Hi John, we drove up to the grounds on Monday afteroon coming in from Chillagoe, took one look and bolted to many people for us, parked so close, didn't look inviting.
We are staying in a th caravan park at Walkamin, really enjoying toe open space here. Great amenities, grassed sites, good group of people. If you have not been here worth a look.
Enjoy your travels. Ralph.
Dougwe said
09:07 AM Jul 21, 2018
Just one or two happy campers there mate Must be quiet
Did ya climb on the roof of the shed to take the pics mate
Cupie said
09:14 AM Jul 21, 2018
I am trying to come to terms with the idea of free camping now that my van has solar.
After a lifetime of using CPs I am conflicted by the free camping issues including ...
- Having to get in early in the day. (what do you do for the rest of the day before racing off early next morning to the next spot)
- Unregulated parking. Seems to involve lots of very close neighbours.
- How do I define my spot. Do I put out awnings & fridge side shades. Do I stay hooked up.
- Where do I drop/ dump my waste
- Do I start up a camp fire
- Security .. during sight seeing or shopping.
I suppose that it all varies according to the location & time of year .. eg. along the main highways , during annual migrations, out bush, at more remote waterholes et al.
I think that I'm a bit like Ralph.
Edit .. I suppose that we are a bit spoiled because we always pay a bit more to get a water view (or whatever) premium sites. eg We pay an extra $25 a night for the already dear sites at our Fav Tallebudgera Creek CP just for a waterfront site, or only accept a waterfront site at Noosa River CP, even if we have to book 6 to 12m in advance. I am not sure that we would enjoy looking out over neighbours vans or listening to them argue, fart & snore overnight and worrying if we have been robbed while away from the van.
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 21st of July 2018 09:22:38 AM
rockylizard said
09:21 AM Jul 21, 2018
Gday...
Yeah Ralph, know of Walkamin, and Malanda and a couple of the others around. Nice parks and have stayed at various times.
However, my son is in Mareeba and I need to be close ... such is life.
My whingeing is not as loud as it might seem
OH ... and Young Dougie, they have very large grandstands here at the Rodeo ground
Cheers - John
brickies said
09:41 AM Jul 21, 2018
I called in to Kerribee park one year and turn around went to Walkamin central park it was $5 a night more but well worth it , They tell me the Fish and Chips are good at Kerribee Park .
Roy E said
09:54 AM Jul 21, 2018
Gidday Cupie,
I think if you give it a try, you'll come to like free camping. There are lots of aids to free camping such as "Camps Australia Wide" which I use and "Wikicamps".
Yes, you really do need to arrive at very popular free camps by or before 1 pm and, depending on how far you have to travel, you may have to get up early. You'll now have back the time you lost getting away early.
Parking is generally unregulated but if you get there early enough, you get to choose a good spot and can leave tug attached to van which aids next early getaway and saves set-up time.
Many RV friendly towns have dump-sites and these can be found on internet,"Camps Australia Wide" and maps. My free-camping friends and I feel it's a good idea to fill with fuel and/or buy supplies in such towns as a "Thank you".
Generally, free-camping, you'll have more room between you and your neighbour than you would in a van park where often, space is at a premium.
There is no need to "define your spot". It's where you are, where your rig is.
Re campfires; if someone near you has a campfire already set up, they may welcome your company and be happy to share their fire. Go over and say hello. Otherwise, if campfires are permitted, start your own.
Regarding security, most or many free camps are out-of-town and therefore have little or no security risk, perhaps in contrast to many van parks.
My friends and I like to do 2 or 3 days in a van park each 6 to 7 days to get clothes and bedding washing done and dried and as most van parks aren't too far from a pub, a pub meal and a drink.
Just one final point, always try to leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. If some a-hole has left rubbish there before you or there is wind-blown waste, pick it up and bag it with your own rubbish for dumping at next bin you see.
Cheers,
Roy.
rockylizard said
09:55 AM Jul 21, 2018
brickies wrote:
I called in to Kerribee park one year and turn around went to Walkamin central park it was $5 a night more but well worth it , They tell me the Fish and Chips are good at Kerribee Park .
Gday...
They opened the door at 5.30pm and began serving from the fully stocked bay marie - with three cooks working frantically to keep it that way.
I would guess there were at least 50 people in the queue when the door opened, some sitting on chairs while waiting since whenever. At 6.30pm the queue was still 61 people in number and I was not yet served. Success at 6.45pm.
However, well worth the wait as it is first class Spanish Mackerel and lovely chips - and the opportunity (disadvantage?) to chat to other fellow travellers for an hour or so as we shuffled dutifully forward.
cheers - John
brickies said
11:36 AM Jul 21, 2018
Maybe you could call it happy hour with fish and chips
Cupie said
01:15 PM Jul 21, 2018
Roy E wrote:
Gidday Cupie, I think if you give it a try, you'll come to like free camping. There are lots of aids to free camping such as "Camps Australia Wide" which I use and "Wikicamps". Yes, you really do need to arrive at very popular free camps by or before 1 pm and, depending on how far you have to travel, you may have to get up early. You'll now have back the time you lost getting away early. Parking is generally unregulated but if you get there early enough, you get to choose a good spot and can leave tug attached to van which aids next early getaway and saves set-up time. Many RV friendly towns have dump-sites and these can be found on internet,"Camps Australia Wide" and maps. My free-camping friends and I feel it's a good idea to fill with fuel and/or buy supplies in such towns as a "Thank you". Generally, free-camping, you'll have more room between you and your neighbour than you would in a van park where often, space is at a premium. There is no need to "define your spot". It's where you are, where your rig is. Re campfires; if someone near you has a campfire already set up, they may welcome your company and be happy to share their fire. Go over and say hello. Otherwise, if campfires are permitted, start your own. Regarding security, most or many free camps are out-of-town and therefore have little or no security risk, perhaps in contrast to many van parks. My friends and I like to do 2 or 3 days in a van park each 6 to 7 days to get clothes and bedding washing done and dried and as most van parks aren't too far from a pub, a pub meal and a drink. Just one final point, always try to leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. If some a-hole has left rubbish there before you or there is wind-blown waste, pick it up and bag it with your own rubbish for dumping at next bin you see. Cheers, Roy.
Thanks for the detailed response Roy.
Some great advice there.
You are no doubt right. A new set of adventures await us. Once we adjust.
Farmhat said
02:47 PM Jul 21, 2018
Cupie, congrats on your solar. Free camping will fall into place for you. Once you have been at it a bit it will all work itself out, and will grow on you, I am sure.
It gives a whole new aspect to your travels.
Joe
Micka said
06:24 AM Jul 23, 2018
Just wondering where does all the grey waste water go in these types of park, is it allowed to run under your neighbours van?
rockylizard said
07:47 AM Jul 23, 2018
Micka wrote:
Just wondering where does all the grey waste water go in these types of park, is it allowed to run under your neighbours van?
Gday...
Onto the very parched, dry ground next to each van, or under each van.
No puddles, no soggy patches ... only green patches where the grey water has been.
Gday...
Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds Mareeba - this morning ...
I've been here a week now and it has been this busy each day ... some comings and goings but many steady stayers.
On the way up, every 'free' camp on the way was at capacity from 2pm onwards.
Rocky Creek Memorial and Camp ('free') down the road from here has at least 100 vehicles each time I have passed.
If open spaces and quiet is what is sought for the 'winter sojourn' don't bother with the coast or probably 200km inland.
Cheers - John
Hi John, we drove up to the grounds on Monday afteroon coming in from Chillagoe, took one look and bolted to many people for us, parked so close, didn't look inviting.
We are staying in a th caravan park at Walkamin, really enjoying toe open space here. Great amenities, grassed sites, good group of people. If you have not been here worth a look.
Enjoy your travels. Ralph.
Just one or two happy campers there mate
Must be quiet 
Did ya climb on the roof of the shed to take the pics mate
I am trying to come to terms with the idea of free camping now that my van has solar.
After a lifetime of using CPs I am conflicted by the free camping issues including ...
- Having to get in early in the day. (what do you do for the rest of the day before racing off early next morning to the next spot)
- Unregulated parking. Seems to involve lots of very close neighbours.
- How do I define my spot. Do I put out awnings & fridge side shades. Do I stay hooked up.
- Where do I drop/ dump my waste
- Do I start up a camp fire
- Security .. during sight seeing or shopping.
I suppose that it all varies according to the location & time of year .. eg. along the main highways , during annual migrations, out bush, at more remote waterholes et al.
I think that I'm a bit like Ralph.
Edit .. I suppose that we are a bit spoiled because we always pay a bit more to get a water view (or whatever) premium sites. eg We pay an extra $25 a night for the already dear sites at our Fav Tallebudgera Creek CP just for a waterfront site, or only accept a waterfront site at Noosa River CP, even if we have to book 6 to 12m in advance. I am not sure that we would enjoy looking out over neighbours vans or listening to them argue, fart & snore overnight and worrying if we have been robbed while away from the van.
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 21st of July 2018 09:22:38 AM
Gday...
Yeah Ralph, know of Walkamin, and Malanda and a couple of the others around. Nice parks and have stayed at various times.
However, my son is in Mareeba and I need to be close ... such is life.
My whingeing is not as loud as it might seem
OH ... and Young Dougie, they have very large grandstands here at the Rodeo ground
Cheers - John
I think if you give it a try, you'll come to like free camping. There are lots of aids to free camping such as "Camps Australia Wide" which I use and "Wikicamps".
Yes, you really do need to arrive at very popular free camps by or before 1 pm and, depending on how far you have to travel, you may have to get up early. You'll now have back the time you lost getting away early.
Parking is generally unregulated but if you get there early enough, you get to choose a good spot and can leave tug attached to van which aids next early getaway and saves set-up time.
Many RV friendly towns have dump-sites and these can be found on internet,"Camps Australia Wide" and maps. My free-camping friends and I feel it's a good idea to fill with fuel and/or buy supplies in such towns as a "Thank you".
Generally, free-camping, you'll have more room between you and your neighbour than you would in a van park where often, space is at a premium.
There is no need to "define your spot". It's where you are, where your rig is.
Re campfires; if someone near you has a campfire already set up, they may welcome your company and be happy to share their fire. Go over and say hello. Otherwise, if campfires are permitted, start your own.
Regarding security, most or many free camps are out-of-town and therefore have little or no security risk, perhaps in contrast to many van parks.
My friends and I like to do 2 or 3 days in a van park each 6 to 7 days to get clothes and bedding washing done and dried and as most van parks aren't too far from a pub, a pub meal and a drink.
Just one final point, always try to leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. If some a-hole has left rubbish there before you or there is wind-blown waste, pick it up and bag it with your own rubbish for dumping at next bin you see.
Cheers,
Roy.
Gday...
They opened the door at 5.30pm and began serving from the fully stocked bay marie - with three cooks working frantically to keep it that way.
I would guess there were at least 50 people in the queue when the door opened, some sitting on chairs while waiting since whenever. At 6.30pm the queue was still 61 people in number and I was not yet served. Success at 6.45pm.
However, well worth the wait as it is first class Spanish Mackerel and lovely chips - and the opportunity (disadvantage?) to chat to other fellow travellers for an hour or so as we shuffled dutifully forward.
cheers - John
Thanks for the detailed response Roy.
Some great advice there.
You are no doubt right. A new set of adventures await us. Once we adjust.
Cupie, congrats on your solar. Free camping will fall into place for you. Once you have been at it a bit it will all work itself out, and will grow on you, I am sure.
It gives a whole new aspect to your travels.
Joe
Just wondering where does all the grey waste water go in these types of park, is it allowed to run under your neighbours van?
Gday...
Onto the very parched, dry ground next to each van, or under each van.
No puddles, no soggy patches ... only green patches where the grey water has been.
Cheers - John