To stay or not to stay, that is the question!

milo · Senior Member

To stay or not to stay, that is the question!

Firefly · Guru

Yep mate for sure, not that we are as experienced as some of these guys. I remember being at Hall's Creek I think it was and thinking we would stay at their historic van park. It was way dodgy looking so we moved on.

Pays to listen to your gut in all facets of life I think. wink

dave06 · Guru

absolutely, gut feeling is the way to go, if you dont feel safe for VALID reason then "move along partner" there is a reason why your instincts are saying this and most times it pays to listen

however these "instincts" can play tricks on you (little devils they are) if you are not too secure in yourself then that will reflect on any campsite, I have felt more "unsafe" at c/parks than at any time on any of our travels all over the joint

common sense must dictate at ALL times, find the reason why your inner self is saying "not here jacko" and if there is no valid reason for it then go against them

start with secure "baby" steps, camp in "secure" surroundings and then broaden your horizons a bit

grab the camps aussy book, most of the sites in there are secure and FREE,

just slip into it, it's like cold water on a hot day, scary at first but fantastic once you are used to it

any more unreasonable fear and my hand is still up if you want to trade the old man in!!!

Vic41 · Senior Member

Firefly wrote:

Yep mate for sure, not that we are as experienced as some of these guys. I remember being at Hall's Creek I think it was and thinking we would stay at their historic van park. It was way dodgy looking so we moved on.

Pays to listen to your gut in all facets of life I think.

G'Day Firefly,

At Hall's Creek their main caravan park is ok as long as you stay inside the park at night, the "locals" get a bit noisy around pension time but Halls Creek should not be missed as an interesting tourist stopover. I have been in the caravan park during a riot in the town one night and felt completely safe, managers do frequent patrols inside the park as do police and it is completely fenced. I have stayed there a number of times.

There is also another caravan park at old Hall's Creek which is a must to visit (store on site) with all the old mud brick ruins and creek picnic spots, Carolines pool and also Chinaman's wall (large quartz outcrop) along the way to old Hall's creek. Road to Old Hall's Creek is a bit bumpy (depending on when graded last and very dusty which is why we didn't take our caravan in and left it at the main caravan park in town.

In Halls Creek itself, have a look at the statue of "Russian Jack" in front of the Shire Offices (in a back street), he was a gold propector that carried his sick mate in a wheelbarrow all the way from Hall's Creek to Wyndham for medical treatment. Also visit the Tourist Bureau in a side street off the main drag to get some info on the area. Do not be put off visiting there, you will be missing out on some interesting historic sites. See also link for the shire of Halls Creek, see; http://www.hallscreek.wa.gov.au/Home.aspx
For freecampers passing through, the main Roadhouse has some great food and you can get a key from the counter for a shower there as well.

Vic

-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 5th of August 2009 12:58:52 PM

Firefly · Guru

Hi Vic,

Now you have jogged my memory and it was Old Hall's Creek, something about the place when we were there so we went back and stayed at the one in town and it was fine. Old Hall's Creek, I was waiting for the banjo players to jump out of the bushes for sure. The town propper was lovely and we did look around Old Hall's as well.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Not so much trouble there these days. It's a dry community and I think you can only buy light beer.
Unfortunately it's relocated the problem to Derby and Broome, and I think Kununurra may have also inherited a few.
Fitzroy Crossing in also "dry". Mary's Pool is a beautiful free camp. Cheers Chris

Basil Faulty · Guru

I felt the same in Port Augusta on our first visit there with 4 metre high fences and locked in after dark..... But it was all good. My golden rule is: never ever stop within a town if you are free camping unless you are in a friends yard or similar. Some places eg Tennant Creek and Bourke etc have "reputations", always best to stay out of town in such places if you can.

Vic41 · Senior Member

Firefly wrote:

Hi Vic,

Now you have jogged my memory and it was Old Hall's Creek, something about the place when we were there so we went back and stayed at the one in town and it was fine. Old Hall's Creek, I was waiting for the banjo players to jump out of the bushes for sure. The town propper was lovely and we did look around Old Hall's as well.

Firefly.....yes.......I got that "Deliverance backwoods feeling" as well when I went into the store at OHC, nobody was in the caravan park and it had a sort of eery feeling about it. Well worth going out to Old Halls Creek for a look at the ruins and the other sites on the way in though, great spot on the creek to have a picnic lunch too. Now to really freak everyone out, when we looked at Caroline Pool, my wife took a picture and when she had it developed (old style film/camera) there was an image of a bride and groom in the picture....spooky!

Vic

retirees · Veteran Member

We pulled into Belanglo State Forest (remember Ivan Milat!) some time ago and were intending to stay the night and were the only ones there so as we drove out (we had been told not to free camp if you're on your own) - we met another couple who were driving in. We stopped them and they said they always stayed there, so we turned round and had a great night around the camp fire, and it turned out they live about 10 mins away from us.! confuse

Wombat 280 · Guru

Basil Faulty wrote:

I felt the same in Port Augusta on our first visit there with 4 metre high fences and locked in after dark..... But it was all good. My golden rule is: never ever stop within a town if you are free camping unless you are in a friends yard or similar. Some places eg Tennant Creek and Bourke etc have "reputations", always best to stay out of town in such places if you can.

Ceduna is the same with big fences and locked gates

Firefly · Guru

Chris, Mary's Pool is indeed a beautiful spot, we stopped for lunch, didn't have time to stay.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Have to say that most of these "dodgey" places are urban myths.
And repeating them here or anywhere else simply reinforces and continues those myths.
If you have actually had a first hand bad experience, tell us about it, otherwise take these reports with a grain of salt. Most are simply racial predudice, nothing more.

Cheers,
Peter

dave06 · Guru

you fellers would be no good with me and the dragon, some of the places we have stayed would have scared the pants off you, we tend to pick out of the way, off the beaten track type places just for the peace and solitude, we love to put hundreds of miles between us and another living soul, but it's getting harder to achieve

we have stayed four nights in the belanglo forest , loved every second of it, fantatic spot, we were the only ones for miles,

most c/parks have high fences and boom gates, but that's not to keep the bad guys out thats to try to keep you buggers in there, cant have you mob wandering around in the dark you might hurt yourselves,

as for the thefts in c/parks, well they are carried out by white boys as much as black ones

a lot of the things that have been said here are simply figments of a vivid imagination, boogy man campfire storys designed to frighten little boys and girls,

I and many others have been camping in out of the way places for years and will continue to do so, well we will as long as we can out run the local axe weilding cereal killer that is

Firefly · Guru

Nothing racial about my views guys, I am a black fella. wink

If I'm spooked, I keep moving.

dave06 · Guru

I didnt say you were racist, I stated that just as many whites as blacks flog stuff, I dont care if you or any one else here or anywhere else is yellow, black, white or spotted with yellow flecks, I'm interested in the "inner being" take a meal at my table any night of the week then you will know what multiculturism is all about, racism is something I abore (read my postings)

my "family" comes from all over the world and I am proud to say there are a couple of "coloreds" in here as well (my doctor being one of them) and I will defend them to the death the same as they would do for me, I love my "family" as my own, and they love me, dont care about the color of their skin, never have, those that do, miss out on a whole sector of fantastic people and is not a freind of mine

one must "rationalise" the fear to overcome it, some fear is healthy and well founded other fear is baseless, the fear of something new and different falls into the latter category

when we started to free camp the dragon could not sleep, there was a bogey man in every noise and behind every tree, but now that the fear has been put away and rationalised after years of free camping she hates c/parks and loves free camping

sure keep the senses at a reasonable level but be sure and use the common one as much as possible, it's not all 100% safe out there but it is not all axe murderers and rapists either, pick your spots and learn to observe

our avatar photo is up past wilpena pound, in one of the gorges, not a soul around for about 200km, except for yellow footed rock wallabies and kookaburras, we loved it and we will do it again at the end of august early september, CANT WAIT

Firefly · Guru

Sorry Dave, was not your post I was referring to mate and it was not meant to sound angry, hence the wink smiley.

dave06 · Guru

thats O.K. I just hate prejudism and the hint of it anywhere , hence the response, it just gets up my goat something chronic, I actually didnt see the wink, now you mention it I see it, but thats me to a tee, I see something and I fly off half ****ed, anger beats brains with me anyday, leftovers from the blackdog, never have been known for my brain power

still wish I could take some of you fearfull fellers out with me and just show you that there is only enjoyment awaiting you "out there", no boogey mans, I promise

Firefly · Guru

We did some lovely camping in the Kimberley, overlooking the Pentocost River, that was magic. We had only just discovered free camping at that stage. We were to stay at El Questro and hated the commercialisation of the place so we headed out again. Had the choice to go back to Kunnanurra or camp out and found the best little spot. We watched the sun set and made a camp fire and just chilled.

Next morning was pure magic, looking down over the river, a slight chill in the air and sipping our coffee. One of the best moments of the trip to be truthful. smile

There will be more of them this trip coming, we are gearing up to camp out everynight.

dave06 · Guru

yep I wasnt impressed by "el questro" plenty of good camps up through there, bit hard to get the fish landed though, magnificent country, "god's own", not much fun in the wet though

Cruising Granny · Guru

The "silence" is the beauty of the bush. No sounds except the crickets, frongs, roos, birds - day and nocturnal. Almost too noisy, but oh, such beautiful noise.
When you park near a water hole or lake you can hear the fish jump too. During the humpback whale season on the east and west coast you can hear the whale song and the breeching crashes. Apparently crocodiles bark, but I haven't camped close enough to know about that. V-e-r-y brave!
I've camped in the Kimberleys on the lower reaches of the Fitzroy River, downstream from Willare, at a water hole called Telegraph Pool. It was a full moon, and if anyone has seen the "Kimblerley Moon" (Pigram Brothers Song) you will understand why we couldn't sleep. I can't sleep with the light on. I could see the cream Boab flowers in the moonlight above our tent. I'll leave you all with that picture. Cheers Chris

JRH · Guru

And a wonderful picture it is. The Kimberley is a magic place like no other I can recall.

Firefly · Guru

That sounds perfect Chris, can't wait till next year but we have to.

The Kimberley is magic, I cannot believe how the bush has weaved its magic around this five star motel type of girl. No more, it has to be out there for me to want to see it. No cities, no room service, thats not living. disbelief

Ma · Guru

Firefly wrote:

. No cities, no room service, thats not living.

You telling me Firefly. Just spent the weekend right in the middle of Sydney. While it was good and we saw lots of different things and people and even went over to Manly on the ferry, it sure was good to come back home. We drove the "Grand Pacific Drive" instead of the freeways. Still built up suburbia but better than the "fast track". Can't wait to head out west in October. This gal is pure country!!

Basil Faulty · Guru

Ma wrote:

Firefly wrote:

. No cities, no room service, thats not living.

You telling me Firefly. Just spent the weekend right in the middle of Sydney. While it was good and we saw lots of different things and people and even went over to Manly on the ferry, it sure was good to come back home. We drove the "Grand Pacific Drive" instead of the freeways. Still built up suburbia but better than the "fast track". Can't wait to head out west in October. This gal is pure country!!

I hope Guru used his free pass with you as his Assistant.....Mind you the trip to Manly has lost all the romance that once was involved, the aroma from the steam engine, the Violinist and Pianist, the flop flop flop of the paddles (ah now I'm showing my age), the kids diving for pennies at the wharf...
Still a lovely trip rated as one of the most scenic ferry trips in the world....
I would have thought you two would have bought the old Barragoola and set her up as a floating seagoing restaurant at Ulladulla....

Ma · Guru

Basil Faulty wrote:

Ma wrote:

Firefly wrote:

. No cities, no room service, thats not living.

You telling me Firefly. Just spent the weekend right in the middle of Sydney. While it was good and we saw lots of different things and people and even went over to Manly on the ferry, it sure was good to come back home. We drove the "Grand Pacific Drive" instead of the freeways. Still built up suburbia but better than the "fast track". Can't wait to head out west in October. This gal is pure country!!

I hope Guru used his free pass with you as his Assistant

Guru had the concession available to all gold card holders but we didn't know anything about me as his assistant. I had to pay full fare on everything, bus, train, ferry

As for the Barragoola...........to much like hard work, don't ya know. We are retired !!!!! "laughing"

Basil Faulty · Guru

Ma wrote:

Basil Faulty wrote:

Ma wrote:

Firefly wrote:

. No cities, no room service, thats not living.

You telling me Firefly. Just spent the weekend right in the middle of Sydney. While it was good and we saw lots of different things and people and even went over to Manly on the ferry, it sure was good to come back home. We drove the "Grand Pacific Drive" instead of the freeways. Still built up suburbia but better than the "fast track". Can't wait to head out west in October. This gal is pure country!!

I hope Guru used his free pass with you as his Assistant

Guru had the concession available to all gold card holders but we didn't know anything about me as his assistant. I had to pay full fare on everything, bus, train, ferry

As for the Barragoola...........to much like hard work, don't ya know. We are retired !!!!! "laughing"

So Guru goes free and you have to PAY???? Hey even Gracie goes free, but she is not all that enthusiastic about going up the gangplanks. I'll PM you the addy for the Concessions Officer Niell, one of the worlds nicest blokes...