Shoalhaven Free Camp sites

wilkopj · Member

Shoalhaven Free Camp sites

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Firstly welcome wilkopj

Welcome 02.jpg

Unfortunately, I am not aware of any free camps around the area you are interested in. However, a site I use regularly (https://www.caravancaravan.com.au) shows there are only two free camps and neither is particularly close to Nowra/Shoalhaven.

Hopefully some who know the area better will come along soon and have some good news for you.

Cheers - John

msg · Guru

I would also like to know about any free camps in that area.

brickies · Guru

I can't under stand why people still come on asking about where to camp , With camps book and Wiki camps available just buy it , iT ALL DEPENDS WHERE YOU ARE AT THE TIME YOU SHOULD NOT BE HEADING FROM FREE CAMP TO FREE CAMP . Sorry about the caps we look for some where after lunch and see what about never head off in the morning heading for a free camp .

msg · Guru

What is wrong with going from free camp to free camp? That's the way I travel.

Have WIKI.

Just that as I live near that coast and would like to occasionally spend a weekend over summer with the kids who can only go for a Saturday night. i.e. Leave Sat morning and come home Sunday night. The caravan parks only allow bookings for min 3 nights in peak time. (of course you are paying peak prices $40 plus). When I only want an overnight.

Always hopeful someone has found a spot that isn't on WIKI.

macka17 · Guru

People should really mix "free" (I hate that word) camps
with van parks.
Pay your way and help to keep the remaining parks open.
They ARE necessary.

Full time as such is basically freeloading off others.

They ALL have to be supplied by somebody. Whether gov't or private.
Have to be signed. Maintained.
Lots have services. Water. Long Drops. Dump points.

NOTHING is free.

Even the sweat off your brow is earned. By doing something.

I've done a lot of both. But Looking back
a lot more in parks than freeloading.

Every park working, is employing a manager and staff.
Who are UNemployed if Park closes.

Think about it.

You worked for a living most of your life.
Mostly. Give others a chance to do the same.

msg · Guru

Excuse me,

I pay tax,

I pay rates, water, electricity, insurance, 2 vehicle registrations, GST, I am keeping quite a few people employed.

Therefore, nothing is free.

On the other hand the piddling interest my savings are earning the banks are getting my money almost free.

For me CP's are not necessary, they are a convenience, one I should be able to take advantage of or not.

brickies · Guru

Well the banks are free loading because they can ,That why I don't invest with them because I invest elsewhere I can afford a caravan park when I want to be near water , And can afford a camp book and WICAMPS

msg · Guru

Brickies, you didn't comment on why you think that "free" camping is wrong. Instead you turn it into an investment one upmanship.

Did I say I only had investments earning interest in a bank? As someone who is financially educated I apply the old adage "Never put your eggs in one basket" and to really cover yourself you need to have a fully diversified portfolio. Unlike a lot of people complaining about loosing $$$'s during the GFC because they only invested in shares.

I didn't say I couldn't afford a CP. Just that it is a free choice. and I don't see why we should feel bad about not supporting them. I can't see anything wrong with that. If I choose not to directly support jobs in CP's I still support indirectly.

AND I have WIKI and Camps.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Off Topic Meme.jpeg

Cheers - John

wilkopj · Member

Wow !!!! Thought I'd join the Grey Nomads Forum to get some help on things I'm not up to speed on. Some really negative responses to what I thought was a very relative question to people who might be more experienced than myself and my wife.

rockylizard - thanks for your comments, very much appreciated and your right some of the readers are off track !!

Mel and Molly - we are in exactly the same situation trying to have a short get away doing something different with some of our grand children, totally agree with you !

brickies - I'm doing this at short notice so was just making a general enquiry and don't have the time to purchase books. As far as going from free camp to free camp we have done it many times before and enjoy it and never had an issue, half of the fun is hitting the road not knowing where you will spend the night, so don't understand your comments, particularly seeing as they have nothing to do with my question regarding locations not whether or not I should do it.

macka17 - not sure if you read my question correctly as I wasn't asking if you agree with what I am doing ? We have spent countless nights and dollars in caravan parks all over OZ, we have family that manage hotels / motels so we probably understand better than you the importance of supporting those earning a living. Just doing something a little different !!

Not sure if I will bother to ask any more questions on the forum in the future, seems with some if they don't know the answer to the question they feel they have the right to digress and attack with their own agenda.

Best Regards to those who responded positively

wilkopj

rayaroundoz · Senior Member

Hi Wilkopj

I can't help with your original question as I don't know the area well. I just wanted to say that there is some great information on this forum and most people are friendly, helpful and forthcoming with good information.

Take some replies with a grain of salt and ignore the negative.

Good luck and safe travels.

wilkopj · Member

Good on ya rayaroundoz, thanks for the support, safe travels

wilkopj

macka17 · Guru

Hey.

Just MY comments on "free" camping.

A lot do freeload.
Overstay choice spots. Never tidy up, etc, etc.

Bush camping is completely different.

Turn off road. Travel till YOU can't see it. Then a bit more.
Fine.

These little roadside spots where they all bunch up like lemmings overnight.
Does nothing for me thank you.
And the way they all do same thing Every night in same spot.
Can't be doing the area much good either.

Hence the reasons a lot of councils are closing them down.

It COSTS... to keep them tidy.
Whether some agree with me or not.

I tried a few.
and got fed up starting genny to get them out of my front boot.
Must be city dwellers hey.

If I can't lob a rock at van next door.
Spacing is about right.

If I can't see one. Even better still.

Most... of them are jammed closer than van parks nowadays.
and will get worse.

Antisocial. Probably.
I was always happy when I could never see more than Dave's sail
on the Horizon.

one in each boat heading for the horizon.
Both Pugh. both 34ft. He faster than me.
But I took him in lighter airs
with heavier boat.

MOLLUSCAN · Senior Member

Hello wilkopj,

Just ignore the nasties. They seem to delight in being anti to everything. The free camp in Kangaroo Valley is run by the water board and is beautiful. It is on the banks of the Shoalhaven river and they supply beautiful fresh water in the taps as well as toilets. Not the beach but water still. For a fee the Berry Showgrounds is also worth a stay. Right in the middle of a delightful village and next to the train line if you wanted to travel further afield. Both are listed in wikicamps and comments are all positive.

Cheers,

Molluscan

Dougwe · Chief one feather

wilkopj wrote:
Wow !!!! Thought I'd join the Grey Nomads Forum to get some help on things I'm not up to speed on. Some really negative responses to what I thought was a very relative question to people who might be more experienced than myself and my wife.
rockylizard - thanks for your comments, very much appreciated and your right some of the readers are off track !!
Mel and Molly - we are in exactly the same situation trying to have a short get away doing something different with some of our grand children, totally agree with you !
brickies - I'm doing this at short notice so was just making a general enquiry and don't have the time to purchase books. As far as going from free camp to free camp we have done it many times before and enjoy it and never had an issue, half of the fun is hitting the road not knowing where you will spend the night, so don't understand your comments, particularly seeing as they have nothing to do with my question regarding locations not whether or not I should do it.
macka17 - not sure if you read my question correctly as I wasn't asking if you agree with what I am doing ? We have spent countless nights and dollars in caravan parks all over OZ, we have family that manage hotels / motels so we probably understand better than you the importance of supporting those earning a living. Just doing something a little different !!
Not sure if I will bother to ask any more questions on the forum in the future, seems with some if they don't know the answer to the question they feel they have the right to digress and attack with their own agenda.
Best Regards to those who responded positively
wilkopj

Mostly it's a great place wilkopj, you will learn very quickly who to avoid. 9

Tony Bev · Guru

Ditto to what Dougwe above, has just said

I went passed that area in late 2013, as I did not know of any free camps

I ended up staying in a roadside rest area between Kiama and Shellharbour

That roadside rest area is certainly no good for children, as it is too close to the highway

From memory there were toilets, and nothing else

wilkopj · Member

To MOLLUSCAN, Dougwe, Tony and Bev thanks for your help and suggestions guys, Kangaroo Valley sounds good. Cheers

msg · Guru

Just a warning, very high mountain between Nowra and Kangaroo Valley. Worse than the Clyde.

wilkopj · Member

Yep, got that, thanks. Hopefully my new BT50 Mazda will do the job. Cheers