Top tips for staying safe while solo camping

Words Robert Crack and Allison Watt  Pics Robert Crack

When it comes to camping and exploring all the beautiful locations that Australia has to offer, being a solo camper needn’t be a barrier if you are well-prepared and follow some simple rules to stay safe.

Australia is one of the safest countries for solo camping but that doesn’t mean it’s not without its dangers. Whether it’s venomous reptiles, extreme weather conditions or endless kilometres of remote country where there is no communication and help can be days away, it’s important to be prepared for anything.

Whether you’re a seasoned solo camper or a novice adventurer, prioritising safety with careful planning and preparation is the key to ensuring a safe and memorable experience.

Coorongooba campground in Wollemi National Park, New South Wales

Pack the right gear

Whether you are remote bush camping off the beaten track or sticking to the populated highways, you will need to pack the right gear for your trip.

Some basics include insect repellent, sunscreen, first aid kit, snake bite kit, mozzie coils, medications, fire extinguisher/s, waterproof matches, enough water for multiple days, reliable maps, non-perishable food, water purifiers, emergency and fire blankets, whistle, toolkit, shovel, axe, strong rubbish bags, air compressor, tyre pressure gauge, tyre repair kit, extra wheel nuts and basic spare parts, campsite lights/lanterns, snatch straps and shackles, recovery/traction boards, recovery gloves, a head torch with spare batteries and a reliable communication/navigation device (and having more can come in handy).

It's also important to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies. Check that your spare tyre (on both the vehicle and RV if you’ve got one) is in good condition, and make sure you know how to change and repair it. Keep your fuel topped up and make sure you check your wheel nuts and tyre pressures frequently. If you’re planning to travel to remote locations, make sure you’ve got plenty of spare fuel and drinking water onboard.

Before you head off

Familiarise yourself with the area you’ll be travelling before you go. Study maps, read reviews and research the area’s wildlife and weather so you know what to expect and pack for.

Use the BOM Weather App to check weather forecasts so that you can be prepared for sudden changes and make a plan. Ranger stations in national parks often display weather forecasts too.

Have the right tools so you don’t get lost. There’s plenty of great navigation technology available these days, so it can be easy to feel like we don’t need to bring paper maps or compasses along. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Devices require apps and a power source, so it’s a good idea to have a paper map and a reliable, durable, waterproof baseplate compass (with a luminous idal and map-reading prism) as a backup. And in the case of an emergency, these tools might be the difference between making it home safely or not.

On the road

Outback New South Wales

The most important safety tip for solo camping is to arrive at your campsite safely in the first place. If your solo journey starts to unravel on the highways and byways before you even arrive at camp, then its odds-on that it will fall apart at the seams later.

Avoid travelling late into the afternoon, as this is when many large animals (both native and feral) are most active and by dusk they can be all over the roads. Hitting even the smallest animal on the road can have severe consequences, so plan your route so that you stop well before dark.

When driving on narrow outback roads, slow down and pull over safely to allow oncoming road trains to pass and wait for the dust to settle so that you have full visibility again before taking off.

Setting up camp

Avoid parking or pitching your tent/sway/RV under eucalyptus trees, especially river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), spotted gum (Corymbia maculata) or lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora). These species are notorious for ‘sudden branch drop’. Get your camp setup before last light and have a good look around the area so you know where everything is and are aware of any uneven terrain that might prove a tripping hazard. If possible, avoid moving around at night as much as possible unless you’ve got a good light source with you.

Always secure your items and lock your vehicle or RV when sleeping or away from your campsite. Thieves aren’t always people — emus, wombats, dingoes or currwongs all like to suss out campsites which can lead to items disappearing or being damaged. Don’t forget to secure your valuable large items, such as solar panels, generator, fridge and so on with locked chains.

Campfires are one of the fun parts of outdoor adventures, but staying fire safe is essential, and being aware of any bushfires in the area is even more so. The Fires Near Me Australia app is a great ‘go-to’ app to keep up to date with bushfire threats and other incident information.

When lighting campfires, check the Fire Danger Ratings and follow fire regulations (National Parks and Wildlife authority websites are very informative) and never leave a fire unattended. Always consider if it’s safe to light a fire before you begin. Is it a hot and windy day? Do you have a large open area with no vegetation? If in doubt, put it out. After all, about 10 per cent of bushfires are caused by unsafe campfires. If you decide it’s safe to light your campfire, make sure you’ve got at least 10L of water (use non-potable if available) for extinguishing the fire completely before leaving campsite or going to bed. Don’t use soil or sand as these can hold in the heat and ashes can reignite days after being covered.

Be careful with the food you keep around camp. Store it in containers and avoid leaving any lying around (both to keep it safe from animals and to avoid cross-contamination). It’s a good idea to keep your drinks in a different fridge/esky/cool bag than the rest of your food so that you aren’t constantly disturbing your perishables. Bacteria loves the danger zone between 4°C and 60°C, so ensure to keep hot food hot (above 60°C), keep cold foods cold (below 4°C) and cook your meals thoroughly, especially if they include poultry or seafood. Salmonella, campylobacter and listeria are not illnesses you want if you’re camping (solo or with company!).

Solo Camping in Mallee Country, South Australia

Always be careful with your water, particularly if you’re drinking it. Bring plenty of drinking water with you, or if you’re pulling from a natural source make sure you treat it to remove parasites and bacteria. There are plenty of water filters on the market which can make this a very simple process.

Leave the area the way you found it (or better!). Take all your rubbish with you (including food scraps). Double bag the rubbish and put it in your vehicle until you leave camp to avoid attracting flies, bulldog ants or any scavenging animals.

Stay in touch

Having a reliable method of communication is essential when you’re out on a 4WD adventure in Australia, no matter how long or short the trip is. Telstra claims that its 4G mobile network covers more than 99 per cent of the Australian population. But population — not land area — is the key distinction there. When it comes to the actual land mass, the percentage changes dramatically. The actuality is that Telstra 4G covers 2.7 million square kilometres of Australia, leaving almost five million square kilometres out of reception.

Therefore, depending on where you’re planning on travelling, it’s a good idea to consider carrying a satellite phone and/or a personal locator beacon (PLB) to ensure you can always contact friends, family and (most importantly) emergency services. A UHF two-way radio is a good idea no matter where you’re going and is a top 5 must-have safety item when towing.

There are plenty of comms devices on the market. A couple we can recommend are the Garmin inReach Mini 2, ZOLEO Satellite Communicator. These kinds of devices will allow you to send programmed ‘check in’ messages including a GPS location, have SOS functions to send an alert and GPS coordinates emergency services, and can even give weather updates.

The Emergency Plus app is a great backup tool. If you’ve got signal it will connect you through to Triple Zero (000), State Emergency Service (132 500) or Police Assistance Line (131 444). It uses your phone’s organic GPS which means it can tell emergency services exactly where you are, even if you don’t know your location. Please note, if you do not have coverage from a mobile network, you won’t be able to call 000 using your mobile phone. This is one of the benefits of having the Garmin, ZOLEO or sat phone as a backup.

A portable analogue AM/FM radio is also handy (bring spare batteries). The ABC Radio broadcasts updates during bushfires and weather emergencies. TO find the local ABC AM radio frequencies of the places you’ll be travelling and camping, head here. Write them down and stick them to the radio so you don’t lose them and tune the relevant frequency to one of your vehicle’s radio preset stations as well.

While it might look suss, if you get a text message from +61 444 444 444 about a bushfire, cyclone or flood emergency — it is genuine, and you should act immediately. This number is the Emergency Alert national telephone warning system, and the message will be from fire, police and other emergency services.

Kiata Campground at the Little Desert National Park, Victoria 

Top tips for solo female campers

Solo camping can be a lot of fun and feel very freeing, but women may have some additional concerns and it’s important to follow some extra safety precautions to ensure safety and peace of mind.

Trust your instincts: If something about the area or the people doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and leave. Be extra cautious and vigilant if your vehicle is flagged down in a remote area, and keep the doors locked if you do stop. Around camp, be wary of strangers who approach you and if you feel threatened, call the police (if you have mobile coverage), or pack up and leave.

Keep connected: Set up a communication strategy with friends and family, so that they always know where you are and where you expect to be when travelling. Joining online communities, forums, social media groups or local groups for solo female campers. This can be a great way to share experiences, the best tips and support your fellow solo travellers. There are several Facebook groups set up specifically for women who are caravanning, camping and travelling solo around Australia.

Just you and the open road

Heading on a solo trip can be a fantastic way to experience this big and beautiful country and also a great way of expanding your comfort zone. But it’s essential that you are well-prepared and stay safe both on and off the road.

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