National Park Camping Booking System

[MrLandy]

Every year I become more dismayed at the state of camping in National Parks. Recently I visited Lamingtin Ranges NP and the experience was, in a word, suburban. Very badly designed and laid out camping area and the booking system is atrocious. We actually ended up booking a new site at our expense when we arrived because the first one we booked was a gravel slab next to the neighbours gravel slab, no shade, no trees, no privacy. It's very clear that the park has given over camping to privatisation, with the local mountain top resort allegedly taking over next year. The freedom of camping in National Parks has almost gone. Site booking in advance is very problematic IMO. What does everyone else think?

[Homestar]

I just don't camp in National Parks any more. The few spots I've been are prohibitively expensive now, so I free camp elsewhere.

[austastar]

Hi,
I've only ever booked a campsite through the group organising a social camp (e.g. Melrose). Never needed to book; if it is that full, I'm not staying there.

In national parks we usually camp in a car park late evening at the start of a walking track, and then do the walk in the morning. Parks have never said anything.

Possibly because they have never seen us (well they did once, but after a chat, said they hadn't seen us).

Cheers

[Sitec]

We started out using National Parks, but they are funny about dogs, so we no longer use them here in SA. Understand that the dogs shouldn't be free range, but ours were set up beside the Land Rover on a long lead. The ranger that found us said 'dogs are not allowed due to the smells they leave'... I replied with 'what about the 4 diesel vehicles, barbecues, perfumes, foods, toilets etc'??? She said 'I hear you, but that's the rules'! :(