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Newsletter 461

Edition 461: 8th February, 2017

Hi ExplorOz Reader, 2017 is well and truly here and this is our first newsletter for the year. This year we are planning to do things a little differently, so we are not looking at producing newsletters on a weekly basis - just a "whenever" there is something relevant to tell you basis. We also now have a separate mail list for app users so that will be used for specific Traveller app information such as announcing new tutorial videos we've released.

Going forward, the site home page continues to be your "go to" page to find out "What's New".

Our home page contains a "What's New" section with specific boxes showing the most recent post/item in the Forum, Blogs, Shop, Articles, Newsletters, Classifieds, Treks, Places, Wildflowers, & Recipes so we recommend you always start Exploring from our home page to ensure you never miss a thing!

FINDING USER TREKS

In early January, we improved the User Treks area of the ExplorOz website and now you'll notice the option to use a map to browse User Treks.

Click an area in the map and a list of Trek Names will appear. This list stacks a filtered list of User Treks that cross the part of the map where you clicked, with the longest treks at the bottom - usually the most relevant trek will be listed first. The filtered list has removed low quality treks and those with obvious GPS errors. Click any Trek listed to see Trek ID, Date recorded, User Name, Trek Distance, and the map will highlight the route of this Trek in the background - use your roller mouse (or + button) to zoom. Once you've found a User Trek of interest, click the Open button and this Trek will open as a new full page where you can see further details posted by the User Trek owner such as description and photos. On this page you will see the Download to Device button, Comments & Reviews.

Once you click Download, you are offered a choice of 6 file formats (GPX, OziExplorer OZF4, Hema Navigator, CSV, GeoRSS). NOTE: downloads are restricted to ExplorOz Members only. To become a Member, subscribe here.

See Thread ID 134038 (3rd January, 2017) in the Forum for history of this new site development including ExplorOz David's Reply posted on 10th January and his follow-ups posted 11th January with more detail about the data.

User Treks - raw data files require mapping software such as OziExplorer/TrackRanger. Compatible with Hema HN series navigators.

FINDING CAMPSITES

ExplorOz Places consists of over 80,000 POIs. These are categorised into 8 primary Place types. Camp sites are just 1 of the 8 different "Place Types" and contains over 5700 POIs and includes Camp Fee (red tent symbol with $), Camp Free (green tent symbol), Caravan Parks (blue van under a tree symbol), and Resort/Motel (H symbol).

To find camps in a particular area, simply use the site menu and select Places - you'll notice you can Browse By a range of options. Select Place Type - and then select Camps/Accom. You can view results in a text list, or via a map. You will initially see results for all of Australia but you can use the Refine option to select a State, and then you can Refine again to select a Region (eg. South Australia - Flinders Ranges).

When viewing the text list, Places appear in alpha order. When viewing the map, you will see Places grouped together in numbered clustered as shown in the image below.

The numbers indicate how many Places in the area. Click the numbers to expand/zoom the Places so each Place is positioned on the map. Sometimes you'll see more cluster groups so continue to click and the map will auto-zoom so you can see each POI on the map in its precise location.

We recommend the full screen view when using the map to allow you to zoom in for best detail. The map usually defaults to a topo map view which can zoom into a scale of 144K, but greater zoom is available if you switch the map layer button (top right of map window) and select a street map or satellite image. Note for outback areas, the topo map layer will contain better detail whilst Street maps are best for viewing detail in built-up areas.

You can use the website to find camp sites from your computer, iPad or phone when you have internet service, or better still get the ExplorOz Traveller app for your Android/Apple devices and you can download the entire Places system to your iPad, tablet or phone to easily find the perfect camp when you are offline - anytime, anywhere.

But remember Camps is just 1 of 8 different Place Types. We also have Geography POIs, Heritage, Infrastructure, Population, Recreation, Reserves, and Services. ExplorOz Places is the largest, verified database of POIs customised for recreational travellers like you.

CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE 9

For those that prefer a hard-copy reference of camp sites, the popular Camps Australia Wide guidebook will soon be available in its 9th edition. This highly anticipated book is available to ExplorOz readers to pre-order now through our online shop. Pre-orders will be despatch immediately once stock arrives. Pre-order now to ensure you get yours delivered without delay.

REDARC WINNERS

Make sure you're in with a chance to win a Redarc dual battery charger worth $660 in our current promotion. All you have to do is ensure that you are either a Lifetime Member, or have paid for an annual Membership Renewal during the period 1st December 2016 - 28th February 2017 inclusive. Prize donated by our 2017 Membership sponsor Redarc Electronics.

EXPLOROZ TRAVELLER APP

Simply the best maps and navigator on the market - developed in-house and updated with feedback from users. See what Danny Bosch has to say in his latest article.

Search for ExplorOz Traveller in the app stores or click the buttons below.