The Camping Thread #2

[wysiwyg]

Looks like we are going away with mum and dad around for a long weekend for Australia day - somewhere round Echuca I believe - I expect will just get told the morning we leave - must make sure have some specific meeting up plan though - as a couple of years back I took DD - 5 months off for a long weekend in Halls Gap with them - didn't realize mobile reception would be non-existent - luckily Halls Gap is pretty small so we just hung out near the tourist info and shops till we spotted them and left messages at the Tourist Info.

[Now we're 3]

Olive ours is a 3 room - a Diamantina Discovery 6. DH bought from Kangaroo Tent City. Did all his research on line and then we went and viewed various tents at Annaconda to get a feel size wise. DH felt (though open to being corrected here as lots of the girls are way more experienced than me) that while it probably wasn't quite as good a tent as the Black Wolf it was still an excellent tent and the fact that we got it on sale with something like 40-50% off made it a no brainer wich one to go for. I will say I was surprised as to just how big it actually is. The central area is great and two really good sized rooms on either side. You can enter into separately into each of the sections. We're on the hunt for a good gazebo now but will wait until we pick one up on sale. We did a wonderful Annaconda shopping trip at the weekend and picked up loads of goodies. Now just have to arrange the next camping trip to use them

[Lenny]

We know a great free camp spot about 20 mins north of echuca wysiwyg. Fresh water on the way in to fill up their tanks, right on the murray with boat ramp, water access and the little store nearby sells bread and essentials. Rubbish bins on the way out. Lots of little spots so even if other people are there, you just go a bit further along for a free spot.

[black_rose]

Lenny can you on me the details of the free site? We are wanting free camp more but need access to water to fill up the tanks. We were up in mildura last holidays but we couldn't find the site listed on maps or google anywhere!

We are off to mulwala this week for 10 days really looking forward to it.

[wysiwyg]

Lenny - I would also love the details of the free site, mum and dad seem to really like the free sites - more roomy and tranquil they reckon - and they intersperse these with paid sites - when they need to do laundry, charge things up etc. Is it 2WD accessible? - as we would travel up in our car and meet them? If it isn't not necessarily a problem as can leave our car somewhere and transfer.

They are in Pooncarie (near Mungo State Park) at the moment - struggling a bit with the heat - I told them not to moan about the colder days before Christmas as soon would go the other way!!

[wysiwyg]

So my brother is now coming with us to Echuca next weekend, I need to work out what I want to do beds wise as hate the air bed. Was thinking of getting the kids some stretchers (kids ones so they don't take up too much room) but not sure what I should do about me - we have two big stretchers but they are really long and can't really fit two in (my bro can go on one) - I figure I don't really need a big or expensive one - for a couple of nights? (I used to sleep on one quite a bit when I first started working as stayed at peoples places quite a bit and don't remember them being uncomfortable).

If driving to Echuca early Sat morning - which route is best out of Melbourne (starting point Camberwell)?

[Dollyroux]

Just FYI - when camping often stretchers are really cold with the air underneath them. Have you looked at something like a thermarest (name brand) - they are a thin self inflating mat - sort of fitness mat thick, but comfier. The cold with the stretchers shouldn't be an issue at this time of year but worth being aware of.

[Tinks]

My kids sleep on 4x4 mattresses too. They can take up quite a bit of space though.

I don't think stretchers would be too cold at this time of year in Echuca though.

[wysiwyg]

Yes my stretcher was cold at Christmas, but we have some eggshell foam that had to go on top of airbed to stop the cold so will use that on top during colder months I think. A friend offered her 4x4 mattress but we just don't have room in the car.

Lenny - I think mum and dad have found the spot - I haven't spoken to them yet but looking at Dad's GPS tracker coordinates looks about right :-)

[Olive]

Olive ours is a 3 room - a Diamantina Discovery 6. DH bought from Kangaroo Tent City. Did all his research on line and then we went and viewed various tents at Annaconda to get a feel size wise. DH felt (though open to being corrected here as lots of the girls are way more experienced than me) that while it probably wasn't quite as good a tent as the Black Wolf it was still an excellent tent and the fact that we got it on sale with something like 40-50% off made it a no brainer wich one to go for. I will say I was surprised as to just how big it actually is. The central area is great and two really good sized rooms on either side. You can enter into separately into each of the sections. We're on the hunt for a good gazebo now but will wait until we pick one up on sale. We did a wonderful Annaconda shopping trip at the weekend and picked up loads of goodies. Now just have to arrange the next camping trip to use them

Thanks love, will google it!

We're also camping this weekend.....in DH's uncles backyard in rosebud
Using my parents camper trailer and car, need to buy some camping bunks fir the girls

[~clover~]

My kids use the stretchers, with sleeping bags. Haven't had them complain yet, but we usually stick to camping in the warmer months.
I've started carrying an extra blanket for under the sheet on the air bed. Will have to try get dd & I a double sleeping bag maybe.
A friend just takes a thicker egg shell mattress with her. It's a good 4-6 inches thick. Mum & dad have similar in their troopy (pop top roof!) & it's good to sleep on. But takes up space. It's the space that's the trouble! I have a roof basket, so if I'm lacking room, I'll usually put chairs etc up on the roof just need the funds for the 4x4

[black_rose]

We are loving Mulwala it's raining today but still warm so the kids are running around and having a ball. Got the cutest photo of dd2 and ds. Can't get enough of the warm weather apart from at dinner when it's been too hot to cook. Today is the first day we have had less than 40 since the Melbourne heatwave, we left at the end of it then had more heat here.

[~Phoenix~]

So much has happened since my last post - 3 more camping trips, 3 days in Moonta, a week at Golden Beach in Vic & 5 days at Rapid Bay, all awesome trips

After a bad start to year with several people we know around our age passing away we have decided to bring our travel plans forward a few years & planning Adelaide to Broome next year. Our swan up for sale & we just put a deposit on a 2nd hand off road Windsor rapid which we are picking up from Vic in a couple of week.

[Astrid]

Might be doing an Otways trip soon. Just a short one as a way of seeing how our long forgotten camping gear holds up and if we actually enjoy it.
DH has been to a 4WD club meeting and is looking a joining, so we can go on trips with other families who are experienced at that level of camping.

[Miss.September]

These trips are sounding fantastic! I'm so twitchy to get out there.

Has anyone been to The Bay of Fires in Tassie? We're looking at free camping, taking the ute and tent down on the boat (it's not worth the money to take the caravan) and camping on the beach. Just wondering if anyone has actually experienced it. We haven't free camped before.

[Lenny]

Never been there but we free camp a lot. More often than paying for campground. Mostly in the caravan, sometimes in the boat with tent. Free camping just opens up beautiful national parks and a bit more seclusion.

[Miss.September]

The free camping areas look amazing. Right through Bay of Fires and down to Freycinet it looks like you can camp behind the sand dunes on the beach. And the aqua water! Google it! It's just beautiful.

I'm a bit daunted by possibly being in a spot alone but we're looking to go over New Year so I guess the chances of that are slim. The plan is to go from Devonport, down the east coast all the way to Hobart and then up the centre. We're writing a list of what we'll need but space in the ute will be our issue.

Has anyone used the solar showers? Any good?

[Tinks]

Download the app called Wiki Camps. It shows camp sites both free and paid camping areas in pretty much all areas. There are also user reviews and photos showing each site. It's about $4 but worth every cent.