G'day mates!
I thought I'd show you today what looks Australia's third - after rugby and cricket - national sport - camping!
Aussies love to sit in the bush!
In Kanguroloand, with the beginning of December, a great holiday begins. The kids have two months school off, half the businesses are closed for a minimum of three weeks and crowds are pouring out of all cities in different directions of Australia.
The exits from cities are clogged with all kinds of campervans, motorvans, trailers - from super professional mobile homes to ordinary trucks with a tent thrown in the back. In fact, I can say with my hand on my heart, that this country is a mecca for campervaners.
Because there are conditions for it.
Campgrounds, campfields, holiday parks, caravans camps, campsites in national parks and even farm forests are everywhere. Of course, they differ in standard, equipment and price (if they are paid), but we have never been disappointed even after four years where we have been taking every spare time to discover a new places.
It was no different now.
Big holidays usually end with a long Australia Day weekend, which this year fell on a Thursday. January 26 is always a day off, a national holiday. Recently very controversial. Some call it Victory Day, others Invasion Day - there is a discussion, but in my opinion, Australia will also have to account for these black pages of history, as it is happening now in the United States
(here I will allow myself to heartily recommend the book "27 deaths of Toby Obeda" by Joanna Gierak-Obeda).
We, without going into this topic too much, just took advantage of the long weekend and set off 450 km northwards to the beautiful Smoky Camp right by the ocean. This campground is located in Hat Head National Park.
However, there is a problem with oceanfront campgrounds... everyone wants to be there!
That's why a few years ago a reservation system was introduced, which usually drives me crazy because it's "greatly" designed.
You have to book the place well in advance. The most attractive campgrounds can be booked up to six months in advance. Usually, up to 6 people and two vehicles, e.g. two vans, or a car and a trailer, or two trailers can be accommodated on one camping site. Sometimes only tents are possible, sometimes you can set up your tent by the car, and sometimes you have to leave the car in the parking lot. You know, I'm not talking about such classic tents, but fabric houses, where you have at least two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a generator, refrigerators, and often also a TV. And I even saw a satellite dish. Nothing surprises me anymore on the camping field. I saw everything. Maybe only bathtubs not yet, but showers definitely! People are taking whole houses.
Prices per place range from $6 to $24 per person per night. There are also very expensive campsites, up to $50, but this usually has a place with access to electricity and running water, and the facilities at the campsite are very fancy (showers, kitchen facilities, picnic tables, gas grills, etc.).
In addition, in National Parks you must also pay a fee for entering the park, which is $ 8 per person per day.
By contrast, state parks (national forests) are completely free, and you can still collect firewood.
The problem with this reservation system, however, is that people book and don't come, because sometimes they book several places in several parks ... and they don't cancel those unnecessary reservations. And man, there's nothing you can do. You arrive at this campground, you see it's half empty, but the ranger checks if you have paid for a place and if not - goodbye. Nothing can be done. This is very annoying.
We were lucky enough to get one spot this year. Usually we don't want to mess with all these reservations and go to some free, public camping.
But we got it. And now I can tell you that it is worth hunting for these places, now I understand why there are so many people.
Smoky Camp Park is one of the best campsites I've been to, with access to one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen.
Absolute peace and quiet, bivouac places are far from each other and no one bothers anyone, rangers regularly come to keep order. In addition, there is a small town just 5 km away, which you can always drive to if something suddenly runs out. In our case, we were going to the ice for collers, because it was 30 degrees every day.
Smoky Camp is very basic equipped - there are a few wooden tables with benches and composting toilets that can be found practically everywhere in Australia. It is also important to check whether, for example, you can start a fire on the ground (in a designated place) in a given national park. This was not possible in this one, so we always carry a foldable, cast-iron firepit with us. And of the extra equipment besides tables, chairs and everything you need to live in the bush, we also had our portable shower which was perfect for rinsing off the sea salt or to cool off.
But okay, I'm done now. I will not bore you with these details. Maybe someday I will write an e-guide about camping in the Australian bush.
Today I wanted to show you what is most important to me in all this fuss. Well: NATURE!!!
I love it! I love the smell and sounds of the bush. I love that everything rustles and moves. You look, and it's a one-and-a-half-meter lizzard. Although sometimes it can be a poisonous snake... I love that the bush during the day sounds different than at night. During the day parrots squawk and kookaburras laugh, and at night bats as big as storks bark. That the cicadas play so loud that sometimes you can't hear what the person standing next to you is saying (I don't love mosquitoes and flies). I love that every time I can see a new species of some creature that amazes me. That I'm starting to recognize which spiders are dangerous (not the biggest ones at all) and which are super useful. That the beach only seems to be empty, and just look at it and after a while curious crabs come out from under the sand. That there are huge fish or stingrays swimming between your legs (different situation when it is a shark or deadly jellyfish, but that's another story). And of course kangaroos. Those hopping freaks. How did it even evolve?
Not to mention koala bears, porcupines (I finally managed to see one this year) and of course platypuses, which if you meet here, go ahead and head towards the lottery right away, because you've just been very lucky!
In conclusion, to love the Australian bush you have to take it in its entirety, including the hazards. But I'm telling you: it's worth it! However, if you are afraid of wild Australia, you better stay home.
I managed to record a fragment of these miracles this time. That's why I invite you to a short film from this trip. There will be beach, bush, kangaroos, dragons and other weirdos.
I hope it will cheer you up!
Have a nice day!
Let me know if you like such short forms about everyday life from the other side of the world. From time to time I can share my observations and short videos. Although now we spend 90% of our free time repairing our boat. Or would you like to see how we spend our time on Justine and how our renovation is going?
I'm waiting for feedback in the comments!
And don't forget to like the video on YouTube and subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the next episode!
Kisses!