Ah, etiquette. Something else society is slowly trampling into the ground... Public holiday periods seem to bring out the worst in other campers.
If you're in a caravan park (which we avoid like the plague these days) you're crowded in like a can of sardines with unruly children, adults of various up until the wee hours of the morning on the grog talking at full volume like they're the only ones there (often while their kids are still running around or swimming in the pool "supervised" by no one over the age of 10), people cutting through your campsite like its a thoroughfare...
Even at the larger campgrounds you get the people who have to be a hero and take the track in 2WD that's now "a challenge" because of a bit of rain (who cares you now chopped up an access track to the point that no one else can use it), dogs are left unattended to chase stock and stalk others in their own campsites, muddy open areas become skid pans, shower blocks have 20+ minute wait times and are full of mud...
I go camping to get away from people and relax... so unless I'm going somewhere I know I'll be the only one - or one of very few people - I don't go on long weekends anymore.
To those that suggest caravan parks are only useful for laundry or showers - you know you don't need to go there for them either? Wikicamps is your friend! I've had free or coil-operated hot showers in towns all over the country when we haven't had or didn't want to set up our shower, and coin laundromats are still in a lot of big places... otherwise there's always a bucket and some soap if you're desperate! I don't do caravan parks unless they are the absolute last-resort option now.
