If you’ve ever tried to book a campsite in one of Australia’s stunning national parks, only to find every spot mysteriously ‘fully booked’—yet, when you arrive, the place is half empty—you’re not alone.
A growing number of Aussie travellers are voicing their frustration over a sneaky trend known as ‘ghost camping’, and it’s threatening to spoil the great outdoors for everyone.
Meet Miriam Mace and Chris Maujean, a couple who’ve been living the dream on the road for five years.
Their home? A caravan. Their backyard? The whole of Australia. But lately, their adventures have hit a snag. ‘It’s not getting any better,’ Miriam laments.
‘We’re going to completely avoid Western Australia in the off-season because it was just insane last time. But it’s not just WA, it’s everywhere… there’s a lot of people that just miss out on bookings, even though the campgrounds are empty.’
So, what’s going on? Ghost camping is when people book campsites—sometimes months in advance—with no intention of actually using them. Maybe they’re hedging their bets, or maybe they just forget to cancel.
The result? Genuine campers are locked out, while prime spots sit unused. Miriam and Chris say it’s gotten so bad that even when they do manage to secure a booking, they’re forced to move sites every few days, despite the campground being only ‘half full’.
And they’re not the only ones. Michael Atkinson, better known as Outback Mike, found himself in a similar situation at a supposedly ‘fully booked’ campground in New South Wales last year. When he arrived, he was greeted by a sea of empty sites. Frustrating, to say the least.
Why is this happening? The culprit seems to be the online booking systems introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While these systems were designed to manage numbers and keep everyone safe, they’ve had some unintended consequences.
Now, with life back to normal, many campers are calling for a rethink. ‘The booking system needs an overhaul,’ Miriam says.
‘It wasn’t that long ago when national parks and campgrounds were free, and it was just first come, first serve… it would be great if it could go back to being free. But authorities are just clamping down everywhere… a lot of it seems to be about revenue these days.’
State governments are taking notice, but their responses vary. New South Wales is considering hiking campground fees, hoping that a higher price tag will deter no-shows.
Queensland, meanwhile, has taken a tougher stance, introducing a $322 fine for campers who don’t show up for their bookings. It’s the strictest regulation in the country, but will it work?
The bigger question is: what’s the best way forward? Should we return to the old ‘first come, first served’ system, or is there a way to make online bookings fairer for everyone?
Some suggest a refundable deposit system, where you lose your money if you don’t show up or cancel in time. Others think a hybrid approach—a mix of bookable and walk-in sites—could strike the right balance.
Of course, there’s another side to the story. For some, the ability to book ahead is a godsend, especially for those with mobility issues or families who need certainty.
But as Miriam points out, ‘Something just has to be done. It’s making travelling really not fun, quite stressful, to be honest.’
Camping has always been about freedom, spontaneity, and a sense of community. But as more Aussies hit the road, it’s clear we need a system that works for everyone, not just the early birds or the ‘ghost campers’.
Have you been caught out by ghost camping? Do you prefer the old-school, first-come-first-served approach, or do you like the security of booking ahead? And what changes would you like to see? Share your stories and suggestions in the comments below—let’s keep the conversation (and the campfires) burning!
Also read: Free camping to end in Victoria after ghost bookings and rubbish dumping
