MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Brucer on February 12, 2013, 08:06:04 PM
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During a recent trip http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=27942.0 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=27942.0) I passed through one National Park and several state forests. And I got to thinking.. camping access in National Parks is reasonably well known and publicised http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/searchCampgrounds.aspx (http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/searchCampgrounds.aspx). Most of them have designated camp grounds and most of those involve some small fee. But what about the thousands of sq/km of State Forests?
Maybe this is common knowledge but it was news to me; Apparently you can camp pretty much wherever you like in a State Forest for no fee. http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/visiting/activities/camping-and-picnics (http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/visiting/activities/camping-and-picnics)
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/102130/FS0006_-_Camping_in_State_forest.pdf (http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/102130/FS0006_-_Camping_in_State_forest.pdf)
Some of them have campground facilities and some don't, but you can camp there regardless. The thing is that many of these forests have bush camps that are out of the way, not well known (or known at all) and not advertised anywhere. I'll be exploring these areas with alot more interest from now on, knowing that that perfect camp spot by the river is probably legal to use.
btw Google Earth has a place option to show parks and reserves. This identifies and draws the boundaries of all State Forests and National Parks, making it easy to figure out where you can drive/camp and where you're likely to get moved on.
NSW Forestry put out a book too http://www.shop.nsw.gov.au/pubdetails.jsp?publication=9869 (http://www.shop.nsw.gov.au/pubdetails.jsp?publication=9869) which I've ordered. Only $6.95
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we used to camp in state forrests all the time because of our dog, but no matter how secluded we got you would always find a trailbike roaring past your tent at 6am
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We have a national park and a State forest both 9 miles from home seperated by a river we camp in the state forest, freedom, no restrictions except as mentioned in a earlier post, motorbikes, which have totally destroyed some of the tracks.
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South Oz forests allow camping and are free from my understanding. Have quite a few free campsites in Mt Crawford, which is mainly pine forest. Filthy bloody trees, drop needles which get into everything. Just south of Adelaide you have Kuitpo Forest which is very popular, but I believe you have to book and the access is via locked gate
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As much as I would love to explore our State Forests around the Clarence and camp over night, I think I will give it a miss.
Just on night fall the distinct sound of a Banjo can be heard, besides Ivan Malat still has relatives breathing. ???
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Anyone know what the situation is in My and WA?
Rossco
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Are there any forests in W.A. ? I thought it was mostly desert ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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As much as I would love to explore our State Forests around the Clarence and camp over night, I think I will give it a miss.
Just on night fall the distinct sound of a Banjo can be heard, besides Ivan Malat still has relatives breathing. ???
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Every time we head south I threaten to pull in and camp at the Belango state forest site. The wife disagrees strongly.
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Every time we head south I threaten to pull in and camp at the Belango state forest site. The wife disagrees strongly.
Mate of mine has bought 100acres down there... has offered for us to come visiting... He said it was cheap as chips too..
I'm worried.
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Tassie allows camping in the state forests :) Thats where we like to camp, its free, plenty of wood, dogs allowed, usually find a nice secluded spot on a river :)
http://www.forestrytas.com.au/visiting/camping (http://www.forestrytas.com.au/visiting/camping)
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Belangalo... don't dig your pit dunnies too deep, never what you will find
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Belangalo... don't dig your pit dunnies too deep, never what you will find
Hrrrmph! Well you won't find any such thing in the land of plastic shopping bag bans and container deposit legislation because we're forever scolded to take it away with us and put it in the appropriate receptacle-
http://snowtown.blogspot.com.au/ (http://snowtown.blogspot.com.au/)
Personally I'm a bit wary of folks with those porta-pottis >:D
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:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Every time we head south I threaten to pull in and camp at the Belango state forest site. The wife disagrees strongly.
Camped there a few times...was a great spot....I've heard the CSG mob are in there drilling at the moment..
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Belangalo... don't dig your pit dunnies too deep, never what you will find
As much as I would love to explore our State Forests around the Clarence and camp over night, I think I will give it a miss.
Just on night fall the distinct sound of a Banjo can be heard, besides Ivan Malat still has relatives breathing. ???
http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/visiting/forests?camping=Yes (http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/visiting/forests?camping=Yes) lists 32 NSW State Forests with camping facilities, which doesn't include the dozens of other State Forests which don't (but camping is still permitted). Belanglo is just one of them, and a small one at that..
Many State Forests are directly adjacent to National Parks such that you'd often never know when you cross from one to the other. I don't see how you're any safer in one vs the other
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G'day Brucer,
Some of the state forests around the Clarence are not the place to be in after dark.
How do I know this? A few mates are pig hunters, have been for many many years and they tell of all kinds of people that hang out in the forests.
I just don't think people should be given the idea that camping in a state forest is the same as staying the night in a caravan park. Don't get me wrong, I have a few favorite spots that I love to visit and stay at in forests or beside a River somewhere that are hidden off the beaten track.
Yes you are right
that you'd often never know when you cross from one to the other
I come across this on most of my day trips, some are well sign posted others are just a rotten post on the side of a track.
There a few State Forests in the Clarence Valley that are not listed in the link because they don't have established camping areas.
Candole, Bom Bom, Gibberagee, New Foundland, Glenugie, Kangaroo River, Conglomerate, Clouds Creek, Sheas Nob, Nymboida, Ramorine, Dalmorton, Grange, Washpool, Mount Marsh. These are the ones just off the top of my head. I'm sure there would be more to the north of the junction of the Mann & Clarence Rivers, many of these boarder National Parks.
I believe state forests are a wonderful alternative to the more traditional camping destinations, just some of them I wouldn't like to stay in.
:cheers:
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we camp in the state forest, freedom, no restrictions except as mentioned in a earlier post
i thought NSW forest had restrictions on campfires at a certain time of the year? i'm not sure if it's all or just some of them though.
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Candole, Bom Bom, Gibberagee, New Foundland, Glenugie, Kangaroo River, Conglomerate, Clouds Creek, Sheas Nob, Nymboida, Ramorine, Dalmorton, Grange, Washpool, Mount Marsh.
All those are listed here http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/436189/SF-LIST-May-2011.pdf (http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/436189/SF-LIST-May-2011.pdf)
I don't consider or recommend State Forests an alternative to Caravan Parks.. different sort of camping entirely (although no shortage of obnoxious bogans in those too) but for some of us that like bush camping, with some research and exploration they can offer a good alternative to the better known National Park campgrounds which seem to becoming more and more restrictive with limited sites, booking systems, poor vehicle access, etc.
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Actually I was wondering if the nervous nellies haven't chopped down the Belanglo Forest a la knocking down that Port Arthur restaurant after bad things happen. Apparently if you knock these things down all the nasties that go bump in the night vanish with it, although some are a lot less superstitious, or perhaps more rational it seems-
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/realestate/snowtown-bank-sells-for-185000/story-fnczi4hc-1226461365710 (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/realestate/snowtown-bank-sells-for-185000/story-fnczi4hc-1226461365710)
Mind you those 20000 interested lookers tell a story and there were certainly many calls to knock over the bad bank building that did all those evil things ???
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i thought NSW forest had restrictions on campfires at a certain time of the year? i'm not sure if it's all or just some of them though.
Yeah, your right.
I believe when there is a fire ban or a total fire ban it includes SF.
Important information when visiting state forests (http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/visiting/important)
Also within State Forests there are SCA (State Conservation Areas),
Reserve types in NSW - State conservation area (http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/parktypes.aspx?type=stateconservationarea)
State conservation areas are lands reserved to protect and conserve significant or representative ecosystems, landforms, natural phenomena or places of cultural significance, while providing opportunities for sustainable visitation, enjoyment, use of buildings and research.
The principal difference between the management, objectives and principles of national parks and state conservation areas is that mineral and petroleum exploration and mining may be permitted in state conservation areas
I love how this bit of text contradicts it's self.
"conserve significant or representative ecosystems", Then it states, "mineral and petroleum exploration and mining may be permitted"
;D
I have come across these areas in my journeys through the state forests, once where it was a common track from one connecting road to another, now have locked gates across them.
Anyway, I believe State Forests should be explored & used more.
:cheers:
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Well we have camped in Belanglo, Jelore, Penrose, Wingelo, Onley, Watagans, Orimbah, Badja, Yadboro, Bondi(Sth Coast) Mogo, Yalwal and heaps more in NSW/VIC and Sth Australia, Sth Australian State Forest require a fee and your not allowed to drive in the forest unless it a through road or main forest road, the NParks are free however, other free camps are council run.
You'll be surprised how good some of the State Forest are in NSW and VIC, the Vic High Country is a perfect excample, the DSE camps in the High Country are brilliant.
By the way, Belanglo is a great forest to camp in, the rangers there are clamping down on trailbikes and are very active in the forest every weekend, I've camped there a number of times over the last 8yrs.
Baz.
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Sth Australian State Forest require a fee and your not allowed to drive in the forest unless it a through road or main forest road, the NParks are free however, other free camps are council run.
Its the other way around, most SA forests are free, NP's require a fee everywhere in South Oz.
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Its the other way around, most SA forests are free, NP's require a fee everywhere in South Oz.
We stayed at 2 and we had to pay in both of them, Wirrabara SF and the Rangers there said all of the forests had a fee unless the campsite was run by the council, although we have camped a few times for free, we just assumed they had changed things, the other SF we stayed in was in the Adelaide Hills, Kuitpo SF, they said the same thing.
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Kuitpo is very popular, haven't been there myself, what is it like?
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Kuitpo is very popular, haven't been there myself, what is it like?
It was wet when we were there and the fire pits were full of water, I didn't like it at all, no fire and it was cold, but having said that, if the weather would have been good, it may have been differant, the campsites are quite small most were flat but OK for one camper, the larger ones would be for groups, there's a lot of passing traffic, so can be noisey, we stayed 2 nights, mostly because we wanted to look around the area, Birdwood Mill, Goodensons Brewary, Harndorf Brewary, cheese and berry farms and so on.
I wouldn't go there in School hols or a long weekend though
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The mention of Belanglo and the nervous nellies reminded me of a well lubricated discussion at a party that started with the dangers of free camping out in the donga. Now I teased you with that notion of chopping down the Belanglo forest and at first bite it sounds a ridiculous notion, but then you contrast it with the near universal community support for the actual demolition of that Port Arthur restaurant and similar calls for same to the Snowtown bank building. We quicklyhad a lively debate on our hands. Essentially it split along lines of the 'feelings' sheilas vs rationalising blokes although the line did get crossed and the more examples that got tossed around and the more you pobed individual reactions, the fuzzier it got for some.
Now I'm firmly the rational technical type bloke and ghosties, ghoulies, lady luck, black cats, horoscopes, etc are just so much mumbo jumbo, although I can see the sense in not walking under ladders without a hard hat on site. I knew the missus was the adventurous type first date for a ride on the mobike (you can pick em the first corner if they're leaning the wrong way stiff as a board) but she and some of the girlfriends are into crytals, pendulumns or whatever occasionally which makes a rational bloke shake his head. Nevertheless she prefers free camping to the cara park and although she gets up me for ignoring some of the warning signs she does enjoy telling the girlfriends about her adventures. An old schoolfriend teacher won't have a bar of it although teacher hubby likes the outdoors but with 2 daughters like mum has had to be content with taking his HS kids away camping instead. So a mixed bunch and the missus has been away with the GFs overseas while we blokes head for the bush. One single, very independent and well travelled exec GF has no qualms about travelling on her own OS but puzzled me when the missus happily snapped petrified people in Pompei but she couldn't bear the thought. This when I'd had had her pegged as less 'feely' than the missus so perhaps she switches off when Aunty warns the following program depicts images of deceased aboriginals, etc.
Plain truth is statistically you're taking a mjor risk to life and limb swinging out on the highway. We're immune to the daily carnage on our roads but not some malevelent evil act it seems and then the mumbo jumbo of our ancestors kicks in but any ambo dealing with the reality would have a wry grimace at any such superstitious nonsense.
Well round and round the examples went with the lubrication. You barracked for knocking over the Port Arthur restaurant? What about knocking down Port Arthur itself if you know anything about its history? Umm well that's different like chopping down Belanglo. You sheilas like trotting around Europe, so what if our ancestors knocked down the Tower of London, The Coliseum, Auschwitz, or the Pyramids, you'd have nothing left to look at with your mumbo jumbo superstition. Aww don't be ridiculous that's different. Yeah well at some stage it gets ridiculous or just a bit fuzzy but the acid test of your superstition is whether or not you agreed this couple should have got their money back and is now firmly entrenched in convict land RE Law-
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/04/1096871816447.html (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/04/1096871816447.html)
What say you to the acid test? These folks should get their money back or don't be ridiculous?
See ya at Belanglo >:D
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Theres been a few murders in the Watagans......but not one thought about chopping it down ??
I think just because Ivan had a novel way of killing.....and good publicity......that people have a different perception of Belanglo than say somewhere else !!
I suppose its a bit like believing in ghosts....once your mind has got that thought in it, you will be looking over your shoulder where ever you go camping !!!!!
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Ivan Milat can rot in hell. He murdered two of my friends so any evidence of his existence makes my blood boil.
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Ivan Milat can rot in hell. He murdered two of my friends so any evidence of his existence makes my blood boil.
That would certainly put a different complexion on Belanglo Oz, just like that bank in Snowtown, Port Arthur and that island in Norway, not to mention the World Trade Centre site for some.
But didn't they enjoy the wonder of natural places like Belanglo like you do and wouldn't they want you to continue to do the same, just as you would in their place? For without that wouldn't they think you're letting a Milat commit an even greater crime?
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Don't get me wrong I wouldn't want it turned into a carpark just have zero interest in going there. Just get pissed off when he gets talked about, or worse joked about, but never any mention of his victims
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Don't get me wrong I wouldn't want it turned into a carpark just have zero interest in going there. Just get pissed off when he gets talked about, or worse joked about, but never any mention of his victims
I know someone who was probably one of his victims ( missing, never seen again, from an area he was working at ) , but that doesn't stop me from talking about it....or even joking about him.....just get on with life !!!
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just get on with life !!!
(http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Icons/Smileys/what%20they%20said.gif)
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Funny the direction this took, and how after all this time the the words "State Forest" immediately bring one particular state forest to mind.
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I look at it this way, more people get murdered in the suburb you live in, than out where you go camping.
So your safer camping in a State Forest than you are staying at home(http://www.4wdadventurers.com/images/smilies/smiley-happy070.gif) :cheers:
Baz.
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I look at it this way, more people get murdered in the suburb you live in,
Hmm A Suburb, and this is why we choose to live in a little country town,
Too many weirdos in suburbia (http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Icons/Smileys/smiley-scared.gif)
I do get your point Redback. ;D