We spend the majority of our time bush camping but in between we like to stay at small town CP's. We've noticed that many people call them DONATION camping areas even though on the amenities block they have a schedule of FEES payable per night or week. Maybe it's because they are classed as DONATION camping areas but we've noticed that the DONATION BOX at many of them rarely has any money in it. We've stayed at many of them for up to a week & seen people come & go daily without DONATING. To these people we say please DONATE (PAY THE FEES) as if you don't, these great facilities will disappear.
No, we're not camping Nazis, ít's just a friendly observation.
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Cheers Desert Dweller.
Our land abounds in Natures gifts. Of beauty rich and rare.
Yes have seen the same thing I think the problem is loots of people cant read or think Donation means free or are they just mean .The river camp at Theodore in central Queensland put a coin meter on there showers and some people have started drive up to the show grounds to sneak in for a shower , Just recently at a caravan park the manger chased 2 backer packer out of the shower block who just drop in for a shower and give him a mouth full for not letting them use the showers. Another spot we stayed at great free camp Duringa west of Rockhampton ask for donation to help with maintenance out of 20 RV 2 donations .
We do most of our camping in National Parks and have noticed the same thing.
I like to think good of people, so if we do not see them do the registration process we just assume they have a season pass (Hahaha)
We concur 100% with your comments re the honesty box. And that is what it is a honesty box. But like you guys I know that there are those free loaders out there who think that it is their given right to pull up and camp, and then contribute nothing to the upkeep.
It is only through donations that we will be able to keep these "free camp sites" open for everyone's use.
How in the name of Mr. J.C. is a gold coin ( as a Minimum) going to send one broke.
C'mon, put your hands in those deep pockets.
But I guess that the people we are referring to here do not even read our comments.l
If we are aware of a donation box we donate, if there is a fee schedule we pay the fees. Simple really. Doing the right thing.
If we could not afford to pay our way when it is asked for then perhaps we should not be doing what we are.
I think it grossly unfair for people to bludge off everyone else like they do. I have seen some really expensive looking rigs whose owners will go to any length to avoid paying for anything.
Most likely IMHO people who are not members of this or the other nomad fora.
Frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
What we were getting at was although these places have DONATION boxes there is actually a set FEE per night to be placed in them, usually clearly displayed at the CP entrance or on the amenities block. It's not a case of shall we donate or not, if we don't pay up we're stealing.
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Cheers Desert Dweller.
Our land abounds in Natures gifts. Of beauty rich and rare.
We have been to many of these donation type camping areas and always donate but have noticed that some do not.
We have a system IE. We have small pay type envelopes and put our donation in thanking the caretakers for their hospitality and with our Rego no on it also.
One place we noticed the lack of those donating was at Jericho.
Yes I do agree please donate or we lose these great places.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
Until we bought a caravan 4 years ago we didn't realize how many dishonest people there were around our age. We probably spent too much time camped in the bush using our off-road camper trailer or camped near the beach with our boat. During our stay at Walpeup Community CP (Travelers Rest) the lady that cleans the toilets & empties the DONATION box made an unexpected appearance one morning before all the NON-PAYERS had pulled out. All of a sudden there was mass panic as they all ran across to the DONATION box on the amenities block wall. All of them saying to her that they were just about to pay their FEES before moving out. Red faced liars! We've seen this kind of thing happen time & again. Hang your heads in shame.
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Cheers Desert Dweller.
Our land abounds in Natures gifts. Of beauty rich and rare.
I can list 4 camps that we stay at regularly that are abused in terms of "length of stay" and non payment of a "donation". These camps do not ask for set amounts but a donation towards their up keep. One camp the volunteers drive 20klms a couple of times a week to clean.
Karalee Rock WA, Kimba Recreation SA, Jugiong NSW and Gunning NSW and I could add Nyah SA to the list.
$5- donation per night to us is well within reason.
Stayed at Jugiong last week for 5 nights, gerat place. One of the volunteers was saying the ones that don't pay are in the big rigs, that's how they got to afford them. Yes we paid our $5 a night.
Oh Linda We are in a Big Rig & always pay the necessary fees or donation. For years Keith & I did a lot of camp hosting for National Parks in WA & NT & you would be surprised at the antics some people go to so they can avoid paying.
I have to agree with all the above - the OP for raising the issue and everyone else for their observations
Over the last year or so while co-ordinating the national survey into "freedom-camping" around Oz, our survey team met large numbers of people who believed that "free-camping" was exactly that .... camping that was free of any cost to themselves
It needed to be explained that the collective noun 'free-camping' was meant as free-choice to determine your camp site rather than go-get-a-freebie for the night
Putting that aside, I have also seen too many campers in NPs and elsewhere ignore whatever donation box that was there, and in a few places, all I found was the remainder of the bolts that held the now-missing box onto a wall somewhere
Personally I would much rather see the good old fireman's helmet with a slot in it, sitting on the counter at the local supermarket or fuel outlet, with a sign closeby inviting a "donation if you have enjoyed camping just up the road / down the creek" whatever
We should not expect some one to pay for our comforts , A camp out in country side with no comforts can be free , But if someone goes to the trouble of supply some camping comforts and then we should pay some thing in return , Most of us would not object to paying our way by donation to help with cleaning and looking after the site , We hear so much about supporting business but the local rate payer should not be expected to pay for our comforts .Most of them can't afford to go on the road themselves but expected to help us with our lifestyle .
Just our thoughts but I think that we should probably use the name. " low cost camping" Not freecamping. This would give people a better impression of those on the road that are showing they are happy to contribute a fee. If you can't. afford $5 a night for an area that has a few minor services then you should probably not be on the road. It should also give some of the people who are using these places that a contribution is required and not everything in life is free
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Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store or under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.
satI can list 4 camps that we stay at regularly that are abused in terms of "length of stay" and non payment of a "donation". These camps do not ask for set amounts but a donation towards their up keep. One camp the volunteers drive 20klms a couple of times a week to clean.
Karalee Rock WA, Kimba Recreation SA, Jugiong NSW and Gunning NSW and I could add Nyah SA to the list.
$5- donation per night to us is well within reason.
JohnR
Agree John with what you are saying.
Length of stay abusers are lurking here and we know of a few, and we have exchanged PM's with others to identify some.
I'm waiting to meet one prominent GN member in person and he will know quite clearly what his actions do to others when we are trying to get into small beach side locations especially in Nth Qld.
Some actually "devised" systems to get around ranger visits and abused their privilege to stay there IMHO (and others on this forum).
One ranger used to tell his favourites when he would be back, so they could just stay on and OVERSTAY.
I waited ages to get into "the one place" I really wanted to get into, only to have a GN member bragging about how he overstayed, when we couldn't get in.
Not a happy camper.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
I used to have faith in the honesty & integrity of all & never really believed the stories of people STEALING from the small communities by using their facilities & failing to donate the requested "donation" of "small fee" in the HONESTY box.
Any you know what .... these people do not spend much money locally. They are the ones who complain about the cost of fuel or food in the remote areas & wait until they get to the next large town to spend their money.
How do I know ... I ask them & have seen it first hand. I can never understand the reasoning of these people!
But you know what happens, & I have seen it. The local council upgrades the park, puts in a caretaker or manager & the fees go from a few dollars to $15 or $20 to cover the costs of having someone on the payroll, onsite to collect the money that should have been paid anyway!
I still stay in these places & pay the extra, the ones who were the reason for the fee increases complain loudly & never go back!
Spot on Daryl the n with number I have seen with freezer so they only buy in towns that have Woolworths and Coles even cart long life milk because it to dear in small towns .
Minimising costs on the road is one thing - but saving money by expecting other people to pay for your travel (and life!) choices is quite another. A lot of small towns set up traveller facilities to attract people to the area, and ask only a nominal fee (like a gold coin donation for using the showers) to cover the costs of what they've actually paid for in the first place. So NOT paying the fee is actually very un-Australian - why would anyone want to rip off their mates in rural communities?
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Red Nomad OZ Find me at www.redzaustralia.com OR www.facebook.com/RedzAustralia
I agree there are many grey nomads don't think about anyone except themselves and who sneak out without paying and brag about it and you will pick them as frequent posters on this site.
I agree there are many grey nomads don't think about anyone except themselves and who sneak out without paying and brag about it and you will pick them as frequent posters on this site.
And there are plenty more who always do the right thing, are also frequent posters to this site.
Just our thoughts but I think that we should probably use the name. " low cost camping" Not freecamping. This would give people a better impression of those on the road that are showing they are happy to contribute a fee. If you can't. afford $5 a night for an area that has a few minor services then you should probably not be on the road. It should also give some of the people who are using these places that a contribution is required and not everything in life is free
We prefer to all it "Freedom Camping". We (collectively) are not free-loaders, and are prepared to pay our way as we go. We (collectively) choose low cost, donation, bush site or caravan as the case or need arises. This is our freedom of choice.
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DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
