Newbie Trip Report - Central Oz

Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 09:49

ThreadID: 38218 Views:2963 Replies:2 FollowUps:1

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PGK

Just back from our first longer trip & had a ball.

Thanks to all for the advice received before we took off.

There is so much more out there than I had imagined.

On the day before we left, our 11yo boy managed to seriously bruise his knee coming off his bike - no real damage just restricted movement from the bruising - took about 6 days to clear - so we shuffled the itinerary to delay some of the longer walks.

Henbury Meteorite Craters
Desert Park at Alice - very informative, could have spent all day here
Gorge & Chasm hoping out the West Macdonells (& every waterhole we could find!)
Mereenie Loop to Kings Canyon - the Rim walk was a highlight
Spent an extra night at Yulara to let the wind drop so that we could do the climb
Mulga Park / Old Gunbarrel
Finke
Lambert Centre
Old Andado Station
Mt Dare
Dalhousie, Algebuckina & Coward Springs
Burra to Morgan re-enactment (purely by chance)
Home via Mildura as SWMBO wanted to see it (i think we're over that one now!)

Grizzle - missed you in Yulara by a couple of days due to our re-shuffle - got your message thankyou.

No punctures (phew!), self-repairing throttle (see other thread), lost a pair of tail-light mounting self-tappers & the stitching securing the tie-down D-Ring loops on the roof bag let go on the run between Mt Dare & Oodnadattata - probably over one of those grids or humps. The only other issue with the car was the fridge lead plug rattling out of it's socket in the rougher stuff - remember seeing on here where somebody had bypassed the plug & socket & hard-wired it - will be doing that before the next trip.

Only used the short lever a couple of times, but very glad to have the suspension etc off the bitumen.

A couple of questions on bush-camping etiquette:

We arrived at Mulga Park station & explained that the Hema map we had showed a camping area & could we use it pls. "You're allowed anywhere within 50 metres of the road" was the reponse - "anywhere you like". Not sure if I read this correctly, but Jason seemed a little surprised we were bothering to ask.

Was one of our favourite spots for the trip & made a point of thanking Jason in the morning before we left.

Do people normally just pull in & set up or do they tend to avoid the stations proper & just pull off the road in scrub? How do station owners feel generally about having people blowing through & camping on their 'front lawn'?

Why would the Hema map show a camping facility in this instance?

The 'within 50 metres of the road' thing - where does this stop & start? (Obviously doesn't apply in towns!)

Thanks & Regards

PGK

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Reply By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 12:14

Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 12:14

Thanks for your report, PKG.
I have no answers to your camping questions but I look forward to someone else answering them.

Regards, Brian

AnswerID: 197608

Reply By: Footloose - Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 13:10

Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 13:10

You will get a few different opinions on this one.
If possible I contact the station beforehand and ask permission, and their advice on where they would like me to stay away from. possible best spots and ask if they need anything from town.
If in the bush, camp somewhere off the main track and well away from the homestead or a tank. Put the fire out and leave no garbage. At no time do I enter gates unless they are on the main track, and then I leave them as found.
If on a main track a long way from anywhere, just find a decent spot as above.
Most station folk are more than reasonable, but just one stupid unthinking tourist can change that quickly.
No matter how remote, treat it as your own backyard, because thats exactly what it is for someone.

AnswerID: 197625

Follow Up By: Hairy - Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 21:56

Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 21:56

As Footloose said.
Because a lot of stations are on a lease, technicaly you are allowed to pull off the side of the road and camp, BUT you are not to know if its a lease or freehold so if you ues a bit of courteousy as footloose pointed out generally you will be alright. If you stay away from any where you think cattle might need to go and and dont leave any trace of your camp when you leave generally know one cares.
A big problem a lot of people dont understand is, if your mustering cattle and come across an area where campers have left some thing (lots of tyre tracks across cattle pads, bits of foil, old fires even smell) the cattle might not want to pass through. This really sheets the owner.
A long as you look like youve just pulled up for a camp and dont plan on setting up for any length of time you should be right.

FollowupID: 456232