Australia..where to stay overnight in big cities
 

Hi,

we have planned our 12 months trip to Australia with Mitsubishi Delica delica | seznam alb – rajce.net and I would like to ask one question.
Where to park for free and stay overnight in big cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth...
We will have our bicycles with us, so it does not have to be in centre of town and we will sleep in the car.
For example in London are places where you can park and sleep in the car aprox one mile from Big Ben. You just need to know where.
Thanks for your tips.
Kamil+Helena

Hmm, there aren't really those sort of places in Australian cities unless you plan in parking overnight in the back streets near a public park in one of the inner city backpacker areas like St Kilda in Melbourne. Daytime parking will be the real challenge as there are meters or resident permit restrictions in all of the inner suburbs, even in most of the back streets.

Can you let me know where you park in London, and what sort of facilities you are expecting - I can then recommend somewhere similar.

Alternatively, should you choose to ride motorcycles, parking is free on any footpath at any time anywhere.

Not where I live.

You can park on most beach side public carpark and sleep in the car. Not sure how the cops feel about it, but I've got plenty across the road of my place. Or school car parks. I've slept in suburb bus stops, cricket dugouts, gold courses although I did end up having to run from the cops. :rolleyes2:

I was talking specifically about Melbourne. :biggrin3:

I London you can park near Battersea power station...plenty of streets without parking restriction, close to river Thames. No facilities. Just free parking without time limit. It is sort of industrial area.

Near sports fields, a few blocks away from airports, and industrial areas after working hours seem reliable for quiet hassle-free parking.

Watch for how much foot traffic is around when you are wanting a quiet rest in your car. If you park in a place where there's lots of people walking to/from pubs, sporting events, transient people etc it could be :(

Spending time here in Sydney now, this appears to be a country that welcomes tourists and our dollars. It seems easygoing and you will have a great time in Australia!

Hi. If you dont mind short drives then maybe some of the outer suburbs could be of value especially those based around state or national parks.
Places like Upper Ferntree Gully (Victoria) at the base of the Dandenong Ranges and the small towns throught the Dandenongs, being tourist orientated should have more small ofroad parking spots that may be more private than city spots. Ferntree Gully is about 35km from Melbourne and another 10/15km gets you well into the Dandenongs or Bunyip Ranges (Belgrave, Emerald) right next door to the Dandenong Ranges.
Ernie.

I work in Windsor/Prahran/South Yarra area in Melbourne right off Chapel street which is a bit of a shopping/cafe/night life mecca. 15 minutes from the city centre. I know of a little known dead end side street off chapel st with no parking restrictions(almost unheard of in this area), sometimes used by travellers with Vans etc who stumble across it.
I work at a fire station near by and if Im working I can let you in to take a shower or even store some stuff for you while your here. If you want to stay further out say Brighton to sandringham near the beach and safe then I can suggest some other spots.
PM me if your interested.

Cheers,

James

Thanks James for that generous offer of hospitality to HB folks.

As a current visitor to Australia (I love it here!) I've found McDonald's restaraunts (locals call them Macka's) to have good bathrooms.

Urban Car Camping:
Keeping in mind that I'm a new visitor here (7 days), jogging around Sydney shows a common generazation to be true here -- appears that the hassle-free parking around public parks and commercial areas looks good. I like the idea of commercial areas after hours since they are quiet for good rest, and usually have less foot traffic.

Hope this helps.

2c
 

I live in melbourne, i think if your in a suburb that seems fine, has a bit of light (or not) and is quiet you will do fine. Maybe find a new spot every other night. For out of cities and almost everywhere else a book called "Camps 6" the 6th edition of a very useful book of wild, free, pay site "vaning". Lots of good spots but locals will always know the best.
jessedylan

Kamil,

In the smaller towns and cities, you can quite often camp in the local showgrounds. Some are free, some are a token payment of $3.00 a night. The most is usually about $10.00 a night for a powered site.

When parking at the showgrounds you have access to showers, toilets etc.

I know that Dayboro, QLD will give you a non-powered site for $7.00 a night and that Kilcoy, QLD has a spot where you can camp for one night for free and has access to toilets. Jimbour, QLD also has a spot for free, one-night stay.

There are books with lists of amenities available from most newsagents that will have all of this. I think that it is around $20.00 AUS

Regards,

Shane

Thank you very much for great info. We never stay in one place for more then one night.
Our car looks like ordinary family car so hopefully we will be OK in industrials areas and near public parks in cities.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...ney/delica.jpg



and interior
delica | Interier – rajce.net