Bob, with Camps 7 you get 4 years of free online updates and I always recommend updating a new book online after it is bought to make sure it is current.   The updates are done on the Camps 7 website, can be downloaded or printed off or done as they appear.  A snip from their website;

"One aspect that has proved popular and beneficial is the ability to update the book on a regular basis using our update service, this is a free service. Changes to information will undoubtedly occur, especially over time after the book's release, so it's a good idea to go to the website and check the updates before each trip.  Once you have completed your first update you can then do your updates using the date range search so you will only get the new updates since your last visit.

The update service for Camps 7 is available until Jan 2017"  

Online stuff is only good if you have internet coverage, no flat device batteries or otherwise.  At least you can always refer to the hard copy wherever you are.  Yes, some places do change, but generally most are still where they say they are in one form or another.

I see the Camps Australia Wide now have a combined Camps 7 and Caravan parks Australia wide in the one book.  Bear in mind that they also give free delivery for direct online orders.

Bear in mind they also have apps for ipads, iphones and GPS, see;

http://www.campsaustraliawide.com/ 

Each to their own Bob, a PDF is ok I suppose without internet as long as your pc doesn't cark it or have problems of some kind.

I may add the Camps books also have Hema maps, so you can use them as a map book too.

If your happy with your PDF then stick to it. 

I have to agree with all the others on this, the Camps 7 book is great and the online updates are very handy, print them out (or keep on your computer as PDF) for when you do not have Internet access.

Another great thing with the book is all the other additional information that comes with it relating to each site, sometimes not always an easy thing to find online especially with respect to the more remote camp sites.

Worth the money? I think it is.

jules47 wrote:

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Each to his own - love my computer, but when driving down a highway, a book is much easier to handle than a laptop or tablet, I think. And yes, Camps 7 is worth the money!!!

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I agree totally, a book can easily be supported on the steering wheel where-as a laptop or tablet falls off.  They banned using a mobile phone whilst driving but nothing has been said about reading a book!  

The dog lady wrote:

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Delta18 wrote:

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jules47 wrote:

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Each to his own - love my computer, but when driving down a highway, a book is much easier to handle than a laptop or tablet, I think. And yes, Camps 7 is worth the money!!!

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I agree totally, a book can easily be supported on the steering wheel where-as a laptop or tablet falls off.  They banned using a mobile phone whilst driving but nothing has been said about reading a book!  

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 can you post a photo of your rig so I can give you a wide berth out on the road please

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 Check my avatar...

Delta18 wrote:

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Duh wrote:

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Don't listen to Delta18, I have been a passenger in his vehicle and he does NOT drive like that, so he is telling porkies !!

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 Shhhhh Vic, you will ruin my reputation....

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 He is WORSE !!!   That is not driving, like his avatar, he fly's and bounces !!!  

(Apologies for the OT)........

Shayne and Leanne wrote:

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 Hey GypsyBob, we own Camps 7 and find it great as a stationary reference to start planning trips, but for actual real time info and for that matter cross referencing purposes, we have found both these links to be invaluable, they are user friendly and can be accessed via Smartphone, Laptop or Tablet...hope they help.

Cheers

Shayne and Lee

http://ozcamps.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=29

http://www.caravancaravan.com.au/

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 Thanks for these Shayne & Leanne, I found the Ozcamps site yesterday and the caravancaravan onre looks helpful too :)

Cheers
Bob

Good comments one and all, however, strange nobody has mentioned WikiCamps?  As the passenger and navigator in our car (with the assistance of the GPS) I find it invaluable and prefer it over CAW which I find is just too cumbersome to use in the car. One of the benefits of the program is the ability to download current content to your tablet whilst you are connected to the internet which makes the contents of WikiCamps always available regardless of being connected to the internet or not and as current  as the last update you downloaded. Admittedly, the downloads do take some time as it is a very big program and could take a couple of hours to update which may eat into your data limits.

I often upload photos and put comments up so other users can view - CAW provide just the one little photo - WikiCamps allows the users to upload any numnber of photos, maybe not professionally taken, but they do give you a broader view of the site and comments - both good and bad -  are mostly from people who have actually camped there. I have come across comments and photos from other members of the GN forums. It's not infallible and may have errors at times, but the benefits outweigh any problems you encounter with data.

For us, we travelled around QLD for 8 weeks until end of August and were able to use WikiCamps regardless of internet access and more often than not there were comments from other users dated within the last month and sometimes in the last week. I consider that pretty good! It may not be workable if you only have a small download or plan. Anyway, it's out there as an option for anyone interested. I believe there are also now plans for the program to be used on laptops (Win8 only I believe)  also, but that may be a while away yet. The only thing you can not access when you have no internet is the map/directions, but thats OK if you have GPS in the vehicle.

We do still have CAW and update it online regularly, which we may refer to whilst camped or at home, so it does still get an airing occasionally - even thought about the Camps7 app but thought way too expensive.  Anyway, I am sure most of you are already aware of WikiCamps - for those of you who are not, you may like to check it out.

Cheers

Joe wrote:

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The Camps book seems like a great concept and if you find yourself caught short of a planned destination it can give you a place to go for the night, but Jeez Louise the places it lists are often so CROWDED! It seems like everybody out there uses the same book and heads into the same place.
'j
There may be an argument that the book is the worst thing to ever hit the nomad community - it is probably solely responsible for numbers of people out there who have only gone out because the book gave them the confidence to try it.

Where possible I prefer to try to find my own spot away from the crowds.

Yeah I know - I am a cranky, elitist misery-guts. :)

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Gday...

You have voiced my feelings very well. This is especially so along the QLD east coast and main highways especially if there is an 'attraction' there. This is especially so from May/June/July/August - outside of these times there is much more space as the "free campers" head back south "because it is too hot" and there is breathing space available.

I have found that when in inland QLD and NSW, away from the highways and 'tourist/attraction' areas, it is not too bad.

I like to stay in out of the way places that are actually camping spots - not wayside stops that allow travellers to sleep for 24/48 hours ... more crowded than any caravan park but its 'free'.

And, definitely, the Camps book (bible) in many ways has been the boon and the dearth of those who travel - identifying places and giving confidence to those who are 'just setting out'.

Fortunately, the majority seem to enjoy being crowded into a small, wayside stop with a flushing toilet, for a day or two. I support their choice - it keeps them away from where I like to be

Cheers - John