work in exchange for free camping

Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:30
ThreadID: 84904 Views:3211 Replies:5 FollowUps:9
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Could the more experienced travellers please tell me the best way to find out about campsites at no cost in return for light duties. We have the Camps book so Know all about the free camp sites but would like to look into doing some light work in return for a free camp site in the busier areas which are also more costly especially for an extended stay
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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:44

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:44
i did see an ad for that at, i think from memory, Croydon in QLD, cant remember the details but was 3-4 days a week for free food as well as a bed ..... not a "busy" area i guess but it does happen..
I would be careful with work cover if anything happened, i know most doing or planning it probally would not care as it is a risk any way but it could be an issue i guess, there are some people out there that could potentually "use" you...
You guys are about to head off on your big trip if i recall ???
Cheers
Joe
AnswerID: 447800

Follow Up By: John & Loz - Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:53

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:53
Thanks Joe Yeah thats rit not to long now. Just been doing some research hense this is where this question comes from.
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Follow Up By: John & Loz - Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:56

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 20:56
Thanks Joe Yeah thats rit not to long now. Just been doing some research hense this is where this question comes from.
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Follow Up By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 21:03

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 21:03
11 years ago we left a "town" with a baby 3 m old and lived on a Pearl Farm in the Kimberlys, we since have worked in Kakadu and had another baby there, lived in Arnhem Land and then on a little island in the Gulf of Carpentairia and had 3 baby there, moved to a farm in NSW, back up to NT, out to Vic River Nat Park on small community, down to Nyirripi in desert and now at Doomadgee in QLD (3 kids) ....... ALL bar Darwin/Leeton for say 6M with 2 bubs was in company provided housing so we have in "effect" worked for free camping whilst we have travelled and seen some places that we would never have possibly ever seen .................
Cheers guys and have heaps of fun, you will have some dissapointments but dont we all ???
Joe
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Follow Up By: cate a - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 05:06

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 05:06
Wow, I am impressed, travelling and working with 3 babies in NT
We have been travelling since 2007 when our daughter was 2, she is 6 now, we don't meet many travelling long term with kids.
We have been all over WA but just made it to the Kimberleys when we had to come back east, so we didn't get to anywhere as interesting and remote as you. Though now we are making up for it by caretaking accommodation at Portland Roads Cape York.
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Reply By: Cruiser .- Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 22:09

Wednesday, Mar 09, 2011 at 22:09
John & Loz

Have a look at Willing Workers On Organic Farms

Cheers,

Cruiser
AnswerID: 447808

Follow Up By: John & Loz - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 11:39

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 11:39
Thanks Cruiser wil look into it
Cheers
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Reply By: cate a - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 04:54

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 04:54
Hi, I was going to say WWOOFing
For that you need a book to register, there is a forum on the website for
Also try Help Exchange, they have a searchable website and they have all sorts of jobs

Here is my article on Help Exchange on
MoreTravelForLess

There is also housesitting, farm sitting, sometimes people have room for a caravan or tent, see my articles on house sitting

You can be a camp host for NPWS, get in fast as those positions are booked up well in advance.
AnswerID: 447819

Follow Up By: John & Loz - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 13:59

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 13:59
Thanks Cate, I checked out help exchange its a cracker site. I have saved it to favourites. The best thing about this site is I can start to book in with places before we even get going.
Oh a great article.
Thnx again
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Follow Up By: cate a - Monday, Mar 14, 2011 at 04:44

Monday, Mar 14, 2011 at 04:44
I don't know your skills but there is also Farm Sitters

and The Land often has ads for care takers -

ACTIVE retired couple to help run a small mid Nth Coast camping ground, no wages but free rent. Suit fisherman, great lifestyle. Must have own van. Short term okay. Sorry no dogs. Phone (02) 6566 0144

Caretaking is more often longer term, wwoofing and helpx you need to be prepared to work up to 5hrs per day up to 6 days per week, though for that you get meals as well. That would normally be for both of you but you'd have to negotiate since you would need time with your kids.

The easiest thing is housesitting, just care for some animals and that's about it, and you have the place to yourself and plenty of time to explore, but of course it is not bush camping! Sometimes it may be a rural property where you stay in your own van.

We have a neighbour who takes wwoofers at Restoration Island, on the east coast of Cape York though I don't know if he takes families. Restoration Island If he does, our 6 year old daughter who would love some visitors.
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Follow Up By: John & Loz - Monday, Mar 14, 2011 at 12:52

Monday, Mar 14, 2011 at 12:52
Thanks Cate, you are a wealth of information. We wont be hitting the East Coast till next year, I will however store your info for that time. Im finding the helpx website to be really helpful. We have already made plans. Thanks again Lorraine
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Reply By: Alloy c/t - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 11:13

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 11:13
Lots of places just put a sign on the window or door when they require some staff in the out of the way places , also www.workabout.com.au can give results , work often depends on skills , other times no skills needed , plenty of stations out here just want some one to look after the homestead for a month or two while they go on holidays to the big smoke , other station staff do all the real work.
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Follow Up By: John & Loz - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 13:56

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 13:56
Chers Alloy, I found the workabout website and have saved it to favourites.
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Reply By: zenonie - Friday, Mar 11, 2011 at 08:54

Friday, Mar 11, 2011 at 08:54
Hi, we are often looking for pple to do odd jobs and gardening maintenance in exchange for free stuff on our place, Kilcowera Station. We are registered with Helpx and workabout and woofers and get a few pple through these websites. So if ever your out our way.... between Thargomindah and Hungerford on the Dowling Track. Cheers zenonie.
AnswerID: 447891

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