Best free camping guide
Submitted: Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:29
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Not so grey nomads
What is considered the besr guide on free camping/caravanning sites. We have a large van heading around Oz.
Thanks,
Ant
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:41
Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:41
Camps 5
AnswerID:
443712
Reply By: time waster - Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:45
Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:45
Camps 6 snaps being released next month, we have camps 4 and find its great when looking for an over nighter, can be busy in some
places as a lot of travellers have the book but also saves a lot of money.
Christian
AnswerID:
443713
Reply By: Member - Jack - Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:53
Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 20:53
There's a
Free Camp search on this site that could be useful.
I have found the "Camps 4 and 5" good, but as everyone has them, many of the
places in there fill quickly, causing you to have to find your own anyway.
Jack
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 21:01
Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 21:01
As per Jack's message here is a link to the
Free Camps Search system. We have just been adding thousands of commercial and free camps, caravan parks and other data to this system so
check it out. Over 2000 Free camps available for display and download/print.
David
FollowupID:
715772
Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 21:00
Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 21:00
Hi Ant
Camps Australia Wide is the most popular, and it also has low cost (such as community run and national parks) campgrounds, as
well as lower cost caravan parks. In Camps 5 top price for this last category was $22 per night for two powered. Allowing for inflation, we paid $23 at one or two of these, however at this price and from those listed, we found some of the best caravan parks we have been to; not ones with all the family holiday trimmings we don't need, but very
well appointed and run caravan parks.
For WA and NT Jan Holland's series Priceless Campsites and Rest Areas is far more comprehensive than Camps Australia Wide, and also includes some of the best touring tips for trip planning. They are a few years old, so if you get there and find a
no camping sign - move on.
We got all of the above through the ExplorOz Bookshop.
Motherhen
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Ray - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 08:20
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 08:20
If you see a No Champing sign. Take it down and deign all knowledge of it
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715799
Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 11:24
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 11:24
Hi MH
We have an old Camps 2 and found it not what we wanted. We don't tow a caravan or trailer and avoid caravan parks if possible unless necessity dictates and good shower and clothes washed. More the off road, back of beyond type of camping. I haven't got it in front of me but I believe it did not even include anything at
Mitchell Falls or Mount Hart. We didn't use it once.
What is number 5 like for the camper? ie the non van or trailer user. Maybe 6 will be okay for us.
Phil
FollowupID:
715823
Follow Up By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 13:46
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 13:46
Hi Phil
We started with Camps 3, and each subsequent edition has become far more comprehensive, and Camps 5 covers most regions, including the
Kimberley. They don't list as
camp grounds
places like the Wells along the
Canning Stock Route or the popular Jupiter
Well campground on the
Gary Junction, but the
places are on the Hema maps they use in the book. Finding a nice remote spot in these areas is easy anyway.
It is a book for the average traveller not the "adventure tracks" such as the CSR and the Beadell tracks, but that may come. We only use it as a back up if we can't find anything half decent ourselves, which does take off the stress of looking for a site. We have used it and gone to nice
places well away from the highway, after passing all the motorhomes lined up against the highway in a popular
rest area where we wouldn't stop in a fit, and sometimes had our piece of paradise to ourselves. These are
places we would not have found ourselves.
Mh
FollowupID:
715838
Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 14:02
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 14:02
That is a very good answer. I did not want the book to be canned. I believe for the "non remote"laces it is definitely worth putting in the kit.
But as you have guessed we are after
places that are a little more adventurous.
Its 38 outside in
Canberra. The problem is that it doesn't even give you time to peg the clothes on the line before they are dry. No wonder the evaporative coolers work
well here. I think its drier than Rabbit Flat.
Much appreciated and have a good day.
Lets pray that the cyclone, Yasi, over QLD is not as bad as predicted.
Phil
FollowupID:
715841
Reply By: Witi Repartee - Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 21:29
Monday, Jan 31, 2011 at 21:29
Whatever Camping Guide you decide on....make sure you know how to enter GPS coordinates into your GPS. We found that sometimes the directions to various locations were not easy to follow, especially in areas you are not familiar with. However by figuring out how to enter coordinates we hit the bulls eye every time. Camps 5 etc now supply these for many sites.
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Reply By: Fred G NSW - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 10:36
Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 10:36
I have generally found the Camps series (I have #5 currently ) to be sort of OK, but often find that expectation and reality can vary greatly for many pre chosen sites, on your arrival. You have to bear in mind that everyone has different opinions, and make up your own mind when you arrive on site, and be prepared to move on to an alternative.
I think if we can all provide as much feedback/input for the
Camp Frees in the ExplorOz Australia-wide
Places database, it can become a very up to date and useful tool. It's ours, and it's free.
Fred
AnswerID:
443786