Camping?

[dave&donna]

We sorted out the attic last week and now all we have left is what we intend to take with us. A massive pile of that is our camping stuff. We started camping 2 years ago and quickly built up our 'essentials' to include a lovely tent carpet and a huge tent etc etc. I know but it made a massive difference to me to not have my feet feeling gritty all the time.

ANYWAY...... do we take it to perth or not? Do people camp out there or is it too hot??? Bit worried about the spider thing at the minute but Dave says it has a sewn in sheet??? but I know how crafty those spiders will be just to scare me .

Any ideas?

Donna x

[asylon]

Hi Donna.
Everyone in Australia camps, it's a national obsession!
Not done it in Perth myself , but have been right up the East Coast and inland in NSW and Queensland and to Ularu.
My husband (Australian) has done it all his life.
Brilliant camping!
I realy wish we'd brought our tent, we have to get a new one. We didn't bring it because of worries over it being clean enougfh for customs. As our container wasn't checked at all, we could easily have brought it.
I never saw a spider in 3 months camping in Oz and I am realy looking forward to our first trip when we get all the gear organised, not worried about spiders at all and I'm an Arachnophobe (with a capitol A)
Reassured?
Ax

[dave&donna]

Thanks Ax!!

yes I do feel a bit better now..... although quite sure those spiders are just having a rest and waiting til I get there to appear!!!

I know my friend in Sydney camps but just wondered about wa really but if it's an Aussie thing then I'll have to give in . Never thought of the custom thing though so will have to have a look at it but it's that big it'll be a nightmare opening it to clean it!!! How much are tents there are they more expensive than here?

Donna x

[asylon]

You get what you pay for.
The sky is the limit, you can pay thousands, or I've seen amazing cheapness.
I's say on the whole a bit cheaper.
The camping shops are fantastic, amazing variety of whatsits and thingamijigs to kit yourselves out with. There are 10 BCF stores in WA (Boating Camping Fishing) so it must be popular.
Ax

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Donna

Put every last item of camping equipment in your container. 20 years ago, before my sister's children were born, she, I and my bro in law went on a 12 day camping trip round the north of WA.

Now that they have two young men of 11 & 14, the childen love camping and apparently the pitches on the campsites in WA are still very cheap. Elaine (sister) & family, plus my 86 year old disabled mother all went camping at Guilderton for 5 days over Christmas 2006/7. Elaine told me that she wanted a break from her numerous Aussie in-laws that year and that the campsite was only $24 a night for 5 in the party plus two tents. The campsite has proper disabled facilities so it was no problem for Mum.

The site owners organised a massive beach-barbie on Christmas Day which brought everyone who was staying there together plus they organised treasure hunts for the children and all sorts apparently.

I've also been camping at Waroona with the family - that is about an hour from their house in Perth. I LOVE Waroona. It is a freshwater lake (Lake Navarino) in a forest. The trees provide plenty of shade and they shade the beach bits so you don't burn your feet. Great for swimming - fresh water makes a nice change from the sea and it isn't full of chemicals so it was quite different from swimming in a pool. Communal barbies are everywhere so you only need to take your own food etc. I'd go back to Waroona any day myself.

Best wishes

Gill

[mandy1970]

We wondered what to do with our huge tent and things but we are going to sell it and get a caravan for OZ

Hopefully this will be safer than a tent and A LOT easier to set up
30 mins for tent
1hr 30 to put all our comforts in. lol

Mandy

[adey]

one thing I wouldn't bring is your camp stove or anything that needs a gas bottle as you just won't find one here that fits as UK stuff is illegal here, as we've found out and now have stuff we can't use.

As for the rest bring it all, everyone I knows just shoots off on the weekend and camps either in the countryside or on the beach - the facilities are good and always have clean toilets, cooking/bbq areas and its a way of life down here.

[dave&donna]

Thanks Adey

never thought of the cooking stuff actually so as you say no point taking the stove so that'll save some room.

Donna x