After spending 3+ weeks at Flanagan Reserve, SE QLD, we are about to head off on the big journey.
Just a couple of questions:
Long weekends, school holidays, Xmas etc, how hard is it to find camps that aren't full (free camps)
I have forgotten the other question, but it will come to mind again about 3am in the morning, when the internet is down.
Over the last 3 weeks we have upgraded our power setup. We have 2x 105amp/hr deep cycle batteries running parallel charge with 300 watt Kikass Solar panel.
Also got the Porta Potty, solar shower and shower tent, so overall set up for free camping.
Bowenville is our next camp, the free one near Oakey.
Gaylehere said
11:56 AM May 26, 2016
We didn't have any troubles last year finding free camps at any time. Maybe just don't let it too late in the day before stopping. Haven't camped at Bowenville so don't know what's there but if it's not suitable there's a free camp by the river at Cecil Plains 46.9k from Bowenville and someone said the other day, on here, that Federation Park 13k out from Toowoomba was open again to free camping. Enjoy your travels. PS (I've also seen people camping in the rest stop at Helidon but have not investigated what signage is thereabouts).
Darmc said
12:21 PM May 27, 2016
Snippy, we haven't free camped, so I can't tell you a lot, however my neighbours attempted to use the camps just north of Townsville and had no success. They said vans were lined up along the roads into the camps and were arriving mid morning hoping to get a spot. You didn't mention if you had a grey water tank. Some parks, you are required to have one. Some members have given some great tips on making up your own.
Safe travels Darmc
-- Edited by Darmc on Friday 27th of May 2016 12:21:33 PM
Desert Dweller said
04:57 PM May 27, 2016
Just find a good track into a State Forest & make your own free camp. Perfectly legal & the bush around you will be in better condition than popular spots due to it not being ''used & abused''. Make sure you camp out of sight of a main road & walk along the track first to make sure that you can do a U-turn to get out. We've been doing this kind of camping for 40 years, it's so quiet, relaxing & hassle free. We've stayed at old sawmill sites & many other cleared areas. Firewood is plentiful. We NEVER put the good ones that we find on Wikicamps!
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Friday 27th of May 2016 04:58:44 PM
brickies said
06:39 PM May 27, 2016
Helidon is in Camps 8 has a day only rest area
Happywanderer said
11:31 AM May 28, 2016
There should be heaps of room at Bowenville. It's a huge area.
Have never had a problem finding free camps at anytime of the year, school holidays included.
Snippy said
07:45 AM May 29, 2016
Gaylehere wrote:
We didn't have any troubles last year finding free camps at any time. Maybe just don't let it too late in the day before stopping. Haven't camped at Bowenville so don't know what's there but if it's not suitable there's a free camp by the river at Cecil Plains 46.9k from Bowenville and someone said the other day, on here, that Federation Park 13k out from Toowoomba was open again to free camping. Enjoy your travels. PS (I've also seen people camping in the rest stop at Helidon but have not investigated what signage is thereabouts).
Thanks, I will check these out, Bowneville is looking good at this stage.
Snippy said
07:48 AM May 29, 2016
Darmc wrote:
Snippy, we haven't free camped, so I can't tell you a lot, however my neighbours attempted to use the camps just north of Townsville and had no success. They said vans were lined up along the roads into the camps and were arriving mid morning hoping to get a spot. You didn't mention if you had a grey water tank. Some parks, you are required to have one. Some members have given some great tips on making up your own.
Safe travels Darmc
-- Edited by Darmc on Friday 27th of May 2016 12:21:33 PM
Thanks Darmc, yes I believe the coastal ones are hard to get into, but we won't be doing much near the coast hopefully.
Snippy said
07:50 AM May 29, 2016
Desert Dweller wrote:
Just find a good track into a State Forest & make your own free camp. Perfectly legal & the bush around you will be in better condition than popular spots due to it not being ''used & abused''. Make sure you camp out of sight of a main road & walk along the track first to make sure that you can do a U-turn to get out. We've been doing this kind of camping for 40 years, it's so quiet, relaxing & hassle free. We've stayed at old sawmill sites & many other cleared areas. Firewood is plentiful. We NEVER put the good ones that we find on Wikicamps!
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Friday 27th of May 2016 04:58:44 PM
Yes, this idea has much appeal, still in the learning curve so see how we go. I agree with not putting the good ones on the web. Takes the fun out of the hunt.
After spending 3+ weeks at Flanagan Reserve, SE QLD, we are about to head off on the big journey.
Just a couple of questions:
Over the last 3 weeks we have upgraded our power setup. We have 2x 105amp/hr deep cycle batteries running parallel charge with 300 watt Kikass Solar panel.
Also got the Porta Potty, solar shower and shower tent, so overall set up for free camping.
Bowenville is our next camp, the free one near Oakey.
Snippy, we haven't free camped, so I can't tell you a lot, however my neighbours attempted to use the camps just north of Townsville and had no success. They said vans were lined up along the roads into the camps and were arriving mid morning hoping to get a spot.
You didn't mention if you had a grey water tank. Some parks, you are required to have one. Some members have given some great tips on making up your own.
Safe travels
Darmc
-- Edited by Darmc on Friday 27th of May 2016 12:21:33 PM
Just find a good track into a State Forest & make your own free camp. Perfectly legal & the bush around you will be in better condition than popular spots due to it not being ''used & abused''. Make sure you camp out of sight of a main road & walk along the track first to make sure that you can do a U-turn to get out. We've been doing this kind of camping for 40 years, it's so quiet, relaxing & hassle free. We've stayed at old sawmill sites & many other cleared areas. Firewood is plentiful. We NEVER put the good ones that we find on Wikicamps!
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Friday 27th of May 2016 04:58:44 PM
Have never had a problem finding free camps at anytime of the year, school holidays included.
Thanks, I will check these out, Bowneville is looking good at this stage.
Thanks Darmc, yes I believe the coastal ones are hard to get into, but we won't be doing much near the coast hopefully.
Yes, this idea has much appeal, still in the learning curve so see how we go. I agree with not putting the good ones on the web. Takes the fun out of the hunt.