First road trip

Tornado · Newbie

First road trip

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

There are many who have some apprehension about "free" camping and have raised it on the forum.

While we are waiting for others to come along with advice/comment, have a look at this thread -

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t57402655/travelling-alone/

Cheers - JOhn

JohnR · Senior Member

We have just come from Adelaide to Esperance across the Nullarbor. We were leaving a free camp outside Mundrabilla when a couple started a conversation about radio stations and crossing the Nullarbor. We indicated what free camps we were staying at along the Nullarbor and more than happy for them to join us at these spots.
They did and we said our good byes at a Free Camp 70klms south of Norseman after having been the only 2 couples/vans at several free camps between Mundrabilla and Esperance. Be prepared to start a conversation and check what others are doing.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Tornado, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I do both CVP and free/alternative camping. If no one else is around I sometimes go with gut feeling or just move on. Unless I have got to know well or already know other campers at a free/alternative camp area I do not leave my Avan unattended. If I intend doing site seeing etc I like the little extra security a CVP offers, might be all in the head but there ya go. Things might change when I go "full time" on the road soon though, who knows?

Main thing is, enjoy whatever it is and how you do it.

Glenelg · Guru

welcome from me to.

The Hats · Senior Member

Tornado wrote:
We are planning our first ever road trip in a hired campervan from Adelaide to Perth in mid-September. Would like to try some free camping sites but I am concerned if it is safe to camp on our own. Any advice appreciated. Any other hints also appreciated.

Welcome To the forum,

As for free camping I have worked and camped all around this wonderful country for over 35 years and have NEVER felt threaten or any concern ever, as for the Eyer highway crossing you could spend two months crossing from Ceduna to Norsman and still not see everything.

Enjoy you trip and don't stress everyone out there is just like you out and about enjoying the wonders of what this great country has to offer.

Cheers

The Hats

Ron

GaryKelly · Guru

I suspect most of us were silly enough to believe all the bogey man stories we heard as a kid or the horror movies we saw at the flicks. I gather from the responses I've seen by GNs on this forum to similar concerns over a long period that free camping is quite safe as long as you exercise common sense.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

There have only been two instances that we have felt "not right" about a place - Dajarra in West Queensland, and the RIP lookout near Tom Price in WA.

We left both these places and moved on to much nicer ones, not far away. Dajarra was a couple of years ago, and some photographers on a motorbike and trailer told us about a nicer camp, further along the road. The RIP lookout at Tom Price was a bit eerie - a place where people write messages to their friends and family who have died - the day was a bit windy, slightly overcast, and we just didn't feel "right", so moved on, and ended up staying at the Paraburdoo Caravan Park - best value ever! $25 night - free washing machines, driers, all gravel and paved - water, power, spotless amenities, great find.

We are currently camped near Mullewa in WA, looking for wildflowers, there are only about three others here, and the area is huge - probably 400m to the next van! Slept like a log!