traveling oz, 4 kids looking for free camps etc

I would suggest for a small investment you can't go far wrong with this

http://www.campsaustraliawide.com/

I have version 2 and have done many kms almost all free camping using the info

Sleeping at roadside stops is always a worry for first timers. Even old hands are careful. However just observing some basic safety rules will see you OK.
Try and stop where there are at least another 2 mobs. Truck camping areas are good but not numerous. I've slept in all sorts of places and believe me, others are just as worried about you as you are about them.
Have a mobile phone and try and camp within range of its coverage. Its a reassurance.
4 kids are a handfull. Supervise them carefully as they can accidently get into strife that will make stranger danger seem welcome.
Follow your sixth sense. If a situation or area looks sus then carry on.
Years ago my parents took us on holiday and we stopped to sleep in the car in a roadside pulloff. One of us asked if this was the place where the farmer had been murdered. That was it ! My mum made dad drive into a town and we pulled off in the main street. I awoke to find people going to the post office opposite. We later found that it wasn't that place at all.
Most of all have fun. Remember that thousands of people just like you sleep in all kinds of places and wake up happy the next morning.
I guess they don't have 4 kids with them :))

wouldnt get to concerned I have camped all sorts of spots including out the front of pubs and the only time i had a problem was in the Derby information centre in the middle of town when a drunk local mistook my van for the indiginous service bus but the maglight in the eyes and a stern F.... off now before you cop the torch over the head sorted things out

I wouldn't worry about being attacked when camping in Australia but I would worry about the wisdom of taking a 14 year old out of school to do a tour of Oz for 12 months.

Mike Harding

Go for it,
Father in law has travelled for years and has gone 9 months without a single night in c/park, so get camps book mentioned earlier and use it, as we are just starting too as well, truck stops are ok but noisey, town rec grounds are often available espectially small towns, dont be bullied by councils, there main concern is human waste so use a porta loo where you can, if you are unable to drive safely because you have a "migrain" ? then stay where you are!
Have a good trip.

Hi to all,
did it in a bus for about 4years,two things to remember 1. always park in a position that enables you to drive straight out ,without fuss and secondly,always find your camp in good daylight,so you can have a good look around.I didnt once and found out that we were about a 100 metres away from an aboriginal camp which accounted for all the noise during the night,but all is generally safe if common sense is used.Have a good trip
regards Dave

Hi Tony
Don't know if you have put your names and radio frequency on rear of your van, but have heard it can be a problem ,as strangers in the night can call out your name making out they know you, just a thought
Have a great trip
Cheers Poppy

dont forget to check out the small towns as a lot of them can see the advantage of having you stay a day or two and offer free sites in mainly council van parks
we found this was the case in central & western qld at least
if we are thinking of staying somewhere we normally fill up with fuel then ask the people at the servo where to stay local knowledge is always handy you'll be supprised how often you get offered free sites
enjoy your trip
Kev

tonyjulie,
Have alook at my reply to post 23589.
I haven't checked but maybe the books are available from the exploroz shop.
TAKE THE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL
regards RAY

We have had the kids out of school for five years now and they havn't missed any good stuff or bad stuff. Being on the road for them will just be a bonus. They do distance education and love it. Compared to their friends who are in school they do alot more work and actually remember it and they are well rounded mature people compared to their peers. Would not say it is a problem. Thanks to all who responded to our first post. We got some good advice and will be lookin into that book mentioned.

Tony
Your home state has great free overnite stops I used your own roads authority map that shows where all the road side stops were and what facilities are in them. My wife and I have been staying in roadside stops for many year like thousnds of other do and have never had any problems, the rule of thumb that we have always followed is safety in numbers and we have made many great friendships from these overnight stops. Last big trip that we did 4 months and 25,000kms Adelaide, Darwin, Kimberly's, Broome, Perth and home and stayed a total of 20 days in caravan parks mainly to wash clothes top up with water etc.
Have a great trip, your children will learn more with the experience than they would in any class room.

Happy Camping
Treker