Camping trips could cost $700 a week—how one petition fights to keep family holidays affordable
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Camping has long been a beloved Aussie pastime—affordable, easy, and accessible for generations of families.
But a proposed shake-up to how campsites are priced in NSW has sparked serious concern about the future of this tradition.
What’s now under review has left many wondering whether nature getaways will soon be out of reach for everyday Australians.
Camping in New South Wales might soon come with a serious price tag, and the backlash has already begun.
A proposal to overhaul camping fees in NSW national parks had critics warning it could turn a once-affordable family holiday into a luxury only some can afford.
Adventurer and filmmaker Mike Atkinson, better known online as Outback Mike, revealed that a campsite during peak school holidays could cost as much as $679 per week.
He compared that to a three-bedroom rental house just outside the park priced at $600 per week.
‘The main reason I was making that comparison is that someone is renting out this house and making a profit with all of the infrastructure and building that’s gone into a house, and all National Parks has done is clear a patch of ground and put some dunnies and some facilities nearby,’ he shared..
He counted 89 campsites on the booking map and estimated that a full week of reservations could pull in more than $55,000 in revenue.
The fee hike, he said, could have lasting consequences.
‘It’s never going to get cheaper after this,’ Mike warned.
‘It'll block a whole bunch of people out that just will never be able to afford it. And it will also just discourage young people. Basically anyone who’s not middle class with spare cash will really struggle to camp, so it’ll just be a trend that less people camp, and it’s for rich people or middle class. It’d be devastating, really, for a lot of people.’
‘It’ll affect your kids your grandkids and everything. So it’s really important.’
The proposed pricing overhaul would introduce a six-tier system for all national park campsites, with prices depending on available amenities.
A basic clearing without facilities would remain free.
Tiers 2 through 5, which account for 85 per cent of all campgrounds, would range from $22 per night during high season for minimal facilities to $65 per night for those with water and flushing toilets.
The most developed sites—tier 6—would charge $89 per night, offering hot showers and barbecue facilities.
Seasonal pricing would apply, with higher costs during peak periods and discounts off-season.
Camping fees would also be tied to the consumer price index, meaning they would automatically increase each year.
If approved, this would be the first major fee revision since 2017.
Public consultation closed last week, with more than 23,000 submissions lodged.
Despite the significant public interest, Mike believed more pressure was needed to stop the changes.
He launched a new ePetition for NSW residents, calling for the preservation of affordable camping.
The petition, which remains open until 21 August, pushed for three key actions: removing booking systems introduced during the pandemic for campsites that didn’t have them before, expanding the number of campsites to meet growing demand, and properly funding national parks so they don’t rely on camping fees.
Once the petition reaches over 20,000 signatures, it must be tabled in Parliament.
Mike hoped to see as many as 100,000 people sign.
Nationals MP Scott Barrett backed the motion and said that national parks must remain accessible to all.
‘They’re everyone’s assets, not just the top echelon,’ he shared.
‘Everyone should be able to get into a national park, stay there the night, light a fire, roll out a swag and enjoy some of the best country that this state has to offer.’
Mr Barrett, who recently spent six months travelling Australia with his family and camping in national parks, said the issue was ‘personal’.
‘We should be encouraging people to get out into these areas, not making it out of reach of a lot of people,’ he said.
A screenshot shared by Mike showed a nearby house advertised for $600 per week—almost $100 less than the proposed campsite fee.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) responded by saying all feedback would be reviewed and the goal was ‘consistency and equity’ for campers.
‘No decisions have been made on the proposal,’ a spokesperson shared.
In a previous story, we explored how NSW national parks are tackling the issue of ‘ghost camping’ with a plan to standardise camping fees.
This move aims to make camping fairer for everyone while addressing booking system abuses.
Read on to find out more about this important proposal.
With camping fees set to change so dramatically, how do you think this will affect the way Aussies enjoy our national parks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
But a proposed shake-up to how campsites are priced in NSW has sparked serious concern about the future of this tradition.
What’s now under review has left many wondering whether nature getaways will soon be out of reach for everyday Australians.
Camping in New South Wales might soon come with a serious price tag, and the backlash has already begun.
A proposal to overhaul camping fees in NSW national parks had critics warning it could turn a once-affordable family holiday into a luxury only some can afford.
Adventurer and filmmaker Mike Atkinson, better known online as Outback Mike, revealed that a campsite during peak school holidays could cost as much as $679 per week.
Proposed NSW camping fees spark public outrage.
He compared that to a three-bedroom rental house just outside the park priced at $600 per week.
‘The main reason I was making that comparison is that someone is renting out this house and making a profit with all of the infrastructure and building that’s gone into a house, and all National Parks has done is clear a patch of ground and put some dunnies and some facilities nearby,’ he shared..
He counted 89 campsites on the booking map and estimated that a full week of reservations could pull in more than $55,000 in revenue.
The fee hike, he said, could have lasting consequences.
‘It’s never going to get cheaper after this,’ Mike warned.
‘It'll block a whole bunch of people out that just will never be able to afford it. And it will also just discourage young people. Basically anyone who’s not middle class with spare cash will really struggle to camp, so it’ll just be a trend that less people camp, and it’s for rich people or middle class. It’d be devastating, really, for a lot of people.’
‘It’ll affect your kids your grandkids and everything. So it’s really important.’
The proposed pricing overhaul would introduce a six-tier system for all national park campsites, with prices depending on available amenities.
A basic clearing without facilities would remain free.
Tiers 2 through 5, which account for 85 per cent of all campgrounds, would range from $22 per night during high season for minimal facilities to $65 per night for those with water and flushing toilets.
The most developed sites—tier 6—would charge $89 per night, offering hot showers and barbecue facilities.
Seasonal pricing would apply, with higher costs during peak periods and discounts off-season.
Camping fees would also be tied to the consumer price index, meaning they would automatically increase each year.
If approved, this would be the first major fee revision since 2017.
Public consultation closed last week, with more than 23,000 submissions lodged.
Despite the significant public interest, Mike believed more pressure was needed to stop the changes.
He launched a new ePetition for NSW residents, calling for the preservation of affordable camping.
The petition, which remains open until 21 August, pushed for three key actions: removing booking systems introduced during the pandemic for campsites that didn’t have them before, expanding the number of campsites to meet growing demand, and properly funding national parks so they don’t rely on camping fees.
Once the petition reaches over 20,000 signatures, it must be tabled in Parliament.
Mike hoped to see as many as 100,000 people sign.
Nationals MP Scott Barrett backed the motion and said that national parks must remain accessible to all.
‘They’re everyone’s assets, not just the top echelon,’ he shared.
‘Everyone should be able to get into a national park, stay there the night, light a fire, roll out a swag and enjoy some of the best country that this state has to offer.’
Mr Barrett, who recently spent six months travelling Australia with his family and camping in national parks, said the issue was ‘personal’.
‘We should be encouraging people to get out into these areas, not making it out of reach of a lot of people,’ he said.
A screenshot shared by Mike showed a nearby house advertised for $600 per week—almost $100 less than the proposed campsite fee.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) responded by saying all feedback would be reviewed and the goal was ‘consistency and equity’ for campers.
‘No decisions have been made on the proposal,’ a spokesperson shared.
In a previous story, we explored how NSW national parks are tackling the issue of ‘ghost camping’ with a plan to standardise camping fees.
This move aims to make camping fairer for everyone while addressing booking system abuses.
Read on to find out more about this important proposal.
With camping fees set to change so dramatically, how do you think this will affect the way Aussies enjoy our national parks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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