Anyone else know about Fatwood?

I only just learnt about it. How good is it.

https://youtu.be/bSWri1TQUw4

My wife and I have loved our Darche swag for the past 5 or so years but are now wanting to move into the tent world for some extra space to keep our stuff and also with the future in mind and hopefully the introduction of a baby in the next couple of years.

Our needs/wants are:

• Space for our queen stretcher and for a portable cot in the future
• Some type of blackout technology
• Simple setup
• Would love some type of undercover awning/storage area outside of the sleeping area

Size doesn't really matter. Our budget can stretch for the right setup that we hope will last for many years. The four that I've been looking at for now are the Coleman Northstar 6p, Oztrail Fast Frame 6p Lumos, Zempire Pronto 5, BlackWolf Turbo BLK 300. Any experience with those or any other recommendations are welcome.

I've been wanting to go out camping more and have been looking into different spots you are allowed to go so I can see more of the country without breaking any rules.

My question is the difference between state and national parks. The way it has been described to me is that state parks have less environmental protection in place, but what does this mean exactly? what can you do in a state park that you cant in a national park? the only thing i have seen is that you can camp anywhere in a state forest (not just at designated camping zones).

I also wonder if there are any other zones you can go camping besides state forests, national parks and "crown land" (waterfronts?).

thanks!

Would love to hear people’s experiences of travelling to and staying at Uluru for a few nights. I presume tour groups are the most comfortable and safest way but very pricey - if anyone could recommend any alternatives that would be much appreciated! I’ve seen too many terrible straight to video horror films to be too focused on cost saving…

Group of 4, for context.

6 months ago I found what looked like an amazing site; outback equipment. Had heaps of nice gear, and I settled on a Darche swag and chair for a sizeable (15%!) discount on RRP and put in an order.

Silly me.

It’s been 6 months now with no sign of my order and no refund. What started as ‘we’re waiting on stock’ quickly became ‘we sent it yesterday’, which quickly became ‘we’ll give you store credit if you don’t have it tomorrow’. Now if I call, email, or visit in store the staff scatter and ignore me.

Don’t be an idiot like me and lose $900. Don’t order off these guys, use a reputable shop like BCF, Anaconda, Snowys, etc. for your outdoor gear.

Hey guys doing a one night hike with some mates tomorrow and was planning on staying in Euroka Campground - Darug. Just looked at the website and it says it’s booked out… does anyone have any experience at this campground? Woudl it matter if it’s booked?

I've heard that cheaper ones can actually drain the battery after dark if you don't unplug them. Any experience with amorphous vs crystalline?

Hey everyone,

So my workmates are heavily into camping and have roped me into joining them.

After some research and advice I’ve gone with the King Daddy Deluxe Swag. Super excited, I purchased it today for this Saturday (1 night trip) where we will be in Jarvis Bay.

However, I overlooked the instructions of it needing to be seasoned. I was wondering if 1 day/night won’t hurt using it, especially if under a gazebo. I understand it may leak if there’s rain, radar looks clear 🤞🏻.

I’ll have the time to do it next week but unfortunately not before Saturday. I also live in an apartment complex. Would submerging it in the bath then hanging it out to dry on my balcony (with a clothes line) be sufficient? Or does it need to be set up and tightened.

Thank you. Sorry for the question, bit of a newbie.

Hey guys.

Just wanting opinions on the Darche Nebula 1550 and the Dirty Dee 1400.

I go camping 1/2 times per month, currently rocking the Kings Big Daddy but looking to upgrade.

Which would you go with? The Nebula is almost double the price, is it worth it?

Thanks all

Not sure how these perform, but they will be for sale at Aldi from the 8th of February for $299 if anyone is in the market for budget a battery.

Exploring 2 options of mine for hobbies. I can either:

A: Get into dirt biking and invest in a entry level bike or gear. Would take in on my 4wd and do a mix of 4wding and dirtbiking. Biggest consideration is the cost.

Or

B: Get back into fishing, get a fishing kayak/small boat and gear and fish the little rivers and creeks whilst out and about.

Whilst both things are very different, I share interest in both but am not sure just how much money I would throw into each for the time spent do it. Anyone who has done both or similar, would appreciate any advice on the choices you made and how much you invested into either option?

I had a Coleman Carlsbad Darkroom 6P Tent for about 2 years and it was great. It recently broke so I'm looking at a new tent. It's mostly for multi-day music festivals. It's only me in my tent, but I love having a big tent. Had a 2/3P tent for years and felt too claustrophobic

So far I've been looking at
OZtrail Genesis II 9P Tent ($200) - Has 3 seperate rooms
OZtrail Hightower Mansion 10P Tent ($260) - Has 2 seperate rooms

Does anybody know if these are any good? I've heard people saying OZtrail poles don't hold up very well in the wind. The music festivals I go to can get pretty windy (and actually broke one of my poles and seams from my old Coleman Darkroom 6P tent).
Do the OZtrail tents hold up in keeping heat out? How much of the Darkroom cooling effect is true vs marketing??
Are they waterproof?

If anyone has any suggestions on better tents, let me know as well. Only reason I'm thinking of getting one of those OZtrail tents is purely due to person/price ratio. The 10P Coleman Darkroom tent is about $600 which is so much more expensive, is it actually that much better?

thanks for your help everyone :)

I'm looking at returning to Kosciuszko National Park for day hiking and staying in Jindabyne. I'm a solo day hiker and really don't like out and back hikes. Has anyone tried the transfer companies for one way hikes? About how much per person are they? I've already done Main Range and the one that starts at the chairlifts and ends back in Thredbo.

Hi all, I figured the camping folk would know a bit about generators. Our town has been getting quite a few 24 hour power outages (3 full day outages in the past 12 months).

We are considering getting a Honda generator to keep our fridge and freezer cold during any future outages. Meat is so expensive and we don't want to lose a big freezer full.

We want to buy a quality generator and after a lot of googling, the Honda models seem to be highly regarded and positively reviewed (but expensive!)

What sized generator would keep a big fridge and a big freezer going during a 24 hour outage? We could alternate between fridges i.e. a few hours each. Also run a microwave to cook food, if needed. (general survival , get through the blackout type usage)

We have been looking at the Honda EU32 inverter generator. Retails at $4200 currently on sale for around $3799.

https://powerequipment.honda.com.au/models/generators/eu32

Happy to pay for the quality and reliability of a Honda but just making sure a 3.2kVA (3200 watts) will do the job? Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm an avid young camper and I love exploring the great outdoors, especially here in Australia. However, I'm trying to do it more often without breaking the bank. I currently drive a VF Commodore in mint condition and don't plan on upgrading to a 4x4 or SUV anytime soon.

I'm looking for any advice or personal experiences you might have about camping more frequently on a budget without the need for a rugged vehicle. Specifically, I'd love to know:

1. Trailer Advice: Should I consider using a trailer? Is it worth making my own camper trailer, or would buying a DIY one from Facebook Marketplace be a better idea?
2. Camping Gear Savings: What are your best tips for saving money while purchasing camping gear?
3. 12V Dual Battery System: Has anyone added a portable and easily removable 12V dual battery system to a Commodore? I'd really appreciate any tips or recommendations for that as well.

Thanks in advance for your help and happy camping!

Got a camping trip coming up in the coming month and was wondering what you guys use to make the swag more comfy.

Its a kings single swag I have from years and years ago, last time I used it I slept horribly, so I am looking for a way to make it more comfy. Since I bought it I have put on some extra weight and I am worried that if I buy the kings self inflating mattress it will be a bit quishy in there.

Anyone got any advice?
thanks

I want to buy my own gear so I don’t have to keep borrowing my parents stuff. I discovered decathlon tents for very cheap. Specifically outdoor matters brand. Anyone know whether it’s worth getting or if they’re just crap quality.

My partner and I are planning our first big van trip around Tassie and I'm starting to buy all our gear.

I generally prefer spending more for better quality gear, but we have a few big-ticket items to buy for our van (power being one of them) so I'm trying to save where I can justify it.

My partner has a chronic injury so our hikes won't be long, probably a few hours max, so I'm looking at daypacks 20-30L. Apart from this trip we do quite a bit of weekend adventuring/light hiking but nothing too full-on.

I've already bought him an Osprey Stratos and was leaning towards the Sirrus for myself (about $300, maybe $240 on sale) when I stumbled across a Mountain Warehouse pack with all the specs I want for $36 on sale. $36!!!

I've read Mountain Warehouse isn't the best quality, but for that price would it really be that bad? They also have a lot of cheap accessories (like microfibre towels) which I can't imagine could be much worse than more expensive brands.

Or are they really that bad that I'm better off spending the ~$250 upfront for an Osprey (which might mean having less to spend on big ticket items).

Would love to hear if anyone has experience with their products, especially the bags. Thanks heaps!

Hi guys so I was planning a trip up from around Melbourne to Mt Kosciuszko and wanted to know of any good hikes/trails/sightseeing spots I can do on the way up there. Happy to detour and turn it into a multiple day trip or even camping, just wanted some inspiration on some good stops/tracks along the way. Thanks 😊

Hello, I am planning a camping trip to tassie most of the campsites do not need a booking, there is a first come first serve, does it get busy at all? do you think ill have agood chance of getting a camping spot thanks.

I'm currently having a canopy mounted to my hilux with with a 150kg rating roof rack. I'm looking to mount a 23zero rooftop tent to it. It's 2.2m long. It's going to be overhanging the canopy. Will I have the option of mounting it closing to the front of vehicle while still being mounted to the roof racks central on the canopy. Cheers Hunter

When plug phone into control panel charging icon goes on and off constantly and loses power. How is this possible if it’s suitable for smartphone?

Currently living out of my car for a short time and trying to make the best of a tough situation. I’d like to camp somewhere around the Northern Beaches so I can stay close to work, but I’m finding it hard to find campsites nearby—most seem to be 1.5+ hours away. Does anyone know of any camping spots closer to the area or perhaps someone with acreage who might let me set up a tent? I don’t need power or amenities, just a safe and quiet spot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Brand-new Hydrapak 3-liter soft water bottle. After an initial test fill, I noticed it being wet on the outside after a couple of hours, so I decided to run a quick experiment. I filled it with approximately 2.5 liters of tap water, wiped it clean and dry with paper towels (droplets you see on the 1st photo are inside the bottle), and placed it on a dry, level surface for about 8 hours.

When I lifted it, there was a noticeable puddle of water that had seeped through the material or seams. Bottle itself is noticeably dump. What can I say? Clearly avoid storing this bottle inside your backpack or simply use something else.

Oh, and the plastic smell and taste are incredibly strong, to the point of water being undrinkable. #hydrapak #fail

Somehow can't add photos to the post directly, so here's the link: https://postimg.cc/gallery/Wj6GRXc