HOW SAFE ARE FREE CAMPS

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

HOW SAFE ARE FREE CAMPS

Blonderer · Veteran Member

Hi Lyn, have free camped heaps, have found it safe so far. Once was robbed in a caravan park, full of campers, but have not had any trouble so far in free camp spots. I always get to a free camp spot in daylight and just have a good look around, only stay there if others are there also. After that incident in the caravan park, now have security mesh on windows, as that was how they broke in by ripping fly mesh..

Sheba · Guru

Have only ever Free-camped so far, and have no intention of using C-Parks, unless I need 240 power for something.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Blonderer · Veteran Member

Sheba wrote:

Have only ever Free-camped so far, and have no intention of using C-Parks, unless I need 240 power for something.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Hi Sheba, how long have u been free camping for?

Sheba · Guru

Blonderer wrote:

Hi Sheba, how long have u been free camping for?

Hi Blonderer,

So far, I've only done a return trip to Cairns, with another Solo lady who got me started.

My next trip was return to Mildura, Vic. And a couple of weekend trips to the Gemfields.

Not long at all really, but as soon as I can afford to, I'll be off much more often. I've pretty well got the Campervan properly set up now.

Have had some unexpected large expenses lately, but it won't be long now.

Getting Davids' pics every few weeks has really got me champing at the bit too.
I can't wait to get going.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Beth54 · Guru

My sister and hubby have been free camping for years. Never had a problem.

We did a trip together in 1977 before the free camp sites started popping up. We were on our way to Darwin and stopped at a gravel pit beside the highway. We intended to just feed the kids and keep going. Next thing all these caravanners were stopping..'are you staying here?' So we ended up forming a circle like in the wild west and stayed the night! It was considered a brave move in those days! smile

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We recently stopped at "Burning Mountain" on the New England H'way which looked beautiful. Settled in for the night, all the day trippers left, and we thought we had it to ourselves. We were sitting by our little fire about 8pm, before the moon rose in pitch dark. Along came 2 small cars, stopped a little further on, didnt see anybody use the loos or start to set up any kind of camp, and I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. Then after about 20 minutes they drove out again to our great relief. Closest we've come to any worries.

On the downside, that rest area (NSW 185 in Camps 5) is very unlevel/sloping, and the highway noise was very loud!

Beth54 · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:

We recently stopped at "Burning Mountain" on the New England H'way which looked beautiful. Settled in for the night, all the day trippers left, and we thought we had it to ourselves. We were sitting by our little fire about 8pm, before the moon rose in pitch dark. Along came 2 small cars, stopped a little further on, didnt see anybody use the loos or start to set up any kind of camp, and I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. Then after about 20 minutes they drove out again to our great relief. Closest we've come to any worries.

On the downside, that rest area (NSW 185 in Camps 5) is very unlevel/sloping, and the highway noise was very loud!

Maybe they were 'canoodling' Gerty Dancer!

Firefly · Guru

We free camped a lot this year when we went away. Met so many interesting people as well. Everyone seems a lot more relaxed in a free camp to me.

We go a lot on gut feelings as well. If it doesn't feel right, we move on.

Usually pull up around three to get a good park and then see who rolls in. Because we have the Jayco Hawke, setting up and pulling down is not so simple so we try to make sure our choice is right.

We also like to see a few other vanners in the same spot too. Never park close to them if we can help it, but that bit of security for us, was the go. Eventually we will get braver I think. smile

Ma · Guru

We have free camped extensively on our last trip. The majority of the time there were other vanners there but there were a few times when we were on our own.

Admittedly these "alone" camps were way out the back of beyond so we didn't feel threatned. Might have been a different matter if there had been more traffic or inhabitants around.

Like FF we camp up around 3 and quite often you will find that if you are the first to set up by nightfall there will be others who have camped as well.

petengail · Guru

Only slight bit of trouble we had one time, north of Townsville were hoons came in late one evening and stirred up a lot of dust doing a bit of circle work. Apart from that, never had a problem.

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

were a bit like you firefly
we have a jayco dove you cant just jump in the car and drive of like if you have a caravan

Firefly · Guru

Exactly Lin-n-ken. I want a real van now, staying hooked to the car as well. We have to uncouple every night because the bed won't go out over the canopy back on the ute.

Plus I want a shower and loo.

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

some one told me you have to stay hooked up if you stay at free camps is this true?

Firefly · Guru

We don't because we have a Jayco Hawke and the canopy on the back of the ute is too high for the bed to go out and over. One of the reasons we are selling it to get a full van.

If there is ever a time we run into any trouble, we don't have to spend twenty minutes packing it down. smile

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

i know what your saying firefly but she's what we like (but sometimes i think i would have prefered a campervan) we lived in her for 12 months and are taking of again next year for 2 or 3 years i love being on the road we will probaly just stick to caravan parks we pick the cheaper ones we dont need pools or playgrounds just clean toots and showers.

Firefly · Guru

All but repeated myself in two posts, sorry mate, I didn't look back.

We love our hawke for the size thats for sure and it goes anywhere. They are beaut if you can set up for a couple of days at a time, not such a pain then. wink

Rolly · Guru

The main danger in life is the proliferation of predatory humans.

Keep well away from them and you will experience few problems wink

Seriously, a friend of mine was seriously considering giving up caravaning; he got robbed every time he went away.
After selling the house, he no longer has that problem.
Think o't. confuse

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

Rolly wrote:

The main danger in life is the proliferation of predatory humans.

Keep well away from them and you will experience few problems

Seriously, a friend of mine was seriously considering giving up caravaning; he got robbed every time he went away.
After selling the house, he no longer has that problem.
Think o't.
hi rolly
thats funny lol

justcruisin01 · Guru

Have used the free camps for the last 20yrs, any where & every where with out one problem. Had an attempted brake in to the tug & that was in a caravan park.

Allara · Senior Member

Glad I have the dogs.

lynrundle · Member

we have only free camped once, and had a bad experience. but we have since been told our big mistake was to go to a free camp about 15 k.m's of the main road. will never do that in. we learn by our mistakes.

Oka306 · Newbie

We have always free camped even when kids were little.
Never had any troubles .But we often find a side road and head into the bush 5 or 6 K's to get away from any road noise. We now have several "free" camps locked into out sat nav

petengail · Guru

Rolly wrote:

The main danger in life is the proliferation of predatory humans.

Keep well away from them and you will experience few problems

Seriously, a friend of mine was seriously considering giving up caravaning; he got robbed every time he went away.
After selling the house, he no longer has that problem.
Think o't.

thats a hoot wish i had thought of it... just got back from a weeks free camp...

bill12 · Guru

how did you go out at Waruma dam? How was the fishing?

IanandMaggie · Member

We free camped quite a bit last year and plan to do it again this year. We never had any real problems free camping. We came over from England early December and plan to start a tour after Xmas. I am assuming many of the paid sites will be fully booked for the kids holidays.

beiffe · Guru

Hi
I have been on the road full time for over two years and I free camp all the time.

When I first started I stayed in CP some times but now I am self sufficient in power etc and I just camp anywhere that looks good.

When I find a good site I stay for a few days, if it is not too good then move on to another.

One of the advantages of free camps, if you don't like the view move on and if you don't like your neighbors move on.

Regards
Brian

BushbabyandGumnut · Veteran Member

When we had our camper trailer we used to go into the bush for a few k's to get away from road noise,and,as we couldn't be seen,we were pretty safe!!Now we have our van,we will be free camping nearer to the road but with great company!! biggrin

http://www.nomadsnotes.com/AP.aspx?ID=551&EID=10594211

Gary and Kerry · Guru

We free camp as much as we can, never felt threatened.

briche · Guru

Hi all, Cheryl & I are starting out for a 5 to 6 year journey around this wonderful land and intend to free camp most of the way. I read your comments with interest and I see that the main point in it all is not put yourself in a unsafe position. It appears that the best thing to do is to sort your location out around 3 pm and see who rolls in. If all looks ok the stay but if not find somewhere else.

I have also been told to leave the tug connected just in case of any problems that arise so it's just a matter of starting up and moving on.

We would appreciate any comments on free camping that might come our way as we are pretty new to this.

Thanks in advance
briche