CampingHovels
From B4rkWiki
Contents |
Hideouts and Bandit Caves
Major groupings of places to go:
- Camping Spots
- 4WDing Trails
- Beach and Day Trips
Also, to start off, there's a bit of a discussion about what to bring when, where to get stuff and eventually there will hopefully be enough content and input that there'll be a bit of a chat about different brands and makes and such. jelf 17:59, 24 January 2008 (EST)
Maps and documentation
Internets
I've found little available for ready access on the 'net when it comes to maps of the FNQ region. Hema seem to have a fair number of maps, even in Raster format for GPS use, but they just don't show up anywhere in a sample-able format, and Im not about to part with the $200 they cost without seeing the damn things. jelf 18:40, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Book Stores
So far, the major bookstores haven't had a decent amount. There's a couple of books that cover the cape, but they start just north of Cooktown, which leaves a fair amount of unchartered country as far as Im concerned. My next stop is the place in ??? Arcade (with the fish tanks and the chinese food) as it specializes in maps and such, and failing that, there's a place named the miners den or something on anderson street. I'd be damned suprised if a place like that doesnt have some good maps of the region. jelf 18:40, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Equipments
Here's a bit of a run-down on things I try to take with me when going for a wander. Regardless of where I go, theres water, snacks (nuts, fruit, not so much in the way of choc bars), hat, change of clothes, leatherman, lighter, firestarters, gloves, GPS, phone, charger, CB, tow rope, torch, basic 1st aid kit. Basically, enough to stay comfy for about 12-24 hrs. I then pack other stuff, depending on what Im gonna be doing... jelf 18:40, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Updated this with something a bit more thorough to use as my own checklist when packing/unpacking in 4wd Gear
jelf 22:41, 27 May 2008 (EST)
Camping
Couple of tarps, about 10-20m of rope (cheap crap), hatchett/machette, foods, esky, swag, fly spray, repellent, suncream, shovel, zip ties, heavy duty pegs, hammer, toilet paper, toys (ball, frisbee, whatever). The idea I work on is bring enough to set up your own site, and a few spares in case others have a malfunction, or forget something. Camping generally involves some swimming and some bushwalking, a fire (with marshmallows :)) and the occasional d&m around the fire. Bring enough to make these easy, and it's generally a fun time. jelf 18:40, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Navigation
I'd like to claim to always bring a compass, but I'd be lying. If it's off the beaten track, I usually have a local (about the same as a compass). Failing that, there's GPS (Oziexplorer), paper maps - pc failure happens at the worst times, and at worst the maps can be printed from Oziexplorer before heading off. I'm currently looking for a decent set of maps of the region so I can go a bit more adventurous (and be able to get back :p) jelf 18:40, 22 January 2008 (EST)
4wding
Shovel, hilift (and lift plate), come-along, snatch strap, drag chain, chainsaw, fencing wire. I'd like to claim to bring a set of tools for bush-mechanic work too, but I'd be lying. The best I do is enough to get the wheels off, a can of start-ya-bastard, spare battery, spare wheel (sometimes 2, but usually only 1), spare fuel, set of screwdrivers and a set of sockets/spanners. I figure that anything more serious than that (like a broken diff, clutch, shock, whatever)is gonna be beyond any spare parts I'd be able to carry anyway. Maybe a bit of fuel line would be a good idea, but atm it's not a regular thing. jelf 18:40, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Camping and Secret Hideouts
Lake Tinaroo
Got description?
4wd Trails and Bush Bashing Routes
The most famous in the area of course would be the Crib Track and the Bloomfield Track, but there's a bunch of smaller or less famous trails around the area. Here's GPS Coordinates and waypoints for some (or at least they will be once we get out there and find some :p)
Ross and Locke
Everyone and their dog takes their 4wd down here for a light bit of excitement. So much so that the farmers are jack of having to drag out fools who bog their cars. There's a fair scope of different terrain, with rock riverbed(not boulder crawling), sand, mud, river crossings, and gravel, there's enough variety to make it a nice intro for people who havent been before but cant afford to be too long away from civilization. And of course, experienced people can get done too. A park ranger mate of mine was the one who found out just how unhappy the farmers can be about getting bogged cars out when he beached himself in some sand :p jelf 18:18, 24 January 2008 (EST)
About Cairns - 1 Day trips
Davies Creek
Nice place, with lots of dead ducks and other touristy attractions. The day-trip location is also a really good camping spot, but yu're not supposed to do camp there, apparently. The place we did have booked was way further up, and had some potential for interesting 4wd-ing nearby, so maybe, given the grog-centric nature of our last excursion, it was better to have a campsite that lent itself to sitting and talking rather than driving and crashing.
The driving to/from can be done in a normal car, but 4wd would be adventageous if heavy rains arrived, and a winch if you drive down the granite boulders and it then starts to rain (no grip). Without inclement weather, this is nothing more than a picnic spot, however, with nothing to deter day-trippers from wandering on up short of the odd pothole.
A word of caution: Leeches abound in most of the swimming holes further upstream, or at least the did when I last checked. jelf 17:56, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Emerald Creek
Sweet swimming hole under the waterfall, but the track is a bit steep... and waaay too long to carry a large eski. Rumour has it that there's a swimming hole down by the carpark too, so you can grab another quick dip to cool down once you're back at the vehicles, but I have yet to see this. The road is pretty much an all-weather track, with 4wd not being required unless there's heavy rains, or if you're carrying a large load, or if you stop for some reason on the one big hill on the road. Could be fun to find a camping spot nearby, but it seems too well frequented for a good kinda camping trip. jelf 17:56, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Black Mountain Road
This is supposed to be (according to the natives) a pleasant drive with a nice bit of 4wding, and a swimming hole at one point too... I take that to mean the river you walk to/across on the Bump Track, but I can't confirm that until I've gone and seen. Provided [[1]] is the link to some info about the area. jelf 17:56, 22 January 2008 (EST)
Beaches
I haven't traveled to any beaches that are fine with someone driving up and down all over the tourists yet. Anyone got a suggestion for an out of the way beach for some driving and then swimming?
There is a really cool spot half way to Port Douglas, on the left hand side. It's just a track heading straight off into the bush, and Im fairly certain they do a 4wd training course there. I got a bit of the way in and was confounded by a cliff face that the track went up. Without a winch or a support vehicle, it wasn't the kinda thing I was about to head up, so I decided to save the rest of the trek for another day jelf 17:59, 24 January 2008 (EST)
More added as explored...
