A Little Social Courtesy Goes A Long Way
Whether you’re new to the caravan lifestyle, or it’s been a while since you’ve taken your caravan on the road, it’s important to be aware of caravan etiquette. From the highway, to the camping ground and caravan park, we want to make sure you get the most out of your caravanning experience. So, to stay in the know, check out our caravan etiquette guide, carefully crafted by experts at Caravan RV Camping.
Tips On the Road:
Know your weight: While towing a caravan or driving an RV, it’s important to be aware that you are carrying a significant weight on the road. Towing a caravan requires significant handling skills, constant vigilance and spatial awareness. To stay safe and keep other drivers happy, be sure to stay in the far left lane wherever possible to allow faster vehicles to overtake you. This will also convey a message that you are a courteous and cautious driver!
Keep a watchful eye:
Continually check your mirrors to ensure you’re not holding up other cars - for safety, as well as courtesy. To avoid holding up other drivers, it is considered polite to pull over and allow others to pass. If you find yourself on a narrow road, either on the beach or in the bush, pull off slightly to allow oncoming traffic to pass.
Say hello:
Be sure to acknowledge other caravanners on the road! We’re a loud and proud community, and a friendly nod on the road is always acceptable.
Tips on Site:
Introduce yourself:
Camping sites and caravan parks are the perfect way to meet new and interesting people. Don’t be the holiday-goer that doesn’t say hello! Any experienced caravanner knows that it’s important to be friendly and acknowledge your surrounding neighbours by introducing yourself. You’ll be surprised as to how much of a difference this interaction makes towards everyone enjoying their time at the park.
Exhibit site courtesy:
This is where the old bushman’s creed comes into play, ‘never walk into another man’s camp without making your presence felt from a distance’. Be aware that there are boundaries between sites. Try not to walk across other people’s sites, and stick to the roads and walkways where possible. Yes, it might take you a little longer to get to the amenities but you’ll avoid irritating your neighbours. Likewise, be sure to keep your belongings - caravan, vehicle, bikes etc. - within your site boundary.
Keep the peace:
Be aware of how much noise is coming from your campsite and try to keep noise to a minimum. No one likes a noisy neighbour! When listening to the radio or watching TV, be sure to keep the volume down. The general rule to follow is: keep quiet before 8am and after 10pm. If you want to stay up late drinking with friends, consider the local pub or a more secluded area of the park instead of your caravan site, this will keep the whole park happy.
Keep the gang in check:
If you’re lucky enough to be travelling with kids and/or pets, be sure to make them aware of the surrounding neighbours and the rules of the campsite. If they are playing ball games or activities, encourage them to use the specified play areas or surrounding parks. If you are taking your pet with you, firstly check that it is allowed in the park! Also, make sure that you keep it under control and be sure to pick up after it. Remember that not everyone is an animal lover!
Say no to wildlife:
Australia offers some beautiful, natural campsites with an abundance of flora and fauna. As tempting as it may be to interact with the local wildlife, for your own good and the good of fellow travellers, try to resist feeding the local wildlife.
Be water conscious:
You will learn very quickly that there is a shortage of water at most campsites and caravan parks. Be water conscious and make the effort to minimise your water usage. There will always be a sullage hose on hand for grey water. If there isn’t a drain nearby, run any excess into a bucket. You won’t be well received if you’re found pouring your grey water onto the ground.
Waste matters:
Every experienced camper or caravanner will have heard a story or two about a campsite toilet mishap. To avoid an unpleasant incident, be sure to empty toilet waste in designated dump stations or on-site toilets. The laundry, bathroom sinks or camp kitchens are definitely not the place to ‘empty the tank’, and are an extremely unhygienic place to do so.
Keep it clean:
If someone came into your home, emptied their rubbish and left, you probably wouldn’t be too impressed. The same rules apply at caravan parks and camping sites. Try to keep your site clean and tidy by throwing out rubbish, disposing of food scraps and packing away towels and other equipment. Unfortunately, theft does occur in caravan parks, so be sure to secure any valuables if you are leaving the site or going to bed. Most importantly, when you eventually depart the park, leave your site in perfect condition for the next set of travellers.
Say your goodbyes:
Whether you stayed a couple of nights, or a couple of weeks, be sure to say goodbye to your neighbours and other people who may have met along the way. You never know where a friendly caravan park interaction could lead!
We hope that these guidelines give you a better idea of how to conduct your next caravan holiday! Fortunately, most of these guidelines stem from common courtesy and respect for others and the environment. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to approach the site managers or fellow campers.
DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.
