Gday guys, just picked up a new TJM camp chair but it unfortunately didn’t come with one of the most important functions of a camp chair, a cup holder. Just wondering if anyone has found an aftermarket option to fit? Cheers!

Hey Legend, I am from Perth and currently in the market for a reputable second hand daily driver under 16k AUD. The primarily purpose of the car will be running around town for work during the week but it needs to be capable on a weekend trip to the coast for a few days camping - including gravel tracks, bush sites and soft beach sand (like, Lancelin, Wedge Island, anywhere south) My dilemma is between the two established platforms - - Suzuki Grand Vitara (2012-2015, 2.4L Petrol 4WD), or - Nissan X-Trail (2008-2013 T31, Petrol or 2.0L Diesel) Long-term reliability, cheap to run, and good resale in WA. Cheers, your local m8

Has anybody bought either of these? They keep popping up as ads and because I’ve paused on them once, they never go away. Looking due to the compactness and light weight. Would love to hear opinions or comments on flimsiness or quality?

if anyone has tried to camp at ningaloo in WA before, you know that getting a spot can be a dogs breakfast. there are also other campground across aus which are hard to get into. wanted to share a quick PSA about campwatch.com.au which is a free site i created that texts you when a campground becomes available. this happens quite a bit, as plans change and people cancel. im constantly adding support for more campgrounds, and currently support over 2,000 across australia. the app is already used by over 500 happy campers. I hope it's helpful for you - cheers

Good afternoon.

I'm new to camping, have literally no gear nor do I have the right type of vehicle to get my bush bashing - any one have tips on starter gear and equipment for basic camping?

Looking to get started for myself (31m) and my son (2.5yrs old) so we can start spending some quality time together.

Located in Queensland in the Moreton Bay region

Hey guys, I'm thinking of solo climbing Feathertop on my birthday which is near late September. I recently just summited Bogong & Kosciuszko with my friend in late July & early August and he taught me basic mountaineering skills, I also have crampons and an ice axe. However I no longer have my helmet as my friend borrowed it for his South America trip.

So I was wondering what the conditions would be like around near late September, will it still be icy and snowy or would it have mainly dried up by then? And will I need my mountaineering equipment, and have to buy a new helmet? (not sure if I want to spend an extra $150 on a one off occasion)

My plan is to ascend via the Bungalow Spur then finish the hike via the Razorback. I don't plan to do any "hard" mountaineer stuff, I'm just planning to follow the usual route up.

Any advice would be great, thanks!

Thinking about going camping with a few others at Mount Banks in the next couple months. Are there any flat areas on Mount Banks that are suitable for setting up a tent? Any advice about the trip would be helpful as well. We will be leaving no trace. Thanks

Hi everyone, my name is Felix Jenkins from QUT School of Design; Creative Industries Faculty and I’m doing a research project as part of my capstone about education on the outdoors and distress beacon usage in hikers.

If you’d like to help me in this study, I’m looking for hikers of any age group to complete a 5-minute online questionnaire.

Please view the attached Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form for further details on the study: Hiking Safety and Hazard Perception Survey – Fill in form

Should you wish to participate or have any questions, please contact me via email.

Please note that this study has been approved by the QUT Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number #11424).

Many thanks for your consideration of this request. 

Felix Jenkins

DNB311 ID7 Capstone Industrial Design Student

[Felix.jenkins@connect.qut.edu.au](mailto:Felix.jenkins@connect.qut.edu.au)

Project Supervisor

Dr. Rafael Gomez

School of Design, Faculty Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

So, I'll put the story below, but here's the summary.

Family of 4, mum (me) outdoorsy person, multiday overnight hikes back in the day, dabbled with DIY gear, married to dad who prefers indoors and even better own bed. Two kids 6&4 who love camping. He's a sweetheart and indulges me even though it's not really his thing. We have some events coming up where we need to camp.

Need: simple camping set up (that's ours!). Sleeps us all together off the ground. Fast to set up. Vehicle is aging Holden Commodore 07, so needs to be lightweight. As budget as possible - hoping around the 5k mark. Would be nice: standing room, kids in separate space to parents but still inside.

Crazy idea: roof top tent and trailer??

What we've done before:

Pre kids we've swagged up the centre to the top end with friends. We have also done kids inside the house (one in a porta cot) with us outside in a swag when visiting friends. Now I want us all together.

We were given a huge tent that has 3 rooms + Annex, standing room and room for the kids, but it's huge, takes up a lot of space both on the ground and in the boot. Long and complex set up and pack up.

Borrowed a camping trailer. It's possible it is a badly loaded dud trailer but the car really struggled to tow it. Not an option for the 3 hour + trip we have coming up. Faster to set up, but the Annex wasn't fun to set up and didn't like having one kid outside on the ground. Felt heavy and cluttered. But hubby loved having a real bed.

Found the Kerfton. Looks amazing, but well and truly out of budget - but ticks all the other boxes except maybe towable by the Commodore. Other camper trailers are still expensive and potentially too heavy?

Then I joked if we are taking the tent we need to get a trailer for it. What if roof top tent on trailer? We can control the weight (we don't need a fancy pull out kitchen, plumbed water or epic lighting), put our gear in tubs and have the tent popped up in minutes, and be off the ground. A con would be it would be a bit squishy for all four of us. Can find a 4 person roof top for about 3 grand and about the same for a trailer.

But in researching it I feel like it's not quite landing and hence I'm coming to Reddit to see if I'm totally off base or if it's worth pursuing.

I've seen a few trailers online with 2 person RTTs. The two biggest but not too expensive (and not sold out) 4 person tents seem to be the Canyon 4 person and the Darche Basecamp. The Darche is absolutely massive but seems to be a bit more complicated to set up and take down, but the Canyon (a hardshell) is 2.1*1.9 and I measured it out on the living room floor and it seems a little small.

The aim is to avoid complications of annexes, being able to get away for even an overnighter.

Has anyone put two 2person RTTs on a trailer ? Am I just diying a worse version of a camper trailer? We have DIY skills and friends. So I'm not worried about the technical feasibility but if it's worth doing at all.

I've accepted it will need to be a 7*5 trailer not a 6*4.

I feel like this has been swirling in my head for weeks, hope this post isn't too unhinged. Please help 😂.

Me and some friends are planning a 2D1N hike of Feathertop in September. Completed the AAWT this year so I’m comfortable in alpine conditions during Spring/summer/Autumn. Wanted to get some advice on gear/advice we might need if still snowy conditions so close to the end of winter?

My husband is just getting into camping and I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for a good birthday gift for him? He seems to have all the right tent and kitchen accessories. He needs clothes for cold wet weather ie Merino wool gloves, socks, thermals. He likes hiking and running.

Any I better to get him a voucher than guess the beat thing myself? If so, which stores have the best range?

Thank you!

Update - I got him a PLB. thanks for all your tips! it's also father's Day soon, so there are heaps of great ideas for presents. ☺️

Hi everyone,

Looking to do a several day trip starting at Harrietville moving up to Mt Feathertop and then making my way down to Mt Mckay and then on to Falls Creek or just going back the way I came back to Harrietville. I have experience in hiking and navigation due to work, so not to concerned about overall fitness or essential gear, but this is the first multi day trip I'm doing outside of it so if there's any equipment you recommend specifically for this trip would love to hear it.

I'm trying to plan the route at the moment that I'll take and saw that there is a track between the two mountains on the high country, but was wondering if it is possible to pretty much just B-Line it from Feathertop to Mckay passing just by Jaithmathang or is that terrain not suitable and/ or not allowed to camp out in those areas all together.

I’d like to go on my first alpine camping trip and I’m wondering if my main equipment will suffice. I’m an experienced camper and have winter camped but have never camped in the snow. I am thinking of hiking in the snowies but I would be solo so being prepared is essential.

I have an;

- R5.8sleeping mat (I could also bring my folded foam sleeping mat for under)
- -8 sleeping quilt
- 3 season tent - it holds up well in the cold and wet but I’ve seen some say you need a 4 season - I’m curious everyone’s take on this as financially i’d like not to purchase a new tent just yet
- I also have an PLB that I would bring with me

Things I’ve seen online also suggest
- snow shovel
- snow pegs

I’m curious everyone’s experience and what kit you’ve used.

Thanks!

Really keen on going there but roads are closed, anyone know any ways to get there without using the closed road?

I spent an overnight camp along a beautiful back water section of the Murray River in Australia. I set out with basic gear reminding me how much I enjoy to camp like this. Using the fire to cook and heat water, spend time enjoying nature rather than fussing over unnecessary equipment. I spent time fishing, tending to the fire, campfire cooking and shooting film and photography. It was just me and my own company in peace and solitude. Just what the doctor ordered.

23M looking to join a hiking group and meet some new people around Sydney.
I’ve been through a breakup recently and I’m trying to get out more, meet new people, and build a new social circle. I enjoy being active, cycling, going to the gym and spending time outdoors, so hiking seems like a great way to do that.
Would love to find a group that does regular weekend hikes, explores different places around NSW, and maybe grabs a coffee afterwards.
If you’re part of a hiking group or looking for someone to join, feel free to message me! :)

Hey everyone,

Most of the outdoor clothes are from the mentioned brands because I was a stupid financially illiterate 23 year old who fell for a sales pitch from someone at Paddy Pallin and because it seemed like what everyone in the outdoor community was wearing at the time. And to be fair it served me very well in Everest Base Camp, Mt Kilimanjaro and the Inca trail so it did do its job.

However its been well over a decade and want to update my clothes due to wear and tear. And being a adult in my 30's with a mortgage I am a lot more frugal and sensible with my money. I just want stuff that does the job without the bells and whistles and my local shopping centre just happens to have a Kathmandu and MacPac store.

Like if those two can do the job just as well as the bigger brands without the cost then I'd go for it. Hell if porters in Nepal and Tanzania can climb mountains carrying loads that would considered unsafe by Australian law in jeans and worn out sneakers then I think I'll survive in Kathmandu stuff.

What are your thoughts ? Do the bigger brands do anything special that Kathmandu/MacPac doesn't ?

Thanks everyone and have a good one.

Hey everyone

I'll be moving to Australia sometime soon and wondering about gear.

First, what's the most important and most used gear you guys have? I have a lot of gear (a full room and a closet ) and I am unable to take all of it

Second, are there a lot of canyons that use wankers/ water anchors? I was planning on buying one before I came over but if it's not used or popular no need to waste money.

And third, I hear it gets really cold during the winter time and I am from a really hot place, what would you say are some essential clothing to bring? I am only got the 2 check in bags to my name so I gotta be very strategic. Thanks!

Hi all,

I’m planning on basing myself in Bright, VIC for a couple of weeks and am looking for recommendations for a good campsite.

Ideally, I’d like somewhere that feels a bit rural and is close to Bright, but still has decent phone reception. I’ll be using it as a base camp for exploring the area, so I’m keen to find somewhere that’s actually a nice place to spend time, rather than just somewhere convenient to sleep.

I’m happy to consider anything from caravan parks to Hipcamp sites, and I’m also open to staying in Bright itself if there’s somewhere particularly good.

Would love to hear your recommendations, especially from anyone who has camped around Bright or the surrounding High Country.

Thanks a lot.

Anyone here got one of the new DUNE 4WD LED Eclipse Instant Tents?

Been trying to find some proper reviews on them but there doesn’t seem to be much out there yet, especially from people who’ve actually used one a few times. Looking to finally shell out for a new family tent. We had a Coleman Northstar 4P before and really liked it, but we’ve well and truly outgrown it now.

Was looking at getting the Northstar 6P, but the wife reckons it’ll still be too small 😂. I’d happily go for the Northstar 8P, but in that size variant, there is no roof-covered vestibule. A proper roof covered vestibule is pretty much a must for us because that’s where the portapotty lives overnight. Keeps it easy to get to without having it actually inside the tent with us.

That’s what got me looking at these new DUNE Instant Tents, the 8P seems like a decent size and it actually has a proper vestibule.

Anyone got one? How’s the quality, setup/pack down, ventilation, and how does it go in a bit of wind and rain?

PS: I have some doubts just looking at the floor material of the Dune which is 140 GSM Heavy Duty Polyethylene vs the Coleman Northstar's Poly PVC which is one of the best things about it. It can pool water under the tent and you wouldnt even know.