GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #24 | Page 35

RV FEATURE PAID BUSH-CAMPING Being a low-cost activity, camping sometimes can attract the wrong crowd. You know, the type that arrives in the wee hours of the morning and thinks it’s okay to wheel out the motorbike or chainsaw. A small camping fee tends to weed out this undesirable element who would rather throw that money at their next case of beer. Station stays have been a popular tourism initiative in recent years, providing an alternative source of income for those living off the land. And to the traveller, it offers an opportunity to explore station tracks and get a taste of the farming lifestyle. Like other bush camps, these venues offer a more serene experience with campers spread out over a wide area. A similar initiative is Youcamp, where you camp on private land. Often with only two vehicles permitted per camping area, you’re guaranteed peace and quiet. Then there’s Wildlife Foundations, where volunteers help the conservation initiatives in return for free accommodation or use of a camping area. WASTE MANAGEMENT Perhaps one of the less endearing aspects of bush-camping is dealing with human waste, be that general rubbish or the type that would normally get buried in a hole. Most national parks deal with the latter by installing long drop toilets. It doesn’t help lazy people, though. I remember camping near a minivan of female backpackers. In the morning, they hit the road, leaving their campsite dotted with tissues from the night before. Unbelievable! “ A SMALL CAMPING FEE TENDS TO WEED OUT UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS “ SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE / 35