Both pepper spray and Tasers are "Prohibited Weapons" in every Australian state and possession of them carries a jail term. Unfortunately, in Australia, you are not permitted to possess any item with the intent of self defence - you must wait until you are about to be attacked and then call the police and ask the attacker if he minds waiting until they arrive.

Fortunately Australia is generally a safe country in which to travel and it's unlikely you'll have any issues, I have spent years camping in remote, and sometimes not so remote, spots across the country and have never had any problems.

Some naughty people accidentally leave a steel jack handle in their caravan and in the unlikely event of attack this may be used as a weapon and because you didn't *intend* it to be such then it's legal.

Just enjoy the travel and don't stress.

We have never had or felt we had an issue in the outback. In Manly it is a different issue, a building nearby a long time ago had a murder & in the harbour someone's leg was found. A few more murders in the surrounding suburbs over the years.

In a previous unit after being broken into a few times I put a structural frame around the door screwed into every brick, solid door with armour plate, pins on the hinge side & laminated glass in the windows.

You are more likely to kill yourself in a fire, check your smoke & carbon dioxide detectors are working & fire extinguishers are ok in your car & caravan. Assuming they are ABE give them a good shake & a bit of a bash every few weeks as the powder settles.

Define isolated.

Whatever you do do't watch 'Wolf Creek' or you'll never leave suburbia.

Perhaps start off with something not isolated and see how you go....no point camping remote and worrying all night about potential security issues.

Apollo88 wrote:

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We are newbies in our 60s and plan some off road/isolated trips and wondered how people deal with safety and security issues please. Do you have motion detectors or nighttime alarms, pepper sprays or even tasers for self defense?

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 Hi Apollo88

You have placed 4 posts in our our forum, dont take the  negative comments as all of our views.

We are totally aware that someone may be snooping about at any time while caravan or camping.

My husband did some research and he has come up with 12 v motion sensor switches that will activate lights if movement is detected. He got some LED lights that screw to the awning and he got some solar motion sensor lights that he can fit easily on a Velcro tape on the ends and the right hand side of the van.

This combination is very flexible for setting up in different situations and gives both of us some security in as much that if a light comes on most mischief makers will move on. They are great for moving about outside as well.

Lights will be useless if you are actually in a Wolf Creek situation but I would guess that situation would be rare.

I cant give you the details of the equipment he bought but he is sitting here next to me and has said that the solar sensor lights are from Hoselink and they are the 80 led models for about $40.00

He says the motion sensors came off the internet and he would have to look up the supplier but they were approx $16.00 and he says the lights can be your choice with a great variety of small 12 volt LED lights for automotive use. He has also used pushed together type electrical connectors which makes set up very easy.

As Mike says pepper sprays and other deterrents are actually illegal but if you had a can of aerosol Wasp Spray near to you in the van and in the heat of the moment of a break in actually squirted it on the perpetrator then you may just get away with it considering burglars dont usually report the fact that they have been performing a break in.

Rob says if you want the light and sensor details just drop us a PM through this board and he will give you the info.

Regards

Angie

Since I was about 14 in 1958, I have camped in UK, USA,  European countries, New Zealand, and of course Australia.  Backpacked through Malaysia, East Java.  Never been caused any problem or ever had anything stolen.

As others have said on numerous time over the years on this forum, "Your  safer in the bush than in a Caravan Park" 

I must say though I was very wary of bears in North America but never saw one.

Free camping at a camp near a town !   I check the area for signs of partying, e.g Bottle Tops, cans,  broken glass. Could be the weekend hangout for the kids of the town   I move on.

If a place does not feel "Right"  dont stay, you will lay awake all night listening and worrying what every little sound is. Wind in the trees, Kangaroos thumping around, Possums checking the  van out.

Stop where others are camped, when you eventually  get on the road,  and are able to free camp.    You will get the feel of what suits you and be more confident to camp by yourselves.

It is by the way getting harder  to just have a free camp site yourself in the more popular areas. Unless you go really remote. Even along the Gibb River Road you will not be alone in any of the free camps.

We usually try and use gravel pits along some of the remote roads just to be alone and have silent a night looking at the stars.

 P.S.   I would suggest "hiring" a Motorhome  or something similar and just getting out there for a week. Try free Camps, etc. 

There are quite a few  Motorhome/Caravan/Camper trailer, bargains to be had  from people who buy  a camping set up, and find it's something they do not actually like.

-- Edited by elliemike on Friday 10th of July 2020 03:22:17 PM

We rarely bush camp so can offer no first hand advice on risks, real or imagined & I expect that there are an increasing rate of both in our fouled up society.

Let me share with you the advice from a local Constable a few years ago.....

We had reported an attempted break in at our house in a good area of Brissy Southern Suburbs.  At the time there was a nearby Caravan Park with a significant population of semi permanents who attracted regular visits from the Drug Squad.  Bloody Caravan Parks! LOL.  (It has now been replaced by upmarket town houses mostly populated by far more acceptable young Asian Students & Families with swish cars & presumably pockets full of cash .. a far better situation). 

The Police advised us ...  Never try to stop or apprehend them particularly with a weapon of any sort.  It's just not a contest between a 70's something geriatric & a 20's ish intruder probably high on drugs or whatever.  Very quickly your weapon is gone to be used against yourself.  Secondly never get between the intruder & the exit.  They will often be carrying a break in tool like a large screwdriver that makes a nasty weapon.  In their haste to get away (flight or fight reaction) a quick perhaps unthinking thrust of the screwdriver in the guts & you're history.  For what?

IMHO the advice to camp away from towns & with other travellers, where there are no signs of partying is sound.  Couple this strategy with movement activated lights is good advice too.  If you are not into DIY then there are lots available already set up..  If you MUST have a weapon then the wasp spray sounds good.

Cupie wrote:

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The Police advised us ...  Never try to stop or apprehend them particularly with a weapon of any sort.  It's just not a contest between a 70's something geriatric & a 20's ish intruder probably high on drugs or whatever.  Very quickly your weapon is gone to be used against yourself.

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If only the police put their money where their mouth is and patrolled without their firearms and pepper spray then their advice may hold a fraction more credence.

You see... I don't wish to have a lawful weapon just to stop someone stealing my generator I wish to have it to stop him killing or injuring *me* - I fail to see why that seems to be so controversial....

The more remote you are,the safer you are.

Apollo88 wrote:

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We are newbies in our 60s and plan some off road/isolated trips and wondered how people deal with safety and security issues please. Do you have motion detectors or nighttime alarms, pepper sprays or even tasers for self defense?

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 Hi Apollo88

I am in my 70's

I spend (when travelling) at least 95% in free/donation camps, what I have found, in no particular order, is:-

• If the camp is close to town, and if there are yahoos in that town, you may get a visit from yahoos, and/or any local opportunity theives
• If the camp is inside the town, the yahoos will usually stay away, in case they get identified, any local opportunity thieves, may/may not, still practice their trade, if they think, no one can see them
• When the camp is well outside any town, the local yahoos/opportunity thieves, are just too lazy to come and say hello

When I stop at a free/donation camp, I will say hello to anyone nearby, (I call it, Neighbourhood Watch, on wheels)
If I am the first in that camp, I will say hello to some others as they turn up

I have never actually felt threatened, but if I did, I would move on

Edit to say, that I do not go off-road, except to any camp, which is usually within a few kilometres, of the bitumen road

Inland Taipan is the only thing you need to worry about.

Thank you for the guidance Angie