Are Australian Vanlifers in Trouble? Carpark Camping Divides Locals!
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 11. 09. 2024
- After spotting new "No Overnight Stays" signs appearing around Sydney's North Shore and reading about the controversy in a local magazine, I felt compelled to share my thoughts on the issue. I believe the vanlife community has a unique opportunity to be part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. What are the parking and overnight stay regulations like in your area, city, or country?
Link to the article below:
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I'm 63 and homeless,I live on the north coast of nsw in my van. It amazes me that it's ok to park during the day,but not the evening. Coffs Harbour council tells us to park on the side of the road,that'd be dangerous, especially here with all the hoons. It's time the local state and Federal governments actually do something about the rise in homelessness. Most of us on the road clean up around the area we are staying.
I was around Coffs just last week. I went to Byron and now you need a permit even to park on the street at night time, which was not the case a few months ago. I'll make video about this and other things soon. Good luck with everything.
@renross6726 the Federal Government is not allowed to act, under the constitution.
â@@petermiddoFederal ALP govt hold the funds to fix homelessness crisis but are beholden to financing AUKUS Fiasco, Genocide in Ghaza, subsidise super-rich leaches etc
And they control the levers on migration and do the opposite to what would help the situation
Next councils will have heat detecting devices. It's a worry, just how inhumane Australia is becoming. Even the prejudice against renters from home owners is getting out of control.
You might be right.... :|
I never park in a car park over night. You ask for trouble. Youâre a target. You canât see an ocean at night, youâre sleeping so why donât need a beach view? You can shower in the early evening then move to any old street. The bigger issue is people leaving rubbish and poop. Just get a compost toilet. Your 10 points are spot on đ
Let's face it we are all going to end up homeless soon. I'm a home owner saying this. Between water,rates,electricity and gas. I can see the writing on the wall. Tax us off the land.
Dont ban car campers. They should be looking at the issue, not the symptons. A lot of people are living out of their car due to necessity.
(Im a viewer who doesnt live out of their car)
Itâs a valid discussion. I personally donât consider myself (or people living in their vehicles by choice) campers. Thx for your comment⊠âđŒ
@@drivesurfcamp I should clarify. Don't ban anyone staying in a vehicle whether living or holidaying from their vehicle. The problem is the noise, rubbish etc. Anyone should be free to buy a permit or whatever to have a access to popular beach front parking to stay overnight. Not expensive though. Say $20 per night. If anyone is caught littering or creating a nuisance of themselves, they are fined and moved on regardless of whether they bought the permit.
The growing issue is more people expect full welfare payments to fund their van life adventure. they turn beautiful places into rubbish dumps and crime centres.
@@404errorpagenotfound.6that is a rather pessimistic negative interpretation.
As in all aspect of the community and society, there are a few percent of miscreants , meaning the vast bulk of us do the right thing.
But those that do the right thing are not interesting, so we falsely and inappropriately tend to focus on the few percent of miscreants. It is a flawed human habit we really need to get over.
@@Robert-xs2mv yes it's negative and pessimistic...and truer everyday. Clearly it doesn't apply to everyone. You could have made that distinction yourself.
Guess the donât want us to park in a near empty public car park ⊠rather people park on the overcrowded street outside their homes
I & my dog live in our Van. Have done for over 4 years. We stay in the same area that I rented, for around 12+ years. I've parked in beachside carparks mainly but also the local library & shopping centre. 1 of 3 Rangers have tried to move us on, unsuccessfully. My Van is Registered, insured & I have a licence. Depending on "Which Ranger" talks to us, the outcome is the same. I'm not a tourist, my Van is Registered & insured & We, in Australia, are Free to Travel, so we are also free to stay! I'm never leaving this Paradise! Ocean, huge Bay & National Park very close!
Is it more the "rent a van' international tourist who is causing the concern or the owner driver, I'd guess it's those on a short visa who are not too concerned with the ramifications of their behaviour.
I agree mate, thatâs the problem we have on the sunny coast, and no one wants another Byron
It makes more sense for a non lifer to shit on their back yard since they will be leaving anyway, rather than assuming a Van lifer to do so knowing they can anger locals, be targeted and lose the privilege's.
Not necessarily, Ive stay in areas long enough to notice vanlifers who actually live and work in the area displaying terrible behaviour... :(
Sadly itâs generally the actions of a minority few who ruin things for everyone. One of my local Freo beaches in Perth is overrun by vanlifers every day. It wouldnât be so bad if they were respectful and didnât leave their trash and belongings everywhere but I can see why locals get frustrated. As someone who is about to start my own van build, it does worry me that these people are slowly ruining it for everyone.
Thx for your comment and good luck with the build. Letâs keep doing our part, which at the end of the day is all we can do! Cheers.
if only some of our exuberant taxes went towards public services like cleaning to account for shitty people. but no, just like national parks lock it all up and throw away the key, we are just tax cattle. the shitty few are everywhere in society but they only seem to ruin things that the government refuses to manage correctly.
And they were responsible for the closing of the South Mole, one of the best fishing spots in the metro area.
â@@rowdy5697 It's back open now, thankfully... With lots of patrols by the Rangers keeping van-lifers away.
One year I stayed in tweed, near a club. Unrestricted parking . No drama, one other van, few months later many vans and homeless people camping next to the club. The last time I drove past and there's no stopping from 7pm
You don't have to and really shouldn't camp/sleep in your van at a public beach carpark. It's not necessary. Locals are locals and desrve respect. The locals subsididise your free glamour camping experience. That's not fair or right.
Stay overnight away from the beach. Drive there in the morning to take it in and recreate.
Enjoy. Be mindful of who the dog and the tail are.
The for your comment. Not only locals deserve respect, we all deserve respect. I am not camping, my car is parked and I am inside. Camping is a very different activity all together.... I don't see why parking my van at a specific spot would be unfair to other people.
Thanks for your good thoughtfull video, you made some good points. As a on and off vanlifer mainly in Australia, but also in many countries in Europe, Marocco and now back in Australia for the past 35+ years, as well as living over 20 years around the Byron Bay area. I have seen many changes for vanlifets and campers in general, most restricting them more and more as well as increasing the prices for alternatives. You are lucky to be able to work a well paying job and ballance things out like you say. Over half of the issues you bring up would be caused by backers who are often working on and off on a tight budget, doing hard work a lot of Ausdies aren't doing as often remote. The government welcomes them and relies on them to get harvests done etc. There are some travellers not doing the right thing, but most I see/meet and talk to do, so case of the rotten apple that spoils it for the bunch. Like myself, some people have health problems unable to work steady decent jpbs, hence cannot find a rental place under $300-$400 per week, hence homeless. This is something you have not mentioned at all. There are some legal free camps, but usually not with showers or washing facilities, and often far from services or shops etc. This Government on a world per capita scale is very well off, but they seem to be looking after the people in the top 1/4 mostly not because they are short of funds, but this seems to be by design, like the Uk and Canada.
Hi there, thank you for your also such thoughtful comment. So cool that you had the chance to live in your van in other countries, you must have so many stories to tell.
You make great points, and you are so right when you say that some mess up for the rest of us but itâs like that with everything as we know. I am sorry to hear about your health issues and hope you are well. Stay strong and thx for sharing your view. All the best. đ
Are you near Western Sydney? đ·
â@@yumisage
No, I am currently on the banks of Tinaroo Falls Dam near Atherton. Hope your doing well too đź
â@@drivesurfcamp
I felt from your videos you are a kind and honest soul (maybe even a bit too politically correct), so thanks for taking my comment the right way and not as an attack on you, but rather the sometimes unfair to us free spirits in society, not only in Australia, but in many parts of the world, mainly the better off supposedly "developed" ones (that would depend how you measure developed, by bank Ballance/infrastructure, or rich spirit and looking after the not so well of in the your said society). Keep up your Excellent videos and stay true to yourself. I wish you the best in your future health and happiness đđ
Interesting topic. We who live in houses pay our rates which in turn pay for the facilities etc in the town/area. We live in a small country town that is taken over by tourists in the weekends and holidays. These tourists etc. help the businesses flourish, so its an "I scratch your back and you scratch mine" thing. However, we do believe that people who overnight stay in a carpark should be allowed to pay a small amount for that right to park and use the facilities so they don't get the knock. We sleep in our vehicle overnight when away from home, and as a single person, it is costly to stay in a caravan park, if we are lucky enough to get a site. Most of them are powered; we don't want power. Many country towns have RV friendly places for people to stay and often charge a small amount for the overnight stay. Our local gym charges $4 for a hot shower to go with the RV friendly parking area. There should be more of this, rather than outright bans as most people would be happy to pay the small amount for the overnighter. A small overnight sticker on the dashboard of the van or the overnight parking receipt would solve a lot of problems and be fair to locals and travellers financially.
Thx for your comment. Love the idea of a different permit/sticker for people who live in their vehicles. I did not know about these places where you can pay a small amount to stay overnight. What should I google to find them? Cheers.
Lol. pay enough tax to be able to sleep in a car for free, tax on income is ur right to sleep in ur car.
@@JOE-rp2cz You said pay enough, but people made the rule want you to pay more, so simple.
Australia and the world is in a homelessness epidemic. People are forced to find solutions and the government is not keeping up with the changes. There needs to be some new thinking around ways councils can create safe overnight sleeping pods all around Australia. Include a fee in the registration for the van if need be so you know you have a place to safely park your van instead of creeping around carparks and backstreets. There's a new market of people living in vehicles and the government needs to catch up and provide an assortment of facilities - showers, laundry, cooking areas, overnight stay areas, water, etc. Make it work for the people.
I could not agree more and currently working on another video to move the discussion forward. Thx a lot for watching and expressing your view. All the best! âđŒ
It sounds like you have a great attitude towards your chosen lifestyle! I live near a van-life hotspot (a big public park near the beach) and even if most people are very respectful and considerate, it only takes a few people to ruin it for the rest.
Agree! Thx for the comment.
I have lived as a van lifer for the last 14 years, up and down the East Coast of Australia. And I think what you are commenting on is correct and simply common sense. Local property owners need to understand that vanlifers are considerate and respectful at all times.
And we need to live up to that description at all times.
If you are in a beach car park, simply park like you are another car! Not in a caravan park.
If you want to cook breakfast or make coffee, go to a park where there are facilities allocated!! A BBQ HotplateâŠetc.
Secondly, and ultimately, I think we need to organize a group of us to lobby government in a way that has just as much power as the stupidly rich rate paying, angry, property owners that want to hog their beaches to themselves. Itâs very simple. Just about public perception.
Not all campers are bad, but a few bad eggs spoil the omelette.
Thx for your comment. Very true, letâs keep doing our part. âđŒ
It's not just the rich beach front properties, everyone rich and poor who lives in coastal council areas want access to their local beach. If they relax the rules, we wouldn't be able to access our beaches as vans would be taking all the car spaces. How about vanlifers stop feeling entitled to beachfront views and park that they don't contribute a single $ to.
My brothers homeless , Iâd prefer he had a sticker on his car which said â Iâm 60yo homeless , partially paralysed and been on emergency housing lost for two years . Iâll be out of here by 7am . The highlight of my day is waking up to see the sunrise over the surf in the morning . Iâll make sure I take my litter and crutches with me when I leave . Sorry I donât have the luxury of paying rates anymore . Thanks for your understanding.ââ
I live full time in my van with my dog and my cat. So far I have found two types campers in free camping areas and parking in a street during the day... The ones like us, that leave no trace, do not put out the awning, get my chairs, no music, does not cook outside, buy in local towns and respect others. I pick up after my animals and they are always on a leash. I do my washing at a laundry or wait until I am at a budget campsite. Then you have those that do not care and feel entitled to spread out, take up sites for larger vehicles, set up like camping, cook outside, spread washing everywhere, leave rubbish everywhere, leave broken bottles and their dogs are usually off leash. Quite often these people are tourists or part time travellers. It is very annoying for people with van ettique, because these people are spoiling it for those of us who live full time in a van not through choice but through necessity. These are the people that locals complain about and the council then bans parking for all of us. Our vans are our homes.
My dog when bananas after hearing the knocking on the door sound, shes been van a lifer for one year and is in full security mode.
Stay safe out there. Thx for your comment.
I donât think most would be against anyone parking and sleeping overnight but the problems occur when people set up camp in public areas. Where I live we have a huge issue with people setting up camps near the beach, they leave rubbish everywhere and go to the toilet in the bushâŠâŠ. The place is an absolute mess.
So sad, I just wonder if this what you are describing is recreational camping or homelessnessâŠ. Do you happen to know?
The responsibility does sit with us in van life community because we choose to live outside the normal ârulesâ of society and some people are triggered by that?! Great video, your points are spot on how to live the van life respectfully in the community đ
Thx a lot for your comment!
There's a lot of self entitlement going on here. The incorrect group-think understanding of other people's perspectives, will never work in your favour. Reminds me of the bicycle lobby. No matter how lovely and sweet and quiet and good neighbourly all the folks are here, you are overwhelmingly outnumbered by those who come to Australia for the larfs, and ensuring they encircle the big island with used toilet paper and all their other mess and annoyances. There are sufficient numbers of these terrible people in vans, who continue to make a mess of the infrastructure that the rate payers pay for, that, as you've seen, ensure restrictions are only going to increase. Change will only come about if you lobby politicians, and prove you have the power to swing elections - good luck with that.
Thx, Iâll keep trying to influence the communities Iâm part of in the best way I can. Strive for harmony. Peace! âđŒ
I never stay in car.parks overnight. Absolute worst place to try and stay the night. Stand out like a sore thumb.
You want to stay in places where you blend in and people dont know your inside.
Interesting points, thx for sharing your view. đđŒ
Very nice topic. I lived in a Van in Aus for more than 4 years while working remotely. Just remember that each state has different rules. QLD is the most strict one. You will have cops/council not just knocking your windows, they will bang real hard. NSW is the easiest one, as long as you follow the parking rules and pay your rego you are good. I'd also call each council that you are planning to stay to get to know the rules better. By doing that, I found out that it's totally fine and recommended to dump the gray water in the regular street drain as long as you don't use chemicals and separate the food waste (dishwasher liquid is fine). And if you are in a public space, use a bucket to do it so. Yeah the council told me that. You will learn a lot from simply calling them. One other thing I have learnt from the QLD police, if they can't see you they can't issue a ticket for illegal camping. They will use very strong torches to see through the curtains. They will leave you a "warning" that someone reported ilegal camping in the area. Another great tip, if a neighbour doesn't like your presence just move. Day camping, cooking, etc just use commom sense. AUS is a great place for that and most people will approach you to ask questions and being curious about your setup. Aussies are very laid back in general, love their camping, fishing, surfing etc as much as you do. Be respectful and you will have no issues. And trust me... AUS is the only place in the world where you can still do that for free and it's very safe! Happy van life.
Thx for your comment. I did not know QLD was strict like that, Iâve been there a few times and was lucky then cause I had no issues. Yes, Iâve heard the same thing from people saying that as long as you donât open your door to check âwhoâs knockingâ council or police canât fine you as long as you are legally parked. These âno overnight staysâ signs are more to intimidate people than anything. I also do agree with you that we are so lucky to be able to be safe in Australia living in our rigs, I feel so blessed and lucky to live in this country. All the best mate.
Yep, agree with most of what you said, currently have Qld registered van and spend a lot of time up here after moving up here sort of (have storage in Qld, nothing else) after COVID as my 84 yr old mum lives up here and was locked down South of boarder only few hours away. Got fined $278 each with at least 3 others vehicles in carpark in Airly Beach 2 years ago after council was shining Super Bright led torch in van peeping in gaps from curtains (invasion of privacy really me thinks). Looked up Qld regulations after watching this vid and 100% illegal to overnight in vehicle except for in 400 odd council approved areas. As I mentioned in my earlier comment, these are often far from towns and services, sometimes with no water or mobile reception, but some do and even have toilets. In saying that, Queenslanders and people from W.A. love camping sooo much, if away from towns, beaches and busy National Parks you can free camp in many parts of beautiful Qld as out there there are no rangers or council officers and a lot of land to "tuck yourself behind the trees" haha
Spot on to check local rules first.
Great video! Unfortunately, a few selfish bad eggs spoil everything for the rest of us, who are doing the right thing, aware of our surroundings and leaving no trace.
Thx!
Van Lifers don't pay rates. Rates pay for the upkeep of public parks. Van Lifers (and I've been one myself) are not seen as community contributors. They don't buy a lot of useless crap to fill space. They don't eat out a lot. They don't volunteer in that community. They don't tend to do things or use things that generate income for the local council. That's the crux of the anti-overnight brigade's argument. Once you address those issues, the big one arises, and that's a ratepayers' sense of entitlement. Don't feel too bad about it; they don't want people from 2 suburbs away coming to their patch, let alone van lifers !! Loved your van and your setup. Thanks :)
Cheers! âđŒ
How about punish the behaviour, not the "camper". No noise, alcohol, littering etc. Then its available to anyone who knows how to act within the law.
As effective as getting people to comply with speed limits.
Same problem all over the EU and US. But we have Stellplaze / Aires. We pay euro 8 per night with water and electricity.
More government control, 15 minute cities, in Australia!?.
The other day we saw at a beautiful seaside location, council signs prohibiting camping, overnight stays and campfires. Sadly, we saw 6 campers with tarps used as awnings attached to their vans, rubbish everywhere, clothing hanging everywhere, seats and cooking setups. The place looked a mess. We also did not feel safe, so went elsewhere. There have been reports of fights at this spot as these campers are now squatting. Our opinion was that these people should go to a caravan park for long term stays and clean up their act. There setup is not acceptable and has ruined it for the responsible van-lifers.
So sad... :(
Thanks for the advice - agree with all 10 points - and no dogs, no ferals no drugs please.
Ya cancelled me on all 3 criteria :(
Very considerate. I have vans park in my street. I agree that itâs uncomfortable when it starts to look like a camp site.
If all councils allocated an area and took details, number plate and number of people than homeless mobile people could be assessed.
A blanket no keeps the situation unmanaged.
Leave no trace is the ethos for van life pioneers â€
I was really young in the 90's when i went travelling in a van around Aus, rangers were EVERYWHERE back then, parking signs and all the same restrictions were everywhere too, you couldn't stay anywhere for free back then either, and they know there's people sleeping inside all vans, they've seen it all before, and they will fine you and just leave it on the windscreen, nothing has changed!! You have to be smart and be in the know about where to stay for free and it's usually in less dense areas, sneak in at night sneak out at crack of dawn, you can never get comfy. Also Service stations in rural Aus have shower facilities especially for truck drivers, but anyone can use them, it used to cost $1 a shower back then!
I asked a local police officer about overnight parking
âif anyone knocked on the doors to move me one I was to say my vehicle had over heated and I was allowing the motor to cool down or I was waiting on a mechanicâ
have u heard of punctuation?
@@araonna .?!â
Think you will find that only works for so long if your lucky as they hear that excuse sooo often. They are not silly, might even ask to see proof of your mechanical issues if you get a determined one. Also they won't appreciate getting lied to, might end up worse.
@@petcuyvers worked so far and it was the truth once for a week
I agree with the other comment, pls use punctuations. I had to read 3 times to understand what you were trying to say
Not a silly topic. I've noticed people just don't care and rubbish in beautiful nature areas infuriates me. Good job. Government is looking for new ways to generate funds to line their pockets....please keep Australia beautiful and free
A Government that has Turned away from the Problem of Homelessness!
Genuine People need something done to Help them!
Perhaps a Small fee for overnight and a Registry of sorts! We have signs for example put up in Gerringong,as a Certain person just built his Million$$ plus Concrete Box!! So.
Great topic to talk about as Iâm sure itâs getting more traction since van life is growing more. Just like there is surf etiquette there is vanlife etiquette and itâs great you have shared some suggestions on what and what you do and do not do. You have genuine respect for your fellow van lifers along with the local community. Great vid mate!
Thx for such a nice comment. Appreciate ya!
I don't have a problem with vanlifers parking overnight at million dollar locations. I do have a problem when my daughter and I try to visit these same locations to sit on the beach and watch the surfing, being made to feel like we are trespassing, to the point, where we don't even get to the beach because all eyes are on us and not in a friendly way. I tried to say hi while they were glaring, and they would just ignore me. It's just that sense of entitlement that seriously gets on my nerves. It's not their property. If they were more respectful to others maybe attitudes towards them living rent free at a million dollar car park would change..... đ€đđŠđș
Stared off the beach?? How and where did this happen? Thatâs terrible. The beach belongs to everyone!
@40245722 Bells Beach, we had driven 3 hours to visit Torquay, our old holiday place, we didn't actually make it past the car park, we knew we we're not welcome there, and my daughter has an anxiety disorder, we went straight back to the car ...... it was actually pretty upsetting, especially for my girl, we were not a threatening pair in any way ....... such a shame đ
Surfers?? Or territorial locals. It's not a van lifer thing. I've had that angry staring thing at a couple of surf beaches.
@@tashtatkat9045 That is why all those area tourism and local business is fading, they just think like they own all those beaches.
@flowmotion6461 Fair call, 2 of the vans had their suits drying so pretty sure they were vanlifers..... funnily enough today, we went for another view of our Aussie surfers after the storms we've had ...... was pretty awesome....... and I did notice the majority of vans were parked in the lower car park, there was a much more relaxed atmosphere đ
Thanks for posting an important topic. I would add, keep the noise to a minjmum. Loud music can reslly upset the locals. New subscriber here.
Thx for your comment! Appreciate you subscribing. Cheers.
Agreed, if you want loud music put your đ§ on! đ All the best! âđŒ
Always Read Signs from the top down because the most important notifications will be at the top with the lesser ones lower down.
It can also be helpful to get the Legal Definitions for the phrases used as opposed to Dictionary Definitions or Common Understanding and if youâre going to argue have the Definitions Printed (& Laminated) in order to give Informed Opinion.
Yes, I avoid industrial areas and I've got my hidden spots for the weekends to try to escape the noisy parties.... :) Cheers.
There Called NIMBY's Not in My Back yard , And It Goes for a Whole Host of Things , Usually What They Advocate for , But When It Starts too affect Them Thats It , They Don"t Care when it Happens too other People
Yup, very true. I think they mention this term on the article.
A lot of NIMBYs are boomer Labor voters. Funny how you never see a "multicultural" community anywhere near them...
Some pretty good advice, thanks. However, it really won't matter what is done, the people who live in some of the ocean view suburbs, will whinge not matter what... For proof, think back to what happened to Luna Park.
Thx for the comment. Agreed!
What happened to Luna Park?
What happened to Luna Park??
After they opened heaps of apartment blocks nearby all the residents started to sue Luna park over noise, lights, all kinds of excuses that eventually got them shut down.
In the USA, Walmart and other large retail centres allow people to stay overnight in their car parks. As long as they donât occupy car parks during busy hours, stay clean (no litter) and no public nuisance type behaviour.
Thats super cool. Cheers!
Van/cars need to park somewhere safe each night. Respect and care on both sides. Government need to cap rents so people can afford housing.
Fantastic video my friend, resonated with my views on so many levels...your production values are bang on point too, nice work. Keep doing what you do. :)
Thank you so much for such kind words. All the best.
We have NEVER allowed camping in vehicles in carparks in Australia. It's for the safety of "campers" and to prevent their property from being damaged. Those carparks that don't list restrictions at night will mostly still be not available for camping overnight.
It has NEVER been "policed" though.
I'm not a full time traveller but I do have a very good mate who is currently housing insecure, which has made me more aware of the issue.
For every community (in your case, those who live in their vans") there will always be a minority that will give the whole community a bad name. It is very disappointing situation and probably on the rise.
Just a side note, the Gold Coast City Council also cracked down on houseboats moored at random spots for free on the Gold Coast Broadwater. Some of these were unsightly, so the people in the Highrise units complained that they were paying no Council Rates. Then council then made a by-law that they had to be at a mooring. So, it's not just limited to people who live in vans full time.
Do you have a reference/url to a federal law for which the "never" applies ?
@aus140 Federal law doesn't apply here in Australia and it will be either each State or each local council. None of the MAJOR council areas, and especially those near a beach, have ever let camping happen but have done little to enforce these.
In case you're not aware, the Australian Constitution only allows the federal government to act are Defence and Foreign Affairs; Trade, Commerce and Currency; Immigration; Telecommunications, Postal Services, and Airwaves (Broadcasting); and most social services. The source I'm quoting (The Parliament of NSW website) also lists air travel, but i'm not convinced that is accurate, even though they do.
According to the page it links to, in NSW, (The Roles and Responsibilities of Federal, State, and Local Governments) it talks about the councils roles and responsibilities and has a great chart on who does what.
And that's only NSW. If you think I am going to go through each and every State, and then Council law to find out you're wrong, you are kidding. Please do your own research, and you'll likely find Im right. I will except that not every council disallows it, but, once again, you're going to find anywhere where there is a beach, a view, or is an iconic location isn't going to allow anyone to camp for free.
There are free camps dotted around the country, and there are a LOT of pubs that *will* allow you to camp one or two nights in their carparks (a lot of these will also require you to either be self contained - including shower and toilet - or pay a fee to use their facilities.
Where none exist, like a carpark, and even some that do, don't allow you by default.
@@petermiddo Yap, those rule clear and simple, I understood it with a handbook from VicRoad 35 years ago.
In QLD you can't even camp overnight in a street away from the beach not in front of someone's house. I was fined $352 in Bowen and didn't even get a knock, found the bill on the windscreen when I woke up. I don't understand how this is even legal. There are a million reasons why someone could be sleeping in their car or van overnight.
Thx for your comment. But why were you fined? Were you parked legally?
I once thought of a permit that would recognise us as "permanent resident van lifers"
as a posed to
"holiday goers "
The permit would indicate its a residential van and allow 2 or 3 night's in certain pre arranged carparks/area's
That way the holiday goers get pushed into the caravan parks (and rightfully so) and the resident van lifers get a little leeway
But make it a rule that resident van lifers need to only sleep and not set up camp etc ( stealth) no messy set ups allowed etc, just sleep
So basically just separating the holiday goers and vanlifers with a reasonably simple permit system?
Also put a small fee on the permits to give the residents in the area some peace that the vanlifers are contributing to the community council and the public services and amenities it provides
Thanks again for giving this issue a little platform to bounce off
What separates a "holiday goer" to a van lifer? I see a lot of people who blur the line. Is someone testing the waters of van life a holiday goer? Is a holiday goer who is in their subaru with blackout tint and solo camper acting like a van-goer?
You have to discern what the issue behaviours are. Is it noise? Rubbish? Alcohol? Or simply the presence of a vehicle?
@@nickhayley a holiday goer has an address, if someone wants a permit? just show you have no fixed address then stick the permit on the trolley or Subarus tinted windows, or whatever vehicle you call home
@@JP-bd4zl just show you have no fixed address? So prove nothing? I could do that by not giving them my drivers licence. I not sure how you prove you DON'T have something. đ€·ââïž
Also, why are we preventing everyone else from the appropriate use of a space? I don't see why this couldn't be applied to anyone behaving kindly and quietly.
Thx a lot for your comment. I agree 100%, we already have the parking permit stickers if you own a house (I donât own a house but have one in my van). We could have a âvan permit stickerâ and like you said we could pay a fee on our registration that would then allow us to park to sleep everywhere. And itâs fair that we contribute to the council if we are using the facilities (showers, bins etc) often.
This van permits should also be renewable every year, and to enforce good behaviour they could check if you have any complaints against your rego plate for bad behaviourâŠ.
I just donât want to get into politics⊠hahaâŠ
@@nickhayley I guess this is life with Nick and Hailey?
Pull up wherever and put three drops of oil onto the radiator and start the vehicle with the bonnet up, youve overheated and waiting for the mechanic or roadside assist.
đ
I've noticed lately a lot of vans are parking overnight in industrial factory areas , well lit and surrounded by modern factories , mostly trucks only coming and going at night, but on weekends hoons come down to do burnouts ect so avoid on friday/sat nights.
Thanks young man I need to check out your van life and videos
Appreciate ya! Thx!
They have machines to collect parking ticket payments during the day. I dont know why we cant buy an overnight ticket to help pay for any facilities we use at night and leave in the morning for day visitors to have the parking back. Its pure blanket ban mentality without considering opportunities
Sleep in public car park during the day and do overnight park somewhere else. Follow the sign posted as this is a work around.
The accent that keeps on shifting... Sometimes Aussie... sometimes South Afrikaner... sometimes Eastern Europe (roughly) The man is mercurial
Haha! So true, my accent is just a mess. đ€Ł Thx for watching the vid.
The problem is.. âif you give an inch, theyâll take a mile!â
Itâs normal human behaviour..
As much as youâre a nice respectful guy, not everyone is like you and thatâs what rules are made for. Thatâs why everything sux now, the good people suffer the rules made for bad ppl⊠thatâs just how it rolls..
Do you take a mile when given an inch?
Hopefully like the great majority of us, do not so.
@@Robert-xs2mv no I donât because itâs not in my nature! In my field of work it stands out dramatically how much ppl will take more if they can. We all know it and discuss it regularly
@@CHUNKYNUGGET666 so we both, like the great majority wonât take the mile.
Got no idea what field you are referring to but I suspect it be a rather narrow field skewing your bias substantially.
@@Robert-xs2mv I work with ppl and it comes up all the time in our conversations. I see it myself in my life, in my friendâs lives, itâs common place in humanity.
@@CHUNKYNUGGET666 I donât. Guess we hang out in different circles.
When one is in the water every things appears wet. When in the forests everything appears to be vegetation.
I live in Mooloolaba and we do have a problem here of van life people staying overnight in our beachside car parks. Mostly itâs not Australians and to be honest the over seas travellers tend to be the ones making the mess and basically upsetting us locals. I donât understand why you have to park in the premium locations ?
I also car camp, I tend to find a quiet spot and make sure Iâm not really visible etc. But if you think people shouldnât be upset that that there isnât a legitimate issue with people staying in premium spots overnight for free while the locals pay thousands of dollars a year in rates to be there also, youâre wrong. It does annoy me that this happens. Come and enjoy the facilities, support the businesses, use the amenities etc that our rates paid for, butâŠ. If you want ocean views, stay in the resorts that are there to support the real economy. Otherwise, Park at the beach during the day and stay in a quiet back street location at night, no one cares then and the beach isnât packed with disrespectful backpacking travellers. Like always it's a few bad apples that ruin the whole bunch, you are an exemplary van lifer. in our location, the back packers have started putting up tents up near the car parks in gardens and are clearly overflow from a van that has many occupants, its a slippery slope when its allowed to go on.
so again park up during the day and enjoy the place but move on at night and really no one cares at all.
My brother is homeless and sleeps in his van by necessity. Heâs been asked to leave suburban streets by police a few times, even though he is quiet and doesnât disturb anyone .is it legal to sleep in your car overnight on suburban streets ?
â @@MsSilver41It depends on the state laws & as well as the local council regulations. For example, last time I looked (a year ago) NSW was largely legal, Victoria not so much, Sunshine Coast definitely not, while touristy places like the beaches of Sydney probably not. Good luck to your brother, that sucks. Descretionâs the name of the game.
Thx for your comment and sharing your view.
I can understand why the residents are concerned. Overnight stays should be in caravan parks. That's what they are designed for. Carparks are not equipped to facilitate campers, either just for over night stays or permanently.
Thx for sharing your view.
Why are they not parking out in Penrith? It's because they are selfish and want ocean views, beach access, etc.
I don't park in Penrith because it's more than 30kms away from where I work and where my family lives. Not really a case of selfishness, just convenience.
What happened and happens in America will happen in Australia and the UK.
The Governments are pricing many out of homes due to Profit.
The Governments are also on a slash and burn cost cutting from Council maintenance (cleaning) to law and Order (policing).
The population has been increasing by the millions over the last few years let alone just the last decade along and where or when did you hear they built a new Jail/Correctional facility to house the ever increasing numbers of wrong doers?
With lower maintenance provided to councils intolerance to rubbish results as even if only caused by 1 van/person it is magnified 100x as it is not cleaned.
Just like in America, even if the Government has failed the people causing homelessness, those fortunate to give themselves a temporary shelter, they are not viewed by the Government to warrant regular physical assistance like waste/rubbish pickups and sewage pickups. Because everything is money to them and this is just expenses, not withstanding the failure is due to the Government or that they may still in fact be working tax paying homeless (by definition of traditional brick and fixed land attached home).
Perhaps a vanlife rating system, similar to Uber star rating might be of help. If the residents know you are a 5-start vanlifer, it imply you are practicing responsible vanlife, with no negative impact on the neighbourhood especially after you leave... Just thinking... The rating system would need to be maintained by vanlifers....
Agree!
Please not play background music, it is very distressing to a lot of people who have over sensitive hearing itâs torture for us
I canât subscribe unless background music is removed đ«
And I really wanted to watch your videos
I am so sorry you have sensitive hearing. :( I can't remove the music after I post the video. Are you able to mute the video and use the subtitles generated by CZcams?
Great video. Get a security licence with Private investigator accreditation. Register your vehicle to a commercial business in private investigations not a person. Use their system to your benefit.
đ€Ł
Such a pertinent topic. You are very considerate in your actions and it would be great if all van life people had your outlook. While many do, there are always a few who act with entitlement and spoil it for others. Your points are excellent.
Thank you so much for your comment and kind words. All the best!
How self absorbed can people be to object to someone minding their own business, not outside their house on the street but possibly km's away at a camp ground. Its wild that the "concerns" of someone who has a home are regarded above those who have real challenges of never being able to own one for the rest of their life. This is why my build is 100% stealth because I have already experienced the small minds of some who see me as an undesireable or even a criminal simply because my home has wheels instead of a foundation. I also think your being to diplomatic towards those who care so little for you that their "concerns" are more important than your right to shelter and security. I have my own concerns, like not having to sleep on the streets because of a dysfunctional system that cares more about protecting profit than the welfare of human beings and you can bet Im going to look after myself no matter what laws they pass. This is the thing our corporate owned society has forgoten, laws just become some empty words on a piece of paper when your hungry, cold and desperate and if they want a civilized society with law abiding citizens then they must create the environment that allows it.
Thx for sharing your perspective. đđŒ
Well said.
There are quite a few people staying in local carparks here on the NSW Central Coast. They tend not to bother anyone and so long as they don't make a mess or cause problems, I don't see why anyone should have a problem with it. Those complaining because you are getting to enjoy their views and area without having to pay for a multi million dollar house are just jealous in my opinion. Some of those around here have soft floor camper trailers & caravans, some in converted buses and others like yourself in decked out vans. Be respectful to the area, to the public and other carpark users and I don't see a problem. I'm not opposed to setting an awning out with a couple of chairs and doing a BBQ or something either. People need to eat and while cooking inside is an option it can be very uncomfortable especially in summer and for those that don't have the money for a set up like yours, those that need to rely on gas burners and such to cook.
What you are talking about here is the differences between a van lifer and a holiday maker/backpacker. Often the holiday behaviours you are describing quite rightly come from people who are on holidays. Getting a bbq out to cook a late breakfast for example. When I am working full time and vanning, my day is just jam packed with trying to get my life stuff done, it is exhausting, being up early every day to move the van to my daily park from my sleep park, getting to a gym for exercise and a showering, getting online to work, keeping the van tidy. Everything in my life takes twice as long as what it does in a regular house.
But aside from that most of your tips are standard for most lifers, the reason the holiday makers don't need to think to much about being that considerate is because they have no plans to stay a long time in one area. But I would very rarely ever try and spend a night in a car park, just asking for a knock really, just find a place in the street to sleep.
You are spot on and thx for your comment. I am working on a video to respond to some of the comments and you gave a lot of material to work with. Thank a lot!
@@drivesurfcamp thanks, like I said when I am in my van full time I am so exhausted just with life. When I say everything takes twice as long I mean every little thing (obviously this would depend on your van set up) but I have to get out of bed, get to a toilet/washroom which I try to have within a 10 minute walk of a parking space. Even making a coffee, like everything has to be brought out, used, washed and put away before I can move again. Then like I said its a trip to a pool or gym or sometimes a washdown in the van which is boiling water and then using a facecloth to wash myself down with hot water and liquid soap. Then I have to go to the supermarket and pick up fresh food for lunch (usually at least every second day) Then I have to find a place with good signal I can work uninterrupted until lunchtime, this would usually be a park if I am in luck and it is sunny and I can get the solar panel out. I will take a walk at lunch and a lot of the time get myself into a library for the second half of the day if I can. Then after work I need to go to my eating dinner and night time activity area. Then clean all that up and pack it up. Then when all ready to sleep move to my sleeping park. Normally in the winter I will be falling into bed exhausted by about 8pm. I am not to sure people realize how exhausting it is to be honest.
Really enjoyed your video. Thanks! I've been living in my beautiful bus for 15 years {and yes from choice.} There are many ways to find shelter but we should all be sensitive, good neighbours wherever, however we are. I always want to stay where I feel accepted at least, but welcomed and comfortable is of course better. Thank goodness for a home on wheels! Yes always very happy to pay/donate a basic amount at town parking areas esp if there are facilities.
Thank you so much for your comment and kind words. Appreciate it. All the best! :)
The Councils don't have jurisdiction on what goes on in your vehicle, full stop, in any Australian State. In NSW, Shire Councils only have legislative powers on how you use the vehicle, off a road/not road-area. The exception to this off a road/not road-area, is the City of Sydney Shire, and some regulated special areas, which I haven't found any. If you're legally homeless, there's also legal argument & defence for infringements, of this nature.
Thx for sharing this info and for the comment. Cheers.
This is a great topic for a video. Thank you.
Thank you so much! :)
I really relate to the endingđGoodbye will be enough. Great video. I loooovvvve your van too, that's my dream.đ„°
Haha...so true....the end is always so tricky. Yeah, love my van too..... go get one...you can do it! :)
You made some good points, however you should consider the residents and their concerns. Those residents pay taxes, land rates etc, and that money is used to build roads and maintain the local area. Nobody is stopping you from enjoying the beaches, If you park overnight go somewhere quiet, the local car park is not safe anyway, just go to a nearby caravan park and contribute to the economy. People shouldn't blame it on the local council or the government.
Yes, I did consider residents and their concerns as I mentioned them quite a few times in the video. Thx for your comment.
Hilarious how these huge vans park at the beach in front of $3 million dollar apartments and block their view out.
I have live in my car for almost two years. No city will tolerate this. If you want to camp then find a campsite, if you want to live in the inner city im afarId you need to find somewhere to live more traditionally. Or find somebody who is willing to let you park at there house occasionally.
You cant have your cake and eat it too.
Im homeless but i dont feel entitled to park in city when there are actual places that are free and welcoming to me
Dont forget you dont Contribute to the costs of the city, or facilities like the shower you are abusing
Thx for sharing your view.
You make some great points. Certainly it is important that van-lifers don't give the local councils and Government reason to clamp down on camping in car parks, so there is certainly an element of responsibility here. However, the cynic in me cannot help thinking that the council and government are trying to cut off the escape routes for those seeking greater freedom and to be out of the 'system'. From that context there is nothing people can really do if that is the real reason.
Maybe a special rego sticker attached to the vehicle like the old days ,that rego would consist of a nite stay permit extra to a normal registration, maybe 1000.00 extra to that vehicle annually will generate a revenue to create some designated areas similar to food trucks
Could not agree more.... cheers.
This sounds like what happened to the people who lived on their boats in NSW. Living on a boat in NSW has been all but banned by the state government.
Wow! I had no idea about the issue with the boats...
I see van life people staying overnight and using the local beauty spot for their lifestyle all the time and honestly they never seem to cause a problem.
Its actually always the kids from other shitty areas that come in their cars and make noise and litter.
In my area I didn't have an issue with campers but after a while there's only soo much you can take of making a pristine area look like a rubbish dump!And to make matters worse its just a select few(mainly backpackers)spoiling it for the good campers!Thats why the council banned parking from 10pm - 4am or you will be towed...Noosa Heads...
Yup, been to Noosa recently...just like Byron, the restrictions are spreading like Covid in 2020. :/
I've been looking at alternative lifestyles for the past few years, observing what was going on and how people and governments answered to the popularization of the "different".
What happens in one western country tends to happen in another eventually, and Australia being all trigger-happy about censoring whatever fits the bill doesn't always tend to happen elsewhere, but still.
What I think in this case is happening is a result of the romantisation and popularisation of vanlife, which is happening in parallel to homesteading/off-grid fixed lifestyles. I am extremely doubtful that it will last for more than at most a few more years, and then for you things may go back to pre-coof days (i suspect homesteading will be more popular due to the nature of sedentary lifestyles vs. nomadic), but until then damage is and will keep on occurring to your way of life and, perhaps worse, reputation. In the eyes of those that did it and those that find alternatives cool, it matters not. In the eyes of those that hold property, money and however much amount of power (local councils inc.), it's going to be rougher.
I wish you all nomads luck, you won't come out of it unscathed, but nothing stays the same and you all already are very aware of it especially for car repairs and maintenance. So I don't know what that means for the future of this specific lifestyle in Australia, but I reckon it currently has bigger problems to care for than a handful that will be less than they are now in a few years.
I hope it won't have a kneejerk reaction and that this car-park ban is how far it will go (which I guess isn't a big deal for anyone seriously doing it anyway).
The problem with van living is that there's always individuals littering, cooking, being loud and turning every carpark into a sort of romani camp. Yeah, most vanlifers are respectul but it only takes a few individuals to make the whole group look bad.
I know first hand that some of this popular overnight spots have become very frustrating for locals, having to deal with this disrespecful individuals quite often, so I also understand their complaints and the resulting parking bans.
The for sharing your view! đ€đŒ
The real problem is the limited choices for accommodation. There is a housing crisis in Australia. People can not find affordable accommodation. They are forced to live in their cars because they become homeless. Greedy landlords and high immigration have caused these problems.
Such a well done video.
Co existing in harmony requires vanners to take some responsibility for their behaviour when in public. This shows respect for locals and other van lifers
Honest question - where do you hang your wetsuit and towel to dry after a surf?
Thank you so much! 100% agreed! đđŒ
On the wetsuit question⊠I hang it on the ladder outside with a bungee cord around it so it dries as I drive but I also have a drying rack inside the van which Iâll show in the next videoâŠ
Go up to Queensland where it's illegal and a $300 on the spot fine. Any free camp grounds are hundreds of kms from tourist spots, and if there are any free ones, they are usually closed during peak holiday season forcing you to pay for caravan parks or hotels.
What exactly is illegal? Parking or staying overnight?
@@drivesurfcamp Any overnight or past the hours marked. It's horrible up there.
What if your aboriginal can you camp on your land? unfortunately wa is catching up with no camping areas
people pay big rates to live in that area, I can see their point, especially if the areas are mistreated.
These areas where people pay big rates don't get mistreated because councils keep them in mint condition. Thx for your comment.
Well done, great video, new subscriber, Iâm a female, solo traveller with my dogâŠ..I have chosen to live in my Motorhome and traveling around QueenslandâŠ.no hiding for meâŠ. I often use free campingâŠ.like you I go to Caravan Parks, Showgrounds for water, clean outs and relaxingâŠ.
Thank you so much for your comment. All the best and safe travels.
I think there are problems in some areas with people living in a car park. This isnât the same as a vanlifer who moves everyday. Especially in tourist locations on the coast. Itâs not as difficult if you get out of the city.
Fantastic video, loved it đ
Thanks so much! đ
The issue is if they outright say its ok to stay in your van will the locals have any carparks left to access the park or beach for themselves BUT every Australian deserves to live in a van if they chose, especially because of the housing crisis. What is the correct answer?
Yes, believe me. There are enough parking spaces....what the answer is? I am still trying to find it and also trying to do the best I can as I go.... thx for your comment. :)
North coast of NSW is a hotspot where a lot of vanlifers park in the beach carparks where they sometimes stay for days. They tip their dinner scraps in the bushes, piss on the grass and bitumen outside their vans making the place stink like shit. Dunny paper blows around at times covered in shit. I have personally had to clean this up. Sure, itâs not everyone, but you wonder why the locals hate it when they pay their local council rates for 3 grand a year while vanlifers get it all for nothing.
:(
Not an Aussie here, but I'm interested in van/truck life.
Surely you guys already pay more road tax and insurance, etc. just to own a camper, right?
So why doesn't the government just assume that a tiny percentage of your additional vehicle taxes automatically covers your overnight parking in a car park?
I can understand that if someone pitches their awning and camp chairs in a place that could have been used for another car to park, then perhaps they should be paying for two car parking spaces as they are stopping someone else from parking. And if they don't want to pay twice, then don't pitch your awing -- Go somewhere where it isn't an issue.
One other point is 'common land'. I don't know whether Aussie has such a thing as common land (in Europe it dates back to the days when there were thousands of nomadic people, Romany Gypsies, etc. constantly moving around). Basically, each council or parish had to set aside some spare land where anyone was allowed to camp and graze their horses, etc. Sadly, over the past several decades, this has stopped because $$$$$$$$ and greed, and the shortage of land in Europe. However, Australia is not short of land -- you have plenty of it, per capita. So why doesn't each state set aside pockets of free-to-use land for travelling van dwellers (they can put restrictions on it, e.g. no stays longer than 14 nights, etc. if they want to). It might sound crazy, but unless people around the world start requesting that this sort of thing is created or reinstanted NOW, then many, many people are going to find themselves homeless and possibly -- vanless (when they can no longer feasibly live in their vans).
Yeah, it sounds like many van dwellers want to rock up to those million-dollar views and stay there for a couple of days (who wouldn't?) but they're gonna' p*ss off the rich, sociopathic folk. I understand where the rich folk are coming from, especially if littering is involved, but a couple of security cams will immediately catch the culpits.
Personally, I don't know why van dwellers even want to be near the cities so much, unless they need to remain in the rat race.
Great points. We don't have public lands in Australia to my knowledge. I'd say the culture here is quite the opposite, they put fences and charge fees everywhere they can. I personally stay around cities due to family and work arrangements.
House residents do not own the public, the Crown, land around them. Even Council purchased land, the residence only have an "interest" in the land. House residents getting angry, is not enough to deny another's right to access the land for any natural use, including sleeping.
Iâm interested keep going
5:45 nail on the head!
don't second guess yourself. just go for it.
Van should be parked somewhere hidden its easy to find a quiet spot where no one will complain.
The idea of hiding does not really apeal to me...appreciate your comment.
Iâm not sure youâre ever gonna get much local support where youâre parking for the night in those areas. They are some of the wealthiest places in Australia and those rich people donât like the idea of people living in their vans hanging around. Not saying I have any problem with it but I suspect those rich people will. All the best and love your setup
Very true.
I learnt that Australians have a culture of compliance. Probably stems out from the colonial way. After all the establishment never changed. There is a little collective spirit too. Helping others is not common. There are so many homeless people that it would be natural to help them. Yet, the self centered nature does the opposite.
Compliance is an understatement....they love fences and đ«... Which is a crazy contradiction because overall Australians are super friendly but can be super uptight and reserved....just like they claim to love animals....but try to find pet friendly hotels and caravan parks and you see a different side of it. Thx for watching a for your comment.
I have seen so many campers in tents, and vanlifers, leave all their damned rubbish all over the place, so I do not blame the locals or councils at all!!
And anyway, if people want the freedom to vanlife, why do they have to park in car parks!! I have absolutely no issues parking up, but I stay away from those places.