Hey all,
I am coming over to Western Australia in January to flee the cold european winter :)
I am going to stay till the end of April and was thinking about buying a car, heading up north.
I don't really have alot of money to spent and even more I dont feel like sleeping in backpackers or staying on campsites. That wouldn't be a proper surftrip for me....
So I was pretty much assuming that sleeping in your car wouldn't be a big deal. But people that have been over there (not surfing though) told me rangers and cops get a bit annoying...
So what's your experiences?? Is it a problem to find good spots for sleeping in your car? Do the cops really care?
Thanx in advance and looking forward to be kitesurfing and surfing with you!!!
Gday Fuzel,
as long as you can drive your car off without having to pack up camping gear I don't think there's anything the coppers or rangers can do.
If you're not upsetting anyone the coppers won't care anyway and if you're up and gone early the rangers won't be working.
Best bet is just to find somewhere quiet and out of the way, don't set fire to anything and be up and gone early
Cheers.
Hello 
Got waken up while sleeping in my car on Yallingup car park (3 hours drive south of Perth) by the police at 3:00 am 10 years ago. I told them I was just having a small nap, but they clearly shouted "YOU ARE CAMPING!!! YOU MUST GO!!!" with two torches blinding me... So I drove still 3/4 sleeping to the next bush where I finished the night...
Following this experience, I now chose quieter spots (preferably behind bushes 
). Generally, I'd say sleeping in a car is not big drama.
Have fun!
Fred
The other thing to think abitu Fuzel is that Aussie camp sites are gonna be very different to Euro ones - they will mostly be more remote, less crowded and probably a bit rougher than you're used to in Europe. You might find camping in Aus, especially North of Perth is a really great way to do it, and cheap (or free) as well. And a good way to meet people.
mmm girls...
Go for it fuzel. Did it myself last December and its the way to go. Northern WA is so vast that (as long as you don't park up near beaches) its unlikely a copper will find you. Stray too far off the beaten track and nobody will find you 
Its a winner
C
be careful of guys driving around in red camarays .They might break into your car and steal you
got busted sleeping in the car in:
Exmouth - busted by ranger in a car park, explained we stopped for bbq and got pissed so could not drive. they took down the rego yadda yadda.
Geraldton - sleeping in car on that sandy road that goes to the beach a bit north of the lighthouse, the local bogans hounded us all night
coral bay we got away with i think sleeping on the beach
monkey mia - forget it but there is free camping in the bush on the way in i think
basically it was a load of hasstle but it's doable. i think its almost easier to get away with in sydney.
Have fun mate but obey the local kiteing laws and then we're all good and we can keep kiteing forever.
^^ That's the go. There are other lists of free camping in WA if you google it.
Just needs a bit of common sense. Pick your spot where your out of the way and people aren't likely to notice you. This might not be your ideal camping spot but there are plenty of places to tuck yourself away where no one is gunna be bothered. keep it quiet, don't make a mess, and
Whatever you do don't ever light a fire - quickest way of pissing country people off and maybe also burning he place down.
<<<<<I traveled around in that, parked it on the side of the road in a residetial area and it looked like I was staying at someones house.
obviouslly didn't set up camp or anything, new street every night and parked unobtrusively so residents didn't complain, was fine that way. but maybe only because that particular car is not commonly seen these days and is not associated with traveling bums :)
Don't light a fire. Don't leave your rubbish behind. And lastly - DON'T **** EVERYWHERE!
Otherwise it's probably fine.
thats ok, we pay our rates and taxes to keep the carparks nice.
You come use it for free fella!
Yeah cause he won't have to buy food or anything else either. Won't have to fly to Australia with an Australian airline and won't have to use Australian service stations so he's just gonna stay in the country..... FOR FREE
Hey,
thnx for all the information allready.
Well, if that wasn't just a joke about paying taxes. I am not just trying to avoid camping fees but i just dont feel like staying on camping grounds. I don't wanna spent that much money and time to come there, and then stay with some ol' farts in their trailers or motohomes.
So I was more hoping it was possible to find a remote beach and sleep there, maybe with a 4wd?!
Didn't think cops and rangers would care that much, but i guess they are just in need of the tourists money :(
Is it actually a WA law that you are not allowed to sleep in your car? or is it just some local thing next to big (tourist) citys?
Was hoping to get some more freedom regarding the place where to sleep :(
More like surfing, kitesurfing, fishing sleeping in your car at the beach...
I think here it's actually forbidden as well but no one cares. You can just kite and sleep in the car park or at the beach. But have to admit that it would probably be a different thing if we had as many tourists here as you guys.
So I am not sure now? Is it okay/not okay, possible but a hassle, or totally fine and a cool exp. as long as you stay on remote beaches? Or are the camping grounds really that different (more basic) and its actually nice to stay there and you will meet mostly surfers and blonde swedish chicks ;) ?
Cheers
I'm sure as long as you use common sense, and sleep in an appropriate area, you will be fine. I mean, even if they wanted to get you into trouble, just say "i wanted a quick power nap, because i didn't want to drive tired". there are signs up everywhere telling people to take a power nap.
But i'd be surprised if you had any proper trouble, you might jsut get asked to move on, so drive a few k's and youll be fine.
If you park on a desserted beach, you are likely to not even see anyone.
But in more urban areas, if you pick your spot wisely and sensibly, you are likely to be left alone.
AND MAKE SURE
You watch the 'Wolf Creek' movie - it may have some scenery landmarks that will help you if you break down for some reason
But if you get soft & think about stayin in a hostel - watch the movie 'Hostel' instead 
Sleep Well Bud
Cheersz - SharkBait on a hook & line
It's pretty much just council by-laws so realistically you're more likely to be fined by the ranger than told to move on by Police.
You're probably more likely to get hassles in tourist-y type towns where the locals kick up a stink eg Coral Bay I wouldn't bother.
But yeah, head to a remote beach a couple of k's from town and you won't have any issues.
You will need lots of money to buy beer for the locals, or are you going to see how many you can get on the cheap as well?
I hear you can also escape the Euro Winter in Africa.
and if you end up in perth for any length of time, there is regularly a group of backpacker vans parking up in the north scarborough carpark and setting up (quite elaborate) vans every summer, the first one arrived 3 days ago. I have seen cops drive straight past em as they cook dinner out the back of the van. ranger drops by maybe twice the whole summer and says to move out. 2 days later, they are back again.
Cool,
thanks a lot for all your answers and advice!!
Sounds like its actually not big a problem to sleep in your car. will also try to get hold of that freecamping guide.
Really looking forward to coming over in January and of course i will make sure to bring some beer for the locals :)
So hope it's gonna be a good season!
See you next year !!
