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Pt Perp camping in a car

bigfish

20-Feb-2014
9:36:38 PM

Just chasing some info if it is ok to sleep in a van out at pt perp. I don't want to be spotlighted in the night from the military. Anyone been camping out there in their van or car and had any issues?
cheers

Wendy

20-Feb-2014
9:49:29 PM

Drive back out of the weapons range and find somewhere (which should be easy). Once you've completed all the rigmarole to get into the range at all, you'll understand exactly how badly crashing in your van at the Pt will go down. Or just stay at Honeymoon Bay. Yes, you are expected to pay, but in reality they have a stupid system of not recording what site you are on or taking payment at the gate (with all the other rigmarole) and instead come around in the morning to collect fees. So the chances are you will be out climbing when they come around to get payment.

Damien Gildea

21-Feb-2014
12:06:13 AM

I was there weekend before last. Camping is closed during the week, only open weekends, and HBay was chockers the Fri and Sat nights.

I got a Dept. Defence warning note (potential $500 fine) on my windscreen for parking for 30 min in a non-designated area (was just a space by the road) while having a swim.

One night we camped just off the road a little way back before the gate, not ideal but OK, and the 2nd night we camped somewhere nearby (10km before the gate), not allowed, but OK.

If HBay is not full then you're probably fine there in a van(?) but anywhere else is a risk.

Personally I think the Navy is overstepping the mark in their 'management' of the area, but clearly not everyone agrees.

nmonteith

21-Feb-2014
7:33:56 AM

If honeymoon bay is full - just drive out the park and find any number of potential spots along the road before the entrance. Just look for sand roads leading to the beach. Remember it is Defense land and the guards are attempting to protect it - so parking overnight anywhere else is bad.

sbm

21-Feb-2014
12:31:26 PM

I also hear that they record your rego on the way in, and and if it isn't also recorded for a camp site slip they can tell, and pull you up at the gate on the way out and fine you.

It's supposed to be first come first serve with the camp sites (outside of school holidays) but people pay and "claim" them for their mates, it's a bit of a s fight especially if you arrive late on Friday night and then people wake you up in the morning and tell you to move as they've already paid for the empty site.

The WORST is that you can't pay the ranger in cash and have to pay between 1 and 3pm at the gate!

I'm thinking I will not be staying at Honeymoon bay during summer from now on.

pecheur

21-Feb-2014
1:20:12 PM

On 21/02/2014 sbm wrote:
>I also hear that they record your rego on the way in, and and if it isn't
>also recorded for a camp site slip they can tell, and pull you up at the
>gate on the way out and fine you.
>
Er I suspect most of this occurs automatically, your rego is linked to the PIN they give you on the way in.

Firstly it's a requirement that all vehicles going onto Defence establishments have their registrations recorded in and out if they aren't Defence plated. This is a basic security thing#. If your rego wasn't linked to a camp site then the system will say that you were supposed to leave some day earlier and you were trepassing so you get fined.

# Also it's good if there's an emergency on base, fire, flood, etc they can tell how many vehicles and roughly how many people they have to search for.

Damien Gildea

21-Feb-2014
2:59:01 PM

On 21/02/2014 nmonteith wrote:
> Remember it is Defense land and the guards
>are attempting to protect it …

Eh? What does that mean, Neil?

Firstly, we don't need to 'remember', there's bloody signs everywhere, they grill you on the way in and give you a PIN to get in/out. Not easy to forget and think you're at Lindfield.

Second, it's our land, Australian citizens' land, the government has just usurped some of it and limited our access to our land. Australians were there before the Navy was there.

Third, as to 'protecting' it? They blow the crap out of it with shells and put fences, signs and dog knows what else all over the place. The land needs protecting from 'Defense' (sic) - not the other way around.

I'm not suggesting anyone break any rules or cause any trouble, for the sake of practicality and harmony, but cooperate as such understanding the basic principles involved - not blind obedience.

nmonteith

21-Feb-2014
3:52:19 PM

It's a really simple rule. Only camp at Honeymoon Bay. Anything else will really piss off the guards who's job is to protected a military site, that includes unexploded bombs.

And remember the guys enforcing the rules didn't make the rules. If you have a problem don't argue with the guards but go and talk to the actual military brass and politicians.

pecheur

21-Feb-2014
4:17:38 PM

On 21/02/2014 Damo666 wrote:

>Second, it's our land, Australian citizens' land, the government has just
>usurped some of it and limited our access to our land. Australians were
>there before the Navy was there.
>
Sorry what? Last I checked my white Australian history, the east coast of Australia was claimed in the name of the King of Britain. Therefore, I can guarantee that the Crown owned the land before any white Australians walked on the land. Since then, unless it's been sold / transferred, it's under continuous ownership by either the British or Australian governments. If you choose to dispute this then the basis of any property you own is invalid.

Ergo, unless you can show me where Point Perp has been sold / transferred to the citizens / another legal entity, the land is still the government's (as is all land within the Commonwealth of Australia).

The Aboriginal angle would also probably exclude you from access unless you were part of their tribe, except during certain specific circumcisions.

One Day Hero

21-Feb-2014
4:29:23 PM

On 21/02/2014 nmonteith wrote:
>And remember the guys enforcing the rules didn't make the rules.

And for the benefit of those who've only known the point with a checkpoint and access codes.......before all that security was installed, the lighthouse carpark was a shocker for break ins. The increased security seems to have solved the problem. The whole camping problem is unrelated to the navy, camping anywhere at the south coast is a shitfight over summer and super chilled for the rest of the year.

My only gripe about the way the navy runs pt. perp is that their default midweek setting is to close access, even though they rarely run exercises.

Wendy

21-Feb-2014
4:43:21 PM

On 21/02/2014 sbm wrote:

>
>The WORST is that you can't pay the ranger in cash and have to pay between
>1 and 3pm at the gate!

Really? When we were there in November, you had to pay in cash to the rangers who came around the site in the morning. We tried to pay at the gate on the way in and they wouldn't let us.

>
>I'm thinking I will not be staying at Honeymoon bay during summer from
>now on.

sbm

21-Feb-2014
5:10:22 PM

Lots of passion here. The amazing climbing + strange management situation brings it out a bit huh.

Good point about camping everywhere being a fight in summer. True. Im too spoilt by our usual quiet spots.

On 21/02/2014 Wendy wrote:
>On 21/02/2014 sbm wrote:
>
>>
>>The WORST is that you can't pay the ranger in cash and have to pay between
>>1 and 3pm at the gate!
>
>Really? When we were there in November, you had to pay in cash to the
>rangers who came around the site in the morning. We tried to pay at the
>gate on the way in and they wouldn't let us.
>

Well yeah! This was Sunday morning, 2 weekends ago I think. I had cash in hand ready to pay the ranger and he said "nope we're not allowed to handle cash anymore, you have to pay at the gate, also we're only there between 1 and 3 so it has to be then"

Luckily we had a couple of people in the group who wanted a rest day, so they went to the beach, left early and paid for everyone.

ropedonkey

22-Feb-2014
8:27:41 AM

Off topic a little..I don't know Damo666 but i like the cut of his jib

So i guess that all the heaps of junk i got to the top of first, i should have stuck a flag in and proclaimed it in the name of fruitcake land...
Gee no wonder we are so hard on asylum seekers (sorry illegal immigrants) i bet they are all carrying a flag...
Maybe there is so much angst in this world as everyone is a little jacked off with governments and the commoner is pushing back..
We have hit rock bottom when China is critical of our human rights....

Anyway back on track you don't need to camp at Honeymoon Bay so many better spots even a few in Currarong itself, look around and be discreet..
Out on the main road as Neil mentioned a few beach side places exist. If you need to pitch a tent do it late and pull it down early..
Take your rubbish and other peoples if you can....
Don't camp at Red Point.... It is owned by the indigenous people and a claim is currently in progress..

ok you can stop rolling your eyes now and go back to facebook...

There are 13 messages in this topic.