Personal safety whilst free camping

03_troopy · Guru

Personal safety whilst free camping

herbie · Guru

Everyone has apprehensions when they first think about camping away from the saftey net of a caravan park. But as long as you stat out camping where some other RVs are ,you kind of get the feel for what to look out for in places to camp ( like if you see burn outs and beer cans around probably best to move to another spot. People say they only camp 20 odd ks out from a town,that never bothers us if the town is small ,i mean in some of these small towns the youngest person left living there is probably in their 50s anyway ( as the youger people have left to find work in the bigger towns.)...The one rule i make is always get to where you plan to camp no latter than 3/4 pm, as nothing worse than trying to set up in the dark and by arriving before dark ,you can see if the spot is safe enough to stay,but in the dark you do not really have that option .

-- Edited by herbie on Friday 3rd of May 2013 10:01:53 PM

Baz421 · Guru

keiron wrote:
Furthermore, I have on previous travells felt more than a little threatened when walking through some country / outback towns. So much so that we left quickly before we were confronted by any "locals".

Keiron,,, as I see it, it depends on a couple of things and one of them is you and your wife.

If you are afraid/worried of conversing with a single (1 only "local") then you could consider how to "crack the ice" with locals. A simple gidday mate, hi, good morning, good rain for farmers today, nice town you have etc etc as apppropriate, can crack the ice,,, no harm done with an innocuous "Hi".

So what you are doing is bridging the gap and starting a conversation. Old aboriginals do this well in the bush,,, walk over kick the dirt etc simply say Gidday. Don't be afraid as 99.9% of people are harmless. They may even be afraid of you.

Secondly if it's a group/crowd situation you can walk away. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, DON'T PANIC, say gidday first and ask diections to anywhere,,, the post office, general store etc. As soon as they see your 1/2 human their mood normally changes.

Above all don't be rude or ignor people when spoken to, answer people, even if you just say Hi and move on. A good ruse if you are baled up is to say I have to go as my mate/friend is just over there looking/waiting for me.

Relax and enjoy the bush, travel with others first up if it continues to be an issue for you.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Friday 3rd of May 2013 09:38:43 PM

keiron · Senior Member

Hi, I and SWMBO have yet to hit the road but do have some concerns / questions about personal security.

How does one ensure their safety when camped in the bush or remote locations beside the road?

Furthermore, I have on previous travells felt more than a little threatened when walking through some country / outback towns. So much so that we left quickly before we were confronted by any "locals".

How do you veteran / experienced Nomads address concerns such as these, and what measures would you suggest we take?

Many thanks for any ideas. KB

Santa · Guru

What exactly are you in fear of while you are camping?

Which towns did you feel threatened by and what exactly did you think the locals may confront you over.

As a matter of interest my wife and I don't share any of your fears, perhaps you may be better suited to seeing Aust via guided bus tours.

Cloak · Guru

Good pies in Moonta...

Happywanderer · The Master

03_troopy wrote:
This is a local shoppe for local people.. you have no business here... come along Tubbs...
This is a local shop the strangers you would bring would not understand us, our customs, our local ways.
- Look Edward a shooting star. Should we make a wish?
-- Yes Tubbs, wish for an end to this plague of strangers, for our futures to remain local and for new road to be totally destroyed.
- And can I have a new dress please.

-- Edited by 03_troopy on Friday 3rd of May 2013 06:24:12 PM

What the heck!!!???

pauline · Guru

I' m with you Marj,don't understand 2 of the answers at all..............thought it was a reasonable question that deserves sensible answers.

spida · Guru

I think maybe some people have an inbuilt fear of the unknown. I dont feel threatened by anything - so far. If you perceive the world through 'fearful' eyes - then nothing will ever look safe!
I have been warned not to stop in several places eg Alice, Tennant Creek, Katherine ..... Why I say? Seemed fine to me - then I dont go looking for trouble after dark, or near hotels.......
Reminds me of a woman who asked me the other day how I get on travelling alone - 'dont I worry about getting lost?' - WHAT!!!!! I guess some people just look for negatives in every situation because thats the way they are.

KFT · Guru

G'day Keiron

We were a little unwary when we first "bush camped" and I did not sleep well for the first night. Every little noise seemed to wake me. BUT there was nothing there!!!!

I slept very well the next night.

We have a rule we NEVER break. we will not camp within 25-30 km of any town.

we have never had a problem in more than 10 years of bush camping(alongside hwys, beside country churches and halls, next to parks in very small country towns or even up a country road near a farmers gate(good spot to turn around). And we have done this up the centre, through QLD, Vic and SA as well as our home state of NSW.

I live in the country(was born in Sydney) and have done so since I was 14. I would much rather be out here than anywhere near a big city. I have camped and hunted in many parts of NSW and I loved every minute of it. Never a problem.

I do try to make my rig as inconspicuous as possible when alongside the highway(if possible) if you cant be seen you wont be bothered.

I hope I have been able to put your mind at rest about this. We really do live in the lucky country where people are more likely to want to help you than harm you.

frank

spida · Guru

Re camping - make sure there are others there with you. I have only camped alone twice and was fine but....
Most roadside camps will have others there overnight. Go say hello - most will be nomads like you - havent met a scary one yet.

pauline · Guru

I can understand some fears are well founded in these days, but you just have to be sensible and always remember...........safety in numbers, especially when just wanting a place to pull up for the night in out of the way places, but don't let it deter you from doing something you want to, nothing to fear but fear itself.

03_troopy · Guru

Spida hit the nail on the head. The quotes (from the "League of Gentlemen" ) were just a light hearted way to say that some small town dwellers are as much worried by strangers, as strangers are worried by the locals. People are just people, the majority good, the minority bad. There is nothing to suggest the %'s of "good V evil" changes that much from place to place.

Santa · Guru

Cloak wrote:
Good pies in Moonta...

Cornish pasties Cloak, some are better than others. wink

Santa · Guru

03_troopy wrote:
Spida hit the nail on the head. The quotes (from the "League of Gentlemen" ) were just a light hearted way to say that some small town dwellers are as much worried by strangers, as strangers are worried by the locals. People are just people, the majority good, the minority bad. There is nothing to suggest the %'s of "good V evil" changes that much from place to place.

Strangers are only people you have never met, once you meet them they are no longer strangers. wink

villatranquilla · Guru

we always try to find a camp by late afternoon - its hopeless in the dark looking for a suitable spot - keep well back from the road - and always park pointing toward the exit.

GaryKelly · Guru

Back in the late '80s, I camped in a small area by a river just outside of Sofala... just me and my small dog. It was pitch black. I was cooking dinner on the stove in the Kombi when a car pulled up. I heard voices, 4 or 5 of them, male and young... and lots of swearing. For a while I didn't know quite what to do. Then I figured if I remained a mystery shut inside my van, it might make the group curious, or worse. So I opened the side door, went over to their car and introduced myself (in my deepest voice). We all shook hands and started to chat. They explained that they were footballers from Lithgow on their way to a party and got lost. They had plenty of beer but no food. So I said I'd take care of the food if they built a campfire. All I had was a jaffle iron, a loaf of bread and lots of filling, but it did the trick. Pretty soon we were all sitting around the fire, drinking beer and having a great ol' time. Sure, they were pretty rough, but basically okay. Next morning, we all went for a walk along the river and did a bit of fishing. Before we went our separate ways later that afternoon, they invited me to call into their regular pub in Lithgow any time I was in town. We'd become mates. So there ya go. I'll leave it to you to figure out what the moral of the story is.

03_troopy · Guru

The moral of the story is... jaffles.... everyone loves jaffles...

GaryKelly · Guru

I just knew someone would say jaffles hehe.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Its always a good idea to put away all your portable "stuff" overnight. Don't encourage undesirables by tempting them.

Grams · Guru

Hi KB,

I understand where your coming from, I too am a little anxious about the staying overnight somewhere out of reach of help. But that's just me, I have never done it before, but I am looking forward to it actually. We live in a small country town of only 500+ people and everyone here is very friendly to strangers, even me, the shy one, will always say hello to a new face.

My husband is a truck driver, he is always telling me to go anywhere there are trucks, they show they have the best food and the best safe overnight stops. You can't go wrong with that.

herbie · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
03_troopy wrote:
This is a local shoppe for local people.. you have no business here... come along Tubbs...
This is a local shop the strangers you would bring would not understand us, our customs, our local ways.
- Look Edward a shooting star. Should we make a wish?
-- Yes Tubbs, wish for an end to this plague of strangers, for our futures to remain local and for new road to be totally destroyed.
- And can I have a new dress please.

-- Edited by 03_troopy on Friday 3rd of May 2013 06:24:12 PM
What the heck!!!???

i second this...what the hell is all this about !!!!

barrie · Guru

Been on the road for 31/2 years and so far have had no bad experiences with yobo's

Duh · Guru

keiron wrote:

Furthermore, I have on previous travells felt more than a little threatened when walking through some country / outback towns. So much so that we left quickly before we were confronted by any "locals".
How do you veteran / experienced Nomads address concerns such as these, and what measures would you suggest we take?

There is the odd town that have reputations for unruly behaviour, mostly after dark and around pension days. Most people know what towns these are.

I have found that even these towns are safe to walk during the day (if in doubt, drive to most places you want to go and only get out when you need to, eg; going into a shopping centre etc). Those that "play up" during the night are usually sleeping it off or nursing sore heads from their nights entertainment.

However if a town has a reputation for unruly behaviour after hours it is best to remain in your caravan park and not go out at night. If in a freecamp outside of town, as some one has said, make sure it is some distance from the town and there are others staying there to support you.

dazren · Guru

Santa wrote,

What exactly are you in fear of while you are camping?

Which towns did you feel threatened by and what exactly did you think the locals may confront you over.

As a matter of interest my wife and I don't share any of your fears, perhaps you may be better suited to seeing Aust via guided bus tours.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very Friendly and welcoming answer to a newby ??? I think not ! ----????

Thank Goodness other members here have offered their Good advice and information to what was a genuine question, from a ''Newbie'' that is about to venture into un-familar area's of travel ? I am sure we all had safety reservations when we started out,

Wild1 · Senior Member

Hi Keiron

Its funny about the unknown, it has always instilled fear in people. When I toured around Tassie I found the folk in small towns would stare at me oddly, I assumed it was because I was an unknown quantity to them (or maybe missing a head).

Once you're out there it will begin to seem less fearsome, and your gut instincts will begin to develop - trust them. When you stop somewhere sit in your vehicle and sniff the air and watch for a bit - we all have those primitive instincts but they might need to be honed.

Seriously, I'm sure that you will be much safer out back in small towns than in any large city - just check the statistics! Happy motoring. biggrin biggrin

Jennifer

beiffe · Guru

In 5 years I have never been threatened and have enjoyed every day.
I find that to camp in our Australian bush is why I travel.
If I had to stay in CP I would look for somewhere to rent a house and settle down but then I would be dead in 12 months with boredom.
Most people have a fear of the unknown so if a bit apprehensive do the camping with others in recognised camp sites for a while but when you settle the nerves and relax try to get more adventurous as you may find you enjoy being on your own in that little secluded spot alongside a river or dam etc where you can relax and do your own thing without others distracting you.
Nothing better than sitting on your own for a few days and the birds etc get use to you and they come real close and you can get the shots that others dream about as they rush around.
Sometimes a local farmer may see you sitting there and come to check you are OK and offer some advise of good spots near by or even offer you a spot at the farm for a while to take part in the farm life and maybe even a cooked meal in the farm house. Remember they are starved for company and often love someone new to chat to.
Regards
Brian

spida · Guru

Excellent advise BAZ

Wombat 280 · Guru

I haven't had a problem yet but maybe it's the lab that travels with me. When pulling up in a camp site just do a quick look around and look for the tell tale signs on anti social behavior like smashed beer bottles , tyre burnouts and the mess left behind, many sites in country areas are also the local kid hangouts. Get there early and make sure you aren't going into a dead end and you can get your vehicle out in a hurry, I usually turn the vehicle around so I can leave over a path I've already traveled Also I leave two big dog food bowls outside no one like the thought of confronting big dogs . But if your on edge then stay in a van park, free camping with others is no guarantee of your safety it could be a group of no dead heads traveling together .

If you go into the search mode on the various forums you will find heaps of good advice on security and personal safety

leevin · Senior Member

Stop watching movies like Wolfe Creek!
It's perfectly safe out there.
Sometimes the silence is deafening.
We were never worried, then again we are both country folk.
We are on the final leg of our around the country trip (clockwise around the coast).
When we get back to the start point, we will fuel up, kick the tyres and set off again.
No base.....no worries.
Aaaaaaaaah smell the bush!

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.