RV FEATURE
body. It could be a state
forest, national park where
fee collection is difficult, a
wayside stop on a major
highway, or an overnight stop
maintained by a community
group such as the Lions Club.
And on the odd occasion,
you’ll find a special place on
private land.
A free camping spot is
often characterised by a lack
of facilities; some may not
even have rubbish bins. So
you must be self-sufficient,
with your own water, toilet,
cooking and power supplies.
Rarely will you enjoy
these spots on your own;
overcrowding is common, with
many people seeking to save
their pennies.
If adjacent to a major
highway, you’ll need to
contend with the roar of road
transport all night. In addition
to overcrowding, rubbish
can be an issue. Bins, where
supplied, are often overfilled,
with rubbish left to scatter
across the landscape. Without
toilet facilities, keep an eye
out for unburied human waste
and toilet paper confetti
left flapping in the breeze,
particularly with the increase
of backpacker vans, those
Kombi-style campers without
an onboard loo.
State forests can be a haven
Another day in paradise.
for trail bike riders, so keep
that in mind if you are planning
a quiet weekend somewhere.
I remember camping in the
Victorian High Country on
a number of occasions at
Dargo, O’Tooles Flat and the
Thompson State Forest, where
bikes were ridden from dawn
to dusk. Worst still is if there
are kids in the group, as they
just seem to ride around the
campground all day.
Beware of free camps within
a township near any man-
made obstacles, such as
train tracks and roundabouts.
The constant noise of tyres
over the tracks or vehicles
braking, changing gears and
re-accelerating can be an
annoyance to some.
Last of all is the beauty of
the landscape or, more to
the point, the lack of it. Sure,
there are some exceptions,
but many free camps are free
for a reason. They are just
not always the best place
to be — you’ll need to shell
out for that!
LOW-FEE CAMPS
Showgrounds and national
parks are prime examples of
low-fee camps. Showground
camping has increased in
recent years with nomads
seeking lower cost overnight
accommodation rather than
caravan parks. Like free
camps, facilities are often
limited, so you’ll need to
be self-sufficient. The area
is usually managed by a
volunteer who wanders
around each day to collect
fees. Alternatively, these can
be council managed.
National parks are
our favourite camping
destinations, blending
beautiful locations, basic
facilities, wildlife and modest
fees. Due to their mandate
to balance recreation with
conservation, overcrowding
is never an issue, as to do
so would impact the delicate
environment and scare off
the wildlife that many travel
to see.
gorv.com.au
7