Ep161 - Ghost Camping Crackdown and a Camping Fee Overhaul

No-shows, know-hows, and new fees: the camping reservation revolution...

In an episode as haunting as it is helpful, Ben and Lauren unpack the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's proposed camping fee reforms, from new facility-based pricing tiers to the crackdown on 'ghost camping' – the frustrating practice of booking sites that go unused. Our outdoor experts examine the results of the 2022 survey that sparked these changes, debate the effectiveness of various booking systems, and share their own approaches to responsible reservation practices. 

From Ben's unwritten campers' code to comparing cancellation policies across Australia, tune in for an honest conversation about balancing access, affordability, and accountability in our cherished natural spaces.

Shortcuts:
00:00 - Intro
01:17 - Camping Fees Reformed: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
04:53 - Hipcamp
06:33 - Booking Systems
09:21 - 2022 Survey Topics of Note
10:41 - Fees and Charges
12:07 - The Proposal: Facility-Based Fees
14:40 - Unpacking the 6 Tiers: Inclusions and Party Numbers
17:34 - Cancellations 
18:42 - Ghost Camping Crackdown
24:40 - Lauren's Approach to Ghost Camping
29:05 - Last Minute Changes and Cancellations
30:50 - An Unsaid Campers' Code!
35:25 - Addressing Ghost Camping as the Primary Issue
39:10 - Cancellation Policies in VIC, QLD, SA, and WA
41:13 - Speculative Bookings
43:33 - Lauren's Key to Preventing Ghost Camping 
45:25 - Feedback Due on May 25
46:10 - Summary

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