travelling

frednme · Veteran Member

travelling

JackieP · Senior Member

depending when you are travelling all the free camps we have stayed in between Brisbane and Katherine are very busy ( get in by 2pm or you could miss out ) and lots of solo traveller in them so I don't think you would need to worry about security.

brickies · Guru

If you are on a pension you need to work out how much you want to spend on fuel every 2 weeks and work from there.

Happywanderer · The Master

I can go a bit over 600 ks on a full tank, usually that works out great for the fortnight with a few stops along the way. I see you are the same age as me, well 2 weeks older actually. I travel solo and free camp all the time. Don't feel afraid at all, usually park in places where there are others camping but not always.
Don't know how they work out this $1 per km. I just travel to my fortnightly budget, with automatic payments coming out fortnightly or monthly for things like phone account or car insurance.

The Phantom · Guru

With regards to security and free camping, if I am not in the mood for company (read 98% of the time) I usually look for an isolated road or track I can drive down and set up camp. Most roads have a road reserve which allows you to room to camp up. In more isolated areas, a station access track is a favorite.

As long as you leave no trace of your visit, there is generally no issue.

Remember one thing, if you cannot see the road then road users cannot see you. As long as you don't have your rig lit up like a luxury liner, there should be no problem.

Works for me.

The Phantom

brickies · Guru

Frednme you are luckly to get the post from Marj Happywanderer has she has been doing this for a long time on a single pension , And her advice comes from doing it and has proved it can be done .

Hey Jim · Guru

The Phantom wrote:
With regards to security and free camping, if I am not in the mood for company (read 98% of the time) I usually look for an isolated road or track I can drive down and set up camp. Most roads have a road reserve which allows you to room to camp up. In more isolated areas, a station access track is a favorite.
As long as you leave no trace of your visit, there is generally no issue.
Remember one thing, if you cannot see the road then road users cannot see you. As long as you don't have your rig lit up like a luxury liner, there should be no problem.
Works for me.

The Phantom

We the same, less reading only 20% of time. Normally we move back 1-2km. and watch the stars no traffic noise.

Jim

spida · Guru

frednme wrote:
hi all,
read a post not long ago about a couple travelling on $1 per km. I've done a few sums - due to head out to Darwin then Adelaide in the near future and including cp fees and fuel it isn't adding up. I would like to free camp but now solo and prefer a bit of security so that could add to cost (not every night).
has anyone any thoughts, information or ideas?
would be much appreciated - the pension doesn't seem to stretch as far as i'd like. (should be a retired pollie maybe:))

I have been free camping as a solo woman for 3 years and have never felt 'unsafe'. Try it - even just one night a week until you get used to it. So quiet, no street lights, lovely people. Just make sure you stop where others are camped, although I dont worry if I am the only one there now but I do try to stop around other campers. Dont stop at sites that have rubbish everywhere as that is more likely to be a local's haunt.

You are probably safer at some isolated free camp than you ever are in a city! I try to travel no more than about 250 Km a week, and use a cp maybe one night a week.

The Phantom · Guru

spida wrote:
I have been free camping as a solo woman for 3 years and have never felt 'unsafe'. Try it - even just one night a week until you get used to it. So quiet, no street lights, lovely people. Just make sure you stop where others are camped, although I dont worry if I am the only one there now but I do try to stop around other campers. Dont stop at sites that have rubbish everywhere as that is more likely to be a local's haunt.
You are probably safer at some isolated free camp than you ever are in a city! I try to travel no more than about 250 Km a week, and use a cp maybe one night a week.

A few things to remember if free camping for the first few times. Try not to camp too close to towns. Sometimes an area can be used for a speedway or for burnout laps later at night. Have a look on arrival if there is evidence of a few burnouts and move along if necessary. This is the reason most begin looking for a campsite around 3pm. There is ample time to move on, if necessary.

Friday and Saturday nights can be the worst if the locals decide to imbibe a bit.

Other than that, Spida has good advice.

The Phantom