Ghost camping driving up fees

‘Ghost camping’ has been a hot button issue in recent years, particularly for travellers accessing NSW national parks campsites. To combat the problem, the NSW Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) released a host of proposed changes, but the intended remedy has divided the camping community and raised questions over how accessible and equitable NSW’s national parks really are.

What is ghost camping and why is it a problem?

Ghost camping, or ‘no-shows’, is when campers book a site — or multiple sites — then fail to turn up or leave spots empty. The result? Campsites sit frustratingly empty while appearing completely booked out online.

It’s a trend that’s thought to have started in the pandemic, when camping saw an intense spike in popularity. In NSW alone, parks like Girraween, Bunya Mountains and Sundown more than doubled their overnight bookings from 2019. But the traditionally cheap national park rates coupled with no consequences for no-shows, meant ghost camping escalated.

The proposed six-tier fee structure

After surveying 222,000 park users and consulting with partners and industry representatives, NPWS drafted a complete overhaul of its camping fee structure. Its solution is a proposed six-tier system that aims to tackle ghost camping, boost maintenance funds, and simplify the whole pricing structure.

Under this new system, approximately 86 per cent of all NPSW campgrounds fall into the fee-paying tiers 2-5, with only the remote, facility-free sites remaining free.

• Tier 1: free camping at walk-in sites with no facilities
• Tier 2-4: graduated fees based on facilities like drop toilets and basic amenities
• Tier 6: premium sites with hot showers, camp kitchen and full servicing.

NPSW has also proposed to only offer a partial refund to discourage overbooking. If cancelling more than three days out from your booking, campers will receive an 80 per cent refund on the payment, and if it’s within three days of the booking, it drops to 50 per cent.

Fees increase up to 600 per cent

Yet these proposed changes have created a hoard of not-so-happy campers. Many see the move as a degradation of the traditionally affordable nature of national park camping. Some sites could increase from $6 to $54 a night, in high season.

If implemented, many feel the freedom to escape to nature for an affordable camping getaway will be turned into a luxury splurge, with a week-long trip costing up to $600. The blanket fee structure is also proving troubling for solo campers who pay the same rate as groups of six.

Will higher fees stop ghost camping?

The key question remains: will a dramatic price hike actually stop ghost campers? Many remain skeptical, believing the approach isn’t targeted enough to stop no-shows. Critics are calling for increased ranger presence and fines to truly address the issue.

However, the challenge with this lies in enforcement. NSW is a vast state, and the remote nature of NPSW campsites make constant monitoring near impossible, particularly with already stretched resources.

Keeping national parks accessible

The proposed changes have reignited discussions about equitable access to national parks. While nobody disagrees with the need for sustainable park management and improved upkeep of facilities, the dramatic fee increases risks pricing out families and budget-conscious campers.

Long-time campers — particularly pre-Covid campers — have also expressed their frustration at losing the freedom and affordability that once defined the Aussie camping experience. However, booking systems have delivered valuable certainty, especially where longer trips are required and bookings occur during peak periods.

Finding the happy-medium for NSW’s camping future

Public consultation on these proposed changes closed at the end of May. Now, NPWS is faced with the delicate dance of clamping down on ghost camping, funding adequate maintenance, ensuring equitable access, all while preserving the pristine parks that make camping so special. The challenging reality is that Australia’s camping boom has fundamentally changed how we interact with our national parks.

And while the proposed fee structure feels extreme and perhaps falters in its ability to completely eliminate ghost camping, it does represent a starting point to facilitate a fairer system. Only time will tell whether these controversial changes make it past the consultation phase.