Well, given that it is AUSTRALIA, I bet the increased fees are to cover corpse recovery and disposal of all the dead campers, killed by pretty much everything in Australia.
Oregon law requires that a portion of lottery profits go to the maintenance of state campgrounds. For about $25-30/night you get power, water, clean and well-maintained showers and toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, reasonable site privacy, etc. They’re uniformly the best public campgrounds I’ve ever used.
So that’s why the Aussies here think our campsites are so wonderful. There are fees, but not that steep. I will no longer complain about my Discover Pass. (That one’s just to get through the gate, and to park)
I’ve been glancing at this thread title for a week or so, interpreting “sell the family jewels” somewhat differently and thinking “ya know, I don’t really want to go camping all that much.”
Initially we were looking at Croajingalong (Thurra River) but could only get a week there as we missed the ballot last month. They’ve had fees there for years, but not as steep as now.
So we then considered Bear Gully (Cape Liptrap) which has been free since forever, but now costs the big bucks. Lots of two-week vacancies, but what a rip off!
Looks like we’re going to Boydtown now, just south of Eden. They’ve got flush toilets, hot showers and the works…for much the same price.
They have to hire university students to sharpen the blades of the park grass and replenish the poison sacs in the gum trees, and the minimum wage is something like $15/hour.
I don’t know where you’re camping - but I live on the Victorian/NSW/SA border and when we camp - we don’t pay a cent. Granted, we have to make our own … ahem … amenities. You could drive north and camp on the Murray River and you won’t pay for the privilege of the best scenery and fishing around.
)