I’m constantly blown away by what some caravan parks charge these days.

Not long ago, we were travelling through the south-west of Western Australia when a beachside caravan park quoted us $50 a night – for an unpowered patch of dirt. We stayed one night, then hit the road in search of a better deal.

Now, it seems $50 is on the cheaper side. I’ve heard plenty of stories of beachside parks asking $90 or more per night – just for the privilege of rolling out your swag, pitching a tent, or setting up your camper. Power might be included (how generous), but if you’ve got a van with an aircon, expect to pay even more.

Got kids? Prices often climb again once you’ve got more than two people, especially if the kids are over five. Frankly, it feels like a rort. I’d rather free camp and spend that money on a decent pub meal and a couple of beers.

In some areas, particularly WA, local councils don’t make it easy to free camp. You’re often pushed towards pricey caravan parks or sanctioned options with hefty fees. At the same time, national parks across Australia are introducing or increasing camping fees – even in places that were once free. Their reasoning? “Improved facilities” like a toilet block, fireplace or designated sites. Whether those are actually improvements is up for debate.

Then they act surprised when people seek out free camps, head further off the beaten track, or park up overnight in a quiet beachside car park. Councils complain, hand out fines, but rarely offer realistic alternatives.

Thankfully, some small towns are taking a smarter approach – creating designated free camping areas close to shops and pubs, encouraging travellers to stay a night or two and spend locally. I love this idea. I’d much rather drop $50 at the local café, pub or general store than hand it over to a caravan park charging a premium for the bare minimum.

So, if you’re feeling the pinch, consider skipping the caravan parks. There are heaps of websites and guides out there for finding quality free camps – and your wallet (and maybe your local pub) will thank you for it.ide car parks and the like. They complain and fine people, but most do little to alleviate the problem.

Check out WikiCamps, or Camps Australia Wide, and the Facebook pages Free Camping around Australia, Low Cost & Free Camping Australia Wide or Country Pub Camping, for a heap of ideas.