Low temps in Central Oz?

You certainly can, we've seen it so cold in Alice Springs that it looked like it had snowed with the frost on everything.
Most of the central area of the continent will be getting down to 2 or 3 deg of a night in the middle of winter, definately single digit temps most nights unless you get a warm spell.
We usually dress in layers and peel it off as the sun comes up.
We also tend to bush camp as you can have a fire which takes the chill off, van parks in atent are very cold places, when the kids were little we would usually get an onsite van or cabin for that very reason in places like the Alice. If you have a camper or van a 240v fan heater is the go.

We are heading up to the Simpson in 2 weeks and last night tested our bedding at home with the doors and windows open. Lucky we did as our lilo deflated by 4am with a quick scramble back into our bed. We were warm though but expect the desert to be somewhat colder than outer Melbourne was last night. If you look at the weather section on this sight you get an idea. Cheers. Chris.

This time last year we bush camped about 50 km south of the NT border and the fridge temp was 1 deg inside, minus 7 outside, all our water inlcuing bottles in out camper trailer were frozen. Brrrrrrr.

GB

Nige

Go to Weather Button of Forum Page and have a play around there to see average temps Australia wide.

Now at 10am CST in the mid north of SA it is 4 degrees...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Cheers

That'll explain why beanies are a popular fashion item in the centre.

See 'em worn everywhere!

I've had ice on my windscreen in the Simpson, followed by a day of 35C.
Coldest place I've ever camped out was north of Oodna. So cold that we piled the bedclothes on top of the kids, stoked the dying fire and sat by it till the sun came up. It was freezing.
Last year in Alice Springs it got way down, around 1 or 2 C. But I was inside a motel with an electric heater so it didn't bother me. Coldest place on that trip was in Charleville, where my passenger decided that he really needed a new sleeping bag if he was to survive another night.

Yep, it gets bl00dy freezing. A few winters ago, camped out near Mt Magnet (WA) and there was ice on the roof rack, 2M up. Ground temp was about -4. And was at Ruby Gap near Alice one year when it was in the minus range. The wind chill makes it worse.
Now I don't consider them to be a fashion statement, but investing in a good beanie is sound advice if camping out this time of year.
I still use an inflatable mattress, but I lay a good blanket between us and the mattress to limit the heat transfer.
Meantime, it's clear skies and 4deg outside in Perth, the gas heater is running inside. Geez it feels nice (hee hee).
Gerry

Gday,
Last night the forecast was -2. Trust me we were out chasing vandals who spray painted a neighbours car at 1.00 and it was bloody freezing!
This time last year it got down to -6 and its raining as I type so its going to get colder.
We were camping down at Apatula (Finke) last weekend, daytime temps were nice and warm but nightime was freezing (yes, ice on the car). Even in the camper trailer our beds felt wet it was so cold and had to put a tarp over our them to stop the moisture.
Speaking of fashion statements.....buy yourself some thermal underwear (long johns) and a good beanie (or a wide brimed hat and grow heaps of hair) and stay near the fire at night and youll be find.

Cheers
Hairy

Hi. Just got back from Finke on Thursday, we didnt get any frost at W/creek, Eringa or Finke,I think it only got down to 4 or 5 degrees, there was a cold wind but dry tents each morning, we camped at Chambers Pillar and it was pretty cold but no dew, but we had dew at Marla and ice on the car at Kyngoonya .
Also a good matress is the secret, we have Thermarests ( dear but worth every penny). and a beanie to keep the ears warm.
The days were nice , jumpers off at Finke and back on about 4.00ish.
Have fun Cheers Des.

Went camping last weekend for the long weekend, headed up the lakes with a group of friends and our bikes.Now normally people down here do not go camping in a Tassie winter but two other groups with us had new campers and wanted badly to try them out.So what did we all do-- electric blankets.Yep good old electric balnkets.We had 650w elcheapo gennies and would fire them up about 1900hrs with a long cord away from the campers so you could hardly hear them.Man it was great to leave the roaring fire and go and jump into a toasty bed.Gennies would run for 10hrs with blankets left on low(four blankets).We had thick frost on the ground by 1930 and in the morning we had snow on the mountains all round us.
Yep call me soft but this time last year we were basking in Kununurra sunshine.

After reading this SWMBO wants to know how many extension leads to bring to run the heater off a point at the homestead at Warraweena? She also wants to know of any 12v alternative. Sounds like something to chew batteries to me but I said I'd ask.
I look forward to the responses ;-)
NickR

Coleman Procat heater one of the best bits of gear we have bought for the caravan.
Gets snuggly warm and have to put off for a time as it can get to warm. Prefer going away in winter less people and cheaper and Coleman heater is brilliant bit of gear.

thanks for the replies... was wondering if we would be putting up bed flys on our camper... looks like the answer is "yes"

Cheers, Nige

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the good old hot water bottle.
I don't go camping in winter without mine.
A few tawnys and the trusty hot water bottle tucked into the fartsack, and the world is a beautiful place. Too easy:)

Cheers
Glenn

Well looks like i'm gonna die ...... Warraweena in a tent and airbed hell I live in stubbies and t shirt .......... My body refuses to work at 10 let alone - 5. I guess I should have got that LONG Drizabone plus some ........ :( Beanie better get one of them and gloves .... bugger me keeping warm will cost more than the trip.

I guess Shepperton Vic will be just as cold.

Better pack a stubbie holder to keep hand off beer can.

Brian