Just returned from South West Rocks (Mid North Coast NSW)
Stayed at a the Top Tourist Park on Gordon Young Drive a great spot ,well laid out and maintained, close to everything that one needs and a few that I could have done without .
Had ten days without the need to be overly security minded had the Black Lab with us and all was going fine until all dogs had to be out of the park by 20 Dec the start of the school holidays , something I wasn't told when booking in till the 28th Dec . Not a problem can appreciate the need for a dog free park once the snot machines arrive and the place turns into an Urban Gorilla training camp .
Unfortunately the park is close by to a n indigenous reserve who's occupants also appreciate the dog ban and the influx of kids to hide amongst and the increased pickings .
While sitting in the van watching TV about 2100 one of the black relo's entered the annex unplugged the mobile phone and charger along with an attached wallet on a lanyard and bolted in the blink on an eye before I could get up The ground staff cleaning the BBQ's gave chase as they saw the low life enter the annex and in a flash ran out an off .
Same day three fishing rods went from an onsite cabin .
I blame Captain Cook for the problems we seem to be having, if he had used deadly force then there wouldn't be a problem. Bloody Poms can't do anything right first up.
Would go to the same park again but only during dog season or if they make it legal to carry a 357.
Merry Christmas to all and save travels
tonyd said
12:20 AM Dec 23, 2008
Thanks, Wombat.
Piece in The Australian today warning against visits to Alice Springs. Apparently it's now one of the most dangerous places on Earth outside Bhagdad, Kabul and Pakistan.
Apparently they are selling T-shirts with the (accurate) message: Alice Springs -- Stabbing capital of the World.
It seems that the population of 220,000 got through a mere 47.2 MILLION litres of alchohol in 2006-07.
It's a sad day when we have to think of adding to the camping list: Take pump-action shotgun.
And what will Dudd and the Ghastly Gillard do about it? Bugger all.
Cheers, Tony
dave06 said
09:38 AM Dec 23, 2008
well this is way beyond ANY experience that I have ever had in my many years of trouble free camping, and it is with a saddened heart that I must accept that all is true
I will take alice springs off my list of places to visit and also south west coast
it is a sad day when ones belongings are not safe in ones own confines
not a good way to start a day, with a heavy heart!!
pawsoz said
06:25 PM Dec 24, 2008
Sorry that your stay got somewhat spoiled Wombat, that really is just not good enough. As for the Alice, living as I do in the Top End whenever I go any place it means a trip through the Alice once, sometimes twice. I usually independant camp either just South of Aileron or at the Finke or just North of Erldunda camps, but I have stayed in town too and I have never had any trouble at all, oh except once i copped a whole mouth full froma mob of very intoxicated guys in town from a mining camp. The Alice doesn't worry me at all and last time (September) coming home I shared the Finke camp with a small mob on their way down the track and we all had a great night sharing stories and drinking coffee, yep they were all off a dry community and just found it easier not to drink at all when travelling.
Annie
rocan said
09:56 AM Dec 25, 2008
stopped in Dubbo once.caravan park had 6foot fence topped with barbed wire round it.makes one think.but if u worried too much u would never leave home. live in nth qld for a while and u gradually learn to ignore the problem ones. rocan
Wombat 280 said
05:25 PM Dec 26, 2008
pawsoz wrote:
Sorry that your stay got somewhat spoiled Wombat, that really is just not good enough. As for the Alice, living as I do in the Top End whenever I go any place it means a trip through the Alice once, sometimes twice. I usually independant camp either just South of Aileron or at the Finke or just North of Erldunda camps, but I have stayed in town too and I have never had any trouble at all, oh except once i copped a whole mouth full froma mob of very intoxicated guys in town from a mining camp. The Alice doesn't worry me at all and last time (September) coming home I shared the Finke camp with a small mob on their way down the track and we all had a great night sharing stories and drinking coffee, yep they were all off a dry community and just found it easier not to drink at all when travelling.
Annie
Couldn't agree more there are some great ones out there . I've employed and also worked for them and when off the grog a more placid bunch you would take a long days march to find . Once on the grog the picture changes before your eyes .
My experience in SWR isn't an isolated case speaking with other visitors and locals it's becoming the norm and without any permanent police presences they know the lead time for a police response for Kempsey is about an hour plus unless doing there once a day patrol or doing RBT on the highway .
Now our local magistrate is moving to Kempsey court circuit the situation is about to get worse as he is one of these save the world advocates that has allowed the situation to get out of hand up and down the coast .
I just hope we get a kick arse judge in his place.
That 357 I mentioned now requires a belt feed attachment, if anyone has one contact me
Basil Faulty said
08:56 AM Dec 30, 2008
Yep it's a sad reflection on society.... Wilcania is such a lovely town with so much history ruined by brawling indigenous people who for some reason seem to be above the law, Likewise Bourke, have you noticed the shutters etc necesarry to protect your proprty in Bourke? Looks like Bagdad after dark.... Recently in Cobar I was chatting to a local about this very issue and they as a town have solved the problem by creating a "Work for Cobar" scheme where the welfare recipient has no choice but to work for his her handout shoveling dirt at the mine, they say 99.9% move on after a few hours any that stay a day or so are soon found worthwhile employment. Sounds to me like a very good solution. The problem is a cultural one, especially in Alice where the culture is funded by royalties from mines and land aquisition. The only place in Australia where you can acess your bank funds by joining the "no signature" queue...
Stayed at a the Top Tourist Park on Gordon Young Drive a great spot ,well laid out and maintained, close to everything that one needs and a few that I could have done without .
Had ten days without the need to be overly security minded had the Black Lab with us and all was going fine until all dogs had to be out of the park by 20 Dec the start of the school holidays , something I wasn't told when booking in till the 28th Dec . Not a problem can appreciate the need for a dog free park once the snot machines arrive and the place turns into an Urban Gorilla training camp .
Unfortunately the park is close by to a n indigenous reserve who's occupants also appreciate the dog ban and the influx of kids to hide amongst and the increased pickings .
While sitting in the van watching TV about 2100 one of the black relo's entered the annex unplugged the mobile phone and charger along with an attached wallet on a lanyard and bolted in the blink on an eye before I could get up The ground staff cleaning the BBQ's gave chase as they saw the low life enter the annex and in a flash ran out an off .
Same day three fishing rods went from an onsite cabin .
I blame Captain Cook for the problems we seem to be having, if he had used deadly force then there wouldn't be a problem. Bloody Poms can't do anything right first up.
Would go to the same park again but only during dog season or if they make it legal to carry a 357.
Merry Christmas to all and save travels
As for the Alice, living as I do in the Top End whenever I go any place it means a trip through the Alice once, sometimes twice. I usually independant camp either just South of Aileron or at the Finke or just North of Erldunda camps, but I have stayed in town too and I have never had any trouble at all, oh except once i copped a whole mouth full froma mob of very intoxicated guys in town from a mining camp.
The Alice doesn't worry me at all and last time (September) coming home I shared the Finke camp with a small mob on their way down the track and we all had a great night sharing stories and drinking coffee, yep they were all off a dry community and just found it easier not to drink at all when travelling.
Annie
live in nth qld for a while and u gradually learn to ignore the problem ones.
rocan
My experience in SWR isn't an isolated case speaking with other visitors and locals it's becoming the norm and without any permanent police presences they know the lead time for a police response for Kempsey is about an hour plus unless doing there once a day patrol or doing RBT on the highway .
Now our local magistrate is moving to Kempsey court circuit the situation is about to get worse as he is one of these save the world advocates that has allowed the situation to get out of hand up and down the coast .
I just hope we get a kick arse judge in his place.
That 357 I mentioned now requires a belt feed attachment, if anyone has one contact me
Recently in Cobar I was chatting to a local about this very issue and they as a town have solved the problem by creating a "Work for Cobar" scheme where the welfare recipient has no choice but to work for his her handout shoveling dirt at the mine, they say 99.9% move on after a few hours any that stay a day or so are soon found worthwhile employment. Sounds to me like a very good solution.
The problem is a cultural one, especially in Alice where the culture is funded by royalties from mines and land aquisition. The only place in Australia where you can acess your bank funds by joining the "no signature" queue...