Just got home from our first free camping trip of two weeks. What a life it is !!!! Set up right and go where you please. Eberspacher diesel heater was fantastic. After three very cold nights and mornings we only used 1.5 litres in three days. 200w solar panel fixed to roof and 105w battery was very adequate. Joolca en-suite was great and the Hottap hot water service was good after I fixed the leaking connections. We stayed at free cams at Nyah, Merbein and Underbool. All were great spots. All in all a great start to free camping. Off again in November. One last thing. Please take your rubbish with you. My wife filled a bag with rubbish at Merbein. See you at free camps. Col
Desert Dweller said
11:36 AM Aug 21, 2016
The camp at Underbool is not free. A lot of people like to make it free though.
The camp at Underbool is not free. A lot of people like to make it free though.
We stayed 1 night at Underbool a couple of months ago. Their was no power and the toilets/showers were like a pig sty. From what we were told the locals have football training and a party after.
Desert Dweller said
01:19 PM Aug 21, 2016
We were there last week & everything was as it has been for the past few years. A great stopover with good clean amenities.
Colin Penrose said
02:01 PM Aug 21, 2016
Okay you nitpickers it wasn't free but for a hot long shower it was worth $6. I don't mind paying a few bucks for good facilities and it was clean. As I said also that my wife picked up a bag of rubbish at Merbein left by some idiot 'free camper'. Swings and roundabouts guys.
Desert Dweller said
02:29 PM Aug 21, 2016
The old Underbool Recreation Reserve campsite that Phillipn is talking about has been closed for over 3 years & camping banned. The Travelers Rest that's sandwiched between the highway & railway line is a great facility.
Dick0 said
02:33 PM Aug 21, 2016
Free camping is a great way to go, Col. For the amenities you get at these cheap sites it's as good as free in comparison to CP's and usually good open spaces.
Phillipn said
03:03 PM Aug 21, 2016
Desert Dweller wrote:
The old Underbool Recreation Reserve campsite that Phillipn is talking about has been closed for over 3 years & camping banned. The Travelers Rest that's sandwiched between the highway & railway line is a great facility.
DD site is in Camps 8, check it out. I spoke to the guy looking after the grounds, and was told that was ok to stay. I put the camp fee in the box outside the shower block.
Their was another van their, they found the site as described in camps 8. Site 337 Victoria. Site has not been deleted from list.
You must have stayed at Site 336.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Sunday 21st of August 2016 03:29:05 PM
Tony Bev said
04:51 PM Aug 21, 2016
Hello Colin Penrose
I am happy to see that you enjoyed yourself, and hope you have many more good trips in the future
I agree about the rubbish in some of the free camps. Left by persons unknown, who are probably not worth knowing
I clean up wherever I am stopping overnight, which is mostly official free camps, or just a roadside bay. I mainly do it for a bit of exercise, and find that the pickup stick I have, is good therapy for my hands
A bit off topic but... Re the camps which ask for a donation
I am not an experienced traveller, and have obviously not been everywhere. The only (asking for a donation) camp, I have been to is Kimba in SA. Both the wife and I always stop there when passing We both give an over the top donation, in appreciation of what this small town has supplied
Colin Penrose said
05:40 PM Aug 21, 2016
Thanks for the positives guys. Free camping is the way to go and also to support local communities. Donations for offering clean well cared for sites is no problem for me.
Desert Dweller said
06:50 PM Aug 21, 2016
Phillipn wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
The old Underbool Recreation Reserve campsite that Phillipn is talking about has been closed for over 3 years & camping banned. The Travelers Rest that's sandwiched between the highway & railway line is a great facility.
DD site is in Camps 8, check it out. I spoke to the guy looking after the grounds, and was told that was ok to stay. I put the camp fee in the box outside the shower block.
Their was another van their, they found the site as described in camps 8. Site 337 Victoria. Site has not been deleted from list.
You must have stayed at Site 336.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Sunday 21st of August 2016 03:29:05 PM
The only legal place to stay in Underbool is the Travelers Rest on the Mallee Hwy. We spend at least a month of every year in the area. The Footy Club venue might be listed on some camping forums/books but it is totally dead now that the better location has been up & running for the past 3 years. That's where the original poster of this thread stayed.
Phillipn said
08:38 PM Aug 21, 2016
Desert Dweller wrote:
Phillipn wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
The old Underbool Recreation Reserve campsite that Phillipn is talking about has been closed for over 3 years & camping banned. The Travelers Rest that's sandwiched between the highway & railway line is a great facility.
DD site is in Camps 8, check it out. I spoke to the guy looking after the grounds, and was told that was ok to stay. I put the camp fee in the box outside the shower block.
Their was another van their, they found the site as described in camps 8. Site 337 Victoria. Site has not been deleted from list.
You must have stayed at Site 336.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Sunday 21st of August 2016 03:29:05 PM
The only legal place to stay in Underbool is the Travelers Rest on the Mallee Hwy. We spend at least a month of every year in the area. The Footy Club venue might be listed on some camping forums/books but it is totally dead now that the better location has been up & running for the past 3 years. That's where the original poster of this thread stayed.
Lost, strayed or stolen, or dead as you say. We had a nice quite night away from the highway and rail line.
Desert Dweller said
06:51 AM Aug 22, 2016
Here's some more images of the excellent Underbool Travelers Rest. Goodness knows why anyone would want to stay at the derelict footy club site when this is available?
Hi Colin glad you enjoyed your free camping trip.
We enjoyed your and Di's company and the single malt at sundowners at Merbien with you guys.
Peter n Celia
Phillipn said
12:05 PM Aug 22, 2016
Desert Dweller wrote:
Here's some more images of the excellent Underbool Travelers Rest. Goodness knows why anyone would want to stay at the derelict footy club site when this is available?
Their was nothing wrong with the buildings at the sports ground, it was just the mess that some pigs had made in the toilet block. otherwise the area was neat and well presented.
Colin Penrose said
02:02 PM Aug 22, 2016
Cheers Peter. Great to chat around the campfire. Looking closely at the water bladders. Stay safe and enjoy your travels. Hi to Celia.
Just got home from our first free camping trip of two weeks. What a life it is !!!! Set up right and go where you please. Eberspacher diesel heater was fantastic. After three very cold nights and mornings we only used 1.5 litres in three days. 200w solar panel fixed to roof and 105w battery was very adequate. Joolca en-suite was great and the Hottap hot water service was good after I fixed the leaking connections. We stayed at free cams at Nyah, Merbein and Underbool. All were great spots. All in all a great start to free camping. Off again in November. One last thing. Please take your rubbish with you. My wife filled a bag with rubbish at Merbein. See you at free camps. Col
The camp at Underbool is not free. A lot of people like to make it free though.
We stayed 1 night at Underbool a couple of months ago. Their was no power and the toilets/showers were like a pig sty. From what we were told the locals have football training and a party after.
Free camping is a great way to go, Col. For the amenities you get at these cheap sites it's as good as free in comparison to CP's and usually good open spaces.
DD site is in Camps 8, check it out. I spoke to the guy looking after the grounds, and was told that was ok to stay. I put the camp fee in the box outside the shower block.
Their was another van their, they found the site as described in camps 8. Site 337 Victoria. Site has not been deleted from list.
You must have stayed at Site 336.
-- Edited by Phillipn on Sunday 21st of August 2016 03:29:05 PM
Hello Colin Penrose
I am happy to see that you enjoyed yourself, and hope you have many more good trips in the future
I agree about the rubbish in some of the free camps.
Left by persons unknown, who are probably not worth knowing
I clean up wherever I am stopping overnight, which is mostly official free camps, or just a roadside bay.
I mainly do it for a bit of exercise, and find that the pickup stick I have, is good therapy for my hands
A bit off topic but... Re the camps which ask for a donation
I am not an experienced traveller, and have obviously not been everywhere.
The only (asking for a donation) camp, I have been to is Kimba in SA.
Both the wife and I always stop there when passing
We both give an over the top donation, in appreciation of what this small town has supplied
The only legal place to stay in Underbool is the Travelers Rest on the Mallee Hwy. We spend at least a month of every year in the area. The Footy Club venue might be listed on some camping forums/books but it is totally dead now that the better location has been up & running for the past 3 years. That's where the original poster of this thread stayed.
Lost, strayed or stolen, or dead as you say. We had a nice quite night away from the highway and rail line.
Here's some more images of the excellent Underbool Travelers Rest. Goodness knows why anyone would want to stay at the derelict footy club site when this is available?
We enjoyed your and Di's company and the single malt at sundowners at Merbien with you guys.
Peter n Celia
Their was nothing wrong with the buildings at the sports ground, it was just the mess that some pigs had made in the toilet block. otherwise the area was neat and well presented.
Cheers Peter. Great to chat around the campfire. Looking closely at the water bladders. Stay safe and enjoy your travels. Hi to Celia.