Eldee Station has announced it’ll stop offering caravan and camping sites after 40 years of welcoming travellers, with the owners saying increasingly abusive interactions have taken much of the enjoyment out of the business.
The outback NSW station will instead focus exclusively on accommodated, hosted and fully catered farm stays and tours.
For 4X4ers who had Eldee pencilled into a camping trip, it means a change of plans. For the wider off-road community, it’s also a sobering reminder that the places we enjoy visiting need to remain rewarding for the people who open their gates.
Forty years of camping comes to an end
In a statement titled “Caravan and Campsites Withdrawn”, Eldee thanked the families, solo travellers and caravanners who had supported the property over four decades.
The owners described the friendships, stories and memories shared with guests as incredibly rewarding, while stressing that most visitors had been respectful and appreciative.
However, they said an increasing number of rude, aggressive and threatening interactions, particularly through email and social media, had contributed to the difficult decision to withdraw camping.
“Unfortunately, this trend has grown significantly in recent years and has taken much of the enjoyment out of what we do,” the statement said.
That’s a disappointing outcome for everyone who enjoyed staying there and treated their hosts well. The owners’ message makes clear that the decision follows a change in their experience of running the business, despite the support of many good guests.
Weather and events beyond their control
Eldee’s statement also highlighted the frustration of being blamed for circumstances the business could not control.
The owners specifically referred to weather conditions and decisions made by event organisers in the Far West. They said they had tried to provide clear communication, assistance and guidance, but that information was sometimes ignored.
The statement did not identify particular events, organisers or individual incidents. Although Eldee also said other businesses across tourism, hospitality and accommodation were experiencing similar behaviour.
For anyone planning an outback trip, there’s a practical takeaway here. Read the information your accommodation provider sends, check conditions before travelling and understand who is responsible when plans change. A station stay can’t change the weather or make decisions on behalf of an independent event.
Problems can still be raised and bookings can still need sorting out. Threats and abuse should never be part of that conversation.
Eldee will continue welcoming guests
The announcement marks a change in what Eldee offers, with hosted tourism remaining part of its future.
The working sheep and cattle station, hosted by Naomi and Stephen Schmidt, sits in the Mundi Mundi Plains and Barrier Ranges country of far western NSW. Its landscapes and station experiences have long been part of its appeal to visiting 4X4ers.
Eldee says its next chapter will centre on accommodated, hosted and fully catered farm stays and tours, with new packages and experiences to follow.
The owners have also said their website will be updated to reflect the changes. Travellers should therefore check directly with Eldee before relying on older camping listings or building an itinerary around them.
The Eldee haven’t specified a final camping date or explained how existing caravan and campsite bookings will be handled. Anyone with a booking should contact the station for advice about their arrangements.
Looking after the places that welcome us
Station stays offer something special: the chance to spend time on a working property, meet the people who know the country and experience places that depend on an owner choosing to welcome visitors.
That takes work. Alongside running the property, hosts deal with bookings, facilities, enquiries and the complications that come with remote travel.
Eldee’s decision is a reminder that hospitality has a human cost when those interactions turn sour. Being a paying guest comes with an expectation of service. It also comes with a responsibility to treat the people providing it decently.
The loss of Eldee’s camping sites will be disappointing for returning visitors and those who hoped to stay. There’s still an opportunity to support the station through its next chapter, with hosted stays and tours continuing.
For the rest of us, the message is straightforward: look after the places that welcome 4X4ers, and the people who make them possible.
