"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished" - Benjamin Franklin

herbie · Guru

Broome in the news

barrie · Guru

backpackers are causing problems where ever they go and part of the problem is they never have enough money to buy goods .

vk6tnc · Guru

The other part of the problem is that they like to boast amongst themselves about how to rip off the Aussies.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

"Backpackers" are a very large % of the Australian tourist market.
We know that.
We also know what they prefer to spend their considerable $$$s on. They want experiences and to see things.
They don't want to spend their money on expensive accommodation and "luxuries" that they don't need or want. They are happy to sleep in the backs of their cars.
Problem is we try to ban them from doing that and refuse to provide what they need and are prepared to pay for.
Then we blame them for not complying with our "rules"?

Those same caravan parks are doing their best to close all the free camps and the low cost show grounds.

Clearly, they cause these problems themselves.

Cheers,
Peter

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Saturday 20th of April 2013 10:51:04 AM

GaryKelly · Guru

Yep, those kinda peeps are just crooks and should be treated as such.

the ginger nomad · Senior Member

I will probably be shouted down here but lets not always blame the backpackers! My wife and I have had great experiences with many backpackers over the years and both our kids backpacked around the world.From our travels we have seen all types of people doing the wrong thing including people overstaying in 24 hours camp areas.The mess that was left was not nice. I know that some backpackers do the wrong thing but let's not tar them all with the one brush.
John

Gerty Dancer · Guru

You're right GN, generalising is never ok. All sorts of people leave a big mess behind, some of them day-trippers. The ones you see camped in beach-side car-parks are mostly youngsters from overseas, and there is an element who promote "stealth" camping as vk6tnc said, so they get the blame for everything.

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

Here, here, or should it be hear hear, Ginger, the voice of balance... my eldest daughter and then son in law, backpacked Europe and I was greatful for considerations shown them by locals in each locale they stayed...they've never been involved in drugs however the respective authorities particularly at borders caused them much grief with constant searches/harrassment which actually made them wary of authorities rather than relying on them in any way and made their fellow backpackers band together for support...if the worst they ever did was sneak in and have a clandestine shower I'm more than greatful.....her experiences have now made her a fantastic primary school teacher here in Oz, and she put herself through teachers college by working at a backpackers establishment in Darwin, so backpacking has been highly beneficial for her..........live and let live...but I would never suggest we tolerate actual crime/theft/violance and disruptive anti -social behaviour...Hoo Roo

elliemike · Guru

vk6tnc wrote:
The other part of the problem is that they like to boast amongst themselves about how to rip off the Aussies.

So do you think Aussie Backpackers do not do this sort of thing when overseas. C,mon !

Have you ever seen Aussie backpackers overseas.

I have and been embarassed by a minority of them. But then, that is just called Larrikin behavour and seems to be aceptable.

The same goes for Yanks, English Scottish, Germans, Well we were all young once, Broke, and trying to use our wits.

blaze · Guru

Ok
Living in broome ATM
Why would the backpackers sneak into van parks to have a shower when there is numerous public showers at the beaches where they stay, just another unreliablr story as I see it. Why would any one want to pay the $350+ a week to stay in a broome park. I know if I was traveling in a van as they do where I would stay, they spend plenty when in town on food, booze and fuel. Broome lost james price point gas hub and they will soon loose the tourist too. I reckon house price average in broome will drop 30% in the next 12 months
cheers
blaze

herbie · Guru

I only posted what was on the TV, regarding back packers, i also do not see the back packers as the only problem regarding this kind of behavioure, In our travellling time we have seen some of the worst behaviour's from our own home grown.

msg · Guru

I have a wizz bang. It is fully self contained. Most of the time I don't need anything a CP can offer. I can fit into a carpark nicely and wouldn't make my self too comfortable. (awning and chair out) why should'nt I park in a legal car park at the beach?

Lorries · Veteran Member

It is not only back packers who sneak into caravan parks and use amentites. Was in Charlton just this week and they have a new RV park next door to Travellers Rest ensuite caravan park. The RV park is sign posted for self contained motorhomes and caravans. There was myself, a coaster and 2 caravans there. One car van let their grey water (remember this is a self contained park) go onto the brand new native trees (they do not like grey water) planted (this park has been open all but 3 weeks) and the other caravan found themselves one of the unlocked ensuites (I would say that this was an error on someone's part) and so were walking back and forward to it all the time from the RV Park. The ensuite side of the complex has a cost and you collect the key from the Pub or a shop. So you see it is not always backpackers. Doing this sort of thing will get a cost onto the RV Park as currently it is free and 2ndly using the facilities was stealing.

subaru · Veteran Member

herbie, i saw the snippet also on the tv,my view is that it seems all the guys had to do was approach the c/p

owner/manager and ask to use the showers and be prepared to pay something towards the cost.like most people should accept some one

has to pay for the privilage somewhere along the track.

herbie · Guru

Yes i agree with you re asking the c/ park owner to use showers .But the problem is these type want every thing for ziltch ,so that would not be a option for them.These type of bludgers only make it harder for the honest traveller ...as in the end these c/ van operators do have a business to run and make a profit , just like anyone in business, so in the end what happens they have to jack the site fees up to cover all this theft of (water / power/ Gas..So who pays ??? Us how do the right thing.Same as at the low cost sites not once have i haver seen a back packer pay towards the up keep of these places. (once we were asked in broken english by two people why we were putting money in the honesty box ) They thought our action was unreal due to the low cost site was un maned. Said they had been in Oz 9 months and never had payed for one site to park up. It made me realise how had it must be to continue for counciles to keep these parking spots open.

blaze · Guru

I sit most days and talk with other travellers here in the park I am a permant resi ATM and the stories they tell and talk proudly about on ways to save a dollar. Let me asure you the backpackers are a long way behind and have a lot to learn
cheers
blaze

herbie · Guru

Was sitting out side here last night, two gray nomads came over and started talking ..I was just stuned at what they appeared to be so proud of.

Short story !!! they were not married ,,no problem with that, but reason being is as they told us she ( sold her house back in Sydney ) He still own's his house in Sydney. So to get this Rent assistance they book into c/ parks in her name .Can you believe this , my head was spinning when they told us this. And Car in his mane van in hers. They get a pension each ...Im my way of thinking they are on bloody easy street ,i and the other few permanents were just pi...d off .We work our gut out for bludgers like this.

neilnruth · Guru

herbie I see they were from NSW. It is perfectly legit to register a car in one person's name and van in the other's. Most pensioners now do this in NSW as registration is free to pensioners. Isn't that the case in Qld? I can't comment on the rent assistance part.

-- Edited by neilnruth on Monday 22nd of April 2013 04:32:10 PM

herbie · Guru

Hi NeilnRuth , yes they were from Nsw , but it just threw us all the way they rip the system off ,not the fact that it ok for each other to have each vihicle in a name each , there was other things like he gets $500per week rent on this house,and then she books in to c/ van parks and gets rent assistance. And they said they never free camp as then they do not get the rent thingo back, They were on there way around Oz . I just think it is so wrong of people to do this kind of rip off , i bet a lot of people on the pension doing the right thing would love to have just a few of the perks these two have. I could go on for another 10 mins of the under handed stuff they were going on about .Every thing they owned was top of the range from Rig to tug.....I cannot answer if the rego deal in qld is the same as NSW , as i and my wife still work for 6/ 9 months a year.

-- Edited by herbie on Monday 22nd of April 2013 10:35:09 PM

ShortNorth · Senior Member

Just a quick comment on the Qld registration bit.

Up till two years ago we had two cars (and no van) - both cars had our personal plates fitted (had the plates for over 30 years). I had just retired, but my wife was still working part time as a school teacher. So we decided it was time to cut back to a single car couple - when she worked I then drove her to and from school (one or two days a week). We disposed of her car, but kept her personal plates (as she owned them for life). As a new retired pensioner I was eligible for concessionary registration, and used it on our now single car. In Qld, the pensioner concession is only on the rego fee, but NOT the compulsary third party insurance component.

Last year she decided to retire, and we decided to get an Aliner; we got the van registered with her personal plates fitted and in joint names. In Qld a married couple is only eligible for ONE concessionary registration - so, as the car was dearer to register than the van, the car has the discounted rego, and on the van we pay the full rego fee.

However, if I had a powered boat as well (which I don't), I could get concessionary rego on one boat as well as one car.

Regards, Brian

herbie · Guru

neilnruth wrote:
And now are you hoping they don't join this forum!!!

Never mentioned this or any other forum to them,as they would be the type to take take take and never contribute.They would be to busy sitting there shoper dockets and counting all their money anyway. Gee i am funnny today !!!!!! yawn

-- Edited by herbie on Tuesday 23rd of April 2013 02:47:25 PM

neilnruth · Guru

NSW is also only on registration. So pensioners get free rego (one vehicle only) and free licences.

neilnruth · Guru

Yes, herbie I can see why you were cross with the rent AND rent assistance. They were certainly going to be able to spend on their round trip. Maybe they will caught out somewhere along the way.

herbie · Guru

neilnruth wrote:
Yes, herbie I can see why you were cross with the rent AND rent assistance. They were certainly going to be able to spend on their round trip. Maybe they will caught out somewhere along the way.

To add insult to the wound, they recon they have never been so well off....She said she sold her house for almost a million dollars it was in Bondi NSW.We all laughed at this one though ...hangs around shopping centre's to pick up fuel vouches that people drop, then had the hide to ask all of us if we had any to give them.In all my born days i recon those two took the badge of the most shrewed and cunning gray nomads i have or will ever come across.So if you see White Nissan Twin cab (latest mod )and a Fulcher red and white (25ft) run a mile or move on.

neilnruth · Guru

And now are you hoping they don't join this forum!!!