The real problem is the limited choices for accommodation. There is a housing crisis in Australia. People can not find affordable accommodation. They are forced to live in their cars because they become homeless. Greedy landlords and high immigration have caused these problems.

This sounds like what happened to the people who lived on their boats in NSW. Living on a boat in NSW has been all but banned by the state government.

I think the problem is that you are on the north shore of Sydney which is the most prominent place in sydney and one of the most expensive areas. Just find a beach spot up the coast or down the coast. Also northern beaches actually have special stickers to put on there cars which the council government to residents, they have been doing this for like 15 to 20yrs maybe longer as there are so many people visiting this he beaches areas. I think that you shouldn’t be parking on the beaches car parks to camp. If you want to be a yuppie (snob) then find a place to rent or buy.

Please not play background music, it is very distressing to a lot of people who have over sensitive hearing it’s torture for us I can’t subscribe unless background music is removed 😫 And I really wanted to watch your videos

You "CHOSE" to live illegally! It's your attitude that needs to change NOT the rate payers. Stop trying to capitalize on the hard work of others... Pay your expenses like every other Australian rate payer has to. Australia has laws for a reason and it's to prevent people like you from becoming prolific.

Not a silly topic. I've noticed people just don't care and rubbish in beautiful nature areas infuriates me. Good job. Government is looking for new ways to generate funds to line their pockets....please keep Australia beautiful and free

"We just get comfortable" and you shouldn't mistake comfort for happiness

How about if we vanlifers paid rates like residents,that would seem fair.

The other day we saw at a beautiful seaside location, council signs prohibiting camping, overnight stays and campfires. Sadly, we saw 6 campers with tarps used as awnings attached to their vans, rubbish everywhere, clothing hanging everywhere, seats and cooking setups. The place looked a mess. We also did not feel safe, so went elsewhere. There have been reports of fights at this spot as these campers are now squatting. Our opinion was that these people should go to a caravan park for long term stays and clean up their act. There setup is not acceptable and has ruined it for the responsible van-lifers.

I live in Mooloolaba and we do have a problem here of van life people staying overnight in our beachside car parks. Mostly it’s not Australians and to be honest the over seas travellers tend to be the ones making the mess and basically upsetting us locals. I don’t understand why you have to park in the premium locations ? I also car camp, I tend to find a quiet spot and make sure I’m not really visible etc. But if you think people shouldn’t be upset that that there isn’t a legitimate issue with people staying in premium spots overnight for free while the locals pay thousands of dollars a year in rates to be there also, you’re wrong. It does annoy me that this happens. Come and enjoy the facilities, support the businesses, use the amenities etc that our rates paid for, but…. If you want ocean views, stay in the resorts that are there to support the real economy. Otherwise, Park at the beach during the day and stay in a quiet back street location at night, no one cares then and the beach isn’t packed with disrespectful backpacking travellers. Like always it's a few bad apples that ruin the whole bunch, you are an exemplary van lifer. in our location, the back packers have started putting up tents up near the car parks in gardens and are clearly overflow from a van that has many occupants, its a slippery slope when its allowed to go on. so again park up during the day and enjoy the place but move on at night and really no one cares at all.

Sleep in public car park during the day and do overnight park somewhere else. Follow the sign posted as this is a work around.

Great video! Unfortunately, a few selfish bad eggs spoil everything for the rest of us, who are doing the right thing, aware of our surroundings and leaving no trace.

There might need to be a body to represent you as a group. A registration scheme with rules that have to be followed in order to keep ones registration?

You make some great points. Certainly it is important that van-lifers don't give the local councils and Government reason to clamp down on camping in car parks, so there is certainly an element of responsibility here. However, the cynic in me cannot help thinking that the council and government are trying to cut off the escape routes for those seeking greater freedom and to be out of the 'system'. From that context there is nothing people can really do if that is the real reason.

I think that suggesting that Home Owners don't think is "fair" that people who don't own a home get to enjoy the view for free (from their car) is fairly simplistic. And the depiction of a someone staying overnight, vs someone using a car park as a campground does not reflect what it is like in some areas. It might be that you are relatively new to this life, and it could be your choice of area. This issue is occurring world wide (have a look at what has occurred in Sedona for example) and is about the increasing population of van lifers & the small (but also increasing) - minority of people who are not as respectful of their environment as you are, and who are using these places to empty their trash, clean out their toilets, empty their pee bottles into the gutter, set up their laundry, play music, and generally spoil the amenity of the area for everyone. Im not sure how we will balance the divide between rich and poor, as more and more people who are homeless turn to van life in order to survive, and more people look for cheaper ways to have a great holiday.

If you have money you can buy the law or your rights. It has a name....Neo Liberal right wing conservative Fascism or short Neo Liberal Fascism.

I can understand why the residents are concerned. Overnight stays should be in caravan parks. That's what they are designed for. Carparks are not equipped to facilitate campers, either just for over night stays or permanently.

Van/cars need to park somewhere safe each night. Respect and care on both sides. Government need to cap rents so people can afford housing.

Apple Tree Bay?

Is it more the "rent a van' international tourist who is causing the concern or the owner driver, I'd guess it's those on a short visa who are not too concerned with the ramifications of their behaviour.

I'm all for councils having a vehicle registering system and paying a nominal nightly rate to cover the upkeep of amenities blocks. Absolutely don't be creepy and camp overnight on suburban streets, families really don't want you living out the front of their homes, owned or rented. It's an issue to get a park at most beaches in sydney and yes, people will hate on you when your nicely or abysmally renovated van is taking up spaces, day after day... people notice that kind of stuff. Then there's the "shooting content" on beaches and parks, most people don't want to be in the background or worse feature in your YT or tiktok content.

Well done, great video, new subscriber, I’m a female, solo traveller with my dog…..I have chosen to live in my Motorhome and traveling around Queensland….no hiding for me…. I often use free camping….like you I go to Caravan Parks, Showgrounds for water, clean outs and relaxing….

I live in a caravan in a caravan park. Why should you get free camping. I pay $200/week You are cheap. Entitlement is a disgusting . Stealing is a crime.

Those people who live in the area are paying with council rates some maybe 5 k a year for the facilities,showers ,toilets ,rubish and up keep ,lighting security and are worried that the van people might start to bring trouble ,like drugs ,rubbish and anti social behaviour in what was a peaceful neighbourhood. Pray to God literally there paying your not scenario i dont know what the answer is but thats it.

Well done, good job.

I follow your same philosophies. Do everything you can to avoid upsetting people. Entitlement only ends in tears for everyone. And the guy with his dirt bike under the awning 😂 commented on him in one of my videos too 🙄

Pull up wherever and put three drops of oil onto the radiator and start the vehicle with the bonnet up, youve overheated and waiting for the mechanic or roadside assist.

Australia, three tiers of government for 27 million people, over governed, over regulated. They're also locking up forest areas to keep people out. Make no mistake, the Communist Green ideology has its teeth firmly embedded in controlling people.

How about punish the behaviour, not the "camper". No noise, alcohol, littering etc. Then its available to anyone who knows how to act within the law.

Dont ban car campers. They should be looking at the issue, not the symptons. A lot of people are living out of their car due to necessity. (Im a viewer who doesnt live out of their car)

There's a lot of self entitlement going on here. The incorrect group-think understanding of other people's perspectives, will never work in your favour. Reminds me of the bicycle lobby. No matter how lovely and sweet and quiet and good neighbourly all the folks are here, you are overwhelmingly outnumbered by those who come to Australia for the larfs, and ensuring they encircle the big island with used toilet paper and all their other mess and annoyances. There are sufficient numbers of these terrible people in vans, who continue to make a mess of the infrastructure that the rate payers pay for, that, as you've seen, ensure restrictions are only going to increase. Change will only come about if you lobby politicians, and prove you have the power to swing elections - good luck with that.

We have NEVER allowed camping in vehicles in carparks in Australia. It's for the safety of "campers" and to prevent their property from being damaged. Those carparks that don't list restrictions at night will mostly still be not available for camping overnight. It has NEVER been "policed" though. I'm not a full time traveller but I do have a very good mate who is currently housing insecure, which has made me more aware of the issue. For every community (in your case, those who live in their vans") there will always be a minority that will give the whole community a bad name. It is very disappointing situation and probably on the rise. Just a side note, the Gold Coast City Council also cracked down on houseboats moored at random spots for free on the Gold Coast Broadwater. Some of these were unsightly, so the people in the Highrise units complained that they were paying no Council Rates. Then council then made a by-law that they had to be at a mooring. So, it's not just limited to people who live in vans full time.

Sadly it’s generally the actions of a minority few who ruin things for everyone. One of my local Freo beaches in Perth is overrun by vanlifers every day. It wouldn’t be so bad if they were respectful and didn’t leave their trash and belongings everywhere but I can see why locals get frustrated. As someone who is about to start my own van build, it does worry me that these people are slowly ruining it for everyone.

Do yourself a favour and stay away from any council property overnight in Australia. Stay on roads not owned or managed by the local council. 🇦🇺

I have lived as a van lifer for the last 14 years, up and down the East Coast of Australia. And I think what you are commenting on is correct and simply common sense. Local property owners need to understand that vanlifers are considerate and respectful at all times. And we need to live up to that description at all times. If you are in a beach car park, simply park like you are another car! Not in a caravan park. If you want to cook breakfast or make coffee, go to a park where there are facilities allocated!! A BBQ Hotplate…etc. Secondly, and ultimately, I think we need to organize a group of us to lobby government in a way that has just as much power as the stupidly rich rate paying, angry, property owners that want to hog their beaches to themselves. It’s very simple. Just about public perception.

Very well presented video I must say, well done. Let's get down to the real issue here.... YOU CHOSE to live illegally. Don't expect everyone around you to change when it is you who needs to change. If you can't afford to travel correctly, don't go! If you can't afford to live in Australia correctly, go home! You seem to be demanding a free ride from hardworking tax paying and rate paying home owners. Why should you be exempt from the cost of living crisis? You believe yourself to be a pioneer of a new lifestyle, you are NOT! You are expecting to use facilities for free, take up carpark spaces not designed to accommodate your CHOSEN illegal lifestyle and then expect eveyone to bend over backwards and allow you to do whatever you choose to do. This is not ok, we have laws for a reason to prevent such people as yourself from becoming prolific and damaging not only our way of life but tourism also, rate payers, those people that pay for your CHOSEN illegal lifestyle, should be able to enjoy, without tip toeing around the endless hoardes of back packers and free loaders who just want to park up anywhere they like and live it up and not have to pay for accommodation like everyone else. You see, what you're doing isn't new to any state or Territory in Australia, back packers have attempting this same type of rubbish in all of our back yards for decades and it's not ok! You're not a pioneer whatsoever, NO, you are attemping to capitalize on somebody elses hard work, just STOP! You're welcome.

Haha they can make all types of coffee - it’s like a cult! but they can’t make tea! I only drink tea and so many cafes in Australia can’t make tea (a drying art), ie like English breakfast tea shouldn’t be served in a glass tea pot or glass cup.. glass is only for herbal tea where you want them to cool down..

Guess the don’t want us to park in a near empty public car park … rather people park on the overcrowded street outside their homes

Its the few that muck it up for the majority

I enjoying visiting and camping on Cockatoo Island. It’s worth staying the two nights due to check in and checkout times. It’s great when all the visitors leave. I’ve camped taking a tent and gear, and have stayed in their glamping tents also.

lol I know that feeling. I was made redundant after 17 years.

I don’t think most would be against anyone parking and sleeping overnight but the problems occur when people set up camp in public areas. Where I live we have a huge issue with people setting up camps near the beach, they leave rubbish everywhere and go to the toilet in the bush……. The place is an absolute mess.

I don't have a problem with vanlifers parking overnight at million dollar locations. I do have a problem when my daughter and I try to visit these same locations to sit on the beach and watch the surfing, being made to feel like we are trespassing, to the point, where we don't even get to the beach because all eyes are on us and not in a friendly way. I tried to say hi while they were glaring, and they would just ignore me. It's just that sense of entitlement that seriously gets on my nerves. It's not their property. If they were more respectful to others maybe attitudes towards them living rent free at a million dollar car park would change..... 🤔😐🇦🇺

It's the travelling backpackers that create the issues for us 100% Aussies born and bred living full time in our vans for what ever reason, don't get me wrong there is the odd piece of crap Aussie that is also the problem.

Great video and great ideas and thoughts. When you don't fit into the mould in Australia it's not ok with some of the wealthy elite. In the end the lands and beaches are all of the people's, while big city council's clearly work for the wealthy more it doesn't make it acceptable.

I once thought of a permit that would recognise us as "permanent resident van lifers" as a posed to "holiday goers " The permit would indicate its a residential van and allow 2 or 3 night's in certain pre arranged carparks/area's That way the holiday goers get pushed into the caravan parks (and rightfully so) and the resident van lifers get a little leeway But make it a rule that resident van lifers need to only sleep and not set up camp etc ( stealth) no messy set ups allowed etc, just sleep So basically just separating the holiday goers and vanlifers with a reasonably simple permit system? Also put a small fee on the permits to give the residents in the area some peace that the vanlifers are contributing to the community council and the public services and amenities it provides Thanks again for giving this issue a little platform to bounce off

I never park in a car park over night. You ask for trouble. You’re a target. You can’t see an ocean at night, you’re sleeping so why don’t need a beach view? You can shower in the early evening then move to any old street. The bigger issue is people leaving rubbish and poop. Just get a compost toilet. Your 10 points are spot on 👌

This was great! Love your style!

Good channel mate, like your editing skills & your explanation as to how you arrived at this point. Got my subscription 🇦🇺🤘

Interesting topic. We who live in houses pay our rates which in turn pay for the facilities etc in the town/area. We live in a small country town that is taken over by tourists in the weekends and holidays. These tourists etc. help the businesses flourish, so its an "I scratch your back and you scratch mine" thing. However, we do believe that people who overnight stay in a carpark should be allowed to pay a small amount for that right to park and use the facilities so they don't get the knock. We sleep in our vehicle overnight when away from home, and as a single person, it is costly to stay in a caravan park, if we are lucky enough to get a site. Most of them are powered; we don't want power. Many country towns have RV friendly places for people to stay and often charge a small amount for the overnight stay. Our local gym charges $4 for a hot shower to go with the RV friendly parking area. There should be more of this, rather than outright bans as most people would be happy to pay the small amount for the overnighter. A small overnight sticker on the dashboard of the van or the overnight parking receipt would solve a lot of problems and be fair to locals and travellers financially.