Hi, I'm not even a novice GN yet.........thinking, reading and planning at this stage. Could you please share your experiences in free camping.......of course it depends on remoteness, but would it be common to share camp sites with other travellers? As a single person, I don't take risks but like the idea of random spots for camping.....thoughts please :)
Panther said
03:07 PM Sep 26, 2015
Hi RetireOnFire,
I have only recently started free camping and found a sense of freedom which I love. The main thing in my opinion is go with your intuition and gut feeling. If it feels creepy, unsafe, not right but cant put your finger on why then go somewhere else.
I have stayed at Rest Stops, Picnic Areas and in a parking area along a river. All these are in the country on the Far South Coast NSW and not in outback Oz. I don't set up camp in the rest stops as they are for resting not camping so I don't put out table, chairs, BBQ etc and I also keep the car hooked up and ready to move on if need be. The picnic area was different and I could have done this if I wanted to. By the river was not designated camping area and was more of a day picnic and dog walking track for families so again I made it look like I was just stopping for a little break and not moving in permanently. Just use your judgement on each place as all are different. Free camping behind a country pub --- Cobargo Hotel Princes Hwy NSW --- with dump point, showers and laundry was great and when I asked the publican about how long I could stay he said 3 days. Therefor I knew the rules and where I stood (also I felt totally welcome and he did not make me nervous. Because of this I chose to make a small $ donation in appreciation.
Wiki Camps is invaluable too as a reference.
I'm sure others will have different ideas and ladies need to be safety conscious and aware of their surroundings (both nature and human). Park where you can make a quick getaway if needed but don't get paranoid and miss out on a wonderful part of camping/nomadic life.
Above all.....ENJOY.
The photos are of the Scrubby Creek Picnic Area where I stayed for about 10 days (as the weather turned the dirt access track into slippery orange clay and I had to wait until it dried before I was game enough to tow my van out ---- lesson learned --- yes I'm new to this!!). This is about 20klm south of Eden NSW and was awesome.
-- Edited by Panther on Saturday 26th of September 2015 03:18:13 PM
welcome to this great forum, there will be many able to help you.
I have been on the road for over 4 years and every place I have stopped overnight I have written up on my blog.You can access the blog through my signature or through the link that I provide with each location. You can use the search engine at the top right to find if I have mentioned a location you may be interested in.
All the best on your proposed travels.
John
spida said
08:02 AM Sep 27, 2015
Love free camping. Usually find one with a loo - more people likely to be there, but have stopped at a scrub camps and been alone also. In 3.5 years have NEVER felt threatened. I dont stop if there is lots of rubbish around - probably a 'locals' hangout. There is something magical about totally dark quiet nights!
Dougwe said
04:08 PM Sep 27, 2015
Welcome to the gang Lyn, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I too enjoy 'Free Camps' and stay in roadside stops, rest areas, designated camping areas, alone if I feel safe or with other happy campers. Make youself known by saying hi as you see people.
Most importantly, just do it and keep safe out there.
RetireOnFire said
08:18 PM Sep 27, 2015
Thanks.........can't wait for the adventures to begin :)
-- Edited by RetireOnFire on Sunday 27th of September 2015 08:21:48 PM
RetireOnFire said
08:23 PM Sep 27, 2015
Thanks John...........I love your blog and look forward to reading more
frangipani said
09:46 PM Oct 1, 2015
Hi retireonfire, I free camp mostly, have been alone and with lots of other campers, go with your gut, if it doesn't feel right move on.., If ppl don't want your company they'll make it known..
Have been overwhelmed how nice, friendly ppl can be and I also experienced the ones that don't like solo females around, but that was their loss...,
Get out there and enjoy - Fran
vanman said
07:09 PM Oct 4, 2015
Hello to all you grey nomads solo or otherwise. I have as of today joined the solo fraternity. I will be heading South from here in Hervey Bay on Tuesday morning and would like to meet up with fellow grey nomads on the journey down to Greens Lake in Victoria.
I will be free camping wherever possible to conserve limited funds but others do it on a pension so why not me.
Looking forward to meeting some of the posters on the forum on the trip.
Hi, I'm not even a novice GN yet.........thinking, reading and planning at this stage. Could you please share your experiences in free camping.......of course it depends on remoteness, but would it be common to share camp sites with other travellers? As a single person, I don't take risks but like the idea of random spots for camping.....thoughts please :)
Hi RetireOnFire,
I have only recently started free camping and found a sense of freedom which I love. The main thing in my opinion is go with your intuition and gut feeling. If it feels creepy, unsafe, not right but cant put your finger on why then go somewhere else.
I have stayed at Rest Stops, Picnic Areas and in a parking area along a river. All these are in the country on the Far South Coast NSW and not in outback Oz. I don't set up camp in the rest stops as they are for resting not camping so I don't put out table, chairs, BBQ etc and I also keep the car hooked up and ready to move on if need be. The picnic area was different and I could have done this if I wanted to. By the river was not designated camping area and was more of a day picnic and dog walking track for families so again I made it look like I was just stopping for a little break and not moving in permanently. Just use your judgement on each place as all are different. Free camping behind a country pub --- Cobargo Hotel Princes Hwy NSW --- with dump point, showers and laundry was great and when I asked the publican about how long I could stay he said 3 days. Therefor I knew the rules and where I stood (also I felt totally welcome and he did not make me nervous. Because of this I chose to make a small $ donation in appreciation.
Wiki Camps is invaluable too as a reference.
I'm sure others will have different ideas and ladies need to be safety conscious and aware of their surroundings (both nature and human). Park where you can make a quick getaway if needed but don't get paranoid and miss out on a wonderful part of camping/nomadic life.
Above all.....ENJOY.
The photos are of the Scrubby Creek Picnic Area where I stayed for about 10 days (as the weather turned the dirt access track into slippery orange clay and I had to wait until it dried before I was game enough to tow my van out ---- lesson learned --- yes I'm new to this!!). This is about 20klm south of Eden NSW and was awesome.
-- Edited by Panther on Saturday 26th of September 2015 03:18:13 PM
Hi RetireOn Fire,
welcome to this great forum, there will be many able to help you.
I have been on the road for over 4 years and every place I have stopped overnight I have written up on my blog.You can access the blog through my signature or through the link that I provide with each location. You can use the search engine at the top right to find if I have mentioned a location you may be interested in.
All the best on your proposed travels.
John
I too enjoy 'Free Camps' and stay in roadside stops, rest areas, designated camping areas, alone if I feel safe or with other happy campers. Make youself known by saying hi as you see people.
Most importantly, just do it and keep safe out there.
Thanks.........can't wait for the adventures to begin :)
-- Edited by RetireOnFire on Sunday 27th of September 2015 08:21:48 PM
Thanks John...........I love your blog and look forward to reading more
Hi retireonfire, I free camp mostly, have been alone and with lots of other campers, go with your gut, if it doesn't feel right move on.., If ppl don't want your company they'll make it known..
Have been overwhelmed how nice, friendly ppl can be and I also experienced the ones that don't like solo females around, but that was their loss...,
Get out there and enjoy - Fran
I will be free camping wherever possible to conserve limited funds but others do it on a pension so why not me.
Looking forward to meeting some of the posters on the forum on the trip.
Regards Chris