‘Grubby’ act taking over popular Aussie campsites

People fear the limited number of free campsites will reduce if this issue persists.

Tourists have been warned they are no longer welcome at a popular campsite in NSW if they continue to leave rubbish and camping equipment behind for others to clean up.

This week, one angry camper, Daniel 'Bushie' Bush took to the Snowy Mountains Uncensored Facebook group after discovering an abandoned tent full of rubbish at The Island Bend campground in Kosciuszko National Park. 

It's prompted a widespread debate over proper camping etiquette and whether or not there's anything that can actually be done about the issue. 

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Image: Facebook/National Parks and Wildlife Service

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"Not welcome"

Bush shared a photo showing the group the broken yet still partly assembled tent littered with pizza boxes, food packaging, plastic bags and beer cans. 

He said people who did this were "grubs" and warned that offenders like these are "not welcome" to return. 

And he says he's extra p*ssed off because it's not the first time he's witnessed this sort of behaviour in the area.

"[This is the] fourth swag I've seen broken and left behind."

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"Absolutely disgraceful"

The discussion among fellow campers echoed his thoughts. "Disappointing to see," one agreed, while someone else called it "Absolutely disgraceful," and another "crazy."

A fourth said that behaviour like this is why "areas are being closed off."

And yet another person called it "gross and unacceptable."

Then others drew comparisons between tourists in Australia and overseas, saying that people are far more respectful when travelling in other countries. 

"It's a shame a lot of our population [does this]. If you go to Japan, you are lucky to find any rubbish, but for some reason, people here think it's funny or normal to just leave their rubbish everywhere," they claimed. 

"Waste of time and money"

"It makes me feel great having to waste time and money cleaning up after other people," Bush sarcastically told Yahoo News.

He then admits that he worries that the limited number of free campsites will reduce if this issue persists.

"[We do it] so we can keep what little free camping we have left," he said. "Usually, I clean up, but the rangers got it this time."

But is there another issue at play?

However, some commenters on the Facebook post argued that this happens because there aren't enough bins at free campsites, with Island Bend being particularly bad.

"Funny we pay park entrance fees and taxes but no rubbish bins," said one person.

However, others reminded people that if that is the case, campers should simply take their rubbish with them.

"No bin, take it with you!" one emphasised.

"Leave only tracks behind," another member urged. 

Some gave them the benefit of the doubt

Meanwhile, others had a more sympathetic take on the whole situation.

"At least they contained it in the swag," one man claimed. 

"Maybe they are coming back to retrieve it?" another suggested.

Another user wondered: "Did they really leave it there or did they just throw all their stuff into it while they are out in the mountains?"

"This also could be someone's house. You never know," pointed out another. 

What do you think happened? And have you witnessed this before?  Tell us in the poll above. 

Originally published as ‘Grubby’ act taking over popular Aussie campsites