Backpackers camping in Melbourne

barina · Guru

Backpackers camping in Melbourne

Happywanderer · The Master

I saw that on the news Judy. They all got tickets this morning. Had to laugh when questioned by the press. They said they are not doing any harm where they park, can't see anything wrong with it and please could the council put in a shower for them.

GaryKelly · Guru

That shot of the overflowing bins with the campervan parked across the street could be staged. Backpackers don't have a monopoly on making a mess.

Happywanderer · The Master

Totally agree with you Gary. I saw the story on TV, there was quite a line of packpacker vans. I never saw any reference to rubbish anywhere in the story.
Just that they were getting a good view of the bay and not having to pay for it. In a beautiful spot under trees, the signs said parking available between 3pm and 7am. I might have those times a bit wrong but it was late afternoon till early the next morning.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Except that we dont like big cities, if we were self contained, we might camp there ourselves, that sounds like a good spot!

wendyv · Guru

Heard an interview on ABC radio with a couple of German girls who were camping by the Yarra in an area much used by similar. They had received one warning from a council person but didn't seem fazed by it - said they'd already been there a week. Mention was made of some rubbish in the area - wine casks etc.

Sheba · Guru

Some-one mentioned the fact that they wouldn't be paying the fines, and as they weren't Australian Citizens, wouldn't be chased for it anyway when they were back home. Don't remember if it was a backpacker or a local.

Cheers,

Sheba.

barina · Guru

Resident's in the suburban streets have the campers as well, using their gardens and nature strips as toilets, front taps as wash facilities also loud music, drinking in the wee hours of the mornings. Sadly they are not just in parking areas admiring the views.

-- Edited by barina on Saturday 16th of February 2013 11:42:22 AM

Duh · Guru

They try it on in Perth parks and beaches, but get moved on by patrols, if on the beach front at least they have the chance for a free shower and toilets etc (and perhaps a bit of hand washing) but have to find other places to sleep overnight.

I was reading a backpackers campervan and car hire brochure yesterday at Perth Rail Terminal (they have a big display of free info for tourists there) and reading the prices they pay for the hire vehicles per day, can understand why they look for free camping spots if they can. I'm not defending them, just pointing out that an Aussie holiday with a hire van or similar is not all that cheap for them.

neilnruth · Guru

And they usually get provided with a Camps Australia book to know where the free spots are.

Duh · Guru

Some but not all as I found out from speaking to a number with hire vehicles during my recent trip, some had not even heard of it and I had to show them mine.

With the cost of caravan parks these days you can understand why they look for the free camping if possible when it is added to their hire costs.

Happywanderer · The Master

I met a great bunch of French backpackers at Girgarre in Vic. I think they might have been doing fruit picking. One girl lent me her key to the showers so I didn't have to go to Post Office and pay $30 deposit. It is a great spot for them as has showers, toilets, drinking water and dump point.
They were very well behaved, in the heat of the afternoon they lay around the park under the trees trying to keep cool. No noise at all.

Duh · Guru

The ones I met were mostly Swiss and a few Germans, also two Italians.

Regards the brochure I was reading (refer earlier post of mine), these were the hire people the brochure was about, see;

http://travellers-autobarn.com.au/

I was wondering why some backpackers use station wagons, apparently they are on the hire menu....

jimbo · Guru

I can just imagine the Lord mayor of Melbourne Mr Doyle He's be having a fit......I say Good luck to them Councils don't mind the money they spend Anyway it's not hurting anybody I'd do it right away If I thought I could get away with it

glassies · Guru

i agree jimbo, i reckon you should be allowed to camp near a beach or where ever you like as long as you keep the area tidy and
no rubbish left behind, australia is no longer a free country and becoming worse each year

tonyd · Guru

glassies wrote:
Australia is no longer a free country and becoming worse each year

Indeed, Glassies. But only because we are letting it happen. We need to get back to the principle expressed by Peter Lalor in Ballarat, 1854:

"We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties."

Cheers, Tony