What you can do

Page Navigation:

• Recreation
  1. Did you know?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Bushwalking
  4. Camping
  5. Boating
  6. Fishing
  7. Find out more
• Volunteering
  1. Did you know?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Clean-up days
  4. Conservation projects
  5. Help wildlife
  6. National parks
  7. Botanic Gardens
  8. Other
  9. Find out more
• Recycling
  1. Did you know?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Wastewise events
  4. Strategies
  5. Managing public places
  6. Considerations
  7. Find out more
• Transport
  1. Did you know?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Talk a walk
  4. Ride a bike
  5. Public transport
  6. Drive carefully
  7. Find out more
• Waste
  1. Did you know?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Where do I start?
  4. Clean up initiatives
  5. Waste wise events

• • What you can do
  • Resource Centre
  • Projects & Partners

Article:

Recreation

Camping

Falling asleep to the sound of the great outdoors is a treasured memory. When you go camping in protected natural areas there are some everyday living things you can do.

Easy ways to make a difference:

• Use established camping areas and picnic facilities – research the facilities available. Contact the local council or tourist information centre or use the National Park Camping Ground Search tool
• Choose your campsite with care – where no established camping areas exist, find an open space to erect your tent so it is unnecessary to clear vegetation. In overgrown areas, trample undergrowth flat rather than pull plants out of the ground. A trampled spot recovers more quickly. Camp at least 20 m from any stream or waterway. Avoid low or poorly drained camping areas – look for harder ground or sandier soils
• Tread softly – minimise impact on the environment. Don't tie tent ropes to trees or hang towels and clothing on them as this can ring bark and damage them
• Respect culturally sensitive areas – the whole of the NSW landscape, from Eden to Byron Bay, from Sydney to Broken Hill, is a mosaic of cultural meaning. People are as much part of the landscape as the plants and the animals, and the attachment of people to land makes that land special. These range from small ceremonial sites to enormous mountains. In fact, everything in the landscape can have special meaning for Aboriginal people. If you come across an Aboriginal site or an area of cultural significance, avoid hand or foot contact with the site. Do not re-groove, chalk, draw or place water or sand on it
• Use designated fireplaces or bring a fuel or gas stove – a few simple precautions can keep you and the bush safe. Never leave a fire unattended and make sure campfires are properly extinguished before leaving. Never cut any timber for firewood as it could be something's habitat
• Observe all fire bans – keep a radio with you to monitor for fire ban updates and changes in local conditions. Local radio, newspapers and the NSW Rural Fire Service provide updates
• Remove all food scraps and rubbish – leave the bush as you would like to find it. Collect and take ALL rubbish with you when you leave, even rubbish left by others. Don't leave any food scraps or organic waste such as apple cores and fruit peel. This adds nutrients to the soil, encouraging the spread of weeds and also harms local plants and wildlife.
• Use the facilities – if the venue has waste and recycling facilities, separate and dispose of your waste and recycling articles in the appropriate receptacles. If no bins are provided or they are unsuitable for use (e.g. overflowing), then take the rubbish home with you and dispose of it with your household recycling
• Take care – only use detergents, toothpaste and soap if you're at least 50 m from any waterways, to prevent harming fish and other wildlife