The Camping Thread

[prydey]

Might see you there

[castellan]

Originally Posted by prydey

we had a possum making a racket near us one night. it had a laugh that would have rivalled john jarret from wolf creek. it was disturbing.

Ever heard Koalas they are the worst, you will be straight out with the gun and kill the lot.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by prydey

Might see you there

I'll put the billy on.

[BENT_8]

Anyone camped around Wilpena Pound?

[thefargo]

Spent a fair bit of time around Wilpena. I find Wilpena is too 'commercial' for me, so I go a bit more remote, but that means no toilets, showers etc. My preference in that area would be Chambers Gorge. Take your own, everything, but it is a great place and plenty of good spots to be found. I could go on for hours, so let me know if you want to know more, unless I'm talking to someone who already knows! Back from wilpena, at Rawnsley park, are some nice spots, but I haven't been there for a fair while, and it's not free.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by thefargo

Spent a fair bit of time around Wilpena. I find Wilpena is too 'commercial' for me, so I go a bit more remote, but that means no toilets, showers etc. My preference in that area would be Chambers Gorge. Take your own, everything, but it is a great place and plenty of good spots to be found. I could go on for hours, so let me know if you want to know more, unless I'm talking to someone who already knows! Back from wilpena, at Rawnsley park, are some nice spots, but I haven't been there for a fair while, and it's not free.

I've only been once myself, spent a week camping around the area.

I agree, Wilpena is pretty commercial, but its a good spot if your not into really roughing it, if i were taking the missus and kids i'd stay in Wilpena campground.

I spent 2 nights there, did St Mary's Peak through the inside on the first day, Black Gap and Bridal Gap back the second. Packed up and spent a night out in Brachina Gorge, a few good walks around there.
Then a few nights up at Aroona Ruin, beautiful place.

I've been meaning to get back for a while, i'd love to take the kids for a look.

[nstg8a]

This was our long weekend. Bloody loved it.
Even though first night we had a baby screaming it's lungs out half the night, and second night we had dingoes howling (now isn't that a creepy damned sound)... If only the dingoes had come a night earlier they could have sorted the baby problem for us.

That's the view we had from our campsite


Weather was a bit soggy the second morning but we were well set and really didn't care haha

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Just preordered a new swag today

Can't wait to get out and use it when it gets here. Time to get the guns or bow out and head out on a hunting trip.

$349, preorder price $199 delivered.

Will report how good it is when it gets here:

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/adv...uble-swag.html

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Just preordered a new swag today

Can't wait to get out and use it when it gets here. Time to get the guns or bow out and head out on a hunting trip.

$349, preorder price $199 delivered.

Will report how good it is when it gets here:

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/adv...uble-swag.html

From all reports i have read they are a very good swag. I'm considering selling our very expensive Darche swag for one of these and then pocketing the change.

I love our Darche swag as we can still just roll it out and use it as a normal swag but in the winter i think it will be nice to have the extra room inside. When you get up and it's -10 outside it would be nice to not struggle to get changed. Let me know how you find it

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

From all reports i have read they are a very good swag. I'm considering selling our very expensive Darche swag for one of these and then pocketing the change.

I love our Darche swag as we can still just roll it out and use it as a normal swag but in the winter i think it will be nice to have the extra room inside. When you get up and it's -10 outside it would be nice to not struggle to get changed. Let me know how you find it

This will be my third swag, tried a few including the Darce one, and was not 100% happy with any of them, as they always feel too cramped. I know it's a swag but I still like some space.

So I have no swag at the moment as the others have been sold on, and looking forward to receiving this. It's almost like a 1 man tent but it's a swag

[falcon_bandit]

Camped on the weekend. Hate when this **** happens...... ground looked solid to me at the time, perhaps the drinks might of affected my judgement.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Got my new swag and set it up for the first time today just to see ow it sets up and packs up.

It's massive and appears to be of great quality it's a true two person swag, but will be great for just me and some gear.

Looking forward to using it hopefully next month as I have three week leave coming up. Will report again after I spend a night or two in it, mattress is nice and better than any swag I have owned in the past, material seems good quality, plenty of ventilation and openings quality fine grade fly/mozzie mesh.

Here is the link again, bargain price for what you get:

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/adv...uble-swag.html

[Junkyard-Dog]

That's a coincidence! I just bought a new double swag today.

Looks like you got a sweet deal.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

That's a coincidence! I just bought a new double swag today.

Looks like you got a sweet deal.

Yeah happy with the price, it's a bit of a wired place to buy from, they always have some ridiculous sale promotion on and delivery time is around a month, as you 'pre order' and then they deliver later.

Their weird business practices nearly put me off buying one, but I am glad I did, it got here a month later as promised, and quality appears to be very good.

Would order again and might order some other gear from them as long as you are not in a hurry to get it.

[Beastie]

I made the trek down to Heathcote from Newcastle over the long weekend for the AFF Drag Day..

Not quite camping, as it was a last minute decision, so gramping it was...

[Junkyard-Dog]

I chose to go with the traditional style swag, just what I'm used to and I prefer.

http://darche.com.au/product/traditional-double/

I got it for about $295 with delivery so I'm pretty happy.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Seems comfortable enough..

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

I chose to go with the traditional style swag, just what I'm used to and I prefer.

http://darche.com.au/product/traditional-double/

I got it for about $295 with delivery so I'm pretty happy.

That's very traditional....mine is more like a tent..lol

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

That's very traditional....mine is more like a tent..lol

Yeah, yours is almost like a hybrid swag-tent. Interesting to see the differences.

I have stuck with the traditional style ever since a camping trip at age 18 when a mate had a traditional swag and I stayed in a tent with my gf. It rained all night. Gf and I ended up getting drenched by condensation and absolutely frozen but old mate was warm and cozy in his swag

that was a bloody cold night!

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Yeah happy with the price, it's a bit of a wired place to buy from, they always have some ridiculous sale promotion on and delivery time is around a month, as you 'pre order' and then they deliver later.

Their weird business practices nearly put me off buying one, but I am glad I did, it got here a month later as promised, and quality appears to be very good.

Would order again and might order some other gear from them as long as you are not in a hurry to get it.

Have you used it yet mate?

[BENT_8]

Hi guys, just got back from 2 weeks on the Gold Coast where my Daughter played in the Australian Open to find our shed broken into and all my camping stuff stolen.
Im ******* fuming, we have contents insurance so im hoping it will be covered, but it makes you feel violated to know some low life has helped themselves to my gear.
Even scarier is that they tried to get into the house. Whilst my wife and i left 2 weeks ago, our eldest son had work commitments.
He'd stayed home by himself and only flew up last Thursday evening as it was our daughters Birthday so we held a bbq/party at Wet n Wild on Saturday and we wanted to surprise her with having all the family together.
We're not sure if it happened whilst he was still here or on the weekend.
He's right into his online gaming and sits in his room which is at the front of the house with earphones on in the evenings so he may have been home at the time.
I shudder to think what may have happened if they got in and he surprised them.

The ****s took our 60L Companion Fridge which is only 12 months old, our 8L Engel Cooler/Warmer we got at the recent Camping show, our battery pack which was a gift from my Wifes parents, the deep cycle battery inside it and the trickle charger that keeps it charged when home in the shed.
Probably a little over $2k worth of gear.

Police came out and said to keep an eye out in Cashies and on Gumtree as alot of this stuff ends up in there.

Im really ****ed off as we hardly ever go away on big trips like this and we come home to this ****, if we'd been away camping instead we'd have had it all with us except the trickle charger.

Now weve got to deal with the insurer. Weve had contents insurance for 20yrs and never had to claim before (not contents, only a couple of not at fault car accidents) so its all new to us.

I told the wife im never going away like this again, if i'd been home it either wouldnt have happened or i'd have caught the ****s and put my bowie knife through them, no questions asked.

Just glad my Son wasnt harmed, the rest can be replaced.

Sorry to vent guys, just really ****ed at the moment, my anxiety is off the scale and im shaking like a leaf.

[beardo]

Terrible news mate. A holes like that make my blood boil. Bloody no good to society oxygen thieves

[Junkyard-Dog]

That's dreadful Bent 8. There's no excuse for that and I know how bad it feels to be robbed. Hope you feel better soon.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Have you used it yet mate?

No only set it up at home to test it out and to make sure its all good before I take it somewhere.

Won't be going camping till mid July when I have leave.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Hi guys, just got back from 2 weeks on the Gold Coast where my Daughter played in the Australian Open to find our shed broken into and all my camping stuff stolen.
Im ******* fuming, we have contents insurance so im hoping it will be covered, but it makes you feel violated to know some low life has helped themselves to my gear.
Even scarier is that they tried to get into the house. Whilst my wife and i left 2 weeks ago, our eldest son had work commitments.
He'd stayed home by himself and only flew up last Thursday evening as it was our daughters Birthday so we held a bbq/party at Wet n Wild on Saturday and we wanted to surprise her with having all the family together.
We're not sure if it happened whilst he was still here or on the weekend.
He's right into his online gaming and sits in his room which is at the front of the house with earphones on in the evenings so he may have been home at the time.
I shudder to think what may have happened if they got in and he surprised them.

The ****s took our 60L Companion Fridge which is only 12 months old, our 8L Engel Cooler/Warmer we got at the recent Camping show, our battery pack which was a gift from my Wifes parents, the deep cycle battery inside it and the trickle charger that keeps it charged when home in the shed.
Probably a little over $2k worth of gear.

Police came out and said to keep an eye out in Cashies and on Gumtree as alot of this stuff ends up in there.

Im really ****ed off as we hardly ever go away on big trips like this and we come home to this ****, if we'd been away camping instead we'd have had it all with us except the trickle charger.

Now weve got to deal with the insurer. Weve had contents insurance for 20yrs and never had to claim before (not contents, only a couple of not at fault car accidents) so its all new to us.

I told the wife im never going away like this again, if i'd been home it either wouldnt have happened or i'd have caught the ****s and put my bowie knife through them, no questions asked.

Just glad my Son wasnt harmed, the rest can be replaced.

Sorry to vent guys, just really ****ed at the moment, my anxiety is off the scale and im shaking like a leaf.

That sux the big one.

[NC1183]

Quiet appropriate that this thread showed up, I'm just about to embark on a two week trip out into the center of Australia, Simpson Desert, Wilpena Pound, Mt Dare, Birdsvile etc.

Will be mostly roughing it, swags and stretchers under gazebos/awnings and the occasional shower at a Nat Park

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Keep in mind showers at truck stops.

We did a trip about four years ago and took a trailer with camping gear in it.

On the way to Broken Hill via the back way:



Mad Max Country:

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Hi guys, just got back from 2 weeks on the Gold Coast where my Daughter played in the Australian Open to find our shed broken into and all my camping stuff stolen.
Im ******* fuming, we have contents insurance so im hoping it will be covered, but it makes you feel violated to know some low life has helped themselves to my gear.
Even scarier is that they tried to get into the house. Whilst my wife and i left 2 weeks ago, our eldest son had work commitments.
He'd stayed home by himself and only flew up last Thursday evening as it was our daughters Birthday so we held a bbq/party at Wet n Wild on Saturday and we wanted to surprise her with having all the family together.
We're not sure if it happened whilst he was still here or on the weekend.
He's right into his online gaming and sits in his room which is at the front of the house with earphones on in the evenings so he may have been home at the time.
I shudder to think what may have happened if they got in and he surprised them.

The ****s took our 60L Companion Fridge which is only 12 months old, our 8L Engel Cooler/Warmer we got at the recent Camping show, our battery pack which was a gift from my Wifes parents, the deep cycle battery inside it and the trickle charger that keeps it charged when home in the shed.
Probably a little over $2k worth of gear.

Police came out and said to keep an eye out in Cashies and on Gumtree as alot of this stuff ends up in there.

Im really ****ed off as we hardly ever go away on big trips like this and we come home to this ****, if we'd been away camping instead we'd have had it all with us except the trickle charger.

Now weve got to deal with the insurer. Weve had contents insurance for 20yrs and never had to claim before (not contents, only a couple of not at fault car accidents) so its all new to us.

I told the wife im never going away like this again, if i'd been home it either wouldnt have happened or i'd have caught the ****s and put my bowie knife through them, no questions asked.

Just glad my Son wasnt harmed, the rest can be replaced.

Sorry to vent guys, just really ****ed at the moment, my anxiety is off the scale and im shaking like a leaf.

that sucks mate

ill be the calming voice here, what would you rather: seeing you daughter play in the australian open or own some camping gear?

don't stop going away just because of some deadbeats

[BENT_8]

Thanks for the replies guys, calmed down a bit now, this really has capped off a final few days of our trip.

I should probably give a brief summary of our trip here, even though it wasnt really camping.

We packed the V6 Prado on the 6/6 and left early on the 7th. Onboard were my inlaws and 4yr old Daughter, my Wife and older 2 flew up on the 10th.
Our first night was to be in Forbes, NSW, some 980kms via Mildura, Hay and
West Wyalong.
It was a great drive until i got 500m over the Victorian border, my God i cant believe how bad the regional roads are throughout the eastern seaboard. I had cramp in my hands from gripping the wheel so tight. The stretch between Mildura and Balranald was bearable but between Hay and West Wyalong it is like driving on a corrugated dirt road. I wont comment on the next 1500km...
The old Prado chewed up the K's all too easy and returned descent milage considering the baggage. We made Forbes by nightfall and booked into the caravan park.

The caravan park was interesting, we were only passing through for a few hours so accommodation wasnt really a priority, we booked the cheapest cabin, no ensuite. All good, only a short walk they said. I guess they were right, compared to how far we'd driven, the walk wasnt that far, although we werre the furthest most part of the park that you could care to be.
You get what you pay for...
Up bright and bushy tailed the next morning for the 1000km to my Brothers house.

We were going well, old mate Tom was leading the way, then he told us to turn left into some back road just short of Warwick, i swear it gave us the scenic route. We got into Brissy at 7ish.

I wont bore you with the finer details, but we did Wet N Wild twice, Movie World, hired a Bow rider and cruised the broadwater and Nerang river waterways, Munged out in Sizzler and at the Southport Sharks club, some hilarious amateur stand up comedy there on a Wednesday night.
Did some shopping at Harbour town Southport? and Pacific Fair, some real bargains to be had. Plus all the Bowls.

I gotta say, although housing appears more expensive up there, its offset by the cheaper fuel, food and clothing with the bonus of better wages.
But thats about where it ends, as drivers i cant believe how bad so many are, its no wonder your motorways are scarred with slide marks and littered with broken glass.
Dead set, we'd give a kidney to have motorways like you guys, yet you cant drive on them.
I cant understand how you mob get so many speeding fines as evident in the numerous threads that pop up on here, none of you drive at the speed limit. Its either 10k's under and stopping at every on ramp or 100 through roadworks, it blew me away to weave through the whitches hats only to be swamped by them when obeying the roadwork speed reductions time and time again.
Saw a few coppers, all in one night blitzing the motorway that heads over that big bridge towards the airport at Brisbane, apart from that i didnt think you had them.
Coming back from Coolangatta i saw the most rediculous thing i've ever witnessed on a road, some clown in front of me got nervouse at an on ramp in the dual lanes section of the motorway and actually stopped in the left lane 100k zone to let a car on, i just shook my head.
Moving on...

Coming home was interesting, we left Brisbane on Sunday at around 10.30am looking to make Narrabri by nightfall. It started raining around Ipswitch and didnt give up until we got just short of our destination, special mention to the lovely couple who offered us an umbrella at the HJ's in Warwick so we could get back to the car without drowning, it was torrential.
The accommodation in Narrabri was fantastic and the hosts were so easy to deal with, if your ever round that way give the Southern Cross a crack.
Steer clear of the KFC unless you want depression...lol

Up the next morning and on to Hay, another 700 odd k's and i have to say it was the most trecherous conditions i've ever driven in, the rain was unreal. I was mentally drained by Dubbo from staring through the wipers which couldnt keep up whilst trying to tip toe through the pools of water all over the road, and handed the reins to the mother inlaw who took us through to Parkes.
I jumped back behind the wheel and made for Hay, lucky to get there, much of the road between West Wyalong and Hay was underwater.

Then there was the Army. Must have been moving a whole regiment or whatever thery call them down to Adelaide, lines of army vehicles all doing 80-90k's. The father inlaw got cocky with one driver as we passed, the next bloke in line swung his trailer at us as we passed him and nearly put both of us into the tree's. Obviously radioed by the following vehicle and told to give us a scare, i think he **** himself and the next one we came up behind pulled over and flashed me past. A bit of PR there i think...
Some caravan park got washed out apparently and there were grey nomads everywhere looking for somewhere dry to set down, they had 'em parked in the driveways at Hay.
We made hay by 4.30, booked into the Big 4 and wondered over to the Pub for a well deserved Scotch Fillet. Compliments to the Chef and waitress.

Slept in this morning, got away around 9.30 headed home to Adelaide, ****ing down with rain again, like ground hog day...
Fairly uneventful except for the Landcruiser and XR Falcon Hwy car which came flying up behind me between Euston and Mildura, turns out someone in a VT/X had put it in the tree's, didnt look good, the Army had pulled up and were directing traffic as we passed.
And then we came home to find the place broken into.
The Wife flew home last night but as she got in late she didnt notice the damage to the shed until this afternoon when we went out the back for a coffee.

Sorry, that wasnt really brief was it.

[prydey]

I've done Adelaide to Brisbane more times than I've had hot dinners, and yes, many of the national highways are goat tracks. I don't go via Mildura but through the Mallee so can't comment on Adelaide side of Balranald. There is a section between hay and west Wyalong that is literally like a goat track. Not sure where your your mate Tom took you. I used to go via Toowoomba, but the turn off is at the border. Not sure there's too many other ways to cross the range apart from Toowoomba and Warwick.

I can see how the break in really capped it off for you. Sorry to hear about it. Hope you don't have any issues with insurance.