Camping Etiquette

Are you new to caravanning & camping and want to enjoy your time while away out in the bush or by the beach?

We all want to enjoy our stay in the great outdoors no matter where in the world we might be so we need to be considerate of others so we all can have a great camping experience.

The best way to make the most of your camping is to follow some basic camping etiquette to make not just your stay pleasurable but also of those camping nearby.

There is camping etiquette for free camping as well as for those in caravan parks so I hope you find this article helpful for you now and in the future.

As well as following the tips below make sure you take a sense of humour and have a great time!

When arriving at a free campsite and you are fortunate enough to be the first one there make sure you don't take up more space than you need or park in a spot that will make life difficult for the people that will come in behind you .

Should there be people already in the camping area then respect their privacy & don't camp to close to them . One reason we enjoy free camping is having a bit of space & not having to listen to the neighbors snoring all night long or any other nocturnal activity they might engage in !

Be aware of others around you while camping and make sure you keep the noise levels down with your music - tv- radio, generator and anything else you might have.You might enjoy listening to the cricket, but the neighbors might not be into it.

If you need to use a generator then either park further away from everybody or only have it running in daylight hours so others can get a good nights sleep.

For those in a campervan be aware of how annoying it can be for others hearing you banging the doors shut every few minutes.

If there are rubbish bins available with space in where you are camping then you can leave your rubbish as long as the bin is not overflowing already.

If there are no bins available then make sure you take your rubbish in your vehicle with you rather than being lazy and leaving it for others to clean up after you.

Rubbish can also cause problems for wildlife so please don't leave it laying around where it can do harm to the animals living in the area.

It is really sad to hear about our animals dying or being hurt due to lazy people leaving litter on the ground.

This was mentioned under noise however as it is such a hot topic I am referring to it again.If you really must have your genie running and there are others nearby please don't start it up to early and keep it running until late at night .

People go camping for the peace and quiet of the bush and the evening is the worst time to have to put up with a noisy genie running.

If you are the one having to listen to it please don't be abusive ,maybe ask politely how long it will be on for so you know you will be able to enjoy peace & quiet later.

When you pull into a camp make sure you do not camp too close to others that are already set up.

As others come in after you make sure you are friendly and welcoming , share information about the camp .

However leave them in peace while they are enjoying a meal together . It can be annoying spending time preparing a meal only to have to make polite conversation as your meal goes cold or you are eating while being watched and not able to fully enjoy the meal. There will be time for a friendly chat later on.

If you have to have lights on all night outside your caravan or tent then ensure that they are not annoying other campers as when free camping we do not expect to have bright lights in the middle of nowhere keeping us or others awake as they shine on our face while trying to get to sleep..

Often we look forward to some star gazing out in the middle of nowhere or enjoying unexpected wildlife visit in the dark of night and bright lights glaring can ruin the experience .

We prefer the subtle light of our campfire as opposed to lights !

It can be very off putting while you are trying to set up camp having someone staring or laughing at you the whole time and wonder if you are doing something wrong or knowing you are but not sure how to do it right .

If you do see someone struggling with something like reversing the caravan or trying to put up a tent obviously for the first time then why not offer a helping hand to make them feel more at ease with the job at hand rather than embarrassing them by having you watch their every move ?

One of the best things about camping is enjoying a campfire of an evening and having a chat . .

We love to cook our meals on the fire as the food taste so good , a roast or a stew ,then relax by it later.

Make sure you light fires in a designated area or make a safe spot to light a fire after checking you are in the fire season,

Don't take all the firewood for yourself & be prepared to go for a walk to go searching for a stock of firewood yourself .

Before you leave please make sure your fire is well & truly out so no one can get hurt or sparks set off a bigger fire.

If in a caravan park, are you considerate of others and leave space for others to be able to walk thru to the amenities?

Or do you consider it your block and selfishly make it difficult for others to be able to walk thru?

Keep in mind that everyone notices what type of people you are and this can have an effect on how others will help you later on.

If you are trying to promote a business remember news travels and if you are trying to make other peoples lives miserable by being petty it will get around so treat others as you would like to be treated.