The Grey Nomads Forum

BOWAN QLD - Intimidation tactics

msg said
03:16 AM Jun 8, 2016

Yes, its 2.45am. I was just woken by headlights shining directly in my windscreen. We are parked at a rest stop. No signs saying no camping though there are signs on most others around the area. . The person left a card advertising the local CP's that also stated that there was a $235 on the spot fine for parking on council and government land.

We had enquired of a local if we were allowed to park here and he said "yes" that it was owned by a local farmer who kept it mowed just for this purpose

I'll enquire in the morning, but at the moment, I am stewing that they would use such tactics (if it is legit) The local said that the CP's try to intimidate travellers.

We have been told that Bowen is not RVFT but this is downright cowardly/harrassment.

BY PASS BOWEN

-- Edited by msg on Wednesday 8th of June 2016 03:17:36 AM

Desert Dweller said
05:39 AM Jun 8, 2016

Sounds like you were parked on government land that's adjacent to the farmers property that he keeps trimmed but doesn't actually own. A common practice. All road easements are government land. We've been told by LOCALS that it's fine to camp in a certain spot only to find out that it's not. What you experienced was bullying tactics though & totally uncalled for.

Darmc said
06:21 AM Jun 8, 2016

Msg, the Camps 8 publication has no free camps listed for Bowen, if you don't have one it is a great investment and hopefully will prevent a repeat of your experience. It also gives you information if the stops are overnight or just rest areas. If you don't want to purchase a copy, most libraries have copies you can read for free. The information stops will give you the most up to date information and offer you other local information.

If you have time, drive out to Horshoe Bay and have a look, or to the lookout in Bowen, fantastic views.

Safe travels
Darmc

-- Edited by Darmc on Wednesday 8th of June 2016 06:26:37 AM

msg said
07:10 AM Jun 8, 2016

Darmc,

I have Camps and Wiki Camps. This is not marked on either.

If I am not allowed to park somewhere I expect at least a sign saying so. Then I might expect a call by a ranger at a reasonable hour asking me, politely, to move on which I would do.

I do not expect to have headlights shone in my windscreen at 2.30 am. Then approaching my vehicle to put something on my windscreen.

I am a veteran traveller and have never had this happen in the five years. So please don't be so patronising.

I will drive straight through Bowen and would not waste my time looking at anything. I will not buy fuel or supplies as I had intended.

sandsmere said
07:14 AM Jun 8, 2016

Good decision msq.

Bowen is a "drive through " town for many GNs.

Other towns along that area are much more friendly.

Darmc said
07:20 AM Jun 8, 2016

msg, I am sorry if you think I am patronising, I was simply trying to offer you some help. My apologies for any offence you have taken from my comments.
Darmc

brickies said
08:04 AM Jun 8, 2016

Bowen lovely coastal town with plenty of day rest areas , It easy to spend a day there and more onto a free camp out of town , 45 KLM north of Bowen there is a free camp at Guthalungra half hour drive , But if you want to stop over in town there are lots of caravan parks , If you drive through without having a look why be on the road exploring Australia , Your can't get a free camp at the Gold Coast , Poor Bowen has received a lot of bad press on this forum because you can't free camp in town but if you want to you can see Bowen and move onto a free camp out of town .

Bugsy said
09:30 AM Jun 8, 2016

I don't see Bowen as "poor Bowen" and to compare it to the Gold Cost is really laughable. This is just one more incident in long long strings of incidents over the years that just shows Bowen has a rather strange attitude to the RV tourist compared to many other towns in the far north. The old story of you reap whatsoever you sow is very true in the case of Bowen with it receiving much adverse publicity not just here on this forum but right across the spectrum.

Krusty said
09:37 AM Jun 8, 2016

I've heard too many bad stories about Bowan. I Always By-pass it and spend my money elsewhere. Krusty

Desert Dweller said
09:42 AM Jun 8, 2016

msg wrote:
Darmc,

If I am not allowed to park somewhere I expect at least a sign saying so. Then I might expect a call by a ranger at a reasonable hour asking me, politely, to move on which I would do.

Unfortunately there are huge numbers of areas that look inviting to travellers that do not have ''no camping'' signs but aren't actually campgrounds. Why not try camping in a nearby State Forest where it's legal to camp ALMOST anywhere. Your scenario is just another example of Queenslanders being increasingly fed-up with being invaded by the rest of Australia seeking THEIR Winter sunshine.

Cupie said
10:06 AM Jun 8, 2016

Whilst I can understand how the headlight incident would be very aggravating & is certainly uncalled for, I have to put in a good word for Bowen.

I have just returned from a memorable week there. I did however fly in & stayed with relatives who are long term residents.

It was fantastic with piles of Crayfish, Coral Trout, Oysters & other seafood, all enjoyed in perfect weather with unbeatable friendly company. We had a couple of days at Montes resort which is as good as any of the Whitsunday Islands. The week was capped off with a BBQ at a local's home who served up a mountain of scallops followed by BBQ Nannygai .... yummy.

We found the locals extremely hospitable & welcoming.

There seemed to be lots of space in the many Caravan Parks & lots of vans were turning up on a daily basis.

Perhaps your encounter was with a misguided CP owner who is frustrated slowly going broke along with lots of other local businesses and has lost the plot. They clearly need to think outside the square to get things going for the community.

I could easily live in Bowen.

ps. I may be biased as we don't free camp.

-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 8th of June 2016 01:40:53 PM

pomme said
10:51 AM Jun 8, 2016

Rest area's, comment above referred to them as DAY rest area's, i have never seen a sign, or seen on any documents referring to this, has anyone else ?

Pomme.

msg said
11:59 AM Jun 8, 2016

First of all its not about free camps. It was the fact that the council has people patrolling at 2.30 in the morning. Shining headlights and taking regos. Wasn't aggravating but frightening. We were 15ks out of town and we weren't disturbing anyone.

Anyhow, now at Home Hill. How wonderful. They'll get $200 fuel and at least an equal amount of groceries between the two of us. Guthalungra was overcrowded as expected. Even if we had gone further there would have been no room.

brickies said
12:29 PM Jun 8, 2016

And that's what happens when it's free it gets very crowded , The more free camper that boycot Bowen the better leave more room for me at the caravan park , Can't think a caravan park owner would we out at 2 30 am ,15 klm out of town chasing people for free camping

msg said
12:44 PM Jun 8, 2016

You can stay at the very expensive CP's if you like. If it wasn't CP owner then it must have been a council worker. Same difference.

-- Edited by Webmaster on Friday 10th of June 2016 03:46:41 PM

brickies said
01:19 PM Jun 8, 2016

The real point is you don't who it was but chose to bag caravan owners in Bowen and the town

HunnyBunny said
01:38 PM Jun 8, 2016

That type of behavior is unacceptable under any circumstances! Darn Gestapo's

Desert Dweller said
01:49 PM Jun 8, 2016

pomme wrote:
Rest area's, comment above referred to them as DAY rest area's, i have never seen a sign, or seen on any documents referring to this, has anyone else ?

Pomme.

Camps Australia Wide has hundreds of DAY USE ONLY REST AREAS listed. They are indicated by a shining Sun icon. We find it unbelievable that you have never seen a DAY USE ONLY sign in a roadside area. What Planet have you been on?

Cupie said
01:50 PM Jun 8, 2016

brickies wrote:
And that's what happens when it's free it gets very crowded , The more free camper that boycot Bowen the better leave more room for me at the caravan park , Can't think a caravan park owner would we out at 2 30 am ,15 klm out of town chasing people for free camping

On second thoughts, I suppose you're right. I can't imagine a CP owner going out at that time of night nor even perhaps a Council employee. Think of the overtime bill.

May have been a disgruntled person of some sort on their way home or whatever.

In any case, not a reasonable thing to do.

But I still like Bowen & will continue to visit. I can 'free camp' at a selection of Relo's places too. Both in the town centre or out along the Esplanade with ocean views.

Of course there is always a selection of good waterfront CPs to choose from to help out the local economy.

brickies said
02:23 PM Jun 8, 2016

Camps 8 have a list of camps in the book , Queensland section camp number 51 Bowen , It has a blue box with a yellow sun on it and and on the entry information it said day time only , So that why I said day rest only has DD has confirmed .

pomme said
04:44 PM Jun 8, 2016

Desert Dweller wrote:
pomme wrote:
Rest area's, comment above referred to them as DAY rest area's, i have never seen a sign, or seen on any documents referring to this, has anyone else ?

Pomme.
Camps Australia Wide has hundreds of DAY USE ONLY REST AREAS listed. They are indicated by a shining Sun icon. We find it unbelievable that you have never seen a DAY USE ONLY sign in a roadside area. What Planet have you been on?

Well i personally don't care whether you believe me or not, i'm not usually prone to telling lie's, but i have in all the year's going round Australia never seen a sign at a rest area that say's "resting in daytime only"

Bill B said
04:48 PM Jun 8, 2016

pomme wrote:

Well i personally don't care whether you believe me or not, i'm not usually prone to telling lie's, but i have in all the year's going round Australia never seen a sign at a rest area that say's "resting in daytime only"

No but you would have many with no camping signs, which means the same.

ken thomas said
05:47 PM Jun 8, 2016

If you are tired and need to rest, they cant force you on
Ken

dieseltojo said
05:56 PM Jun 8, 2016

This from the other post thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t62248772/lance-that-cf/
He He, to Quote a member.
We departed THAT forum & joined THIS forum, haven't looked back. More RELAXING & FRIENDLY. Job done.
Yep a friendly forum alright.

So any comment I make is taking sides and not seen as objective, is that how this works? hope not. Just remember folks how the listings get into the camps book. There are no signs sometimes yet good camping spots or rest stops exist.
If you reckon its a good place to stop post it to camps with a GPS reading and it will be in the next book every two years.

I suggest if it in doubt and just a spot you picked, good luck. What is the harm. And that member who reckons Queenslanders should hog the sunshine(I hope tongue in cheek), and us Mexicans stay away. A good idea. Put visas requirements on the borders, stop them coming into Qld.
I mean it worked in Russia for years..

Geeco said
05:57 PM Jun 8, 2016

We stayed overnight in Bowen at a caravan park last August and found the town friendly enough. The codriver is still telling our friends how awesome the seafood was we purchased at the wharf. We will return there on our next drive north.

goldfinger said
06:05 PM Jun 8, 2016

msq...I feel your discomfort and your umbrage at whoever's actions it was at 2.30am....perfectly understandable on your part...and I would have felt the same particularly if I had been driving all day previously..

I've heard it expressed through the years, that with any expressed problem...50% of folk don't really care, 40% are actually happy that it happened, and you are actually appealing to/enlightening 10% of open minded folk....I see little difference on this Forum these days..which probably reflects a larger Australian view..unfortunate but current reality....

The Aussie 'Fair Go', has been replaced by greed, I'm all right Jack, it's really all about me, and what is in it for me?......
You wisely drove on, and spent your money where it was likely more appreciated....

I carry 2 x 8' Kangaroo hide stock whips, one in Van and one in vehicle.......I wonder what 'fine' would have been quoted by the gutless one at 2.30am if I had decided to crack them in the dark.... besides the cost of a new pair of underdaks and cleaning wipes.....if I get sent to jail for life...it won't really be for long...and the sex may be more varied/ regular....lmao...Hoo Roo

msg said
08:10 PM Jun 8, 2016

Goldfinger, Thank you. I agree with your sentiments. I have been on this forum since it had only 1500 members. I don't post often because you can always guarantee that you will get responses as above, and like most of the old experienced members will probably post less and less. The forum has largely become irrelevant to me. but, during my travels I still seem to try to contribute to the forum those things and events that newer members may find helpful. But why do I bother.

Oh, by the way, if you have wiki camps, have a read of the experiences of people trying to park overnight at the rest stop opposite the Big Mango... That is definitely a no overnight rest area. There are no rest areas between Proserpine and bowen so you can't stop legally or illegally anyway.