Adventurers Diary

Our 29 Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia

Accommodation when traveling around Australia comes in many forms and you will find many free or low cost campgrounds. Caravan Parks, Showgrounds, Campgrounds, Station Stays, Pubs and Free Camps are all options for somewhere to stay overnight and depending on many circumstances our needs will vary. For those set up and comfortable with Free and Low Cost camping when traveling, we have put together our 21 Best Free or Low Cost Campgrounds highlighting our favourite places so far to stay in Australia.

In the heat of the Top End we would usually opt for powered options however the bottom half of Oz opened up many places to stay that don’t have to cost much at all.

We will continue to update this list as we keep finding more places to add.

Find videos and information about every Campground, Free Camp, Caravan Park, Station Stay and RV Stops all around Australia here

Read all about Our Best Free camps in Australia here

# Nov 2017 update.
With the recent closure of our previous Number 1 campground “Uluru by Sunrise” we have updated this list. We have also introduced 2 new campgrounds, Sandstone Park at #4 and Lara Wetlands at #12 and increased it from our Best 20 to 21. Hope you enjoy our list.

#July 2019 update
We have completely changed this Article having added a number of new Campgrounds, taken out the Free ones as you’ll find them in our Best Free Camps here and increased our list from 21 to Our 29 Best Campgrounds in Australia.

View to the Stanley Nut from our camp site, Tasmania

Our 29 Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia

29. Stanley Tasmania

Location: At Stanley in the North West of Tasmania

About: Located at the entrance to the Golf Course and looking out over the ocean, this is a fabulous campground in a beautiful location.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/stanley-rv-and-caravan-campground-stanley-tasmania/

Cost: $8 per night

Max nights stay: 7 nights

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No but there is one very close by.

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Mount Gambier Showgrounds, SA

28. Mt Gambier Showgrounds

Location: Mt Gambier, South Australia

About: The Mt Gambier Showgrounds are located on the edge of the city and provides good grassed sites and full amenities. It is also walking distance to the Umpherstone Sinkhole.
$20 deposit for Key to amenities block.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/mount-gambier-showgrounds-mount-gambier-south-australia/

Cost: $22 powered, $15 unpowered, $3 extra adult

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes, cost $5 if not staying at the showgrounds

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Hobart from atop Mount Wellington

27. Hobart Showgrounds

Location: Hobart, Tasmania

About: Approx 15 minutes drive from the city of Hobart, there are various sites, some grassed and other on stones. Can get very busy in peak times. Call to book during peak season.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/hobart-showgrounds-hobart-tasmania/

Cost: $25 powered site or $21 for CMCA members, $20 unpowered

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes, $1 for 5 minutes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: Yes, we were close to Bunnings and were able to tap into their free Wifi although it was slow

Telstra coverage: Yes

Beachside sites at Carmila Beach Campground

26. Carmila Beach Campground, Queensland

Location: Carmila Beach is 6kms from the small town of Carmila on the Bruce Highway and 101kms south of Mackay.

About: The Carmila Beach Campground is a great beachfront location with several campsites available. Once you go past the first campsites you will need 4wd to access through the soft sand.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/carmila-beach-carmila-queensland/

Cost: $10 per vehicle per night

Max nights stay: 14 nights

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Barely

Fires allowed: Yes

Chapman River at Ante Chamber Bay Campground, Kangaroo Island SA

25. Ante Chamber Bay Campground

Location: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

About: A beautiful river front campground. Access is by a dirt road which was reasonable condition when we were there.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/ante-chamber-bay-kangaroo-island-south-australia/

Cost: $15 per night

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes, only just

Gordon Recreation Reserve, Tasmania

24. Gordon Recreational Reserve

Location: Three Hut Point, Gordon Tasmania

About: Whilst we didn’t stay here it looked such a perfect location we did stop to take a look around. This would make a great place to stop for a few nights.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/gordon-recreation-reserve-three-hut-point-tasmania/

Cost: $5 per night honest box

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Quite a gathering at the Kingston S.E. RV Campground

23. Kingston SE RV Campground

Location: Kingston SE, South Australia

About:. A fantastic and great value RV stay in the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Home of the Big Lobster, there’s also lots of options for eating out and all you will need in town within walking distance. Opposite the campground is the beach and long jetty.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/kingston-se-rv-campground-kingston-se-sa/

Cost: $10

Max nights stay: 48 hours

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes nearby in town

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: No

Banka Banka Station, NT

22. Banka Banka Station

Location: North of the Three Ways in Northern Territory

About: Great overnight stay as you head north from the Three Ways to Darwin. There’s Donkeys and Camels, a unique bar, fire pit which the owner fires up each night. Yarns are told, marshmallows burnt and in the morning a stunning sunrise to the East.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/banka-banka-station-northern-territory/

Cost: $20 per night for 2 adults unpowered

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No

Fires allowed: Camp hosts have a big fire pit each day and marshmallows

Congo Campground

21. Congo Campground

Location: Congo NSW

About: The Congo Campground is approx. 10kms south from Batemans Bay, located directly at the beach. It is located in National Park.

Video: Coming soon

Cost: $12 per person per night

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: No

Aerial view of Midskinrick Lodge and Camping

20. Midskinrick Lodge and Camping

Location: Rosedale Qld

About: Located between Bundaberg and Gladstone, this is a brilliant stay right on Baffle Creek with excellent fishing. It is a huge place with heaps of space and fire pits scattered throughout the park area.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/midskinrick-lodge-camping-rosedale/

Cost: $7.50 per person per night unpowered, extra $5 per night powered or $10 if you use air conditioning.

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: Yes

Looking down on Whalebone Bay and Campground

19. Whalebone Campground Shark Bay, Western Australia

Location: 15 kms south of Denham

About: I loved our time here at Whalebone Campground. A 24 hour stay, they allowed us to extend for a second night but not beyond. We were able to leave for a short time and then come back for another 48 hours. Caught Squire at night from the beach.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/3003-2/

Cost: $15 per night

Max nights stay: 1 night, but if you ask they’ll likely allow a second night, no more.

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Potable water: No, there is a water station in Denham

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No, there is one on left hand side as you arrive at Denham

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes but very limited

Beautiful Lotus Flowers at Wilton Park

18. Wilton Park NSW

Location: Cuttagee, NSW

About: A fabulous stay on private property just 5mins south of Bermagui in NSW. There are limited facilities but everything you will need isn’t far away in town. This was one of those places that become very social and relaxing with a fire at night and drinks with new friends.

Video: Coming soon

Cost: $10 donation

Max nights stay: 7 nights

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: Yes

Aerial shot of Pretty Beach and the Campground

17. Pretty Beach Campground NSW

Location: Pretty Beach, NSW

About: Just north of Batemans Bay is this great campground located a very short distance from a beautiful bay and ocean beach. It is located in the Murramarang National Park.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/pretty-beach-campground/

Cost: $34.84 for two people powered, $24.60 for two people unpowered. Extra adult is $12 per night, children 5-15yo $6 per night.

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: Yes

Perfect location right beside the Beach!

16. Cassowary Coast Regional Council Campground Mission Beach

Location: Mission Beach, North Queensland

About: Located directly beside the beach, Powered and unpowered sites, old amenities. Al about location.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/mission-beach-camping/

Cost: $21 per night unpowered, $25 powered, $3 for extra adult

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Read all about Our 22 Best Free Camps in Australia

Amazing Agnes Water and 1770, Qld

15. Workmans Campground

Location: Agnes Water near 1770 in Queensland.

About: A great campground close to the beach and town of Agnes Water. A short stroll to stunning Workmans Beach or take an oceanfront walk for a few kms to nearby beaches and bays. Great value and the best Rangers looking after the campground.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/workmans-campground-agnes-water/

Cost: $9 per person per night

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes, cold outdoor shower

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Lara Wetlands, Qld

14. Lara Wetlands, Patrick Qld

Location: Lara Wetlands is a cattle station approx 30kms south of Barcaldine and 80kms north of Blackall in Queensland.

About: Lara Wetlands is a beautiful, relaxing waterhole on a cattle station just 30kms south of Barcaldine in Qld.

It has many features including a hot artesian spa, kayaks for use on the wetland and fire pits on each site. Lara Wetlands is where you go to relax and do very little except read a book and chill with an amazing scenery and spectacular sunrise and sunset each day.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/lara-wetlands-patrick-queensland/

Cost: $10 per person per night

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No phone coverage

Kev making hay while the sun shines at Little Roper Stockcamp

13. Little Roper Stockcamp

Location: Mataranka NT

About: Des and Telka are the owners of Little Roper Stockcamp and will welcome you to there fabulous stay. They have a range of animals that kids and parents will enjoy interacting with. This one is brilliant, make sure you watch the video.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/little-roper-stockcamp-mataranka-northern-territory/

Cost: $20 unpowered, 30 powered

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No, but one is nearby at Mataranka

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: Camp hosts Des and Telka have a big fire pit they light up each day

Right on the beach at Coledale

12. Coledale Camping Reserve NSW

Location: Coledale NSW

About: About an hour south of Sydney is the fantastic beachfront camping reserve. It is also only 10 mins from the amazing Sea Cliff Bridge.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/coledale-camping-reserve/

Cost: $25 unpowered, 35 powered

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: Yes, limited

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: No

Sandy Cape overlooking the campground

11. Sandy Cape Campground

Location: 10 kms north of Jurien Bay, Western Australia

About:This place is Fun, Fun, Fun. Grab a sand board and race down the dunes. Fishing, swimming, boating, so much fun to be had. There are BBQ’s available and the sky at night lights up with the stars.
While we were there a great coffee can was available making Burgers, Hot Dogs, Coffees, shakes and more.

Watch the hilarious footage of Adele sand boarding here – https://youtu.be/BcilkWaEAsU

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/sandy-cape-campground-jurien-bay-wa/

Cost: $15 per night

Max nights stay: No Limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No, unless you climb up onto the dunes.

Sandstone Park Campground, Carnarvon Gorge Qld

10. Sandstone Park, Carnarvon Gorge Qld

Location: Carnarvon Gorge is located in the Carnarvon National Park approx. 600kms north west of Brisbane and 200kms south of Emerald.

About: This is a new campground which only opened in 2017 and fast became extremely popular with the travelling public. It’s astounding 360 degree views are incredible. The facilities are fantastic and the sites are big. There’s plenty of access to firewood and did I mention the incredible views!!

Do yourself an enormous favour and make sure you visit Sandstone Park at Carnarvon Gorge

Watch this video of Kevin with Olivia, the owner of Sandstone Park Campground, as they trek their way up Boolimba Bluff. – https://youtu.be/wRVMIbOSL8w

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/sandstone-park-campground-carnarvon-gorge-queensland/

Cost: $20 per night

Max nights stay: No Limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No phone coverage. Some Wifi available at Info centre café.

Noosa North Shore Campground

9. Noosa North Shore Campground

Location: Noosa North Shore, Queensland

About: Noosa North Shore is surrounded by the Cooloola National Park and has absolute beachfront location. You will need a vehicle permit to drive the beach. Access is via the Tewantin Ferry. The campground is currently closed for renovations at time of writing and is expected to re-open in December 2019.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/noosa-northshore-beachfront-campground-noosa/

Cost: $29 unpowered, $36 powered (very limited)

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: Yes, very limited

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: No

Drone view of Dalmeny Campground

8. Dalmeny Campground NSW

Location: Dalmeny, NSW

About: Dalmeny is just 5 mins north of Narooma, a beautiful beachside location. There’s an IGA opposite with fuel and a fish and chip shop nearby too. Most sites are sloping, expect to need to level up.

Video: Coming soon

Cost: $33 per night powered, $30 unpowered

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: Yes

Beach at Osprey

7. Osprey Campground

Location: Cape Range National Park, near Exmouth Western Australia

About: We weren’t able to stay here as we had our dog with us but we took a look around and the location is incredible. Very clean and tidy.

Cost: $10 per adult per night

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No, water available at Info Centre a few kms away

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No, one is just a few kms up the road at Info Centre

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: N0

Stunning Sunset at Honeymoon Bay

6. Honeymoon Bay NSW

Location: Beecroft Weapons Range, Jervis Bay NSW

About: Located in the Jervis Bay National Park region it is only open from Friday at 1pm to Sunday and 8pm. Watch the video for all the details of this magnificent weekend campground.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/honeymoon-bay-campground-jervis-bay/

Cost: $15 per site per night, Extra adults $5 per night, children 15 and under free

Max nights stay: Open Friday to Sunday only

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Fires allowed: No

Barn Hill Station

5. Barn Hill Station

Location: approx. 1 hour drive south of Broome, Western Australia

About: Fabulous Campground on a Cattle Station with 200 sites is the Best Low Cost Campground in WA. 10kms of dirt road to access but easily done even in our Motorhome. They even have a lawn bowls green. It has a very rustic charm, the stars shine bright at night and they make 8 loaves of bread, home made sausage rolls and lamingtons each day for purchase. It is very busy in peak times of June and July.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/barn-hill-station/

Cost: $25 unpowered for 2 adults or $32 powered

Max nights stay: Nil

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: Yes but power can be limited source, comes from solar

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

Happy Hour at Quobba, WA

4. Quobba Campground

Location: approx. 50kms north of Carnarvon, Western Australia

About: Located around the corner from the Quobba Blowholes, the campground offers some of Australia’s best snorkeling. The coral is amazing and there’s lots of fish of many species, Turtles, Rays and Reef Sharks. We also enjoyed fresh oysters directly from the rocks at low tide.

The campground is right on the beach, some with views and others protected by the dunes.

Cost: $11 per person per night, kids under 16 free

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: No

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No

Lucky Bay Campground, just amazing!!

3. Lucky Bay Campground

Location: Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia

About: Located in the incredible Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia, this is a very special place where the kangaroos come into your site or meet you on the beach to say hello. The views are scintillating and the experience is not to be missed.

Our Tip, select site number 12.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/lucky-bay-campground-cape-le-grand-national-park-wa/

Cost: $10 per Adult per night, children over 6 are $2.20. Seniors $6.60 per night

Max nights stay: No limit

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: No

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: No

Rapid Bay Campground, originally our No. 1 out of the 29 Best Campgrounds in Australia

2. Rapid Bay Campground

Location: 1.5 hours south of Adelaide

About: As Darryl Kernigan’s bumbling Lawyer once said, “it’s the vibe” and Rapid Bay gives great vibes.

Voted our Best Free or Low Cost Campground in Australia! This is a fantastic campground, so peaceful, so stunning and a great place to relax, swim, snorkel and go fishing. It gets very busy at peak times.
The original Jetty here was destroyed in a storm and a new Jetty costing $3.8m was recently built to replace it.
Divers come from afar to dive here looking for a rare Sea Dragon, only found in these waters.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/rapid-bay-campground-rapid-bay-south-australia/

Cost: $7 per person per night

Max nights stay: Nil

Toilets: Yes

Showers: No

Potable water: Yes, sign says it’s not but it’s trucked in from Adelaide

Pet Friendly: Yes

Dump point: No. Yankalilla is 24kms away and has dump point, fuel, groceries, gas etc.

Powered sites: No

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: N0

Telstra coverage: Yes

Trial Bay Gaol Campground. our new No. 1 from our 29 Best Campgrounds in Australia

1. Trial Bay Gaol Campground NSW

Location: South West Rocks, Arakoon National Park NSW

About: We were so lucky to have the opportunity to stay in the overflow section and it was just perfect for us. The campsites overlooking the Bay are also sensational. South West Rocks is amazing, watch the video and see why this is our #1 Campground in Australia.

Video: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/trial-bay-gaol/

Cost: $31 unpowered, $36 powered

Max nights stay: N/A

Toilets: Yes

Showers: Yes

Potable water: Yes

Pet Friendly: No

Dump point: Yes

Powered sites: Yes

Unpowered sites: Yes

Free Wifi: No

Telstra coverage: Yes

These are just our 29 Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia. We know we haven’t seen them all, tell us about your favourite Low Cost Campground?

Thanks
Kevin & Adele
Indefinite Leave

Readers who liked this Article also read:
The Best of Broome
Our Favourite Experiences Traveling Australia
Who to Choose for Caravan and Motorhome RV Insurance
Finding Water as you Travel
Things to See and Do in Margaret River
How much does it cost to Travel to Kangaroo Island

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12 Comments

Ian
June 9, 2017 at 10:22 pm
We need this type of info for NSW please
Reply
- Indefinite Leave
  June 10, 2017 at 9:43 pm
  Hi Ian, thank you for your feedback. NSW is the only state we haven’t been to yet on our travels and we can’t wait until we do very soon. We will be going south through country NSW before coming back up again along the coastline. We are really excited about this part of our trip over the next 12 months and will most certianly be blogging a lot about it and providing updates and reviews on everywhere we stay.
  Thanks again, stay with us and we look forward to providing details soon. 🙂
  Reply
  - Anne Maher
    July 8, 2019 at 5:00 pm
    If you get a chance come to Youcamp Bluelilies at Upper Colo NSW. We are new to Wiki and haven’t had any Wiki campers yet but would love to host some
    Google Youcamp Bluelilies for a peek at our farm. Cheers Anne
    Reply
    - Indefinite Leave
      July 8, 2019 at 5:10 pm
      Hello Anne, thank you for the invite. We sure will if we come by your way 🙂
      Reply
Miriam
June 14, 2017 at 7:55 am
Fantastic info. We’re just about to head up to the NT and Red Centre in under two weeks so this sort of info is brilliant and invaluable. Great site! Happy travels.
Reply
- Indefinite Leave
  June 21, 2017 at 7:31 pm
  Thank you Miriam. Really glad our site is helping you. 🙂
  Reply
Betty
August 30, 2017 at 8:10 am
We are planning on going around our beautiful country in a normal van 😳. I have my doubts but hubby is keen. An Rv is my preferred transport but will see how we go. Thank you for sharing it allows me to collect ideas and info of where to go. Do you have a list of must haves to take and how much clothing wise do you really need? Thanks again Betty
Reply
- Indefinite Leave
  August 30, 2017 at 3:44 pm
  Hi Betty. Thank you for your message. Let me just answer your question with a lot lot less than you think lol. We have sent “stuff” back 6 times in our first 18 months on the road and we are about to take even more back. It’s amazing what you Don’t need!!
  My advice is take the bare minimum and anything you don’t use for 6 months goes back. Safe travels.
  Reply
Denise breen
November 3, 2017 at 10:27 pm
Hi just let you know that Cliff head now has two Lots of toilets on the grounds, very clean I was there two weeks ago
Reply
- Indefinite Leave
  November 8, 2017 at 7:42 pm
  Thank you Denise. You are certainly correct, you will see the toilets in the video. That’s an error I’ll correct now. Thanks for letting me know, safe travels. 🙂
  Reply
John
November 4, 2017 at 11:09 am
Great report, though you did mention that there were no toilets at Cliff Head, WA, there has been drop toilets there for years and they have just recently upgraded them to enviro type, a lot nicer.
Reply
- Indefinite Leave
  November 8, 2017 at 7:44 pm
  Hello John, yes you are correct, you will see the toilets in the video. I’ll correct that now. The new toilets were only installed just before we arrived there 🙂
  Safe travels.
  Reply

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Adventurers Diary

Tent Camping on Fraser and Moreton Island

What was it like camping in a tent for the best part of 4 of our last 5 weeks?

We loved it!!

Of course, the magnificent locations of Fraser Island and Moreton Island sure helped. But we really did love it.

Mostly we liked the simplicity.

Camping in a Tent – Back to Basics

It brought us back to the basics of life and a greater feeling of closeness with nature.

We liked being so close to everything. Waking up and looking out the front opening of the tent straight out at the ocean. Watching as the sun took it’s first glimpse above the horizon as a new dawn began each day from our pillow was incredible.

Taking one step outside the tent and feeling the sand under our feet. The coolness of the sand and the unequivocal Australianism of sand between your toes first thing every day is amazing.

I loved being bare foot all day every day.

Daily Routine

Our daily shower was an early morning swim in the ocean. We would wake around 5am, admire the sunrise, enjoy a wonderful breakfast before putting on some board shorts and Adele in her bikinis and enjoy the most liberating and amazing swim to start the day.

It is crazy just how amazing it would make you feel. Man I felt alive!!

In the afternoons we would rinse off under our solar shower and it was amazing how hot the water was after a day baking in the sun.

The tent held up really well to the rainy night we had on Fraser and a very windy night on Moreton.

We were in bed most nights at 7.30 and awake at Sunrise and we loved that.

Our new double burner stove was perfect and allowed us to cook a big variety of meals. Adele made the most amazing Pizza’s on the burner, they were super delicious!

Sleeping in the tent was so much cooler. Outside with the ocean breezes and an air bed that actually becomes cold through the night. We had to create a thick liner between the bed and us to keep ourselves warm during the night from the coolness of the air bed.

Being in a tent forces you outside. There’s not a lot to do inside the tent so you sleep in there and not much else. The rest of the day you are outside, experiencing adventure, interacting with nature and enjoying the beauty of the great Australian outdoors.

Our Camping Equipment:

We borrowed a mate’s Coleman Riverview 8 Tent. We wanted to keep the size to a minimum to save on space and weight and it was perfect for us for these camping trips.

There was plenty of room inside and the simplicity of it was awesome for packing and unpacking, especially as we setup 3 times as we moved around on Fraser Island.

My mate also lent us his PRIMUS 60L dual zone fridge/freezer plus his 200amp AGM battery to run it. This was a lifesaver and was so perfect for us. It drew little power and worked ridiculously well.

We had our Waeco 35L fridge which we ran from our 120amp Lithium battery. We ended up turning this one off after a few days and didn’t even take it to Moreton Island.

The portable toilet was a Kings model you can buy from the 4wd Supacentre. We paid just $79, heaps less than other ones we looked at. It was excellent and worked perfectly.

Our portable 2 burner cooktop is a Campmaster we bought on special from Big W for just $35. We really loved it and didn’t bother taking our Weber Baby Q with us and now don’t think we will need it. The Portable burner did everything we wanted and it’s so much more compact and easy to use.

For lighting we had our Ryobi 18v area light plus my awesome aircraft grade aluminum 1000 lumen torch. If needed we also had lighting from the canopy of the 4wd.

Our Solar shower was less than $10 from 4wd Supacentre and it also worked perfectly. Afternoon showers were fabulous and after the day in the sun the water was genuinely hot.

I did put a hole into our first one when on Fraser, it was my fault as I put it up on a branch with a broken branch behind it that punctured a hole, but at $9.95 it was no issue to replace it again.

Camping Royalty

The Royal Chair that Queen Adele would sit and wave to passing 4wd’s was so good but sadly it too succumbed to a Dingo attack on Fraser Island and it had to go to Royal heaven. We got it on special at Big W for just $15 but it was the last one and now we can’t get another.

It was so comfy and we had to fill the base with water which gave it weight and kept it stable, unless of course you sit in it on top of a dune and it does backflips and rolls over and breaks your rib. Poor Adele, was so bloody funny though lol

It had been about 25 years since we last went camping in a tent and back then it was with an old tucker box with Dry Ice and we had to dig holes to go to the toilet. For cooking we had to lug around a gas bottle and stove and also a gas light. Camping is way easier today with the more modern and sophisticated tools at our disposal.

If you haven’t been camping in a tent recently, consider the opportunity to go back to basics and embrace life in it’s most simple form.

My Tip for Tent Camping: Check weather forecast first, it’s a lot less fun if it is raining and or there are gusting winds.

Safe Travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

Also check out our videos – Moreton Island Everything you Need to Know

and Exploring Fraser Island Beaches, Tracks, Creeks and Rocks by 4wd

You may also enjoy reading our 21 Best Things to do in and around Brisbane

and What it REALLY costs to Road Trip Australia

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Adventurers Diary

Our Best Travel Tips

It’s 1398 days on a road trip of a lifetime for us at Indefinite Leave and we have loved every single moment, the good, the bad, the ugly and everything that comes with it, so we have had plenty of time to identify our our best travel tips for you.

4 years ago we came to a point where we knew we wanted more. Work was killing us, we had become lost in city life, our morals had become corrupted. Our lives felt mundane, every day was like Groundhog day and the stress and pressure of work, a mortgage, more bills, housework and everything else we all deal with was taking a toll. Our desire to travel and explore was off the Richter scale.

We needed more, we wanted to see magnificent sunsets, be amazed by an outback night sky, interact with animals in the wild and experience places we had never been.

The Changes in our 4 years

A lot has changed since we left, we started out as 4 and now we are 2. Our eldest son Matt was with us for the first 2 years and when he finished up just before Christmas 2017 he was a new man. He found happiness, he found joy, he had so many great new friends, he had new skills and he was more confident. We miss having Matt with us but his time had come to create his own new life.

We also started with our beautiful Golden Retriever named MACKS. Wow, she had a ball traveling the country with us for her last 16 months. Devastatingly we had to let her go in June 2017 as arthritis had crippled her.

Kev was a complete frog when we left and really felt the cold. Now the cold doesn’t bother him so much and he swims in much cooler waters than ever before. His fishing hasn’t improved though haha

Adele is really enjoying life without work. Much less stress, far more sleep. Not so many nights laying in bed with her mind racing thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow at work. This lifestyle really suits us both.

Our Best Travel Tips For You

For the last 1398 days this has been our experience, so here’s our best travel tips for you:

– Embrace everything about life on the road. There will be bad days and very bad days. But they will be outweighed and outnumbered by the good days.

– Say Hello to everyone you meet. A simple question like how long are you staying or where are you from can open the door to amazing new friendships. Strangers are friends you haven’t met yet.

– Australian Wildlife and Marinelife is amazing.

– Say yes. Don’t overthink things, bad weather, rough track, a bit unsure, just do it!!

– Found a nice secluded spot to yourselves? Crank some great music up a bit, spread out, have a glass or 3, dance and live the moment.

– It’s all about Freedom. Open space with nowhere to be.

– There’s nothing better than a great fire beside a river or on the beach, a few beers/rums and wine, new mates and a view to die for.

– See Australia, don’t just exist out there. Climb that Gorge, walk that trail, take that scenic flight, visit those caves, do the Gaol tour, go on the fishing charter, see that island. Because it’s about experiences.

– The human mind and body can do a lot more than you think it can.

– Live life on your own terms. Make your own daily choices and live irresponsibly.

– You can make more money at home but you may only have one chance to really explore Australia. Do it while you can.

– Don’t rush, see everything you possibly can. Uluru, Karijini, Kakadu, The Cape are all a long way. You will probably never get there again so take your time and enjoy the moments for as long as you can.

– It’s an adventure, not a holiday.

– No stress allowed!! So be sure to leave it at home.

– Fall in love with your partner all over again.

– It’s all about the journey.

– Get a Samsung phone. Their cameras are amazing.

– Get lost. Literally, go get lost and enjoy the experience.

– Step out of your comfort zone and do what scares you.

– Leave behind life as you know it and build a newer, better, more adventurous you.

– Don’t turn on TV, it’s just junk and because it can be depressing.

– Telstra or Boost, because that’s your only options.

– Wikicamps is your Bible but the best places are found by chatting to other people.

– A 4wd does get you places others can’t. So will being self contained.

– Free camp. You will meet more people, friendlier people, have more space and privacy and love the experience more.

– You will see more and it will cost a lot less without your pet.

– When you’ve decided the absolute minimum ‘must take’ essentials for your trip, then reduce it again.

– Back up your photos often because it’s beyond tragic if you lose all of those memories.

What are your best travel tips? Share them in the comments below 🙂

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

If you enjoyed this blog, you may also enjoy reading:

What it REALLY costs to travel Australia

Our 22 Best Free Camps in Australia

Our 29 Best Campgrounds in Australia

Motorhomes vs Caravans

Magnificent Honeymoon Bay NSW

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Where to Find Us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

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Adventurers Diary

Motorhomes vs Caravans – the facts

Motorhomes vs Caravans! This is a discussion we hear so often, so what’s better, Caravans or Motorhomes?

This question is messaged to us a lot. We read about it online all the time and it’s a constant in discussions around the campfire and at Happy Hour all across the country. I even went and watched my mates in my old cricket team play yesterday and one of them brought up the subject.

Which is fine except it rarely involves the Facts!!

In most cases those who own Caravans argue why they are better while Motorhome owners inherently argue why theirs is better.

Neither Motorhomes or Caravans are perfect

The truth is, neither is better than the other.

Each one has benefits the other one doesn’t have.

Now of course there’s numerous other options too including Fifth Wheelers, Campervans (whizz bangers), Camper Trailers, Slide Ons, Tents, Swags and more. But most people travel in Caravans or Motorhomes and these are the two that are almost always discussed in comparisons so I’ll stick with just talking about them today.

It’s at this point I’ll stick up my hand and say I’ve never owned a Caravan. I’ve towed trailers and boats and all sorts of things but never a Caravan. Personally I’d be happy if I never did but the reality is it’s probably inevitable that one day we will.

Our choice of weapon for our almost 4 years so far around Australia is a Motorhome. We met, traveled with and spent so much time with others who tow Caravans. We saw their processes, watched them as we followed up the highways and of course discussed their caravans in length over many dampers and a Rum or three around a fire at night. I think I’ve got something of a grasp on towing a Caravan however admittedly not the experience.

Our decision not to tow

We decided from the beginning not to tow. We thought if we needed a vehicle we would use a Taxi or hire a car. On a couple of occasions, we did use Taxi’s but never ended up hiring a vehicle. We’ve heard others say the same thing, we’ll just hire a car, but that didn’t happen for us and it really isn’t a solution either.

We chose not to tow because we thought the size of our 8m Motorhome was already big enough to deal with and we didn’t want the extra cost of maintaining another vehicle.

But let’s be honest, most travelers traverse the country by Caravan which has to suggest for most people it is the preferred method.

If we were starting over again and I knew then what I know now, I’d have still chosen a Motorhome but I would have taken a trailer and a decent 4wd. But we were complete rookies and we are very happy with the decisions we made, they were the right choices for us at that time.

Read all about our decision for buying our Motorhome here

The Motorhomes vs Caravans Debate

Let’s look at the argument, Caravans vs Motorhomes.

The 2 favourite lines by Caravan owners are:

With a Caravan you can unhook and use your car!!

This is true and it is the greatest benefit of Caravans vs Motorhomes. It can be counter claimed by Motorhome owners that they too can tow a vehicle. This is a fair argument however it does have limitations. Towed vehicles are almost always a Suzuki which are the most suitable to be flat towed. Some travelers will tow a trailer but weight limits usually see this method also limit the Motorhome to towing a smaller car such as the Suzuki or similar.

The benefit here of the Caravan is the tow vehicle is normally a larger 4wd. With this option you can take a Swag, small tent or similar and leave the Caravan behind for days to go off track and see more places. Realistically it simply opens more doors to see more places.

There’s also beach camping such as 80 Mile Beach and Warroora Station in WA, some amazing places along the beaches at the bottom of WA, Gibb River Rd, Carmila Beach in Qld, Cape York, Tomato Island and Roper Bar, Gunlom Falls in the NT and no doubt the list goes on and on of great places a 4wd and Caravan can go that a Motorhome can’t or shouldn’t.

This is without doubt the greatest benefit of a Caravan over a Motorhome.

Check out our video of how we almost got bogged in the motorhome!

Motorhomes vs Caravans – the facts

So lets look at the Facts:

Common statement: In a Motorhome you have to pack up everything to go to the shops to buy Bread or Milk!!

Despite what too many people proclaim, you never have to “pack everything up” to go down the shop to get milk and bread. NEVER HAPPENS!!

Never, Ever, Ever!!

When you arrive in town in a Motorhome if you need groceries you go get them. If not, you are either towing a vehicle or, if like us you only have the Motorhome, then you are going out most days anyway.

We don’t set up like you do in a Caravan. We don’t put out an annexe, actually we often didn’t even put out the awning. No awning mats, no ropes, no permanent structure. It takes little more than 5 mins to put a few bits of cutlery away, bring in the slide-out, take down our curtain, unplug the power if on a powered site and be driving away.

It’s simple and easy and not once did we ever have to do that because we needed to go around to the shop for milk. Lets debunk that myth now forever.

Shops are often walking distance anyway but again, it was never an issue and I don’t remember ever needing to walk to the shops to buy something we needed.

Motorhome Benefits

Motorhomes don’t roll over.

Ok sure, it’s possible, but it’s so rare it’s reasonable to say it never happens. Stories of Caravans rolling over however seem to be a daily occurrence. It’s so common there’s enormous debate about whether Caravan owners should have a special license and we are now seeing weigh stations popping up around the country to police it.

This was a major factor for us deciding to choose a Motorhome.

In a Motorhome we can stay places you can’t in a Caravan

We stealth camp!!

There I’ve said it. We keep it a secret because we know there’s always going to be those that want to tell everyone else how they should live their life and how there’s rules against it blah blah. The very politicians who make our rules break rules themselves every day of the week. Much much bigger rules that have far greater impact than us pulling up somewhere for the night.

Anyway, I digress 🙂

We can park places you couldn’t get away with in a Caravan. Hotel carparks, Shopping Centre carparks, Sportsgrounds, general parks and boat ramps. We’ve stayed in them all and more and whilst some Caravan owners might too, it’s much easier to do in a Motorhome and get away with it.

(I just know I’m going to regret disclosing this… )

It’s cheaper in a Motorhome

With our Kitchen with us everywhere we went, we never ate out. Our food, drinks and cooking equipment were always on hand saving us heaps.

We also liked never needing to find public toilets let alone having to use one. Our bathroom was always with us.

If we pulled up somewhere and thought let’s go for a swim or get out the fishing rods, our gear was always there.

We also never found ourselves annoyed because we left the camera behind.

Our Motorhome has 6 tyres, 2 less than many 4wd and caravan setups.

1 vehicle to maintain unless you choose to tow.

No hitching and unhitching. As you get older for many it becomes a chore.

Motorhomes rarely get stolen. Caravans are a definite target for lowlife thieves.

Caravan Benefits

You can go more places. As discussed previously, the 4wd opens up so many more places a Motorhome just doesn’t often allow you.

More space. The 4wd gives you the whole tray and with a rooftop rack you can get a lot more up there too. We looked at Caravans recently at the Brisbane Camping Show and they don’t seem to have the external storage we do with our Motorhome though.

Having your base. It’s great that you can park the Caravan and know you have that base to come back to in the afternoon that’s all set up and you can just walk in and relax. It only takes us 10 minutes in the Motorhome but sometimes after a long day it would be great to just turn off the ignition and reach for the esky for a cold beverage.

The 4wd is perfect for carrying firewood. We didn’t have anywhere external for that and the one time we decided to get some firewood and we put it inside the Motorhome, we ended up with white ants inside. Never again!!

Lots of people do have external setups in their Motorhome for firewood but it’s so much simpler and easier with a 4wd.

Securing your Campsite

Knowing your Campsite is secure when you leave for the day. In our almost 4 years we never once came back to find someone had taken our spot. We always left our table and chairs out and all was fine when we returned. We did often comment, I wonder if our stuff is still there or wonder if someone has taken our spot. It never happened but it was something that would briefly be on your mind as we drove back. Not such an issue with a Caravan, you just hope the Van is still there I guess lol

The fuel economy from my experiences reading and talking to both Caravan and Motorhome owners is they are pretty similar. As mentioned though, we weren’t towing a vehicle. Smaller Motorhomes than ours and those without the overhead cabin that we have would achieve better fuel economy and probably be more fuel efficient than most 4wd and Caravan setups.

We now do own a 4wd, having bought a Triton recently. So far we have used the 4wd for trips to Fraser Island and Moreton Island so no major trips where we have had to decide how we incorporate both vehicles but that time will come very soon.

There it is, my thoughts on the real differences between a Caravans vs Motorhomes. Sure, there are other factors but I think these are the major differences.

What are your thoughts regarding Motorhomes vs Caravans?

If you’re considering which way to go for your Big Lap of Oz, hopefully we’ve given you some valid points to consider. Most importantly, it doesn’t matter how you do it, just do it and enjoy the adventure 🙂

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

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