If they are to do an RV facility in Darwin, it would need to have strict timing restrictions on, as Darwin is a place where extended stays are the norm, and it would likely fill up quickly, and then become difficult to get a spot in during peak season.

Possibly a maximum of a week, and a month before you could return, would allow a somewhat equitable use of the cheaper accommodation.

That said, not to much freedom camping around other capital cities, so Darwin is hardly an orphan in not doing it.

Does anybody know what was the main objection. Sometimes people reject things
just for the sake of it. Don't want changes syndrome.

Gundog, the issue is not about free camps though being a free camper, for me its a bonus. Its about going to Darwin for a visit and there is no room anywhere at a resonable price. (at least not when I went there) on not one, but three occasions. Darwin does not lend itself to safe free camping.

Gary and Barb wrote:

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Gundog wrote:

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Why do free campers expect to have access to a prime central location, where other caravaners pay $50-60 a night.

Please list the free camps near the CDB of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney

I dont understand this self entitlement attitude, if you can afford the fuel travel then there is no reason you cannot pay to stay.

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 ...except it isn't just about self entitlement. Free campers are just trying to avoid cramped, crowded, noisy sites that have been suburbanised with clipped lawns, playgrounds, cabins and full facilities. They want the natural settings surrounded by wildlife, bush, views and peace. Caravan parks are anathema to them.

If the market says we need only caravan parks, then it will happen. But, the trend is for the natural setting with campers becoming more self contained than even a decade ago, so localities need to adapt. They are not insulated from change.

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 I'm not sure how a free camp in Darwin would be expected to help anyone avoid cramped, crowded, noisy sites?  Its a city, space is limited, noise is all around, so any free camp there wouldn't be a natural setting.    Its one thing to expect free camping to be possible in country areas, its another to expect it to be provided in the middle of very expensive towns.

 

 Whenever the topic of free (& low cost) camps comes up the view expressed in Gundog's post is raised by some. To me it seems to be a judgemental view which fails to recognise the need for facilities for all. If folk can afford $50 to $60 per night to camp good on them, but to suggest that anyone who can afford the fuel to travel, can also afford an additional $50 to $60 per night is nonsense. Many, for example travel on minimal budgets/pensions, eg. one fuel tank per pension day. Rather than being subjected to accusations of 'self entitlement', these folk who travel on a shoe string, should in my view be congratulated for choosing a healthy & interesting lifestyle within the constraints of their financial ability.  There does not need to be any competition between the travellers of varying affluence. We are are all people 'getting out there' & the shared commonality of the travelling lifestyle would be a far more positive way of seeing the need for free & low cost campsites than accusations of self entitlement.  Many in our community who lack affluence travel, & should be encouraged to do so as it is a far healthier means of existence than most other options. 

Always on RV traveller forums when the topic of free camping is raised, there is a strong sense that free camps exist primarily for rv owners. That they are for everyone often seems to be forgotten. That is what seems to be self entitlement to me. Not all travellers are Rv'ers. Not all travellers own expensive RV's. 

If anyone is capable of & happy to pay $50-$60 per night to camp that's fine, but many of us cannot afford to do so, particularly those of us who travel fulltime. From my personal perspective, & as someone who chooses to free camp most of the time the idea of paying as much for a patch of ground & minimal shared facilities as I could rent a 3 bedroom house for makes no sense. Add to that that my preference is for bush camping using our own facilities, the occasional in town/city based camp for those sort of prices have absolutely no appeal. Also how I choose to spend the money I have is my choice, & generally the concept of 'value' is a significant part of those decisions. Others may have different values, but not the right to try to dictate those to me. 

Is the argument that folk of limited financial means should not be able to visit our cities? Or that they should only travel in more limited ways? If so ....really? Do those with more money have the right to dictate how others should live? 

Not understanding 'this self entitlement attitude' is hardly surprising when it is a judgemental label incorrectly applied. At the risk of making the same mistake, it seems possible to me that in order to make that mistake requires a sense of greater entitlement than others on the basis of greater wealth. Yes there are places where they can stay because they can afford to do so, just as they can afford flashy McMansions when folk in the same city live in far more modest accomodation. 

-- Edited by Cuppa on Friday 2nd of June 2023 08:46:57 AM

Well said Cuppa, agree 100%, I really struggle with some of the incredably harsh comments by some on this forum who are obviously wealthy enough and happy to pay some of the rediculous prices some caravan parks charge.
Spare some compassion for those who can't afford these prices, for whatever reason, and stop labelling them as " free loaders"
I am lucky enough to be not in that position, but are not totally heartless
Keep up the good work Cuppa
Basher

what it will finish up with, is people will avoid going to expensive places and will stay at places they can afford if enough people stay away, somewhere else will benefit.

if people keep paying the priced asked and there is no shortage of takers, end of story! supply verses demand.

the same goes for rental properties in the bigger cities, the price of them is going thru the roof due to a lack of supply, with desperate people prepared to pay exorbitant prices out of necessity with migrant intake increasing that will only get worse, people will have to move to less desirable locations.

we people of the nomadic ilk can move on if we find things not to our liking, some of us have bases we can return to. those who free camp can possibly budget for the occasional stay in expensive caravan parks should the desire arise.