What Separates the Good from the Bad?

Words and photography by Caravan & Motorhome on Tour

Within the nomadic community few things have become as popular as the notion of the ‘Freedom Camp’. Such a campsite can range from sweeping green planes adjacent to a crystal lake to a rough piece of asphalt adjacent to a bustling highway. Though no truer a thing could be said about free camps in Australia; a wide and diverse variety of them is a luxury afforded to us, and with caravans becoming more self-contained and equipped for free camping, the idea of a camp that’s both easy on the eyes and easy on the coffers is an alluring one at that.

With such freedom of choice at our fingertips it ultimately begs the question… What does make the ideal free camp? We’ve put the question to you, our readers, and have collected some fantastic feedback on what really makes or breaks a free camping experience.

WATER: AN AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITE

Whether it be a spring, lake, river, beach, dam or waterfall, easy access to a water source is considered a big win when it comes to freedom camping. Providing a perfect opportunity to engage in activities like swimming, fishing, kayaking and boating, only adding to the serenity of your surroundings, being in close proximity to a natural water source is definitely a hallmark of a great freedom camp.

Reader George De Haan regaled us with his recent trip to 14 Mile Camp on Waroora, just south of Coral Bay, WA. “We were lucky to have a week there with hardly any wind, although there are also camps behind the dunes if the wind becomes a problem” he said. “We enjoyed a wonderful time with our neighbours having campfires on the beach at happy hour. Being isolated, we spent the days walking, fishing, swimming and reading, totally relaxed”.

This really leads us back to the great debate of what is superior. Is it camping on the coast; flying across the sand dunes to find that perfect spot to set up by the sea? Is it further inland; enjoying the tranquility and peaceful surroundings of the inland, complimented by its crystal clear springs and falls?

CREATURE COMFORTS

While many of our readers relish the opportunity to go off the grid and retreat into the remote peace of the outback, creature comforts like access to a shower, loo, running water and electricity are also regarded as a huge positive.

With solar panels requiring a power source that can be sadly intermittent in bad weather and generators requiring finite fuel, access to power has definitely come in as a priority for a lot of the community. Much the same could be said about access to onsite facilities which reduce the necessity for a dump point.

On a similar vein to amenities, cleanliness is next to godliness! A clean and well maintained camp not only complements its natural surroundings and makes the stay that much more pleasant, but also makes the area a safe area. Less debris means less chance of an accident and a reduced risk of fire.

While these utilities are provided free of charge, they aren’t free to run, often at the expense of local councils, so if you happen to spot an honesty or charity box, don’t hesitate to be generous!

FROM THE ROAD
with Tony Bell
“Bulahdelah NSW is about 77ks north of Raymond Terrace and 70 km’s South of Taree. The town is now bypassed and quieter. The Lions Park camp area is located on the south side of the river facing back to the town. The local Lions Club has carried out a lot of work to make the park, as well as the town side of the river bank, accessible and comfortable for visitors. A short walk over the bridge gives the traveler access to a variety of shops including an IGA, post office, fast food, and importantly… a pub. New toilet facilities have been constructed on the town side of the bridge, and a dump point is located within the show ground, a few minutes’ drive away. Adjacent to the show ground is the bowling club. Bulahdelah is a very relaxing place to stop and rest for a couple of days. An honesty box has recently been installed and we have no hesitation in depositing a few dollars to help retain this area”

CLOSE TO A LOCAL DROP

It goes without saying that a popular affair amongst travellers since time immemorial is the ability to stop and indulge yourself at a local drinking establishment. Ranging from sinking back a few favourite tap beers to sampling some locally brewed craft ales and wine from the region, the pastime certainly hasn’t dwindled in popularity.

This affair isn’t limited to a few choice venues around the country, with each state and territory boasting a multitude of unique craft brewers and vineyards. Say if beer aficionados were to find themselves in Tamborine, QLD, they might want to set up camp to stop by the Beard and Brau Farmhouse Brewery for a tasting, or if you happened to be near Wilyabrup, WA, you’ll find plethora of vineyards ripe and ready for tastings including (but not limited to); Hay Shed Hill Wines, Lenton Brae Wines and Bantry Bay Wines.

A stand-out free camp recommendation comes from reader Cheryland “Mendooran, NSW, is a free camp with lots of spots by the river, toilets and showers available!” she says. “It’s also got a great pub only 100 metres away.”

With a pub only 100 metres away, walking back home will be a breeze!

FROM THE ROAD
with Marg

“Our first stay at a free camp for more than an overnighter was at Nyah in Victoria (on a recommendation from other RVers). This was a great spot to start out. We pulled up (taking care not to park under a tree - we’d heard one tale of woe about a trashed awning from a falling branch!) put out our solar panels, and settled back for some serious relaxation for three days. The next week we followed up with three days budget camping on a waterfront site at Town Beach Primitive Camping ground, Tocumwal. This campground has toilets, showers, and water, but no power. Tocumwal township is a short walk away along a bush track. A very pleasant place! By this time our appetite for free camping was well and truly whetted. Now we work on a 50/50 mix of free camping and caravan parks. As for what makes an ideal free camp… there’s no one thing, but you could probably say that we have a preference for camps beside a lake, a river or a beach”

WILDLIFE

Far removed from the icy cold schooners and patrons of a pub, many free camps come with one prerequisite before you decide to stay; you must share it with the creatures that already inhabit it! Earlier in the article I mentioned ‘luxuries that are afforded to us’ and in way of native flora and fauna, Australia could not be luckier.

Playing a huge role in the experience of travellers, Australian wildlife offers intrigue, delight and a therapeutic essence to any camp. Wild mammals and reptiles that surround the area and sometimes enter camp out of their own curiosity provide a unique and often underappreciated allure to a free camp.

Not to mention an increasingly popular hobby among nomads is bird watching. Australia has roughly 800 different species of bird, ranging from the tiny 8cm weebill to the huge land-striding emu, and suffice to say, bird watchers and bird enthusiasts are spoiled for choice as they travel the nation and are exposed to its widespread variety of birds.

For those looking for a more intimate camp with Aussie wildlife, on the recommendation of reader Steve, Bendeela at Kangaroo Valley, NSW definitely has the potential to please! “It has space for over 500 vans and campers, has abundant wildlife (wombats, kangaroos and echidnas to name a few) has fresh drinking water on numerous taps, is on a great safe river for fishing and kayaking, has security guards at Christmas and Easter, has flush toilets, a dump point and a wash up sink and table. Please don’t tell anybody about this place, ‘cause it’s our little secret!”

Another good free camp to add the map comes from Jenny, “Wuruma Dam, just north of Eidsvold and south of Monto in Queensland. It’s a perfect spot to kayak and has heaps of bird life”. And the best part? “It’s free too!”

FROM THE ROAD
with Glenn Marshall

“Camping on the banks of Surprise Creek in Bladensburg National Park is an ideal little spot that offers the serenity we love when bush camping. Waking to the sounds of whistling kites, galahs and cockatoos is a joy and watching the outback sun-set across the Creek is a photographers dream. With a drop toilet and fire pits dispersed around the campsite, there is no chance you will be overcrowded. The National Park itself is a wonderful place to explore and you are close to Lark Quarry and Winton”