Is Wikicamps out classing Camps 8

brickies · Guru

Is Wikicamps out classing Camps 8

Happywanderer · The Master

I don't think so Brickies. I still use Camps 7 for info when going to a campsite but use Wikicamps for up to date info, especially comments. But I do use both together, they still complement each other.

Onedodger · Guru

We have camps 8 with pics, whilst this does give one an Idea of what the campsite or camp area is like Wikicamps is far superior IMHO. By reading the remarks one can sort the chaff from the weed and get a good idea of what the site is like also an idea of the cost if any.

Still we do use both.

-- Edited by Onedodger on Thursday 28th of January 2016 04:31:38 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Wikicamps main advantage is that it shows how popular a camp is by the number of posts & interest shown. This really works for us because it lets us know which really popular locations to avoid . We use a combination of Camps 6, Camping Around Australia - Cathy Savage & Craig Lewis also Camping Around Australia - Explore Australia. More nature based info with quieter locations which is what we're looking for.

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Thursday 28th of January 2016 04:44:46 PM

brickies · Guru

Wikicamps has a lot more locations listed that not on Camps 8

chopit · Senior Member

We are happy with Wiki and Camps 7 ( with the GPS app to find spots easily.
The up to date wiki is great if you ignore the comments that would be more appropriate in a forum that likes bitchiness.
Wiki is our first call and Camps for additional info & location.

aussietraveller · Guru

We have been using Wiki Camps now for a number of years and have found the information very reliable and accurate with up to date comments and pictures.

We have previously travelled with a camps 6 book which has travelled thousands of kilometres in the door map pocket without being used, I have had a look at it but find Wiki camps much easier to use and also much cheaper and more up to date you also get very regular updates free of charge.

dishlicker · Senior Member

Hi Brickies

I use both so i am able to get a fairly good picture of the area one complements the other in my book cheers

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Wiki is getting better all the time and the more users who update or add as they use the better it will be.

I use both Camps and Wiki and probably always will. I check Camps first then read comments and look at the pics in Wiki to make decisions as to where to prop for the night or longer.

Baz421 · Guru

brickies wrote:
Wikicamps has a lot more locations listed that not on Camps 8

Just started using Wikicamps last week in Tassie as Camps 8 is a bit behind the times as sites change, (just like Navman maps!!!)

It seems others we talked to last week who use Wikicamps regularly have this view also.

I can see us using both as others say.

brickies · Guru

Friends are stopping near Bolivia in NSW at a camp pick up on Wiki called Kookaburra Camp and caravan park $15 a night non powered , They say it top park but not in Camps .

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I use wiki first, then check to see if its in Camps 8. Ive got a Hema 7 GPS which has Camps 8 in it (incl the pics), so often use that, but if I like what I see on wiki and its not on Camps, then I pick that.

You do have to be careful with wiki. Often sites will be shown, but there are no comments at all which usually means it doesn't exist and other times users get the co-ordinates totally wrong. The funniest one we had was at Batemans Bay in NSW where the public dump point is shown in the middle of a national park - and of course its not there. So a little care is needed, I tend to only look seriously at a site when there are plenty of comments (weeding out the bitchy, negative ones that chopit mentioned above)

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I like a good old map - so I use the Camps Book (gonna buy no. 8 soon) - and Wiki in conjunction, look at the map for the area we are travelling to, then check it out on Wiki, for comments etc. Though we have been sent on wild goose chases with the co-ordinates on Wiki sometimes - Camps are usually accurate. Have also found some camps on Wiki that aren't in Camps book.

Wouldn't be without my camps book.

jade46 · Senior Member

Jules47 do you know there are 3 different ways to show a GPS coordinate You could have Wiki set to a different format to your actual GPS hence the position will be different

DDD° MM' SS.S"	Degrees, Minutes and Seconds
DDD° MM.MMM'	Degrees and Decimal Minutes
DDD.DDDDD°	Decimal Degrees

-- Edited by jade46 on Thursday 28th of January 2016 08:45:03 PM

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Thanks Jade46 , but they set the same.

jade46 · Senior Member

OK biggrin

JandJ · Member

GPS co-ords etc - I also find the Navman completely useless sometimes. I would love someone to post info about the different coordinates. I put the co-ords from Camps 7 into my Navman and the end result of nothing like it should be. *confused*

Dunmowin · Guru

brickies wrote:
Wikicamps has a lot more locations listed that not on Camps 8

I don't rate the "camp at the end of the gravel pit" as competition to any in the Camps books. The sites in Camps have been properly researched by the authors, not just plugged in as many are on Wiki. I do use both, much to my total disgust, but prefer always to use Camps over Wiki. Will be buying next Camps book regardless.

To punch in co ords into your navman, garman, tomtom or what ever, will only get you to the nearest navigable position, usually the nearest road, so bear that in mind when navigating to a GPS fix. It will not take you to the "favourite" camp where the GPS fix might have been initially taken.

Delta18 · Guru

Dunmowin wrote:
brickies wrote:
Wikicamps has a lot more locations listed that not on Camps 8
I don't rate the "camp at the end of the gravel pit" as competition to any in the Camps books. The sites in Camps have been properly researched by the authors, not just plugged in as many are on Wiki. I do use both, much to my total disgust, but prefer always to use Camps over Wiki. Will be buying next Camps book regardless.

Often all I want is a gravel pit to park up for the night, out of sight of the road. Camps book may give the 5 star camp 100km up the road but all I want is to have a sleep.

Delta18 · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:

You do have to be careful with wiki. Often sites will be shown, but there are no comments at all which usually means it doesn't exist and other times users get the co-ordinates totally wrong. The funniest one we had was at Batemans Bay in NSW where the public dump point is shown in the middle of a national park - and of course its not there.

It must have changed (thats the good thing with Wiki, user updatable if errors are found), I found the dump point last year with Wiki.

Maybe it was you that corrected it?

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Hi Neil - yes I reported it as a fault to wiki - so sounds like its been fixed. The Bateman shire is very free camp unfriendly (no doubt because its a tourist town full of CPs - which are usually full most of the year anyway), so they don't well post the public dump point on the coast road and parking at their Info Centre is the pits as theres few parks to start with and local truckies park in them to eat at Maccas next door. As for getting the free water, you need 2 lengths of hose to get from the nearest part of the road to the water tap !

Now I'll get off my shop box lol and back on topic..........and Neil we are now down in Baldivis, so will contact you soon to catch up for a drink of cordial !

I do the same as Jules - I have the full sets of Hema maps and when in a State (no, not a dither or angry state) use them to decide where we are going and then refer to my Camps 8 and wiki.

I'm a strong supporter of Aussie writers and especially those who write for Nomads - map books, general advice on travel, snake bites, emergency repairs, cooking - reckon we have about 15 hard backed books on various Nomad topics - most of which we never use and keep in storage.

Ozzie_Traveller · Senior Member

G'day all

Re- numbers of sites on camps vs Wiki ...

you might remember that all sites on camps-8 have been verified with local gov't as being authorised camping sites, whereas wiki also includes heaps of sites "that someone thinks is okay for camping"

Phil

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Another thing with Wiki - often the spots are in more than once, by different people, and it can be a bit confusing - the trouble with various posters putting up info - as Ozzie Traveller says - Camps sites are verified, by the people who compile the book - I know,as we have met them on the road.

03_Troopy · Guru

JandJ wrote:
GPS co-ords etc - I also find the Navman completely useless sometimes. I would love someone to post info about the different coordinates. I put the co-ords from Camps 7 into my Navman and the end result of nothing like it should be. *confused*

Go to settings in your Navman, and change the GPS coordinates to the same format as they are in Camps 7. See Jade46's post to see the 3 different format styles.