Well said we agree needs to be managed not shut down as others have said you go local for food fuel etc great video guys Yackandandah is a beautiful spot aswell as other little towns around the area enjoy cheers from Melbourne 😊
Great to hear your thoughts on this topic .Totally agree that management of these areas is far better than closure. A big problem we have found is ghost booking of sites it will indicate very few sites available, but on arrival find the whole area empty. This is very disappointing. Is this a way of reducing visitors.
If ever there was a recreational representative body, then you guys should head it. I have no doubt you'll have support from all areas of recreation. i know I'm watching with interest and you'll have my support should you go down that path. Great work guys, love it!
Great topic guys. My thoughts - We definitely need a voice and representative on behalf of all Australian recreational campers/caravans. - I totally agree to a management approach rather than an outright ban. We should all be able to use any areas of our beautiful nation equally, but management needs to be in place as population and popularity increases. - it should be illegal for a government to place an outright ban for all of us from using these areas without putting in a management plan. Be that for climbing a mountain, 4x4 or camping. - There should be a fee for some areas and the generated income needs to go back into that area for management. Like you said, if we don’t manage this, where does it stop and exactly WHERE will our children be able to go in the future. Let’s try and stop the saying - ‘In the good old days’
Gold episode. Opens discussion. Understand the need to preserve the environment but camping will not stop so we need to manage it as towns have died by diverting travellers. I appreciate your stance on not sharing a site a local has confided to you.
A great video and well done on a well articulated and balanced view. Controlling numbers through a booking systems seems to work well in many areas. I hope you do get the opportunity to speak with some of the regulators at some point as your passion for both recreational travel and the environment would be a valuable asset. Look forward to catching up at Porepunkah
Good video guys. There is a organisation it’s called Australian Recreational Motorists Association They are a great organisation and you should get involved with them. They have many groups under them in all recreational aspects. ❤
I was considering becoming a grey nomad but I see more videos about free camping closures or over use so it’s put me off. I like your explanation and your idea of a body representing campers…..I’d vote you as President 👍👍
Victoria’s new booking system for free campsites is a disaster. The are fully booked out, however people are not turning up, or booking out spaces next them. The prom recently was fully booked out but only 1/4 full. The government needs to review this new system.
That's so South Australia, A management solution would have been a much better decision. Regional areas need to thank social media for keeping some of these areas through tourism alive. Such a shame.
If they banned all vehicles from Wauraltee I'd probably be less pissed. The fact that they listed the impacts that really only arise from 4WD's but still allow 4WD's is laughable. Being an Adelaide resident, Yorkes used to be a great weekend destination for a 1 or 2 night stay. When I first read the statement a few weeks ago, I decided to never return. F%$K em. I just won't bring my money down there. The entire peninsula is now on my shitlist. I will continue to travel & spend my money in areas that welcome us. /rant.
Thank you for being the sound of reason! We've seen other beaches and areas choose a management system over , which has worked really well! This appears to be a reactionary measure with little to no thought or discussion. Yes, I'm a little biased at the moment as we are planning to travel in 2026, and Wauraltee has always been high on our list. But the reasons given in the statement make little sense to me.
Well presented discussion topic outlining the considerations. Let’s hope there’s a common sense value approach for all. Self regulation is a historic failure so rules are the default answer to remove the problem. Doesn’t look like they even tried to manage this great location for all levels of interest.
@ we were only lamenting the other day the real need for a serious off road van as we won’t need it. The outback is becoming the real last frontier. Enjoy VIC Highlands, you can just about go anywhere you’re capable of in there. Great video.
The Waraltee Beach closure highlights a growing problem. With recreational vehicle accessory spending and camper trailer/caravan sales booming, more families than ever are seeking affordable holidays. However, rising costs of caravan parts and overall travel costs like fuel are pushing people towards free camping, putting pressure on locations like Waraltee. Instead of outright closures, we need sustainable management solutions that balance environmental protection with the increasing demand for affordable camping experiences. What innovative solutions can we explore to keep these areas open and accessible?
One key solution is increased investment in supporting infrastructure. Just as the surge in electric vehicle popularity demanded more charging stations, the boom in caravanning and camping requires government support at all levels to provide essential facilities like water and toilets. Coupled with this, enhanced education for caravan and camper owners about responsible camping practices is crucial. This approach not only protects the environment but also brings increased awareness and revenue to local councils and communities through tourism spending.
Another crucial solution lies in strategically expanding available camping areas. The concentration of campers at popular spots like Waraltee Beach highlights the need to better distribute recreational impact. Opening additional locations, equipped with the necessary supporting infrastructure (like those mentioned previously), would not only alleviate pressure on overused sites but also offer more diverse experiences for campers. This dispersal of visitors would allow the environment to recover more effectively and prevent any single location from bearing the brunt of increased tourism. By providing more options, we encourage responsible dispersal and a lighter footprint overall.
Having lived with a young family in an area that was a strongly popular tourist area in the summer season I have strong understanding of the decision to CLOSE the beach. As a resident in the small community having been flooded by literally thousands of visitors, some, not all but a small mob, of whom are NOT INTERESTED IN SOCIALLY OR ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, each year and the disruption to life (add an extra half hour minimum just to get to or from school or church or work) the emppty shelves in the local grocery, the raids on backyard chicken egg boxes and garrden damage frompeople 'wandering' across private property and endless denial of access to the local parks, beaches, lakes, fishing sites and others...I can fully understand locking off the beach BUT I do not see value in the exceptions listed...Seems a little political to me.
Really enjoy your channel. On the subject of the camp closure subject. Personally I can see both sides. I live very close to a small local beach in a small village. But have noticed more and more people and cars arriving by the year. Taking up all beach space and also road space in front of our house from parking. It does get frustrating to tell the truth. And the majority of these one dayers are from Melbourne in this particular case bring ling het skis and well basically hooning around. Kids just aren't safe. Getting to the point. This are as far as I k ow was brought to the attention by multi media. So again I can understand frustration. Maybe those that find places by talking to locals and the locals after talking to people feel comfortable enough to say yes you seem responsible I will tell you. And the camper should appreciate that. Simple. Do NOT share locations on multi media and appreciate you have been intrusted. Just a thought.
We live in a country town and the influx of people from out of town has increased in recent years to the point where long weekends, school holidays and some weekends and for some odd reason mid week, we just don't go out of the house, or choose our times very carefully. This is our home. Campsites we used to go to for a quick overnighter were empty now full of interstate plates towing 3t caravans into bush camping with no sites available. The other side to this the towns size and services exist to cater for the local population with some holiday makers and day drivers, but the area becomes so overwhelmed that the general consensus in town is that we all stay at home during these times, all of my work colleges and neighbours all do the same. The other side to this is the way people behave when in town and on local roads, yes they are local to us where we need to go work, take kids to school and sports, visiting our friends, going shopping, etc. Out of towners will just walk across the road in front us, and yes they do get run over, while driving then abuse if tooted or wave our hand at them. Rubbish gets tossed out of cars. We see Macca's on the side of the road and yet our nearest Macca's is 30km away. Another thing is the behaviour on the roads by vehicles and cyclists. All the roads around us are 100kms zones and yet we get stuck behind someone doing 60km when we are trying to get to work or kids to school on time or just go shopping. Often as we try to overtake they either move over center line blocking us (I have a dash cam reporting many to police) or accelerate then slow down when overtaking opportunity has passed due to double lines, this includes those towing caravans. Cyclists ride side by side sittings in the middle of the road in a 100km zone on hilly blind corner roads, they do get hit. Imagine if we went to the city and drove at 40km in a 60 zone or restricted traffic flow and tossed rubbish out the window, we would be abused to no end and no doubt the police would be paying us a visit. The sheer arrogance and disrespect of visitors to our region beggars belief. There is more to restricting campsites than just total numbers of campers and the effect on environment, these country towns and regions are where people live, work, play and go about our daily lives with the influx of visitors restricting the way we live. Numbers do need to be restricted.
Great episode and really well said
Well said we agree needs to be managed not shut down as others have said you go local for food fuel etc great video guys Yackandandah is a beautiful spot aswell as other little towns around the area enjoy cheers from Melbourne 😊
Great to hear your thoughts on this topic .Totally agree that management of these areas is far better than closure. A big problem we have found is ghost booking of sites it will indicate very few sites available, but on arrival find the whole area empty. This is very disappointing. Is this a way of reducing visitors.
If ever there was a recreational representative body, then you guys should head it. I have no doubt you'll have support from all areas of recreation. i know I'm watching with interest and you'll have my support should you go down that path.
Great work guys, love it!
Thanks for the encouragement! We'll see how things go. 😉
Great topic guys. My thoughts
- We definitely need a voice and representative on behalf of all Australian recreational campers/caravans.
- I totally agree to a management approach rather than an outright ban. We should all be able to use any areas of our beautiful nation equally, but management needs to be in place as population and popularity increases.
- it should be illegal for a government to place an outright ban for all of us from using these areas without putting in a management plan. Be that for climbing a mountain, 4x4 or camping.
- There should be a fee for some areas and the generated income needs to go back into that area for management.
Like you said, if we don’t manage this, where does it stop and exactly WHERE will our children be able to go in the future.
Let’s try and stop the saying - ‘In the good old days’
Gold episode. Opens discussion. Understand the need to preserve the environment but camping will not stop so we need to manage it as towns have died by diverting travellers. I appreciate your stance on not sharing a site a local has confided to you.
Thanks! It's a tough one for sure.
A great video and well done on a well articulated and balanced view. Controlling numbers through a booking systems seems to work well in many areas.
I hope you do get the opportunity to speak with some of the regulators at some point as your passion for both recreational travel and the environment would be a valuable asset.
Look forward to catching up at Porepunkah
Good video guys. There is a organisation it’s called
Australian Recreational Motorists Association
They are a great organisation and you should get involved with them. They have many groups under them in all recreational aspects. ❤
Cheers for the tip, we'll check it out!
I was considering becoming a grey nomad but I see more videos about free camping closures or over use so it’s put me off. I like your explanation and your idea of a body representing campers…..I’d vote you as President 👍👍
Victoria’s new booking system for free campsites is a disaster. The are fully booked out, however people are not turning up, or booking out spaces next them. The prom recently was fully booked out but only 1/4 full. The government needs to review this new system.
Totally agree. Should be book and pay. This is happening in WA too.
That's so South Australia, A management solution would have been a much better decision. Regional areas need to thank social media for keeping some of these areas through tourism alive. Such a shame.
If they banned all vehicles from Wauraltee I'd probably be less pissed. The fact that they listed the impacts that really only arise from 4WD's but still allow 4WD's is laughable.
Being an Adelaide resident, Yorkes used to be a great weekend destination for a 1 or 2 night stay.
When I first read the statement a few weeks ago, I decided to never return. F%$K em. I just won't bring my money down there. The entire peninsula is now on my shitlist. I will continue to travel & spend my money in areas that welcome us.
/rant.
Thank you for being the sound of reason! We've seen other beaches and areas choose a management system over , which has worked really well! This appears to be a reactionary measure with little to no thought or discussion. Yes, I'm a little biased at the moment as we are planning to travel in 2026, and Wauraltee has always been high on our list. But the reasons given in the statement make little sense to me.
It’s a shame they don’t see the value in a different system.
Well presented discussion topic outlining the considerations. Let’s hope there’s a common sense value approach for all. Self regulation is a historic failure so rules are the default answer to remove the problem. Doesn’t look like they even tried to manage this great location for all levels of interest.
Yeah, it's a shame it's come to this.
@ we were only lamenting the other day the real need for a serious off road van as we won’t need it. The outback is becoming the real last frontier. Enjoy VIC Highlands, you can just about go anywhere you’re capable of in there. Great video.
The Waraltee Beach closure highlights a growing problem. With recreational vehicle accessory spending and camper trailer/caravan sales booming, more families than ever are seeking affordable holidays. However, rising costs of caravan parts and overall travel costs like fuel are pushing people towards free camping, putting pressure on locations like Waraltee. Instead of outright closures, we need sustainable management solutions that balance environmental protection with the increasing demand for affordable camping experiences.
What innovative solutions can we explore to keep these areas open and accessible?
One key solution is increased investment in supporting infrastructure. Just as the surge in electric vehicle popularity demanded more charging stations, the boom in caravanning and camping requires government support at all levels to provide essential facilities like water and toilets. Coupled with this, enhanced education for caravan and camper owners about responsible camping practices is crucial. This approach not only protects the environment but also brings increased awareness and revenue to local councils and communities through tourism spending.
Another crucial solution lies in strategically expanding available camping areas. The concentration of campers at popular spots like Waraltee Beach highlights the need to better distribute recreational impact. Opening additional locations, equipped with the necessary supporting infrastructure (like those mentioned previously), would not only alleviate pressure on overused sites but also offer more diverse experiences for campers. This dispersal of visitors would allow the environment to recover more effectively and prevent any single location from bearing the brunt of increased tourism. By providing more options, we encourage responsible dispersal and a lighter footprint overall.
Well said
Having lived with a young family in an area that was a strongly popular tourist area in the summer season I have strong understanding of the decision to CLOSE the beach.
As a resident in the small community having been flooded by literally thousands of visitors, some, not all but a small mob, of whom are NOT INTERESTED IN SOCIALLY OR ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, each year and the disruption to life (add an extra half hour minimum just to get to or from school or church or work) the emppty shelves in the local grocery, the raids on backyard chicken egg boxes and garrden damage frompeople 'wandering' across private property and endless denial of access to the local parks, beaches, lakes, fishing sites and others...I can fully understand locking off the beach BUT I do not see value in the exceptions listed...Seems a little political to me.
Good points.
Bring back cheap community/local council caravan parks
Really enjoy your channel. On the subject of the camp closure subject. Personally I can see both sides. I live very close to a small local beach in a small village. But have noticed more and more people and cars arriving by the year. Taking up all beach space and also road space in front of our house from parking. It does get frustrating to tell the truth. And the majority of these one dayers are from Melbourne in this particular case bring ling het skis and well basically hooning around. Kids just aren't safe. Getting to the point. This are as far as I k ow was brought to the attention by multi media. So again I can understand frustration. Maybe those that find places by talking to locals and the locals after talking to people feel comfortable enough to say yes you seem responsible I will tell you. And the camper should appreciate that. Simple. Do NOT share locations on multi media and appreciate you have been intrusted.
Just a thought.
We live in a country town and the influx of people from out of town has increased in recent years to the point where long weekends, school holidays and some weekends and for some odd reason mid week, we just don't go out of the house, or choose our times very carefully. This is our home. Campsites we used to go to for a quick overnighter were empty now full of interstate plates towing 3t caravans into bush camping with no sites available. The other side to this the towns size and services exist to cater for the local population with some holiday makers and day drivers, but the area becomes so overwhelmed that the general consensus in town is that we all stay at home during these times, all of my work colleges and neighbours all do the same. The other side to this is the way people behave when in town and on local roads, yes they are local to us where we need to go work, take kids to school and sports, visiting our friends, going shopping, etc. Out of towners will just walk across the road in front us, and yes they do get run over, while driving then abuse if tooted or wave our hand at them. Rubbish gets tossed out of cars. We see Macca's on the side of the road and yet our nearest Macca's is 30km away. Another thing is the behaviour on the roads by vehicles and cyclists. All the roads around us are 100kms zones and yet we get stuck behind someone doing 60km when we are trying to get to work or kids to school on time or just go shopping. Often as we try to overtake they either move over center line blocking us (I have a dash cam reporting many to police) or accelerate then slow down when overtaking opportunity has passed due to double lines, this includes those towing caravans. Cyclists ride side by side sittings in the middle of the road in a 100km zone on hilly blind corner roads, they do get hit. Imagine if we went to the city and drove at 40km in a 60 zone or restricted traffic flow and tossed rubbish out the window, we would be abused to no end and no doubt the police would be paying us a visit. The sheer arrogance and disrespect of visitors to our region beggars belief. There is more to restricting campsites than just total numbers of campers and the effect on environment, these country towns and regions are where people live, work, play and go about our daily lives with the influx of visitors restricting the way we live. Numbers do need to be restricted.