Safety at roadside camps

Juniior · Member

Safety at roadside camps

Baz421 · Guru

Haven't been to WA yet but no problems generally,,, we choose carefully and moved on once when two lads camped 10 feet from us,, weird.

We keep distance from other vans/campsites etc.

One tip - don't stay in free camps or bush areas (popular with locals) close to towns on Fri or Sat night - they can come there and carry on all night.

Cruising Granny · Guru

WA has some very comfortable 24hr roadside parking bays, complete with toilets. They are usually quite popular and you may share the evening with several other like-minded nomads.
I've free-camped by myself, alone a couple of times, but most of my free camping experience is with the trucks I escort. I've never felt threatened by anyone. Of course you take the usual self-preservation measures such as not displaying your worldly goods and lock your doors. It's usually more secure with other campers.
Use your character judgement skills and put it on high alert to make sure. You're gunna love it.
The night noises of the bush, the bright stars and the huge moon. You're gunna love it!

johns · Veteran Member

I think If you stop, other caravan's will also stop. Try it early in the afternoon about (1600hrs.) If you stop early enough you can move on if no one else does.

AmandaJayne · Guru

we did the round trip of up the coast and down the great northern highway and stayed in the 24 hour stops... it was great! we had no trouble at all and loved every second of it :)

herbie · Guru

Done the big lap five times in different sections over 12 years and stayed in rest/free/ low cost stops ,but one still needs to be aware of one's surroundings, never un hitch if you are on your own, and we always make sure we are facing a good exit if we neeed to leave in a hurry.The only time we have felt under threat ( believe it or not) is some of the dodgy c/ parks we have had no choice but to stay in.

-- Edited by herbie on Monday 1st of April 2013 11:45:34 PM

herbie · Guru

Done the big lap five times in different sections over 12 years and stayed in rest/free/ low cost stops ,but one still needs to be awear of one's surroundings, never un hitch if you are on your own and we always make sure we are facing a good exit if we neeed to leave in a hurry.The only time we have felt under threat is believe it or not is some of the dodgy c/ parks we have had no choice but to stay in.

Hello Steve,We were stopped for fuel at Walget and while i was filling the vehicle the police car came in the lights and sirens going , unbeknowen to me the servo had just been held up.Still laugh about it as the thugs who robbed the servo ran past us as we were waiting in line .Some also told us that Dubba has gone to the dogs now re violance all so Tarre and Kempsey .Only told this over Easter .

-- Edited by herbie on Thursday 4th of April 2013 10:16:45 PM

Juniior · Member

Thanks some good advice there.

Happywanderer · The Master

I free camp alone frequently. Try to stop around 4pm and if no others have turned up within the hour I will move on. I feel safer with other nomads nearby. Never had any problems.

Solo Steve · Senior Member

Do some homework. Some towns are inherently unsafe or robbery is an issue. I am passing through Wilcania soon and have been told by many not to stop. Walget was a bit of a worry on my own until it rained cats and dogs. The Cops kept an eye on me though comming by a few times in the night. If you are a newbie try and park near others. I have made one near mistake, stayed in 35 km into Pilliga State Forest on my own with no phone reception. Ok until it looked like rain and if so would still be there as the dirt roads would have been impassable. The moral here is common sense in all situations.

glassies · Guru

kempsey has always been a no go zone for years ,its a worry that town, some doctor got bashed a couple of years ago now
there, had just arrived and at a free stop ,dont do kempsey at all, keep going even if you have to go as far as coffs harbour or
someplace closer, nambucca heads ,not sure if that is much good either,but i wouldnt stop in kempsey and camp anywhere

Jc lives in kempsey he might know of a place, there are some amazing rivers out the back of kempsey though and just
beautiful too.
used to camp at georges creek many years ago it is a lovely spot not far out of kempsey,and there is a fantastic pub
out that way cant remember the name bellbrook pub or something like that ,enjoy your trip