Hi everyone. In a couple of weeks my wife and I will be heading off for our first 'free camping' trip. I am planning to head to the Murrey River at Nyah Recreation Reserve for a few days then to Horseshoe Bend for a few nights. Any thoughts from anybody on these two camps ? We will also be going to Broken Hill. Oh yes already thought about the cold, new diesel heater being installed next week.
We have : 200w solar panel, gas cooking and 3 way fridge, Hottap/en-suite set up, diesel heating, extra water tank for shower. I think we have most bases covered but what the heck if we haven't we will fix on the way. Don't worry, be happy.
Colin
You are about to embark in a great experience IE:- free Camping.
We have B. Hill and the Murray on our list also. We leave in early August for a 5 - 6 month trip from Brisbane to Victoria.
I will watch this thread for the info you are seeking.
Happy Days
Cheers. Have a great trip. We have a few two to four week trips planned over the next few months. UK and France for three months in 2017 then planning a long trip in 2018 ending up in Broome for winter. Planning is such fun but setting off is excitement plus. JUST DO IT !!!!!
Yep way to go . You'll learn how to live with what you have . Or adjust things a little to suit your means .. Not everyone is the same .. Yep just do it ..
Well done Colin. You will soon work out how things are done in the world of 'free/alternative camping' and I tell you that for free. Solar, batteries and water are the main things, so sounds like you have those covered.
Places around the Murray could be little muddy so keep an eye on that.
Keep Safe on the roads.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Drinking water is the most important. Of all the services (electricity, gas, phone/internet, water) connected to my house, water is the only one that is difficult to cope without.
I bought a small pump that I can pump out of the Murray and thru a filter into a container. If it still looks odd I can pump it out of the container into the van. I can run water backwards thru the filter to clean it. On my filter instructions it also says that you can run you tank back thru your filter back into the van. I have a garden tap on the A-frame.
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GRANDPARENTS & GRANDCHILDREN GET ON SO WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMMON ENEMY
The free camp at Nyah is excellent, always seem to be plenty of caravaners there. There are toilets and water available behind the sporting ground but it is a fair walk away if carrying water cans; however, you can drive.
We do about 50-50 free camp/caravan park. We have 2 110AH batteries connected to solar and a generator if needed. As mentioned the only issue is water. OK we have a work around if we are in the bush more than 4 days. day 1 the bride takes a shower, day 2 I take a shower and she does a top and tail with baby wipes and so on. First opportunity we fill the tanks and head out again.
Drinking water is far more important than not smelling, we buy 2 orf 3, 10 litre containers (about $5 from woolies), this does the morning coffee and drinking. Battery state is important as well, if you flatten the batts you will shorten their life substantially, this being said we have an inverter (pure sine wave) and electric blankets. We have discovered that keeps us warm and snug on very cold nights. Im too mean to get a diesel heater.. lol
All this has probably been said before BUT the most important aspect of free camping is getting out there and enjoying this great land.
BTW the Murray river is one great place to start free camping, enjoy...
Cheers and safe travels
-- Edited by Phil C on Friday 22nd of July 2016 01:55:48 PM
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
The Murray is a fantastic place to visit. Made a list recently of all the places I've camped at the Murray (tent, cabin, van). Visited just as many places without staying. Planning to do the Murray from East to West free-camping as much as I can within the next few years.
Barham
Barmah (free)
Berri
Buronga
Cohuna
Corowa
Euston
Gol Gol
Jingellic (free)
Morgan
Overland Corner (free)
Robinvale
Tailem Bend
Tallangatta
Wentworth
Zanettis Beach (free)
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GRANDPARENTS & GRANDCHILDREN GET ON SO WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMMON ENEMY
murray camping-
in the wet, don't perservere if the track is boggy, pull out, its unlikely to improve.
Gather some firewood BEFORE you get to the campsite
Don't drink the water
You have chosen a couple of great camps to start the adventure. With all this good advice in mind I can only offer a couple of points
1, don't stress the detail, it will all work out as you learn how your set-up works and suits your style of living.
2, enjoy the people, the people you meet are part of the journey, don't be shy,go and talk, if you click invite them to happy hour, if they seem standoffish maybe they need a day on their own. Just enjoy.
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You can't get lost, if you don't care where you are going.
We're currently camped on the Murray near Robinvale. We travelled along the Murray Valley Hwy from Echuca & looked at many free campsites adjacent to the river. Many of them are inaccessible at the moment due to Winter rains. That grey clay gets VERY slippery & sticky. There are lots of deep boggy sections along many tracks. Care & common sense required. Nyah is fine at the moment. Enjoy!
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
I have been camping on the mighty Murray for 50 years! mostly up around Tocumwal /Cobram area. I have never had a problem with the water as long as you boil it first. The tracks are always extremely greasy after rain so don't take any chances if it looks boggy it will be. I have traveled far & wide but I always love to go back to the river. So many happy times have been spent there, so many more to come. Have a safe & happy trip.
We've been free camping for 14 weeks now around oz in our 11ft homemade from Victoria around to Port Lincoln so far. We've learned a lot.
We have 120w solar on the roof and 90w mobile. If without a powered site longer than a week then we seek one overnight to laundry, fill water and essentially hook up a transformer minimum 12amp to give our 100amp battery a good boost. On our future shopping spree a 1kva Yamaha Genny will help and at only 13kg is good IMO and so quiet. Only needed for short periods for that boost. We were constantly running our battery too low risking damage as others have said and they cost a lot.
As for our mobile solar panel I want to mount it on the front of the van (detachable) so its charging while we drive as well. The 120w roof panel is barely enough for powering the waeco cf18 fridge especially if a couple of cloudy days arrive.
We also use the Murray. But we avoid Fridays to Sunday night and school holidays. Jet skis etc. Mind you a mob of young guys arrived in several cars one night at 2am, were whisper quiet and told us in the morning they would ski downstream as to not interrupt our peace...wow. Patted them on the back and passed them a can later.
IMO NSW side is better but all access can get slippery.
Finally, dump points. Some towns are great. As an example Streaky Bay SA we arrived at one. There were toilets, rubbish bins, dump point and bore water ($1 for 25 litres) all in one place and a credit to the town such facilities see us support the town with our purchases.
A contrast is Bunbury WA. The only dump points are at caravan parks for a fee. I complained to the local council. We only stayed in town for one hour.
Enjoy it. You can tour around this land on a shoestring budget. We are still learning so our next trio up north us even better.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Been on the road 3 months now in 16ft Jayco pop top 1984, towing with AU Falcon.
300watt solar, 210 amp battery. Only paid for 6 nights in 3 months, but resting up at Cloncurry in cp for a wekk before heading to Normanton.
Good advice in these replies above. The first few weeks took a bit of getting used to, but when you get into a routine it all comes together pretty well.
Relax, enjoy, you will meet so many lovely genuine people. You will have a ball and never look back. (Rear view mirrors excepted)
Safe travels.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
Gee thanks for all your replies, much appreciated. As most of you say, just do it. I have tried to tick all the boxes but what the heck there will be a few hiccups. I have got a two wheel drive Hilux so I will be careful with site access. Thanks again everyone.
Keep the goodies to a minimum and only after you have missed something several times look at buying it.
Many of us set out all prepared but take toooo much stuff that never gets used but we are hesitant to dump as it may come in handy LOL.
Takes up space and weight.
You may find that the thinks you think you MUST have will not get used. On your first trip try for minimum STUFF and see how you go, if something is really missed then consider it.
Before you leave get a roll of paper dots from the newsagency and put a dot on every item in your rig. When you come home if the dot is still there chuck it out as if you have used it enough the dot will get washed off.
When you talk to people at a camp listen to the spots they discuss or tell you and put them in a memory bank (use you phone if you want to) and then investigate. If there is a good spot just back a bit go back as you may forget and miss a really good site.
Talk to the locals while in town and tell them you a looking for a nice spot in their area dn many will disclose THEIR good site. The local fishing store is good when you are buying bait etc, got many good secret sites this way.
Best of all set put to enjoy your self YOUR way and be prepared to learn and you will come out smiling at the end.
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
The only thing we pack to much of to take away is clothes and we still do it, the old rule pack everything you think you will need (with clothing ) and leave half of it behind whoever thought that one up is a genius...
