4WD, caravanning, camping and environmental etiquette: Part one
Words Robert Crack, pics Supplied
Good manners on the road and offroad are simple — treat other people, vehicles, rigs and the environment around you with respect. But there’s a lot more to etiquette than meets the eye, so we’re bringing this feature to you in three parts. For part one, we’re kicking off with taking care of the environment, reducing waste by packing smarter, buying local, repairing not replacing, toileting and rubbish disposal.
‘Tear along the dotted line’ is what we’re meant to do when filling out forms that require part to be completed and returned somewhere.
‘Tear along the dotted line’ does not mean, ‘Drive like Ayton Senna or Juan Manuel Fangio on outback, mountain or coastal roads’.
The speed limit signs don’t know what’s around the next curve or over the next hill crest, coming in the opposite direction.
It could be a 53.5m ‘four-banger’ road train (unless you’re in Victoria or Tasmania, where the length limits are considerably shorter). It could be a donga, a combine harvester or a mining dump truck on a heavy-hauler flatbed trailer.
(Credit: Getty Images / Dazman)
Or it could even be a Main Battle Tank or a military aircraft. No, really, it could be …
M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank between Mataranka and Tennant Creek, NT (Credit: Robert Crack)
F-111C, Newell Highway Narrabri (Credit: Robert Crack)
In Australia, when it comes to our highways and byways, anything goes. You never know what’s coming in the opposite direction.
So, slow things down.
Yes, we’re talking about safety, but it’s the etiquette that comes first and improves the safety. For everyone.
What do we mean by etiquette?
But this article is not talking about safety, per se. It’s about etiquette.
Good manners on the road and offroad are simple — treat other people and other vehicles and rigs with respect.
Every culture has developed its own rules for behaviour, but much of what we recognise as 4WD, camping and environmental etiquette today in the great Australian outdoors traces back to 17th-century France. Under King Louis XIV, ‘the Sun King’, the French court set the standard for fashion, food and conduct across Europe. Versailles was the place to be, and with crowds of nobles trampling gardens and ignoring decorum, Louis needed order.
His solution was practical. Signs were posted around the palace with instructions such as ‘Pelouses interdites’ (‘forbidden lawns’). These labels — étiquettes — told guests where to stand, how to behave, what was acceptable and what was not. Over time, the word came to mean a formal code of conduct.
After the French Revolution in the late 1780s, these customs migrated to England, where they blended with Victorian values during the Industrial Revolution. As new wealth emerged, etiquette became a way for society to function smoothly across changing class lines.
Today, etiquette is far more flexible. But the purpose remains the same: helping people coexist respectfully, wherever they gather.
And that includes the middle of nowhere.
Taking care of the environment
Australia’s landscapes are ancient and resilient-looking, yet they are also surprisingly fragile. When you travel offroad in a 4WD or tow an offroad caravan or camper trailer into the bush, you’re entering environments that don’t recover quickly from misuse. Tracks erode, vegetation struggles to regenerate, wildlife is displaced and once damage reaches a tipping point, access is lost for everyone.
(Credit: Getty Images / Simon McGill)
Good etiquette isn’t about red tape or rule-following for its own sake. It’s about keeping tracks open, communities onside and wild places intact for those who come next as well as the flora and fauna that call these environments home.
Whether you’re new to offroad travel or have years of experience, these are the behaviours that matter — especially when no one is watching.
Because access depends on behaviour.
Pack smarter, waste less
Your storage space and payload are precious, so ditching unnecessary packaging makes sense, for both your setup and the environment. Avoid single-use plastics where you can, buy loose produce and carry reusable bags, drink bottles and food wraps.
Recycling facilities can be thin on the ground in remote areas, so plan ahead. Set aside space for tins, bottles and cardboard until you reach the next town with bins.
The equation is pretty simple, really: Less packaging in = less rubbish out.
Buy local, eat better
Buying local produce cuts transport emissions and refrigeration time, and it usually tastes better too. Farm gates, roadside stalls and country bakeries aren’t just part of the experience; they’re part of the solution.
You’ll eat fresher food, support regional communities and reduce your environmental footprint all in one fell swoop.
Fix it. Reuse it. Don’t rush to replace it.
That broken jug handle or bent camp chair doesn’t always need a trip to the big-box retail store. Op shops and second-hand stores are goldmines on the road, and repairing or repurposing gear keeps usable items out of landfill.
A bit of creativity goes a long way.
Grey water — out of sight isn’t out of impact
Grey water — from sinks and showers — often ends up dumped straight onto the ground. Some newer vans store it in tanks and older vans and 4WDs can be retrofitted.
Rules vary wildly across Australia. Some areas ban dumping outright. Others allow it with conditions. National parks often have strict guidelines.
The rule of thumb is simple: just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Soap, grease and detergents eventually reach waterways. Minimise harm by:
- Using biodegradable products sparingly (a mix of 50:50 vinegar and water makes for an excellent alternative to off-the-shelf cleaning agents)
- Wiping grease from pans with paper towel before washing
- Disposing of grey water at designated points whenever possible
Keep a small pack of gold coins and detergent on hand for using coin laundry facilities in towns or caravan parks.
Rubbish — leave no trace
When you’re travelling off the beaten track, you won’t find rubbish bins around every other corner. So, if it came with you, it leaves with you.
Take everything with you. Every scrap. Every time. And that includes nappies and sanitary items.
(Credit: Getty Images / Simon McGill)
When you drive away, there should be no evidence you were ever there. Carry spare rubbish bags, secure waste inside your vehicle and dispose of it responsibly once you reach a built-up area, in a council-serviced bin that gets emptied regularly.
Leave nothing behind for the next traveller to find.
Toilet etiquette in the bush
Toileting matters more than many people realise.
If there are no facilities:
- Go at least 50 metres from water sources and camps. Ideally, make it 150 metres!
- Dig a deep hole
- Bury human and pet waste properly
- Never leave toilet paper exposed
- Don’t burn toilet paper — it can start fires
Windblown toilet paper, often jokingly called the ‘flying poo spider’, is one of the fastest ways to ruin campsites and get areas closed.
Oh, and the same thing goes as for rubbish, but even more so — leave nothing behind for the next traveller to find!
Return for part two
We’re not finished with 4WD, caravanning, camping and environmental etiquette quite yet! Come back soon for part two (driving and camping etiquette).
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