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Post Info TOPIC: "Free" camping question.
dirvine


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"Free" camping question.
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I am planning to stay at Ballarat on Easter Monday evening. I will have a camper trailer and a porta loo which i will emplty when I get home to Melbourne. Is that acceptable to say I am self sufficient?



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David Irvine

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sandsmere


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I think the Ballarat "free campsite" has been closed down David.

You should maybe check it out before you go there.



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aussie_paul


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We are still seeing the odd person using it, even though they shortened the 12 month trial to 6 months. We did not see any misbehaving while it was it was being used. It was used quite a bit BUT never overloaded, although I could not guarrantee that people did not abuse the time limit though.no

Aussie Paul. smile



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rockylizard


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Gday...

Unfortunately, sandsmere is correct.

http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/news.aspx?article=42096

This is snipped from that site - to save you scrolling -

Ballarat 01.JPG

I haven't been able to find the newspaper article but I believe (from memory) the reason was that too many campers were not completely self-contained and some were overstaying the time limit.

[edit: found the news article - http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3750642/freedom-camping-cancelled/]

This was in current month's edition of Caravanning News -

Ballarat 02.JPG

Cheers - John



-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 19th of March 2016 01:48:05 PM

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dirvine


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RE: "Free" camping question.
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Thanks everybody! Looks like I have to pay big bucks to stay ballarat overnight. Really annoys me when all I want is somewhere to stay. No need for water, toilets, power, or anything else, for this overnight stop but will be charged $$$ just to stay in a park!

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David Irvine

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Dougwe


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Have you thought of a rest area out of town David? I often stay in them in other areas.

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aussie_paul


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I can help you with a place to camp Easter Monday. PM me David.

Aussie Paul. smile



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brickies


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Why would you want to stay in a large town just for an overnight stop there is plenty of camps has Doug has said around that area , If you want to stay in a large town you have to pay the price .

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Aus-Kiwi


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Smythesdale Gardens donation .. 37 38 21s 143 41 09E Or Woody Park test area Glenelg h way .. 7km east of Linton ..

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dirvine


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Perhaps a better explanation will explain my issues. I am staying at Moonambell with Pajero club till Monday morning. I have hired a campertrailer to see if we like it or not. My partner does not like the idea of just camping anywhere, as she feels vunerable. I dont want to pay a fortune just to stay in an unpowered site. So I was looking at a place that would have a few people staying for security, and then return the trailer on Tuesday. Ballarat seemed ideal for us as its on the way home.

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David Irvine

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PeterInSa


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David,
Good idea to try B4 you buy, but suggest a unit with canvas, even a pop top caravan, your partner may still feel vulnerable, maybe a small 2nd hand caravan may be a better long term option for a try/buy.

Peter

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Aus-Kiwi


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^^^ yep ^^^

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dirvine


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Peter and Aus-Kiwi, thanks and I agree with you. it is just that we want to do the roads/tracks less travelled ie OTT to Cape York, Gunbarrell, Connie Sue, Canning etc just to name a few, and yes a caravan will have the security aspect better than a CT. But I just wonder how they would go in that rough environment, not the least of it being the size of the Tug to tow it around. I have looked at Off Road caravans, and still not convinced about their robustness to handle the real rough stuff. Also their additional weight is of concern. What we are doing is trying before buying, and we have to start somewhere. I was hoping that if we stayed with others, the vulnerability would be alieviated to some extent.

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David Irvine

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rockylizard


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Gday...

I can understand the 'security' concerns that people feel when they begin camping. I therefore assume you and your partner have not had a lot of experience camping.

As one who has been camping solo in tents and/or swags in the bush, under bridges and other places away from towns since I was 14, (and now full-time in a van) I can assure you that a camper is far more secure in the bush, away from towns, than if in their home, or moving around, in towns.

If you listen to the news you will hear the continual threats that people are subjected to within towns - it is extremely rare for a camper in the bush to have any problems.

Certainly, use common sense, and that good old 'gut feel', when deciding where to sleep, but usually camps away from cities/towns are far safer than any other populated place in this wide, brown, beautiful land.

Cheers - and happy and safe camping - John



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Aus-Kiwi


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Slightly off top is .. We free camped last night in park out of Albany . Mrs watched the recent Mad Max movie . I went to sleep .. I guess after movie Mrs did too , then about 2AM there was bang Kissch sound.. Mrs said" there's someone out there". I thought it's peeing down .. No way and went to sleep .. In the morning I checked our portable freezer .. Yep s soda can had exploded .. It had frozen .. Lol it gets , getting used to ., but it's fine ..

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landy


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as Aus Kiwi suggested Smythesdale Gardens is a good alternative always plenty of other campers there these days and you have toilets and showers there I believe.

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jules47


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We are in Smythesdale Gardens at the moment, stayed last night, and will stay again tonight. Great spot - 19 minutes out of Ballarat City - on the Hamilton road, fairly level spots, lots of room, toilets, hot showers (got to ring for door number), shelter shed with tables and seats, and the best fire. Also in the shed is one power point, and a free gas bbq. Small shop in walking distance with the basics. (June 2017)

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