Remember the days when camping meant chucking the tent and sleeping bags in the back of the vehicle, loading up some food and drink, and facing the vehicle in the general direction desired? No bookings, no permits, no fees, no people… just wide open spaces with beautiful spots along rivers, creeks, and beaches. I can hear the voices now (‘Is this guy dreaming? ‘Which planet is he on?’. All this means is that you are probably a lot younger than me!).
Read on for tips on how to be the best camper at the site.
Luckily, there still are some places where you can get away from it all – but a trip to many of the well-known destinations is certainly not one of them. These days, camping often means being in close proximity to others. Some basic courtesies can help make the experience a positive one. This is more so within the crowded campgrounds of the Kimberley in the dry, and those highly sought-after spots along the coast during the summer months.
So – after 40 years of camping experience and a recent three-month trip up the centre and through the Kimberley – here are some of my thoughts to help ensure a happy and safe camping trip!
Nowadays, you’ll likely be sharing with others at popular camping sites.
Keep the music down.
I like Eric Clapton. Do you? Ah… no, you prefer the 4th Aria in the 5th movement of Handel’s second symphony. I know this because I could hear it until 11:30 pm last night.
No matter how brilliant your music collection is, the rest of the campground does not need to hear it. Handel sounds great when you are travelling along in the vehicle – but, like other things, it is best done in the privacy of your own home. If you must bring the iPod, use the headphones. Remember: in the calm of the night, if your group can hear it, so can many around you.
Music disturbs other campers and the local wildlife.
Only Use Generators During the Day
Happy hour generally starts at around 4-5pm, depending on just how happy you want to be. Just as the top flips, the cork pops, and that beautiful ‘glug’ sounds forth, a steady hum invades the brain.
Hang on, I haven’t started drinking yet. What’s that invasive noise? Before long, a symphony of internal combustion dis-harmony rings through the air…
Generators are fast becoming part of the kit for many campers. However, despite how you-beaut the technology, the sound carries – especially at night. Many campgrounds now have a generator area away from other campers. It’s there for a reason. If this isn’t feasible for you, at least ensure your generator is turned off by early evening. If batteries require charging, do it during the day when the sound is better disguised by other noises and people are more likely to be out and about. Better still, embrace the solar revolution and charge for free!
Solar power is a more considerate way to get power off the grid.
Dispose of Waste Properly and Safely
Now – it is time to be a little indelicate, as the discussion needs to turn to wee and poo.
As camping areas become more and more crowded, ridding ourselves of what’s become of breakfast, lunch, and dinner is becoming increasingly difficult. Luckily, many National Park and commercial campgrounds now have reasonable toilet facilities. However, many don’t – nor do many of the free camps becoming more and more popular. Many campgrounds are now so popular that even digging a hole is not possible.
There’s nothing worse than discovering used toilet paper in the bush.
If digging a hole is possible, ensure paper is burned (keeping in mind fire restrictions) before back-filling. Animals are attracted to smells and will often dig up toilet holes. This results in toilet paper floating freely around the area.
Ensure children are well supervised in the toileting process. Under no circumstances should you just go behind a bush and leave used toilet paper behind. This is nothing short of revolting for those that follow! Zip-lock bags are a cheap, effective, and simple way of taking used toilet paper to be disposed of properly. For more on leaving no trace, check out this blog.
Snowys have a variety of toileting solutions, from seats with bags to portable chemical toilets. These are now cheap, clean, and easy to use. The number of dump points is increasing all the time, with a deep hole always an option. However, never empty these into septic systems, as the chemicals destroy the system. Tampons and pads are also sure to block any flushing toilet system.
For more on this, tune into Ben and Lauren’s discussion on the Snowys Camping Show:
Campfires
As happy hour rolls on and darkness closes in, another basic human urge takes hold – the need for fire. Is there anything more mesmerising and calming than the flickering of the flame and the glow of coals?
After the raucous discussions of toilet techniques, it’s time to eat and settle down for some calmer chat around the fire – with a cuppa, a warming port, or other beverage of choice.
But first: achieving this most basic of needs.
As camp spots become more popular, firewood is at a premium. Collecting any near popular spots is near impossible. To enjoy the ambience of a fire, bring your own wood or use heat beads in a small brazier. It is amazing how little wood is needed to keep a handful of people warm and enjoying that beverage of choice.
Use existing fireplaces, too. It never ceases to amaze me upon arrival to a nice spot the number of fireplaces dotted around even a fairly small area. This significantly reduces the areas to pitch a tent, or set up a table and chairs.
Personally, I choose to cook using my gas stove and leave my firewood for the ambience of the evening.
Don’t char more of the land then what you need, use an established fire pit.
Keep the Kids in Check
I was lucky enough to go camping as a kid, and I took my own kids camping from an early age. I remember being able to run free around the bush because our group was the only one there and I wasn’t impinging on anyone.
This is now a rare privilege, with most people having to share their camping experience with others around them. Children should be going camping, but safely and with respect for other campers. This means no screaming, shouting, or running through others campsites – especially in the evening. That refers to both adults and children, actually.
Supervise the kids properly when out camping.
Pick Up Your Rubbish
Rubbish, rubbish, everywhere – but not a bin in sight.
Like other human waste, general rubbish is a fact of life. Even though we don’t get to drive the big truck with the massive compactor, we all need to take on the role of refuse-engineer when camping.
Some campsites do have bins, but these are often emptied irregularly – especially in more remote areas. It does not take a degree in physics and meteorology to know that wind will blow rubbish out of an overflowing bin and gravity will ensure it litters the area around it.
If there is no bin, or if it is full, take it with you to dispose of it properly. Waste paper and cardboard can be kept separately and used to light the fire, if required.
If the bin is full, take your rubbish out with you.
Camping is one of life’s greatest pleasures – and it can remain that way, even in a more crowded world. It just takes a little planning, thoughtful approach to the environment, and consideration to those around us. If we all do our bit to ensure that the beautiful areas of our country remain open to us, we will all be happy campers!
Camping is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
What do you do to be a considerate camper? Let us know in the comments.
After experiencing camping, and being a boy scout as a child, I developed a love of the outdoors and the outback. I’ve taken every opportunity to travel across the outback through South Australia, the Northern Territory, and down the Western Australian Coast. In more recent times, after becoming an empty nester, I have organised and led many outback trips for family members, friends and acquaintances, to explore some of the more remote places across the country.
More recently, a thing that has started to be a problem is people’s lack of consideration with lighting their campsites.
There are now endless options of cheap LED lighting that are being marketed, but some campers get carried away with lighting their campsite, affecting the general atmosphere and sometimes being very annoying.
Unless there is a good reason, lights should be faced downward to light the campsite itself, and not acting as floodlights lighting up the campground surrounding. To me it is just showing a bit of courtesy.
And keep the flashing Christmas fairy lights for Christmas!
A valid point, Ian!
This article clearly demonstrates how to be a good camper! Some great tips and well explained. I have some thoughts – another helpful tip could be you camp using a rooftop tent. This means you would be high above the ground and you would be less likely to leave waste and rubbish around, keeping confined to your tent above ground. There are some great Australian Rooftop Tent brands such as Rugged Rooftops!
Thanks for these insights Blare! Rooftop tents are extremely innovative, space-saving, and convenient! We love them too 🙂
Well written i couldn’t agree more! I’m going to print off this article and place it in the newsletter at our next 4×4 meeting, as i feel it says everything that needs to be said.
There is no habitat wood left anywhere for wildlife and replacing soil nutrients . We only use gas cookers and portable gas heaters now. 100’s of tonnes of wood is burnt daily around Australia just for a feel good experience. No plantation wood is ever used and we have many cutting down live trees to the stumps along the Murray. Camp Fires are not an environmentally friendly activity these days .
Thanks for the comment Gavin. I couldn’t agree more with your comments about some of the irresponsible behaviour of some campers in cutting down wood or removing habitat. However, there are other alternatives such as eco-wood, briquettes and plantation timber that can be purchased that provide a small fire and ambience in a far more eco-friendly way, especially if burnt in an old super-chef, small weber bowl or brazier. Gas cooking is not only more eco-friendly, but a darn sight easier too.
Great topic, Barry!
I have a few other thoughts on this subject, if I may?
I have some friends who went camping recently when they had a few problems with their camping neighbours. They were all friendly at first, but after a while the neighbours would expect to spend the whole day with them and would pounce the minute my friends poked their heads out of bed in the morning for breakfast. It all got a bit much for my friends who felt they couldn’t have any privacy or alone time because they didn’t know what to say to excuse themselves!
Thanks for the comment Liz. I couldn’t agree more with what you have said. I really feel sorry for your friends who had to put up with the persistent neighbours – it would certainly muck up my holiday.