Camping Etiquette 101: Your guide to the unwritten rules of camping

The vast majority of us Australian tourers endeavour to do the ‘right thing’ but as I travel I’m noticing more and more campers disregarding basic etiquette. It got me thinking, sure there’s no rule book out there to tick off one-by-one but it’s common sense that you shouldn’t leave a campsite worse than how you found it.

If there were a rulebook for camping, here’s what I think should be in it.

Leave adequate space between setups and respect your neighbours

We’ve all been there: there’s a huge area with multiple options for setting up camp and someone sets up right next to you. In addition to no regard for personal space, they’re also usually the campers who’ll play their loud music until all hours of the night. Number one rule of camping etiquette is to leave adequate space and respect your neighbours. People head bush for multiple reasons; some want to get away from the big smoke and have a digital detox and others want to get a big group together for a party and catch up with mates. If you’re the latter, consider your neighbours and set yourself up where others are not camping so as to not disturb the peace. Camping can be a source of serenity for so many, don’t be the guy that ruins it for the whole campground.

Of course there are times where an area will be packed out and you’ll be forced to be side by side with another setup. In this instance, using common sense as to what is and isn’t appropriate will guarantee everyone enjoys their time off-grid. Don’t shine your outdoor lights onto their setup, be aware of noise at night and don’t set up right on their doorstep.

sunset 4wd and caravan off road campground off grid

Leave no trace

Only last week Josh and I headed to a free camp that has made it to one of my top 3 campsites in all of Australia. A beautiful cliff top spot called Hall Beach, only a stone's throw from Horrocks Lookout on the beautiful Eyre Peninsula. It had it all: incredible sunsets, adequate shelter from the wind, enough sun exposure to keep us solar powered and the ability to climb down for a swim in the ocean. Unfortunately, it was also littered with toilet paper…

We’ve all been there: busting for a wee and there’s no toilet around, however there’s nothing stopping you from taking your toilet paper with you in a plastic bag as you should already be doing with all of your rubbish. Treating places like this is what ends up getting them either shut down or ruined for everyone who comes after you. No one wants your dirty, used toilet paper flying into their campground, nor is it fair on the area to litter it throughout the bush after you do your business.

This doesn’t just go for toilet paper, be considerate of your surroundings and the campers who deserve to enjoy the campsite after you leave and leave no trace behind.

Drive responsibly

We recently caught up with some friends and fellow travellers who had been camping over the New Year period on a beach and were concerned for their safety as people had been hooning past in their vehicles at night. Apparently the car had come only inches from their caravan as it sped past and continued to spin in the sand attempting multiple burnouts. Not only does this disturb the peace but it’s a huge safety risk should there have been someone walking on the sand or if the driver had lost control and hit someone, a vehicle or a caravan.

This is an extreme case, but the rule also applies to driving in campsites in general especially when there are little ones and dogs running around who aren’t as road smart as adults and tend not to look before walking. A little known fact is beaches are not actually a free-for-all in terms of speed limits. For example, in South Australia the default speed limit on beaches is 40 kilometres per hour, which reduces to 25 kilometres per hour when you are within 50 metres of a person, unless otherwise signposted. On Cable Beach in Broome, as you drive onto the beach for the iconic sunset view with the camels gliding past, you’ll notice a signposted speed of 10 kilometres per hour, as is the case with most caravan parks.

Other than safety concerns, driving in a campsite with high speeds can also throw dust and gravel onto people and/or their vehicles and caravans, as well as disturb the peace with loud noise levels. As a general rule of thumb, always lower your speeds through camping areas.

beach campsite 4wd camping with a caravan camping ettiquette

Be respectful of wildlife and land

We’ve all seen campers do it: feeding wildlife, damaging vegetation by walking over vegetated sand dunes and driving where they’re not supposed to be. Part of the reason bush camping is so appealing is because you’re able to enjoy a natural environment, which is only kept pristine when all its visitors respect it.

Keep in mind, the areas you visit to camp are not only your weekend spot: they are home to many important species. Respect our fragile, Australian ecosystems and allow areas to stay beautiful, natural and flourishing by showing a little consideration and understanding.

Offer a helping hand

If you see someone pulled over on the side of the road, roll down your window to ask if they’re okay. Since hitting the road full-time we’ve stopped and assisted many travellers who were changing a tyre on the side of the road who needed some water and/or help in fixing what had gone wrong. We always do it because we hope if we need help someone would stop for us too. It’s an unwritten rule and frankly one that ensures the travelling community stays a positive community who look out for each other on the road.

Same applies to at a campground, if someone needs a helping hand, offer your time. One of the best parts of travelling Australia can be the people you meet and their kindness and willingness to help others in need. We’ve all been there after all, so pass the kindness on when you can.

unwritten rules of camping ettiquette

As I mentioned, it’s all common sense but it doesn’t hurt to have a refresher every now and then and check in with yourself to ensure you’re doing the best you can too. If we respect each other and the environment while we travel, we ensure that Australia stays beautiful, safe and respected for many campers to come.