we hope to be off by years end, stilll gathering info. Where do travellers usually fill up with fresh water? Do petrol stations allow it? .. where else.
Just spend a night in a Caravan Park and top up......There's no problem with water now...I use an empty bladder after I have emptied the Red wine from it 4 lts Per bladder I use it for a cup of Coffee and Tea...Goes a long way
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I always leave my camping area cleaner than I found it.
Just be very careful. You will see signs saying Not for Human Consumption or Do not Drink. There are lots of taps at the Kumbia park but none suitable for drinking. I carry a 10 litre of drinking water, I made the mistake of buying a container from Bunnings as now I have to buy the 10 litre container to tip it into my container. Might as well just buy the full container. I do have a tank under the van which I filled before leaving home but not game to use it for drinking or cooking, it always starts off a little discoloured when I want to use it. I understand there are service stations that will let you fill your tank with drinking water. Not sure if they charge for it though.
At the Moonie powered site stop which you pay 22.50 a night for there is a tap beside each power station. I did go and ask if it was ok as the couple next to me were wondering too. They said it was bore water and if you were ok with drinking bore water it really wasn't a problem, perfectly ok for all other purposes. There may be more like that.
One hint that I used to do when bush camping on 4WD trips was to save any left over water from the billy, kettle, jug etc after boiling for a cuppa, in a separate container. This not only saves water but the boiling removes any bugs from it.
Bore water, even if safe, can contain other impurities that can sometimes "turn a tender tummy". Also makes a terrible cuppa especially if like me you have your tea without milk and sugar.
Another thing.... don't use non-potable water to clean your teeth.
At the Moonie powered site stop which you pay 22.50 a night for there is a tap beside each power station. I did go and ask if it was ok as the couple next to me were wondering too. They said it was bore water and if you were ok with drinking bore water it really wasn't a problem, perfectly ok for all other purposes. There may be more like that.
Digressing somewhat but 22.50 at Moonie for what appears from the roadside to be a rather ordinary park is not exactly a bargain when compared to 28.00 at the 4 star rated Top Tourist at Goondi, 100ks south.
Absolutely Jimricho, not something I would want to do too often but had no choice that day. Probably should have parked across the road on the other corner for free but was needing power that night.
Just spend a night in a Caravan Park and top up......There's no problem with water now...I use an empty bladder after I have emptied the Red wine from it 4 lts Per bladder I use it for a cup of Coffee and Tea...Goes a long way
I usually empty about 4 ltrs out of my bladder after a night on red wine
-- Edited by goinsoon on Tuesday 7th of June 2011 07:23:42 PM
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Goinsoon
I dont suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
Those cask bladders are also good ice packs if you have a large deep freeze. Partially fill them, not too tight, freeze for the esky when camping. If the bladder was clean when you fill it, you will have fresh water when it thaws. Keeping 1 esky for frozen plastic bottles or bladders will stay frozen for up to 4 days as long as you only open it once a day to change the ice blocks in the tucker box. I carry 25 litres of Adelaide water in the car when I'm on the job. I also bottle filtered water for drinking. I filter it at home in a Brita jug. I can drink Adelaide water, but I'd rather not. I don't have access to rain water so the filter is the best option. I developed a bad case of giardia by drinking bore water in the Kimberley straight from the bore. I think it was the pipes and tank rather than the water, but after that I chilled all my drinking water. A visit to the hospital and a dose of antibiotics fixed me after suffering terrible pain and stuff. (no details)
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
There are always those Water Purifying Pills you can buy from Camping Stores. Will be taking a Water Purifier with me, but might take a pack of those just in case.
If we need water I simply ask at the servo if it's ok to fill acouple of 20 litre bottles BEFORE we start to fuel up. We have never been knocked back. My theory is that they are quite happy to give a little water to sell some petrol. We have not tried this across the Nullabor but have in most other areas.
They wont give water away across the Nulabor, easy to spend a night in one of the parking area behind the road house and you get it for free, or buy by the bottle cheers blaze
I have a filter jug that is narrow and fits nicely in the door of the fridge. You can get a water cask (10L) at Woolworths supermarkets - was only about $4-$5 and it lasts for a while if only used for cuppas.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Just be careful of the tops when buying water. I bought a 10 litre up north, could not get it open. The neighbouring caravanner had to cut it open for me, then I transferred it to my Bunnings container as it wouldn't hold the water safely after that.
Thanks for all the info, love the wine bladder idea, the simplest ideas are often the best. We are looking forward to learning a lot more from this site.
We are going to be travelling with three dogs so the pet info in really valuable too.
We have a + shaped thingy which you buy at Bunnings. On each end it has a different tap fitting. Can be used where councils have removed tap handles to prevent vandalism. Another good place to get water is often boat ramps, or fish cleaning tables.
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If there is such a thing as a tourist season.... why cant we shoot them?
