Free camping truly feels like the ultimate life hack: no booking system, no costs and serenity away from the rat race or the hustle and bustle of caravan parks. You can freely use your spontaneity on where to go, with the freedom to choose last minute and ride whatever adventure comes with. It also provides that distinct sense of pride that comes from camping self-sufficiently!
Whether it’s getting the best spot, creating your own rubbish bin or positioning yourself the right way for sun or wind, there are some free camping hacks that make all the difference and can turn a good camp into a great one.
Here are some hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Mid-Week Arrival = Spot Secured
Although not always accessible to everyone who isn’t a full-time camper (sorry), arriving early to mid-week typically is the best time to secure the primo spot at the free campground. Whether it’s right by the water, in direct sun for the best possible solar power pull or closest to the incredible view, there are typically 1-3 absolute winners at the free camp that everyone’s always hoping to secure. A lot of the time it’s luck of the draw, but arriving early can give you that advantage.
Before I travelled full-time, I was a weekend camper. I would typically negotiate Friday as a work-from-home day so I could head to the campsite on Thursday evening. This meant I got an extra night camping as well as a much better chance to secure a good spot. If you can spin that, it will give you a much better chance at parking up in a great spot than arriving Friday night or Saturday morning will.
Use the Sun to Your Advantage
Despite loving being off-grid and getting back to nature, there’s no escaping the fact that creature comforts and essential things alike will require electricity. I don’t just mean the little heater you’re running in your caravan or the TV you’re powering to watch a movie, but actual things you need to do to survive like cooking meals and boiling water.
One of the first things to do when you pull your 4WD up at camp is to figure out where the sun will rise and set. That way, you can position your rig to make the most of the morning sun for your solar panels and give your awning the best chance of providing afternoon shade. It might sound obvious (the sun sets and rises in the same place each day), but when you're full-time travelling and crossing borders often, it's surprisingly easy to lose track of your bearings.
Much more obviously, is to look for a spot that isn’t clouded in shade by neighbouring trees. No sun obviously equals no solar power.
Free camping in caravan in Australian outback
Get Some Leveling Ramps
I wish I could count the number of times a leveling chock or ramp has been the difference between staying or leaving a campsite - because it has been a lot! Although you wouldn’t expect it, there have also been many caravan park stays where our site has been as level as a skateboard ramp and we’ve needed to balance the van out. This is amplified at a free camp where nature and other campers have done their thing and likely contributed to an uneven foundation over time.
Investing in some chocks, found at most Bunnings Warehouse stores, can allow you to park up in spots that may have been affected by weather or are simply on uneven ground, granting you a spot that’s further away from the crowds or in a more enjoyable location. My theory is it’s better to have them and never use them than find yourself wishing you were more prepared.
Prepare Your Meals in Advance
Meal prepping isn’t just for the fit folk or the time poor, it’s also a great hack when you’re free camping because:
- it allows you to spend more time doing what you love and;
- you’re going to be using less power/gas from your setup.
One of my favourite camp meals of all time was a delicious green chicken curry that had been pre-prepared before our camping trip that simply needed a 15-minute heat up over the fire. It was freezing that night and none of us felt like cooking, plus we then got to spend our night yarning and relaxing instead of dicing onions and chopping up raw chicken.
We also didn’t have to use as much room in the fridge to transport it there, which meant more room for beers! A win all round.
Bring Firewood With You or Purchase at a Servo on the Way
For me, not a lot of things up-level a campsite like a good crackling bush telly does. Whether it’s the radiating warmth, the sounds of the fire, the ability to roast marshmallows and cook dinner or the overall ambience, there are many reasons us campers absolutely love a campfire. There’s also no disappointment quite like the one you feel when you realise there’s absolutely no wood around to collect and you didn’t bring any with you! Make sure you come prepared by bringing firewood from home or purchasing it on the way - trusting there’ll be wood to collect around camp is a rookie error (one that I still admittedly make!).
campfire camping with caravan in Australia
Create a Makeshift Bin
A lot of free camping sites won’t have bins. Unfortunately, rubbish collection costs money, and if no one’s paying the camp there, there’s typically no income to fund it. It’s also because a lot of free camps are in difficult to reach places, which is why we always preach a “leave nothing but footprints” message, so we can keep beautiful places in good condition.
To manage your rubbish, you can create a bin out of a bucket and a snap on lid. Keeping your makeshift bin sealed like this, as opposed to a bag hanging off the side of your vehicle or caravan, not only contains the smell but it inhibits wildlife from getting into it. I think we’ve all made this mistake before and woken up to find a bird, possum or goanna has had themselves an almighty bin banquet.
Oftentimes, the best campsites are not found, they’re made, and with hacks like these at your disposal you'll arrive prepared with the best chance to make your free camp getaway an unforgettable trip. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a caravan park stay with all the bells and whistles—simply come equipped with these hacks under your belt and enjoy all that free camping Australia has to offer!
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