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Camping and 4WD

Hot stuff
Just whipping up a plate of bacon and eggs, or cooking a few snags on the Barbie could cause a fire. Are you prepared?

Alternatives to Going Overland
Not everyone has the time or the inclination to spend six days in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. There are shorter fully-guided alternatives.
Kakadu of the South
Visit one of the most spectacular places on earth.
Perfect Pitch
10 great spots to pitch a tent or park the caravan in Tasmania.
Heartland!
For those with a yearning to see the red centre, there can be few more attractive places than Innamincka.
North Coast Emu Patrol
Two great beachside camping spots that cost next to nothing.
Discover Captain Cook's 1770
Surrounded on three sides by the Coral Sea the tiny hamlet of 1770 is one of Queensland's best kept secrets - a beautiful inlet surrounded by mangroves and white sandy beaches and without a high-rise tower in sight.
Campers' packing checklist
Camping is not about having the latest gear, but having what suits you and your own camping style.
Camping with kids
A camping trip is a big adventure for the kids, they'll find plenty of ways to keep themselves amused in the bush.
Camping with pets
For many of us our pets are part of the family and with a little planning taking your pet on holiday is possible. Here's some tips on how to make sure both you and your pets enjoy your holiday.
Campfire safety
In a designated camping area fires will generally be permitted within established fireplaces. If you are able to light a campfire, here's some sensible precautions to follow.
Choosing the right camp site
When selecting your camp site there are five main things to consider - wind, level, firm ground, shade, large trees and reliable fresh water if no facilities are available.
Easy camping meals
Pretty much anything tastes good when you've cooked it yourself over a campfire or a gas stove, so stick to easy, tasty meals.
Good clean camping fun
Camping is fun, but it can also be a dirty business. Here we've collected some tips to help you stay clean in the great outdoors.
Guide to camping first aid
Camping in the bush and getting away from it all can provide a wonderful break, however, it can bring us into contact with hazards and creepy crawlies not often faced in city living.
Rainy day camping survival guide
A bit of preparation is the golden rule to surviving a few wet days. While none of us expect rain on our holiday, it's worth having a few things up your sleeve just in case - especially when children are concerned.
Rules for happy campers
It goes without saying that we don't want our camping trip ruined by inconsiderate campers - or spoil someone else's holiday with our own poor behaviour.
Safe camping
Dealing with natural hazards is all part of the camping experience but it's important to know how to cope with the worst nature can throw your way, be it bushfires, creepy crawlies or storms.
Tent commandments
Choosing the right tent makes the difference between a great holiday and a camping disaster.
Camp it up
Camp out at a luxury camping safari in the wilds of Litchfield National Park.
Camping around Sydney
Within a one-hour drive of the Sydney Harbour Bridge there are national parks and forest reserves that will unleash the animal that lurks within.
Camping at Myall Lakes
Tranquil, pretty and peaceful, the waterways of Myall Lakes hold many charms for the work-weary holidaymaker.
Camping beneath a big sky
If you feel it's time to pitch the tent and relish the simple things in life, consider heading to Big Sky Country.
Camping in Morton NP
Of all NSW's magnificent open spaces, Morton National Park in the Southern Highlands is among the most breathtaking.
Camping in the Blue Mountains
Camp in the Blue Mountains in NSW's largest wilderness playground.
Camping on Barrington Tops
The park is well-supplied with camping areas, both within the park limits and in two State Forests on the park boundaries.
Camping paradise on the Far North Coast
The NSW Far North Coast and its hinterland is a beautiful part of Australia, where glorious beaches are backed by world heritage rainforests.
Christmas holiday camping
The Christmas-New Year holiday season is traditionally a time to kick back, but you can still get great value for your holiday dollar by camping in a national park or state forest.
Jervis 'Bay of plenty'
Jervis Bay 170 km south of Sydney has crystal-clear waters populated by dolphins, seals, penguins and - from June to November - whales. 
High country camping
Glorious days and mild nights make summer camping in the Snowy Mountains a delight. Facilities are often basic, and bush camping is popular.
Lose yourself camping on the Central Coast
The Central Coast has several places where you can get away from the city for a day's bushwalking, or a camping weekend.
4WD masterclass
The most important 4WDing rule is to adapt your driving to suit conditions - different skills for different surfaces.
4WD recovery kit
There are times when the going gets tough even for the best off-road wagons. Here's a guide to the right gear and techniques to get you out of trouble.
Choosing the right 4WD
Before you start spending lots of money, it's not a bad idea to make yourself aware of the variety of 4WDs available, so that you can choose one that is appropriate.

 

Driving in the outback - before the trip
The outback is a remote wilderness, where travellers tend to feel more like adventurers and explorers.
Driving in the outback - on the road
Here we give you some guidance on what to take, including communications devices, incase you get into trouble as well as help you cope with hazards you just don't see in the city.
Getting a 4WD out of trouble
You've finally made it  into the outback and disaster strikes. Your car breaks down or runs out of petrol. What do you do?
How to pack your 4WD
Packing a 4WD for a big trip is quite an art and one that definitely improves with practice.
Planning for the big trip around Australia
Many of us dream of taking a few months off and travelling around Australia. Here, we answer some of your most frequently asked questions to help you plan for 'the big trip'.
Four-wheel driving in Werrikimbe
Four-wheel driving in Werrikimbe: take time out for a wilderness adventure
The Lost City near Lithgow
Just out of Lithgow, a couple of hours' drive west of Sydney, NSW's 'Lost City' is an easy 4WD destination and well worth a visit.
Sand castles on Stockton Beach
Tin City is a small cluster of shacks at the northern end of the Stockton Bight - Australia's last outpost of the great squattocratic tradition.
Kwiambal - enjoy the secret
Several walks in Kwiambal lead to riverside areas where you can enjoy a swim, or just relax, in the company no one.
Bush capital
The wild back country on the city's doorstep means there's some great opportunities to jump in your 4WD.
Southern mountain wilderness
The Deua and Wadbilliga National Parks (and the state forests that border them), make for some great four-wheel driving in very spectacular country.
Yengo dreaming
Deep in the Yengo National Park is a site which is as sacred to the local Aboriginal community as Uluru is to the people of central Australia - Mt Yengo.
Up the Great Divide
Northern NSW has several superb drives which run from the north coast up the Great Dividing Range to the New England Tableland.
4WD in Coolah Tops National Park
Coolah Tops National Park posseses some magnificent eucalypt forests, several stands of huge snow gums plus silvertop stringybarks, ribbon gums, mountain gums and black sally.
Four-wheeling the Watagans
There's really no set route to a Watagan adventure. Half the fun is in exploring to find the locations and natural beauties you most enjoy.
Four wheeling in the Territory's ranges
The East MacDonnells, Harts and Davenport Ranges are largely left to adventurers, who seek a more subtle and remote, but no less memorable, Central Australian experience.
Get out of Sydney in your 4WD
Near Sydney there are several reasonably well-maintained dirt roads, which require no special equipment or off-road driving skills beyond engaging four-wheel drive (high range) and taking a cautious approach.
Menindee & Kinchega
For the traveller, the attraction of the lakes lies in the simple fact that they are a geographical rarity. You just don't expect to see this much water in the outback!
Off-road odyssey behind Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is famous for its great swimming and surf beaches but many visitors prefer to venture into the dramatic hinterland west of the town centre.
Pockets of peace and quiet on the Central Coast
Tiny seaside villages, secluded swimming beaches and areas of national-park wilderness are tucked away all over the leafy, hilly Central Coast.
The Bridle Track
The Bridle Track runs from Duramana, northwest of Bathurst, to the old mining town of Hill End and in 4WD terms, can be graded 'easy'.
The Ghosts of Yerranderie
Yerranderie, a once-thriving community founded in 1871, is now Australia's only privately-owned ghost town.
Bourke to Wentworth
The River Road makes a great first time 4WD outback camping trip, because in dry weather the road, though all dirt, is relatively easy.
Wild blue yonder in a 4WD
A 4WD tour is a great introduction to the Blue Mountains wilderness. 
Sundowners in New England
New England's granite belt contains some of the most rugged country you'll find anywhere, and there's no better example than Sundown National Park.
Wild in New England
The New England region in northern NSW is blessed with some of Australia's most rugged, remote mountain wilderness.
Remote Cobourg Peninsula
If you're looking for a real adventure in a beautiful coastal wilderness, Cobourg has much to offer.
There's plenty to do on the Cobourg Peninsula
Cobourg Peninsula, right at the top of the Northern Territory, has much to offer.
Explore magical wetlands
The beauty of Kakadu is the incredible variety of landscapes and cultural influences within its boundaries.
Outback oasis in Lawn Hill NP
The dictionary describes an oasis as "a refuge or haven - a fertile patch in a desert". Lawn Hill with its high rocky ramparts and cool shady waterways fits the bill.
Head north for the winter
The best time of year to explore the top end is from May to the end of October when many people head north, to spend the winter where it´s warm or as part of an extended trip around Australia.
The 'lost city' in Limmen National Park
The newly-created Limmen National Park is one of NT's best kept secrets.
Matilda country
Western Queensland is a fascinating part of Australia, where the ethos of the bush was created, in towns like Longreach, Charleville, Blackall, Barcaldine and Winton.
Lincoln's catch
Port Lincoln is home to Australia's favourite race horse, world-class seafood and sensational scenery.
Exploring the Eyre by 4WD
The dry South Australian heat and straw-coloured paddocks seem eerily misplaced beside the deep blue of the Ocean.
Cape York Peninsula
This is one of the great treks, largely following the tracks of the builders of the Overland Telegraph Track in the 1880s.
Corner Country
Travel through the Sturt National Park and Strzelecki Desert to the Strzelecki Track near Merty Merty Homestead.
Gunbarrel Hwy & Great Central Road
The Great Central Road, whilst sandy, is generally negotiable by conventional vehicles - the Gunbarrel is not.
Plenty Highway
A fairly featureless, rough haul, the Plenty Highway is useful if you're travelling from Brisbane to Alice Springs, being the shortest route available.
Simpson Desert Crossing
The Simpson Desert Crossing consists of a mixture of clay-topped and sand tracks and is definitely for 4WD vehicles only.
Survivng the Simpson Desert with kids
Crossing the Simpson Desert is an opportunity for you and your kids to step right out of your comfort zones and have a memorable holiday.
The Birdsville Track
The Birdsville Track is reasonably well maintained and generally fairly smooth.
The Gibb River Road
The Gibb River Road passes through the western Kimberley region, a magnificent, rugged place with sandstone ranges, myriad gorges and spectacular waterfalls.
The Oodnadatta Track
The Oodnadatta Track passes through a mixture of plains and undulating countryside, skirting at its south eastern end the vast expanse of Lake Eyre.
The Sandover Highway
The Sandover is a way of cutting across to north-western Queensland from the red centre.
The Strzelecki Track
The Strzelecki Track doesn't present any major problems these days. In good weather it's passable to conventional vehicles, although care is required because of the many crests and sections of sand and loose rock.
The Tanami Track
The Tanami Track is actually a fairly well-formed earth road maintained by local mining companies.
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