Avoiding camping fees.

Santa · Guru

Avoiding camping fees.

jimricho · Guru

Residents of towns and cities very reasonably object to their neighbourhoods and downtowns being turned into de facto camp grounds. Whilst "grey nomads" may be less troublesome than backpackers, all "stealth campers" are treating the neighbourhoods and locals with contempt and giving us all a bad name.

PS Santa, if copying and pasting text into the post, copy and paste it firstly into Notepad, then re-copy and re-paste it into the post. This way it will remove any formatting and make the text more readable.

tcp99 · Senior Member

What Santa Said

Nomad246 · Senior Member

RE: Avoiding camping fees.

Santa · Guru

jimricho wrote:

PS Santa, if copying and pasting text into the post, copy and paste it firstly into Notepad, then re-copy and re-paste it into the post. This way it will remove any formatting and make the text more readable.

Thanks Jim, something I seldom do, certainly looks like rubbish doesn't it, unfortunately too late to edit it.

Santa · Guru

tcp99 wrote:
After all the discussion re free camping,freedom camping, and freedom of choice in another forum an article from javascript:mctmp(0); used a term I had not previously encountered "stealth camping" this in turn prompted me to Google the term and I must admit I was a little surprised at what came up, seems for some, outwitting the authorities by camping in urban environments is what it's all about.
This link goes into much more detail, if they cant control it in the US what hope do the authorities have in Aust, sure a council inspector may nab the odd unfortunate, however, it seems it is a thriving activity and most get away with it.
Not condoning the practice, simply commenting on an activity I didn't even know existed.
Guess I lead a sheltered life.biggrin

Thanks mate. biggrin

PeterInSa · Guru

I think "Stealth Camping" is a lot easier in a motorhome/campervan with onboard Toilet/shower, Grey water tank, Sola/inverter and block out curtains.

Peter

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Met some people down here in Tassy recently, they have been here almost six months and have spent ony $10 in camping fees!!!!!!

They told us they have parked in streets in cities, in the heart of a town, parked up late at night, cleaned their teeth etc, ready for a very early morning start - even done this int he heart of Melbourne!!

Have heard of people parking up in cemetary parking lots, factory areas etc.

sandsmere · Guru

G'day Jules ,

Yes , we've stopped overnight at both cemetaries and industrial areas . Never had a problem .

We are completely self contained , including grey water storage , so there is nothing at all left

there when we leave .

I don't consider it to be " stealth camping " though . We are not trying to hide from anybody .

At times locals will stop for a chat , and often we pick up a bit of local knowledge from them .

No harm done . We spend our money in the town . Everybody wins . smile

-- Edited by sandsmere on Sunday 9th of December 2012 08:02:06 AM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We camped at a cheap spot in SA where you paid $5 or so for a key to the shower block, no power. A campervan arrived after dark with 6 people in it (sounded like backpackers). They used the bbq facilities, and used the amenities by asking those of us who had paid, to open the door for them, then propped it open. They were gone as soon as it was daylight. Thats the kind of people who "stealth camp" and upset caravan park owners or councils, as they would have used plenty of hot water, washed their dishes in the hand-basins, and didnt even put their rubbish from the bbq in the bin. Makes things worse for us all.

countryroad · Senior Member

I thought stealth camping was an English, young person thing and an older Americans thing.

There's how to's from UK, but they seemed to all be young people.

Google "stealth camping" for a look at how others live.

I doubt gn's could manage it.....stealth means more than drawing the curtains, no noise...your van has to look and act like it's an empty van soooooo no snoring either.

It's an existance when you have nowhere else to go.

If someone chooses to stay a night in a cemetery and leave no sign...or park up in a factory area or carpark or even a street

and just moves on early, who's to be concerned. It becomes an issue when many are doing the same thing.