Fred’s 10 Favourite Long-term Camps


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De Greys free camp

What is the appeal of free camping? Is it to save money? Does it offer a more natural lifestyle? Is it about the people you meet, or do you just enjoy being able to chill out and meditate?

When I quizzed a number of RVers, their reasons for free camping for several weeks or more varied widely, as did the places they chose. Some camps were remote, hundreds of kilometres away from anything, and some were closer to civilisation – but no matter where they camped, all dedicated long-termers loved their way of life.

There were, however, others who had tried it and prefer shorter stays. Dee Dee, for example, found that after a week or so she gets bored, and is compelled to move on. Laurie is another who believes that free camping is not meant to be long term. She feels that those staying longer spoil it for everyone, because they tend to take the best spots and no one else gets a look in.

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Long term camping at De Greys

On the other hand, we have met people who were just marking time whilst awaiting the arrival of motor vehicle parts after a breakdown. We also met two who had been at Clem Walton Reserve in Queensland for three weeks simply because no one else was there. All in all, I feel that the type of place you choose is, in part, dictated by your reasons for camping.

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Safety is a concern for many. A number of freecamping destinations are out of mobile range. We have covered this by taking a “SPOT”, a GPS device that enables you to send your location to family and friends and to send triple 0 requests in case of emergency. We feel safer and our family doesn’t worry about us. For more information take a look online.

NSW Favourites:

  • Gum Bend Lake, Gum Bend Rd in Condobolin - Showers, toilets, big rig suitable, pets allowed
  • Jugiong Showground, on Riverside DR, Jugiong  - NO fee, pets allowed, toiets, water, BBQ, mobile reception, dump point, big rig suitable
  • Ariah Park on Barnes St in Ariah Park - Fee ($12 per van), pets allowed, toilets, showers, BBQ, mobile reception, big rig suitable
  • Melaleuca Campground on Point Plomer Rd, Crescent Head- Fee, toilets, picnic tables
  • Point Plomer Campground on Point Plomer Rd in Limeburner Creek - Fee, toilets, showers, shade picnic tables, BBQ, mobile reception

QLD Favourites

  • Inskip Point, north of Rainbow Beach, Queensland - Fee, Pets allowed, toilets, shade, mobile reception, fires allowed, big rig suitable
  • Gregory Downs, on the way to Lawn Hill, Far North Queensland - NO fee, pets allowed, shade, fires allowed, big rig suitable
  • Clem Walton Reserve and Corella Dam, 65km E of Mt Isa and 53km W Cloncurry. Check the gate, it may look locked when it isn’t, but it’s locked during rainfall - Toilets, pets allowed, shade, picnic tables, small rigs at Clem Walton and big rigs around at Corella dam in the same area
  • Camooweal Lagoon, Head west across the Georgina River from town for 75m, turn S onto dirt road, at rodeo grounds turn left, lagoon is a couple of kilometres along - Pets allowed, shade, mobile reception, big rig suitable
  • Julia Creek Lagoon, 1.3km E of main street. Permit from Information Centre - Pets allowed, big rig suitable, mobile reception, NO fee
  • Fletcher Creek, 42km N of Charters Towers. Large area beside creek. Max stay 1 month - NO fee, toilets, shower, shade, dump point, big rig suitable

WA Favourites

  • Cape Keraudren, NW of Pardoo, WA -  Fee ($10PP),  pets allowed, toilets, mobile reception
  • Point Quobba, north of Carnarvon, WA - Fee, pets allowed, dump point
  • Cleaverville and Gnoorea Point, near Karratha in WA - Fee (although free after 1/10), pets allowed, toilets, shade, picnic tables, big rig suitable, dump point, mobile reception
  • De Greys River, 82km NE of Port Hedland, 71km SW of Pardoo Roadhouse - Pets allowed, mobile reception

SA Favourite

  • Psyche Bend, Mildura, right on the river. Long term - NO Fee, pets allowed, shade, mobile reception, big rig suitable
  • Haythorpe and Bolto Reserves, opposite Mannum on the Murray River, SA - Pets allowed, toilets, shade, mobile reception, big rig suitable, dump point

VIC Favourites

  • Cowwarr Weir, 5km W of Cowwarr, self-contained, toilets, 10 tonne gross limit - NO fee, pets allowed, toilets, shade, mobile reception, big rig suitable
  • Wannon Falls, 17km SE of Coleraine - NO fee, pets allowed, toilets, shade, mobile reception, picnic tables, big rig suitable
  • Mt Franklin Reserve (Volcano crater), 11km N of Daylesford- Pets allowed, NO Fee, toilets, mobile reception