Whether it’s Cairns to Byron Bay, Brisbane to Melbourne, thousands of backpackers and travellers will be road tripping down the east coast with a rented or purchased campervan this summer. The mass influx of backpackers can often take over the smallest of coastal car parks but more recently in the inner city streets of Sydney.
Scores of backpackers / working holiday visa holders have congregated in places such a Glebe, with free unlimited street parking, local shower facilities and a place to cook barbeques, relax and soak up the sun. These areas all over Australia are normally within tourism hotspots within close proximity to the above attributes or the ocean. With great weather in Glebe and “free” accommodation many travellers find it very hard to leave, being parked up for upto a month at a time.
Some travellers camping out in Glebe said that when they first arrived their was only 2-3 campers on the street, but over the new year break there’s been up to 20-30 campers, literally taking over the street and groups of local residents are not happy. Carparking spaces are minimised and there’s suddenly a lot new residents basing themselves in the front of locals houses.
The mayor of Waverly City Council Sally Betts, said roadside camping was not allowed on its streets, and council had installed signs where possible to make people aware of it.
”Waverley Council has received complaints about people camping in streets and our rangers have responded by moving them on,” Cr Betts said. In 2011, Randwick Council and police evicted about 45 vans and 100 backpackers who had set up camp at Clovelly. But a Randwick Council spokeswoman said there had been ”very few incidents” this summer.
When all is said and done we still believe this is a great way to see Australia, travelling around in camper and soaking up this beautiful country. Are you living the dream campervanning through Australia? How have you found parking and finding places to base yourself overnight? We would love to hear your experiences both good and bad!
