NSW National Parks Wants to End Ghost Camping But Increase Fees

NSW National Parks is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to its state-wide camping fees and booking system.

NSW National Parks has proposed sweeping state-wide changes to campground pricing and cancellation refunds to prevent ghost camping.

The proposal includes a tiered camping fee system with a sliding scale of pricing, dependent on seasonal demand and available services and facilities.

NSW National Parks says the changes would help create a fairer camping experience and address issues such as no-shows.

Feedback is open to the public until Sunday the 25th of May, so get in now to have your say.

Proposed Changes to Camping Fees

As it stands, camping fees across NSW are inconsistent with the facilities provided, and National Parks says this is because historically, fees for each campground have been individually set.

The proposed camping fee changes would see a six-tier fee system created, in which the cost of a night’s camping would depend on both the season (high or low), the level of facilities provided, and the frequency of service of those amenities. This fee system would see campgrounds range from completely free, not even a $6 booking fee, to up to $89 per site per night.

Here’s a breakdown of the proposed fee system:

The proposed changes have come under fire from outdoor experts such as Outback Mike, who says the new cost of camping will price many people out from enjoying the outdoors.

‘This kind of price increase is going to put a whole bunch of people out of reach of camping in NSW National Parks’, he said in an Instagram reel. ‘If you don’t have a lot of money, that should be the last thing you can always do’.

What other proposed changes are in the plan?

Other proposed changes include simplifying the booking process by removing booking and extra person fees to create one flat fee for each campsite.

Refunds will also be offered on up to 80% of the booking fee for those who cancel their bookings in advance as an incentive to prevent ghost camping.

National Parks also hopes that by being more transparent about how often a campground is serviced and its available facilities, campers can manage expectations of their experience.

Do we need changes to NSW camp bookings?

NSW National Parks formulated these proposed changes after consultation with over 200,000 campers and national park visitors, in which 90% of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience and 69% supported fees being based on facilities, location, season, and services.

Visitor numbers continue to grow in the state; between 2023-24 there were 1.8 million overnight stays in 365 campgrounds across NSW. Along with visitation growth for over a decade, there’s been an increasing issue with ghost camping bookings or no-shows, when people book a campground but don’t show up, leaving it empty, or book more campsites than they need, leaving sites unable to be used by others.

Community feedback is welcome on the proposed changes. Head to Have Your Say for more information and to provide your feedback by Sunday, 25th of May.

Images thanks to NPWS