Outback camping in a tent?

Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 15:52
ThreadID: 130232 Views:2689 Replies:18 FollowUps:4
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Hi has anyone travelled around the outback (particularly cameron corner, innaminka, birdsville, marree, coober pedy) in a tent?

We were planning our big lap in an offroad camper but someone pulled out into us and it's damaged. We were supposed to leave this week so we are tossing up the idea of heading for the first part of our trip with our tent instead and looping back to pick up the trailer when it's finished (they said it may be a write off though so have to wait and see)

Just thought i'd get some experiences and advice if anyone has done this? Thanks :)
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Reply By: Grizzle - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 16:37

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 16:37
Have done all those places in a swag lying on the ground. No drama.

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Follow Up By: muzbry - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:07

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:07
Gday Grizzle
I slept in my car, but i see no problems.
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Reply By: philip t jones - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:25

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:25
Have done it with my wife, both of us in our late 60s a couple of times.
AnswerID: 590143

Reply By: colanjen - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:42

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:42
I would have thought that's the way the majority would do it.

To help you, what do you see as being the problem or issues?

Col.
AnswerID: 590145

Reply By: TomH - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:47

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:47
Most would travel in a vehicle and sleep in a tent. They arent very mobile except in a wind..

Sorry couldnt resist
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Reply By: bigden - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:50

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:50
Ash
I have a Blackwood turbo tent , about 5 minutes up and about 10 to pack up its 3mt square and find it ok for travelling
. Only problem it's large and heavy packed up,
there are smaller models and different "turbo" tents., oz trail and Coleman make them. But I bought what I did to keep the missus happy
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Follow Up By: bigden - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:51

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:51
Bloody predictive text, that was supposed to be black wolf turbo tent
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Reply By: Ash H1 - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:57

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 17:57
We have kids.

Worried about the weather mostly.
AnswerID: 590148

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 19:59

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 19:59
Will the weather affect you differently if you are in a tent as opposed to a camper trailer? If it rains both will have wet canvas. If tenting take a folding lawn rake to clear your tent site if stones and sticks before you pitch your tent, and as others have suggested take a ground sheet to put under the tent.

Cheers,

Val.
J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
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Reply By: RobAck - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 18:24

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 18:24
You will need a good ground sheet under the tent to stop the rocks and sticks getting through the base. Apart from that good self inflating mattresses and sleeping bags and you will have a lot of fun. We have tented the Simpson and that area for the last 15 years so no problems. Get out to Coongie Lakes if you can brilliant place for you and the kids as well

Rob
AnswerID: 590149

Reply By: rumpig - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 20:26

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 20:26
Have tented the area you speak of with our family of 4 when we crossed The Simpson Desert a few years back. Can't see it being an issue for you, you just need to allow for the cool nights same as you would in a camper trailer anyhow. We did Brisbane to Ayres Rock via Lake Eyre, and back home across The Simpson Desert after coming down The Old Ghan Line on that trip....all done in a touring tent
We've also tented Cape York with the family also, the only issue is fitting everything in the vehicle with a family of 4, it's much easier to fit everything when you have a camper trailer. In saying that, being trailer less certainly has it's advantages at times also.
AnswerID: 590154

Follow Up By: Ash H1 - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 20:51

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 20:51
Thanks. Definitley worried about space! And it being cooler/warmer and also security as it's easier for animals to get into tents then canvas (so i've been told)
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Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 20:57

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 20:57
With the groundsheet recommendations, one of the very best choices there is shadecloth !!

Cut a little larger especially out front for a verandah area, it drains well, protects well, fairly light, and stuff just shakes off when folding it up.
Also dirt / seeds etc on your shoes comes off so nicely whe you walk on it, we don't even have to remove shoes when going into the tent etc.
AnswerID: 590156

Reply By: AlbyNSW - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 21:04

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 21:04
Have done that trip with a family close to a dozen times and only ever done it with tents or swags
Nothing to worry about wildlife wise unless there is a mice or fly plague on and that you take comfortable bedding
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Reply By: 322 - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 21:37

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 21:37
We are travelling Oz at the moment. So far we've tented it on Fraser Island and right up through Cape York. We went up the Bloomfield via Cooktown from Cairns. Now we're planning on Finke Gorge and the MacDonnell ranges.
AnswerID: 590162

Reply By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 22:12

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2015 at 22:12
The only potential downer I see is whether you are planning to spend a few nights in each place or stop & go each night. If the latter a family sized tent could become a p.i.t.a to put up & down all the time. Depends whether you can train the kids to help.
AnswerID: 590164

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Sep 09, 2015 at 07:28

Wednesday, Sep 09, 2015 at 07:28
Hi Ash

We have done that area many times and find the best of all is a swag.

One important piece of kit that we always take is a cut down plastic garden rake for raking over the area where the swag will go, then down with the ground sheet and no problems at all.

Either way, tent or swag, you will have no problems at all.

Have a great time.



Cheers




Stephen
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Sep 09, 2015 at 10:29

Wednesday, Sep 09, 2015 at 10:29
Prior to getting married, I always camped in a swag, and if it rained, we got under, or in, any shelter possible. The only "visitors" I had in the swag were a couple of centipedes, and 2 snakes!

We did a couple of trips to Kakadu tenting, plus trips to Lake Eyre and Ayers rock, in 2011, with our el cheapo KMart tent.



When we did the lake Eyre trip, in June '11, the rats were about near Birdsville, and mice around Lake Eyre were thick. We kept food up in the vehicle so they didn't worry the tent. The mice at Muloorina camp were climbing up the tent then "skiing" down the sides.....pretty funny to watch. Doubt if they are about at the moment.



We use shadecloth, as mentioned by someone else too, as a groundsheet. That tent comfortably sleeps 3 adults, but would cater for 2 adults and 2-3 kids. If Hubby was in the bad books, he could always sleep outside in the "vestibule".

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Reply By: Member - Chargergirl76 - Wednesday, Sep 09, 2015 at 13:10

Wednesday, Sep 09, 2015 at 13:10
We've done all of that in tents. The first time we did Birdsville/Simpson we were in a cheap dome tent and were fine. More recently we've done it all in our Black Wolf Turbo Lite, great tents and worth the money.
AnswerID: 590181

Reply By: Trevor&Verna - Thursday, Sep 10, 2015 at 00:27

Thursday, Sep 10, 2015 at 00:27
We've tented it outback for the last 35 years before we got lazy and went for the Vista.
Loved it - The flap of the canvas, low expense and simplicity is still attractive.
I suggest the following:
* A good quality quick erect tent eg turbo or 30 sec (we had a 30s). Some tents are slow to pack away - check, as this is important to lessen the physical effort impact of camping!
* Bring beds if you have room. Easy to get into and out of. We have the fold-away style, but cross legged will suffice. We have avoided blow-up style.
* Make "bed rolls" that can be rolled up or unrolled each day; quickly and easily.
* Have an in-vehicle storage system that is in tune with your pack-up/un-pack sequence. What do you need first, last etc. Ours was a tray back ute - ideal for this.
* Take heed of other advice about entrance mats. Good!. In fact, a piece of shade cloth both under the tent and extending out front a metre or so stops a lot of dirt in your gear, and makes pack-up easier.
* Have a piece of canvas (or other) to pack gear on alongside the vehicle prior to packing to stow stuff on and keep it out of the dirt.

Have a good trip!



Trevor&Verna, Kal WA

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Reply By: OBJ - Thursday, Sep 10, 2015 at 16:31

Thursday, Sep 10, 2015 at 16:31
Went around Australia and used an Oztent. No dramas. Our pack up and set down was lightning fast after a week or two.
OBJ
AnswerID: 590217

Reply By: wombat100 - Thursday, Sep 10, 2015 at 17:00

Thursday, Sep 10, 2015 at 17:00
As long as you DON'T do it when the rats are out and about- like they were a few years back.
They tend to like sharing sleeping bags.
Especially around Innaminka & Birdsville. !!!
Have fun



AnswerID: 590219

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