially in Victoria and NSW. A few free camps I've booked online I have noticed it says fully booked online, but when arriving there's been barely anyone there," Melissa said. "It's frustrating to know that people are booking out 'free camps' and never turning up, stopping others from being able to book a slot." While Victoria and NSW have both tried to tackle ghost camping, Melissa told Yahoo she's also experienced the opposite problem. "I've also booked a space, turned up and someone has already been in the space," she said. Victoria recently ended a statewide free camping initiative, citing ghost camping as a reason not to continue the program. Meanwhile, in NSW, the national parks authority is currently in the process of overhauling camping fees, in part to address the issue of ghost camping. Public submissions on that process closed in May, but when asked by Yahoo on Friday, the National Parks and Wildlife Service would not say when it will publish a summary of that feedback or when the expected average increase to fees will likely begin. 🚐 Caravan travellers called out over 'disgusting' find on side of road 📡 Caravanner's $600 mistake prompts simple Starlink warning 🚨 Calls for urgent action to tackle growing caravan crash rates Life on the road more 'hectic' than people realise Data from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia's 2025 Consumer Sentiment survey released this year found that Aussies are embracing the value of caravan and camping holidays, with 77 per cent saying they offer better value than other types of holidays. More than three quarters (76 per cent) saw the option as great value for money, while exactly half of respondents believed domestic travel offered better value than heading overseas. For Melissa, having a van is the ultimate freedom and actually the best way to see all the sights. "You see so many people traveling who hit all the tourist spots, but the real good bits are in between towns in smaller or remote areas," she said. However, it's more work than most people realise, she warned, describing the day-to-day lifestyle as "hectic". "I think people presume it's a really relaxed and chilled way of life, but in reality it's super busy all the time. Whether it be driving to the next location, planning a route, filling up fuel, doing a food shop, or even just finding somewhere to shower, the days just fly by." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal campers warned of $62,000 fines after discovery next to Aussie highway
Illegal camping remains a big problem in Australia's regions. Now authorities in one state are threatening serious action for offenders. Travellers in WA are being warned over hefty fines after a portable toilet was left at a rest stop on the state's South Coast HighwaySource: Getty/ABC Aussie litterbugs are being warned they could face massive fines of up to $62,000 if they're caught in the act in one state, after a major arterial rest stop was left in a "disgusting" condition following the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends. In Western Australia, the rest stop between the popular tourist towns of Albany and Denmark in the south was left in a disgraceful state after the recent public holidays, as campers and caravanners flocked to the region in droves, sparking renewed frustration among locals. Many feel the annual surge is beyond their town's capacity, with residents in the Shire of Denmark earlier erecting signs in an attempt to divert vacationers from dropping in. "We've had a huge influx of people," one local business older told Yahoo News last year after the anti-tourist sign went viral. "We just don't have the infrastructure to cater for the huge volume of people." In nearby Albany, where illegal camping is rife, rangers have begun fining offenders. But these efforts may have had an unintended effect — driving people to the outskirts and into rest stops, where they've left behind large amounts of rubbish and even human waste. A filthy mess was left behind at the rest stop between the WA towns of Albany and Denmark, prompting a warning from authorities over seriously steep littering fines. Source: ABC Popular rest stop trashed as campers flock in droves Images captured by the ABC show plastic bags, toilet rolls, razors, shampoo bottles, pizza boxes and even a discarded portable toilet left on the ground. According to Albany Mayor Greg Stocks, fines from council rangers aren't the only factor, with him blaming social media and online platforms where people share hidden spots to camp for the night. ADVERTISEMENT "When you've got TikTok and WikiCamps where people share information really quickly in that network, they'll just go somewhere else that's not being policed," he told the ABC. Stocks said travellers staying at rest stops were actually doing so illegally, but council rangers had little authority because the locations were managed by Main Roads. "It's really clear... you can't park in parks or you can't camp in public lands, beaches, parks or rest stops," he said. WA's Main Roads department is trying to tackle the problem, warning of fines for littering of $62,000 for individuals or $125,000 for businesses. ADVERTISEMENT It's the second major littering warning to make headlines in WA this week, after the Shire of Augusta Margaret River council warned of similar penalties when asbestos was found on a walking track in bushland near Bramley. "The dumped asbestos material took a couple of days to remove, as more asbestos bags were discovered over several days in bushland adjacent to Carters Road," Council CEO Andrea Selvey told Yahoo News. Dumping remains a big issue in the state, with Main Roads' Great Southern regional director Andrew Duffield saying locals are also to blame. "People are using those areas as an opportunity to dump household rubbish," he said. "They're [dumping] beds, washing machines, tyres, oil, asbestos, even from time to time household waste." Two young WA locals Liam and Jack, also known as Rest Stop Rescues, have travelled around the state cleaning up the roadside rest stops. "Our aim is to rescue these brilliant places from being removed from the map and inform others to do their part to clean up after themselves," they told Yahoo News last year. With BBQ tongs in hand, Liam Fellows and Jack Hall clean up campsites. Source: TikTok/RestSStopRescues At the Galena Bridge rest stop, an hour inland of Kalbarri, the picturesque waterfront spot — which has eight bins for travellers to use — the pair found a shocking amount of rubbish including 12 tyres, 38 bags of general rubbish, 750 drink cans and an 'eclectic' mix of miscellaneous rubbish including a number plate, boat turbine and asthma puffer. ADVERTISEMENT At other locations, they've found human faeces, broken Barbie dolls and an outrageous number of shoes. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
05-05-2025
- ABC News
Illegal campers leave 'unbelievable mess' on southern WA highway
Authorities along Western Australia's south coast are warning of serious financial penalties for roadside dumping after campers left piles of razors, rubbish and an excrement-filled toilet by a highway. A rest stop between the popular tourist towns of Albany and Denmark, about 420 kilometres south of Perth, was left in disarray after the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends. Both communities swell with tourists on holidays and long weekends, infuriating some residents. A portable toilet was left at a rest stop on WA's South Coast Highway. ( ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding ) Last year, locals in the Shire of Denmark erected a sign attempting to dissuade holiday-makers staying at a popular tourist town, while last month the City of Albany The moves appear to have pushed some campers away from the towns and into rest areas with fewer amenities. Razors and toilet paper were also found scattered across the rest stop. ( ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding ) Those who regularly used rest stops, like WA truck driver Glenn "Yogi" Kendall, said the situation highlighted declining etiquette and courtesy among some road users. "The long and short of it is horrible," he said. "If we pull up at night and we're trying to cook a feed in a barbecue and get stuff out, you're just walking around people's filth because they are just trash," he said. " No-one's got a shovel anymore, no-one goes into the scrub base … it's disgusting. " Glenn "Yogi" Kendall is frustrated by people misusing highway rest stops. ( Supplied: Glenn "Yogi" Kendall ) Mr Kendall said the problem had "skyrocketed" across the country with people dumping at rest stops instead of paying for campsites or tip permits. "It's disgusting that people dump stuff," he said. " It frustrates the crap out of us that people dump their household rubbish in somewhere I've got to stay overnight. " Mayor blames TikTok Albany Mayor Greg Stocks said he did not believe the city's policy of handing out fines and moving on campers had contributed to the problem. "I don't think so, logically you'd say yes, but when we had an issue at the waterfront at Christmas time and we moved people on, they just simply moved," he said. " When you've got TikTok and WikiCamps where people share information really quickly in that network they'll just go somewhere else that's not being policed. " Greg Stocks says people camping at rest stops were doing so illegally. ( ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding ) Mr Stocks said people who chose to stay overnight at the rest stops were doing so illegally but rangers had no authority to police the location managed by Main Roads. "It's really clear in the Caravan and Camping Grounds Act [from] 1995, you can't park in parks or you can't camp in public lands, beaches, parks or rest stops," he said. "But that doesn't stop people from doing it. Compliance is the issue in all of this." Dumpers face hefty fines Main Roads's Great Southern regional director Andrew Duffield said the department was trying to address the issue. Andrew Duffield says fines have been handed out to dumping offenders. ( ABC Great Southern: John Dobson ) "Fines are applicable for illegal dumping, and they're fairly significant fines, up to $62,000 for individuals or $125,000 for businesses," he said. Mr Duffield said there was a measurable correlation between illegal dumping and busy holiday periods, but also pointed out that much of the dumping included items from local residents. Cleaning products were also discarded at the site. ( ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding ) "People are using those areas as an opportunity to dump household rubbish," he said. " They're [dumping] beds, washing machines, tyres, oil, asbestos, even from time to time household waste. " He said overnight camping or dumping in the rest areas that prevented drivers from using them for their intended purpose could have a flow-on effect to other road users. Food cartons and scraps have been left at the site frequented by overnight campers. ( ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding ) "We want people to not drive when they're tired," he said. "We had a horrible Easter-Anzac Day period. We've seen 10 crashes on the network, including three fatalities. "We want people to stop and take a break when they're tired but we don't want people to abuse the rest areas." ABC Great Southern — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Thursday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
