Explore Australia Publishing - Camping around New South Wales

CONTENTS

BEST CAMPSITES

Geehi Flats camping area (southern section)

(Capital Country and the Snowys)

Green Gully camping area

(New England and the North-West)

Homestead Creek camping area

(The Outback)

Mungo Brush camping area

(Holiday Coast)

Polblue camping area (northern section)

(Hunter Valley and Coast)

USEFUL CONTACTS

Crown Land Department of Primary Industries

1300 052 637

www.crownland.nsw.gov.au

Emergency

Dial 000 for police, ambulance and fire brigade

Environment ACT

13 2281

www.environment.act.gov.au

Fisheries Department of Primary Industries

1300 550 474

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries

Fossicking Department of Primary Industries

1300 736 122

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals

NSW Rural Fire Service

1800 679 737

www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

National Parks and Wildlife Service

1300 361 967

www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Roads and Traffic Authority

13 2213

www.rta.nsw.gov.au

State Forests of NSW Information Centre

1300 655 687

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forests

WHY CAMP?

Its the end of another sensational day in the outdoors. The sun slips towards the horizon, and birds and wallabies come out to feed in the twilight. A campfire is lit, and close friends and family gather around its glow to sink a sundowner, cook a meal and share the adventures of the day waves that were caught, fish that got away, discoveries that were made.

The darkness deepens and the stars much brighter away from the city lights twinkle and shine over possums, gliders, owls, frogs and other creatures that begin to explore the night.

Around the campfire, senses are heightened so the meal tastes better, the jokes seem funnier and the ties that bind are strengthened.

Camping refreshes the mind, revives the soul and reminds us of what is special. Through it, we gain new experiences, visit parts of the world we otherwise wouldnt see, and relearn the importance of the simple things in life.

The incredibly comprehensive guide you hold in your hands is packed with great ideas of where to take your next camping holiday or weekend away. An experienced team of researchers has painstakingly scoured the country looking for top camping spots and their facilities, so you can start planning that next unforgettable excursion into the great outdoors.

WHERE TO GO?

Planning a trip is often the hardest part of camping. There are so many questions! Do you keep going to the same places that you know and love, or do you venture somewhere new? Will you go to a well-placed campground that has hot showers, flushing toilets and firewood supplied, or slip off the beaten track to an isolated, more rugged spot? Should you stay near the coast with its beaches, lush forests and nearby facilities, or venture into Australias vast interior, where sites are usually quieter, and the landscape so spacious and vastly different? Do you need to camp in school holidays or public holidays when many campsites are overflowing, or can you slip away mid-week or at other non-peak times?

Its also worth considering what sort of a camping experience you want. Driving to a campsite is the most common way to get there, but have you considered hiking with a backpack? For a first hiking trip, its best to start with an overnight walk over not too great a distance (no more than about ten kilometres each way). Many campers love this form of isolated camping so much, they disappear for weeks at a time on some of Australias legendary, long-distance routes: the Larapinta Trail (Northern Territory), the Australian Alps Walking Track (east coast), the Bibbulmun Track (Western Australia) or the South Coast Track (Tasmania).

But if hiking isnt your thing, what about a canoe or kayak camping trip, a boat trip to an island, cross-country skiing or mountain-biking? All of these activities can deliver you to some exceptional out-of-the-ordinary camping experiences.

Whatever your method of transport, if your planned route takes you through or on to Aboriginal land, make sure you start applying for permits with the relevant Land Council well in advance, as it can take some time to have permits approved.

WHAT TO TAKE

It is almost impossible to define what any single individual will need on a camping trip the amount and type of gear varies greatly with the style, length and location of the trip. A tough, three-day hike in a remote and cold area will require a vastly different list of essentials compared to a week spent with children at a well-established caravan park in summer by the beach.

Even when camping in the same conditions, people will choose to bring varying amounts and types of gear. Some campers (or glampers) bring along so much tonnage that you wonder why they left home at all: fairy lights, gas fridges, bikes, wine glasses, pillows and TVs. Others at the same campground may have decided to get back to basics and bring little more than a hoochie, or mosquito net, and a billy.

Outdoor/camping shops will nearly always try to sell you more gear than you actually need. It isnt necessary to own the latest must-have gizmo to have a satisfactory, fun and safe camping trip. The best advice is to start simply, with a few basic necessities, and to then add any extra items as you gain experience and discover what would be helpful or desirable for your style of camping.

Whatever style of camping trip you are undertaking, you will need to consider three key areas: bedding and shelter, food and cooking, and safety.

Bedding and shelter

Most people immediately think of a tent when contemplating camping, but in many situations a tent is unnecessary. If you are camping in a dry environment, such as Central Australia, a swag can be one of the nicest ways to spend the night. Its comfy and sleeping directly under the stars is blissful. Swags usually contain a warm layer or two (such as a sleeping-bag), a pillow, a rollable mattress and a canvas outer layer that keeps off the dew. Some even have a small flap that can be erected to keep off the rain.

In a hot, tropical environment, you are often better off with a mosquito net that lets through any whisper of breeze, rather than sweltering under potentially stifling plastic or canvas. If you dont have a suitable mosquito net, you can usually use a modern tents inner tent without a fly.

If you are going to buy a tent, think of the main purposes for which you will be using it. If backpacking, you will need the lightest tent you can buy, that is suitable for the conditions in which you will be travelling (for example, snow, heavy rain, high wind). If you will be setting up in a campground for a week or more with a family, a large walk-in tent with multiple rooms will be more suitable.

Many long-term car campers swear that camping becomes much more pleasurable with a large tarpaulin. A large tarp placed over the tent and extending out beyond it to provide an extra living space gives you extra protection in rain, and also provides vital shade for the tent and you during summer holidays.

Although they are one of the most common camping items, sleeping-bags may not necessarily be the most appropriate bedding for your camping trip. They can be very hot, and if you are car camping with a trailer, it may be a better idea to bring sheets, a pillow and a comfy mattress, or even a camp bed.