Free camping returns in Vic parks

Basic campsites run by Parks Victoria are now free and will again be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, as opposed to the former policy of charging an overnight fee and having to book online. 

The new Victorian Labour government, which came into power in late-2014, has reversed “fees imposed under the Coalition (which) made camping expensive for families, affected school camps and buried Parks Victoria in red tape”.

Described as “unfair” by Victorian Environment Minister Lisa Neville, the 'user-pays’ system introduced by the previous Liberal Government saw fees increase at 98 campgrounds run by Parks Victoria, including 11 parks that were previously free.

The new rules mean campers at over 500 basic sites at over 70 campgrounds in 19 parks throughout regional Victoria will no longer be charged a $13 overnight fee.

Under the new system, bookings for these sites will remain in place until July 1, with automatic refunds up until that date. From then on, the basic sites will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A basic site is defined as unserviced, with minimal ranger patrols and often no pit toilet.

There’s also a chance fee hikes at better serviced campsites will be removed, with Parks Victoria being asked to “review all other camping options to make sure we are getting the balance right between affordable holidays and funding for new facilities”.

“We want Victorian families to have an affordable holiday and get a chance to experience our great national parks,” said Neville.

“The Coalition reduced Parks Victoria funding by $88 million since 2011, making families pay – charging them a fee for pitching a tent in a park.”