Rise in ‘ghost camping’ haunting holiday makers along prime stretches of state’s coastline

It has become the scourge of the summer, and a modern spoiler of the time-honoured tradition of coastal camping for many Tasmanian families. Plan to crack down on ‘ghost camping’.

Tasmania’s spectacular Bay of Fires on the state’s east coast.

It is fast becoming the scourge of the Tasmanian summer, and a modern spoiler of the time-honoured family tradition of coastal camping.

Now the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service has issued a warning over “ghost camping”, which is the underhand practice of leaving tents unoccupied for indefinite periods, typically along the best parts of the state’s coastline.

Signalling a ghost camping crackdown, the PWS said it would not hesitate to move on those campers who exceeded the prescribed time limits at the state’s prime camping sites.

A Parks spokesperson said with a peak in camping activity expected again across the state this summer, it encouraged visitors to only stay as long as permitted to allow others the same opportunity.

Tent on the beach at sunset, hammock hanging on trees. File picture

“PWS monitors campground sites across the state, and has received reports of ghost camping occurring in popular campgrounds such as the Bay of Fires,” a Parks spokesperson said.

“PWS allows people to stay for a fixed period of time that may vary from, for example, seven days up to a maximum 28 days in the one spot, with no restriction on the person being present at all times with their site.

“Rangers will request people to move on if they have overstayed.”

Tasmanian National Parks Association president Nick Sawyer said his organisation was aware of the practice of ghost camping, and described the problem as primarily a result of existing restrictions not being enforced.

Mr Sawyer suggested that anyone encountering the problem at the state’s campgrounds to report it immediately to the PWS.

“It’s a problem right across the board in our parks that they are becoming too popular for their own good,” he said.

“Ghost camping in places like Bay of Fires is probably more likely to be Tasmanians, but it’s something that Parks should be across.

“The one aspect of Parks that does seem to be adequately funded are the services to the tourism sector, and a lot of the more mundane aspects such as the monitoring of remote campgrounds that probably don’t have a fee attached come off second best when you are stretched for resources.

“This summer in Tasmania will be pretty crowded, with visitor numbers just going up and up.”

The PWS said it provided a wide range of camping options in the state, with or without camping fees, and with varying levels of facilities.

It said that campgrounds that do not offer bookings were subject to availability.

More information on camping options is available on the PWS website.

Originally published as Rise in ‘ghost camping’ haunting holiday makers along prime stretches of state’s coastline