Australia’s camping culture is a cherished tradition, offering a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with the great outdoors.
However, recent trends have sparked concern among camping enthusiasts and nature lovers. Once bustling with life, the sight of empty campgrounds has become an all-too-common occurrence, exposing a worsening problem affecting Australians’ ability to enjoy their natural heritage.
The Jamieson Creek Campground is a prime example, situated along Victoria’s scenic Great Ocean Road. On a recent visit, camper Ross Edwards was taken aback to find the campground deserted, despite the Parks Victoria online booking system indicating it was fully booked.
‘It was really strange as I was expecting it to be full…The only resident there was a wallaby in a fire pit eating someone’s leftovers,’ Edwards said.
This phenomenon, known as ‘ghost camping’, results from campers booking sites and failing to show up, leaving campgrounds empty while preventing others from using the space.
The issue has been particularly pronounced in Victoria, where the state government’s initiative to offer free camping across all state campgrounds has been met with no formal policy to address ghost camping.
This initiative is set to expire in June, but the problem persists.
The situation is not entirely clear-cut, however. Another camper reported that the same campground was ‘actually full’ when they arrived later in the day.
‘Traffic was pretty horrendous getting there…There were many cars that were arriving who hadn’t booked too and had to leave because there [were] no available sites,’ they recounted.
‘Maybe this photo was taken early in the day before the recommended check-in time? I think the scheme to offer free camping is fantastic.’
Despite the ongoing issue, Parks Victoria has relied on campers’ goodwill rather than implementing a strict policy.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos expressed his faith in Victorians’ desire to do the right thing.
‘The Liberal Party thinks Victorians wake up in the morning to abuse the system—I don’t buy that, Victorians want to do the right thing,’ he said.
Campers are sent an email one week before their campsite reservation, and another email, along with a text message, is dispatched 48 hours in advance, urging them to cancel if necessary.
Dimopoulos added: ‘We introduced free camping to get more Victorian families out having holidays in the regions and putting money back in their pockets.’
‘We want more Victorians to explore the great outdoors on Easter weekend, in addition to the 131 bookable campgrounds, Victorians can also stay at one of the 1,000 free camping areas that are first-come, first-served across the state.’
The debate over how to manage campground bookings is not unique to Victoria. Across Australia, states are grappling with the best approach.
Queensland has introduced fines for ghost camping, while New South Wales is considering a new fee system based on campground amenities to deter non-attendance.
Outback Mike, an Australian adventurer and vocal critic of the booking systems, argued that the solution is simple: abolish the booking system and return to a first-come, first-served basis, as it was pre-COVID.
He believed that the booking system, initially introduced to manage social distancing, has become a revenue-generating tool that exacerbates the divide between the rich and poor, restricting access to national parks for those who can least afford it.
Have you encountered ghost camping on your adventures? What solutions do you think could help preserve Australia’s camping culture? Join the conversation and let us know in the comments below.
Also read: This couple found a camping paradise with a ‘private beach’—discover how you can too
