We were at billy goats Tinks. It was packed. Well, by 4wd standards.
Huts :rolleyes:. Craig's hut is kinda funny, because it's not a real hut. It's just a movie set. Lol.
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We were at billy goats Tinks. It was packed. Well, by 4wd standards.
Huts :rolleyes:. Craig's hut is kinda funny, because it's not a real hut. It's just a movie set. Lol.
We didn't do Billy Goat but we're planning to go back there to do it. My mum used to live in Dargo, it was nowhere near as busy back then as it is now. It's a shame really.
Thanks for reminding me of the Bayswater Anaconda - mum and dad went there said was far superior to the Springvale one and got some stuff they wanted. They have been gone a week now having a great time and are somewhere near Errinundra National Park so their GPS thing Dad has tells me.
I need to get myself sorted for what we need for a week or so camping at Barwon Heads with them - what are peoples thoughts on kids sleeping bags? Are bags best or do kids find restrictive better off with blankets/doona? Anything else kid specific I need to organize to take?
Wysiwyg- DD1 has sheets and a doona on her bunk in the caravan but prefers the novelty of the sleeping bag. She loves it. Has no problems wriggling in and out of it either. Glad your parents are having fun!
We all preferred our own bedding in the van even mid winter and summer so always take our doonas.
I'm looking forward to it, I've never been there. We're staying at Balgowan:
We have sleeping bags - black wolf Eskimo. Got them online much cheaper
Our kids also have Black Wolf sleeping bags. They've always liked sleeping in them and have never been cold. I always take my doona.
Our girls sleep on self inflating 4wd mattresses because they're warmer and more comfortable than the air bed type ones.
We used the black wolf sleeping bags too, the girls loved them ds wasn't ever happy in his and would undo it. Now we have the van we use bedding. I. The camper the kids were on stretchers with inflatable mats.
We have sleeping bags, which we use in the tent and the van.
I also made sleeping bag sheets up for them to go inside. Just a sheet sewn up like a sleeping bag. It works for summer and also keeps the sleeping bags clean. ( yes, I'm odd). When we go 4wding there are no showers and the kids sometimes resemble wild animals.
We're off again tomorrow :) IF I'm not too hung over :p It'll be Thursday if I can't deal with it tomorrow.
We're going to Stockton Lake (WA) for 2 nights, then onto Dunsborough to a caravan park for 4 nights. Then we might go back to Stockton Lake for a few nights... Might even cut the caravan park back to 2 nights & go back to Stockton Lake for longer. Free with good facilities by the look of it :)
Got back from our Christmas camping on Monday. Barwon Heads on a campsite for a week (campsite was quite quiet I thought, although not many empty sites - seemed like people were just not there for Christmas??) - and then on to a free bush camp site north of Lorne (Big Hill) for 4 days.
We had mum and dad's camper trailer - and at Barwon a tent which I borrowed, but at Big Hill just the camper trailer (DH had gone home to go to cricket) and we all were ok in that (although some nights were chilly).
The kids were on an airbed which I wouldn't do again, as was too awkward as no space round it, and if I had to lay down with DS it then was so bouncy trying to get out - so would think about something different for them - what do others put kids on? I will just have to work out how to settle DS better without lying down.
I love mum and dad's trailer though - I just love everything about camping anyway - but then all the neat ways for storing things is cool, and is fun setting up the solar panels etc. Compared to when DH and I had a little camper van years ago it was luxury. Their bed seemed very comfortable and warm - so maybe I could persuade DH to go camping in autumn/winter if they leave the trailer and car with us when they go back to UK for a bit - that is if I could sum up the courage to be comfortable reversing the trailer (anyone else reverse a trailer much on here and how did you learn? - DH is not much of a driver - I do all driving so would be up to me to do the reversing too).
Mum and Dad's car (Prado) fitted us all in ok - but getting in the back was a bit of a challenge - as with our car seats couldn't move the front set of seats forward enough, had to get in through the back into the second row, so mum had to get in and then I had to get in and virtually sit on her lap, while we put the second seat up so I could sit down. I assume I could maybe get new car seats and get them to fit on one side of the front row, so could move the single one far enough forward?
Lenny - I don't think is odd about lining the sleeping bags - when we were backpacking/doing tours etc. it was the norm to do that (often you were provided with bags and had to provide the inners) - so much easier than washing the sleeping bags. DD - liked that arrangement (I just used full doona covers as the bag as didn't have time to sort anything else) and enjoyed the sleeping bag. DS wouldn't have a bar of being in a sleeping bag so he ended up with doona and DH had his sleeping bag - I should have guessed as he is bad with keeping doona on at home, he likes his legs out - but it was down to about 8 a couple of nights at Big Hill so he did keep it on sometimes.
Hopefully going to do a weekend with mum and dad again sometime before mid-Feb - depending on where they are - they are currently at Lake Colac.
Sounds like bliss.
We have stretchers for the kids too, but more recently we just put them both on a 4wd mat. But DS1 likes his stretcher too. I agree that the air bed is a bit bouncy and awkward.
wysiwyg: What Camper trailer is it? Curious as DH is researching brands and models.
We have never had much luck with air beds. We now have one those roll up self inflating mattress and a stretcher (both extra large single). We have just have to decide if we get another stretcher for the girls.
It is a Kimberley Kamper Platinum - not sure if is 2013 or 2014 model. It is pretty high spec and was pretty pricey I believe - but mum and dad are living it for 6 months at a time, and I think was a compromise between Dad wanting off-road back to basics and mum wanting some luxury. I thought was really good - I like all the cooking, sink, prep area being outside / under an awning rather than internal like in a van - makes it more like camping to me. We didn't try out the shower (there is a zip on bit on the side apparently) because we were only on a bush camp site for four days and the kids and I like not having to wash! Dad also did a lot of research I believe and they seem to hold their price quite well - so the cost per day works out quite low apparently. With two adults and two kids if you weren't staying anywhere long you could get the two kids inside the normal camper bit quite easily (I slept there on a full length stretcher camp bed no problem) - but we used the extra bedroom awning on the back.:
If anyone wants to see some pictures of it in use and are on facebook - PM me and can add you - or if not on FB - I have some pictures on Google+ and can PM you the link.
I think we have one of those self-inflating roll up things - they are the pretty thin yes? - maybe should just get another of those.
Wow that is a high spec one! Bit more than what we want, but makes sense with the amount of travelling they will be doing.
I like the outside cooking space as well. I remember the cramped set-up in my step fathers pop up camper.
Can anyone personally recommend a family tent? Would like 3 rooms, they all look the same on the net
Can you take a trip to a Rays? They have many types set-up. I love a wander through tent show rooms.
We got our 2 room one 10+ years ago from there. Very happy with it, has stood up to some awesome storms.
Anaconda have a big sale on everything at the moment & when I was in the one near home had a heap set up.
We bought a 2nd hand jackeroo 12 man/3 room, it survived a wet & windy Easter at Portland.
Two weeks until we head across the border & go camping in Vic. I'm hoping where we are going isn't too packed out but I'm so excited, it's our first free camp in the camper van. DH ordered a solar panel kit which should keep us with 12v power no problems :) I have been lusting after a baby q for ages & managed to find the model with thermometer on sale, it's sitting in its box teasing me lol
Olive - We have a black wolf turbo and I believe Nai does as well. It is canvas so it is big and heavy. But very good quality. Friends have lighter nylon tents which have those kind of hoop bendy poles.
You can get almost any kind of tent at any price. I would go to rays or anaconda and see the tents set up to decide what you need. We wouldn't get a three room next time. We'd get a two room as we spend our time outside the tent anyway. If your girls sleep in bunks then you need even less space.
Second hand tents are a good option if you find the right model. I think people buy them then don't use them, and sell them on.
Phoenix - I hope you get some decent sunshine!
We have a Coleman one that is 3 rooms hun, it was fromAnaconda in Baysy. It's great because you can easily fit kids in one end, us in the other both with suitcases and bags and then have a food/play area in the middle. We made it through a huge storm at Lakes Entrance and it was fine. Only thing I don't like about ours is that it doesn't have a annex fly section - definitely handy rather than going straight in and out of the main area.
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.
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 :D
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.
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.
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!!
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)?
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.
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.
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 :-)
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Thanks love, will google it!
We're also camping this weekend.....in DH's uncles backyard in rosebud :lol:
Using my parents camper trailer and car, need to buy some camping bunks fir the girls
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 ;)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Had our first trip away as a family to a DPI site in the Otways. Must say it was interesting, DH is still a sod to pack with, but we had most of the gear that we needed to do basic camping.
I am completely confused about what people camp for. I thought it was about getting away from it all, getting some peace and quiet, moving at a slower space. Being with nature, blah, blah. Well the site we went to was full people with a tonne of noisy gadgets. Mini bikes, dirt bikes all hooning around the site. Loud boom boxes. One site even had massive speakers with flashing lights :o Please, please, please tell me that we were just unlucky and came across a camp site of tools and that most camp sites are peaceful. Otherwise if they are all like this, then I am going to veto camping all together!
Oh and Tinks, DH downloaded that app last night ;)
Oh gosh Astrid, that's awful! We haven't come across that before but we've always stuck to caravan parks.