Some unwritten rules worth remembering. (ABC Kimberley: Tom Forrest)
Tips to know before heading on a camping road trip
With COVID-19 putting most overseas travel on the back burner, road trips are in.
Lots of us are increasingly thinking about hitting the road for a camping or caravanning holiday — some for the first time.
But these low-cost, convenient trips in the great outdoors are governed by a set of unwritten rules that can put ignorant road trippers on the wrong foot with other travellers, campers and residents.
To avoid being labelled a campground ‘Karen’ or ‘Darren’, there’s a few handy tips to know.
Keeping a courteous distance at campsites and caravan parks helps everyone enjoy the outdoors.(Unsplash: Harli Marten)
Perth couple Paul and Kath McGuckin have built up their camping experience after decades of travelling around their vast state.
They’re an easygoing couple but one of their pet peeves is having rowdy neighbours carrying on into the night.
Keeping a respectful amount of space between campsites is also key to being a considerate camper.
“You’ve got your own patch and you don’t want to be encroaching on other people’s space,” she says.
Being stuck in the rain, stranded with a flat tyre or getting bogged on a backroad are all common pitfalls that can be avoided with preparation.
Paul recommends casting a keen eye over your vehicle and equipment before hitting the road.
“Check your equipment before you go, check your tyres and understand where your petrol stations are,” Kath adds.
Understanding your vehicle’s towing capacity and how to safely navigate the road with a trailer is essential.
Having an awareness on the road, like knowing when to overtake or pull over, makes for a much smoother journey, according to Paul.
He recommends taking a towing course if you are not confident or experienced.
Maresa van den Brink and her husband Han Zhang, from Sydney, are normally overseas travellers who were encouraged by COVID-19 to give camping a shot.
They were surprised to find they could buy all of their essential equipment for about $500.
One of her top tips for new campers is to do a ‘dry run’ in the backyard before heading off.
“We did practise putting up the tent at home before we used it because we didn’t want to be rocking up after dark not knowing what the hell we were doing,” she says.
Mandy Farabegoli gives advice to families who want to set themselves up for life on the road through her website Travelling Australia With Kids.
Ten years ago, she was more of a hotel person before her husband convinced her to give a night in the great outdoors a shot.
“We had three children under seven years old so finances were a bit hectic,” she says.
They fell in love with the lifestyle and about 18 months later her family had packed up their home and hit the road for a two-year trip around Australia.
She says the quality time spent together is something the family will treasure later on.
and lastly,
Take your time, have a chat
With all the preparation it can be easy to forget to stop and enjoy the journey.
“Don’t try and do 1,000 miles a day. Break it up,” says Paul.
Whether it’s around the campground or at a small town cafe, being patient and up for a chat will make for a more memorable trip.
Whether it’s sourdough or spare car parts, supplies can be limited in small towns but Kath says locals will usually bend over backwards to help.
“Some of these places are a long way from capital cities … so being patient, kind and courteous goes a long way,” she says.
Source
ABC News
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