yep had a feeling that would be the general concensus after reading a couple of posts Graeme we have been free camping for over 30 years all over the joint, never yet had a problem, we concentrate mainly on the more outback regions rather than the areas on the east coast we own a toyota long wheel base hi-ace, sopru conversion and a camper trailer, just be vigilant and follow these very basic rules and you should not have a problem, be aware not alarmed (1) dont camp within 30 kms of a major town especially friday and saturday nights (2) take a look at the campsite, you are looking for wheelie marks, busted bottles, cleanliness and just a "safe feeling"campsite (3) introduce yourself to your neighbors (if there are any) if none then dont worry too much (4) pack everything away at night, dont leave valuables out in the open, thats just tempting fate, dont make your camp a "shop window" for thieves (5) dont free camp on school holidays or long weekends the closer you are to a major town or city then the more "vulnerable" you are, more looneys = greater chance of being molested, it is always safer away from citys, especially big citys, go away from the coast a bit at least 100 kms, the further the better, better free camps and a lot less looneys free camping is something the dragon and I enjoy whenever we travel and we wouldnt have it any other way, seen more trouble in caravan parks than out in camps

Dave's advice sums it up perfectly. We have done a lot of free camping as we could not afford to use caravan parks all the time. Yes, we were apprehensive the first time too.
It is seldom that you will be alone in the spots advertised in Camps 5 or similar. Grey Nomads start to pull in any time after lunch and by 4pm the sites can get quite busy. Its a lovely lifestyle.
Safe & Happy Camping !!
Liz and Ed

I am going to attempt to tackle this question, in a different way

Are you safe at home. Yep, because you know the surrounds and can bolt yourself in. But are you safe, with so many homes being broken into, with occupants inside.

At home are you safe - well if something goes wrong I can call my friends and family. Yep, but after the fact

Living in a city are you safe - Yep, but thats where the biggest crime rate is

At home are you safe - well if something goes wrong, someone will "see", Yah right, lots of multiple breakins and "nobody" saw or heard anything.

At a CP are you safe - Yep, as everyone in there is known - but who said that the person(s) that would do mischief, comes from within

But we live in all the above and "feel" safe

I think the only difference in free campingis, it makes us realise, that at the end of the day, in all of the above, we are on our own.

So do as you would do at home, if its does not look or feel right, leave

As Dave says, some basic checks, know that Friday and Saturday nights the vobo's are out on the town. One of the good things, is you keep in contact with family more, as you have something interesting to say, so a nightly call, is well recieved.

I free camp, never had a problem - other than ants - occassional thieving bird or kangaroo - mind you I camped on a cattle pad once, had a herd of unhappy campers come through at 2am

How did I go



-- Edited by twobob on Tuesday 5th of May 2009 04:50:26 PM

Gidday Solo and welcome;

Mate all above advice is good advice.
I am in exactly the same boat as you, or bus as it is, and I've haven't as yet struck any major problems or dramas.

Having said that I haven't got all that far as yet, although prior to the permanent nomad thing I used to do a lot of camping and quite often took my friends lil daughter camping with me as well, she was disabled and had a bit of trouble getting around, so she loved been able to get out and go camping, be a bit independent of sorts. I cannot recall anytime we had any problem.

The only time there was an inkling of a potential problem was when we were camping at a dried up lake in the North of Victoria for the weekend, in a reasonably remote area and a few of the local lads decided to come in and take advantage of the dry lake and slightly muddy surface in their utes.

I simply asked them if they would mind staying away from where we were camped as I had a disabled kid with me, and they were ok with that, and one even went home and got his 4 wheeler motorbike and came back and took her for a ride, which she thought was the best thing since tent pegs.

I think in all honesty our worst experiences came with the bad weather.
Theres nothing quite like seeing your tent blow away in the wind during a storm.

And all miles and years I have been on the road the only problem I have had, ( thats once in the 30 years + and the last 9 years fulltime ) was a pair of "Dark" people approached with bottle in hand at a freebie west of Katherine they were driving a yellow color High-Ace , It was late in the day and I had missed the previous one,------ Put the top down and took off to the next one, which had a few more vans there Thats why we all start looking at 2 or 3, that gives you a hundred or more Ks to make up your mind,

Bit of a trick I use when looking for a site and all you see are messy roadside stops. Keep an eye out for dirt roads (not driveways!!) leading off, possibly to farms etc - I've found they are great for getting away from prying eyes on the main road and generally you'll find a nice flat area just off the track close by where you can relax without being seen - it's quieter as well!.

yep but dont take a van down there, we did it with squeeky a few times and found we came to a gate that was locked and we couldnt turn around without unhooking and a lot of backing and cursing

Did 20 years of solo travelling, tent, home made camper and camper van. If for some reason you do have to camp near a town in remote towns, try to avoid pension days for obvious reasons, usually for a day or two after as well until their money runs out.

Life is never as scary as the mind makes it out to be!!!

bloody well said BUB'S and my sentiments edzacary!!!

Spot On Bubs. Cheers, xina.

Copied my post from Ladies Security on Page 2. One scary experience from not being more choosy on a site to stop, although darkness was upon me and I needed to stop as it was too risky with roos/loose stock etc to drive at night. In retrospect, I should have stopped earlier in a safer environment; Reminded me of when I was travelling alone in my camper, there was no access from the back to the drivers seat. I decided to pull over off onto a side track on this rather remote road between two country towns to sleep for the night. "Nicely tucked up in bed in the back when at about 2AM I was woken by the headlights of a car with the motor running immediately behind me, hear car doors slamming, muffled voices and rattliing/banging. Motor on the vehicle behind me still running, lights still on. What to do, if I open my whiz bang door to get out I would be at the mercy of those outside, so decided to wait it out, arming myself with a large torch. After about 10 minutes (their motor still running, lights still on) the vehicle behind me drove off much to my relief. I waited for awhile to make sure it was not a ruse to get me to come out and one/some of them were hiding outside, but they had gone. In retrospect, I think they were refuelling from cans and needed the lights on to do so, leaving the motor running so they didn't flatten the battery. Put the wind up me and no way was I going to sleep now, so I drove into the next town and parked outside the Council Offices and slept the rest of the night there. Funnily enough, nobody disturbed me there, not even the police !"

Hi again Solo, Main thing is enjoy yourself but don't throw caution to the wind, like at home take a few precautions to help ensure your safety. Yep, worst things are the tricks our minds play, however things do happen on very isolated occasions and no good believing they can't, remember the Scouts motto "Be Prepared" and then relax and enjoy the lifestyle. Happy travelling, Berg