Campsites across Australia have become the go-to for family-friendly holidays in recent times. But scores of Aussies are also giving up traditional housing for a taste of van life, often relying on facilities found at caravan parks and camping grounds in national parks.
But an Aussie dad and avid camper has shone a light on a growing problem taking hold across the country and has called for a major shake-up at national parks nationwide as “ghost bookings” continue to frustrate the camping community.
Michael Atkinson, also known as Outback Mike, who appeared on the popular TV show Alone Australia, has taken aim at the failed booking system currently in place at many national parks whereby visitors pay a small fee ahead of their stay to reserve a spot. However, despite many appearing booked out, numerous sites often remain empty because of no-shows.
“I’m not having a go at National Parks. It is not their fault that people book and don’t show up. I’m just pointing out that a system, introduced for COVID distancing, isn’t working well and is no longer needed. My vote is to ditch it,” he said in a video on TikTok.
His statement comes after arriving at a “a fully booked campground in Kosciusko National Park” only to find it “80 or 90 per cent empty”.
“I just want to point out a problem with the booking system,” he continued from the New South Wales site. “Basically this is number 19 and I think there’s more than 20 sites here and only one in five actually has someone in them. But the whole place is booked out.”
Explaining the issue in detail he said “people book them out and they don’t use them” reiterating “it’s not a system that works”.
“If it wasn’t for this one last remaining site, I wouldn’t have been able to camp in the park,” he continued. “I would’ve had to go somewhere else and all these empty spots just go begging.”
Booking system ‘has proven useful’ in national parks
A spokesperson for National Parks and Wildlife Service, which looks after Kosciusko National Park, confirmed the booking system was in fact introduced as a COVID-19 measure but said bookings “have proven to be useful in other ways” since then, suggesting they have no intention to scrap the current system.
A booking system allows the park to “manage capacity and disperse visitors, as well as events such as floods and closures proactively” they explained. It also “limits the need for visits to search for campsites in peak seasons” and helps with “delivering targeted safety measures”.
When asked about the problem of “ghost bookings”, the spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia “NPWS understands circumstances may change after making a booking and encourages visitors to cancel any bookings no longer required to free up opportunities for other guests”. However it’s understood there are no refunds for cancellations.
Lack of cleaning an maintenance also a problem at campsites
“Visitors are surveyed after their stay at national parks and 90 per cent are satisfied. Complaints usually refer to poor behaviour from other visitors and lack of cleaning and maintenance,” they continued.
Concerns have also grown around vulnerable parks and beaches across the country being left in disarray, with messy campers regularly being called out for littering and “ruining” some of Australia’s most pristine spots.
Last month, hordes of campers descended on the Kosciuszko National Park, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, leaving behind mountains of “awful” rubbish, prompting calls for tougher penalties.
‘Ghost booking’ a problem across Australia
Swarms of Aussies commented on Atkinson’s video agreeing they too see the issue. “We have experienced this so many times too,” one said. Others agreed it’s “really annoying”.
But it’s not just in NSW campers have noticed the problem with some noting “it’s so bad on the west coast too”. Western Australia is home to some of the country’s most pristine parks and beaches, however many have become off-limits for travellers who struggle to book a spot.
One family previously told Yahoo they’re forced to make booking up to six months in advance to ensure they get a spot, or leave it to chance. But this could mean ending up in an expensive overflow showground campsite or parked illegally roadside.
There are 3,712 campsites on 270 campgrounds across WA managed by DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service. Out of the 270 campgrounds, there are 76 bookable and 194 non-bookable.
Campers encouraged to cancel to avoid others missing out
DBCA Assistant Director of Visitor Services Rod Annear encourages those wishing to cancel to do so up to one day before arrival. “It’s about fairness, flexibility and assurance of accommodation on arrival,” he said.
Addressing the issue of “ghost bookings”, Annear told Yahoo “although some campsites may appear empty during the day, camper behaviour varies regarding arrival and departure times; sites that may seem unoccupied may be booked for that night and have a late arrival and early departure.
“While many campgrounds are not staffed, where volunteer campground hosts and park staff are available, and staff resources permit, a camper who has not taken possession of a booked campsite may be contacted and advised their booking has been cancelled and offered to someone else or made available for booking online via Park Stay WA,” he continued.
“Our terms and conditions, allow for bookings to be cancelled by rangers or camp hosts from 10am the next day where the campers have not arrived to use their booking.”
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