Camping on your own can be a rewarding experience—a moment to sit back, relax and reflect. For some, this doesn’t sound like the perfect holiday, but with the right preparation, attitude, and caravan, you can embark on a journey that might just convert you into a solo camper. Here are some helpful things to know when travelling solo in a caravan around Australia.
Planning is Everything
Going solo means that all of the decisions are on you. That might sound liberating, but it also means you’ll need to do a bit more preparation. Once you’ve settled on your destination, try to get a basic understanding of exactly where it is and how you’re getting there. This way, you’re not relying on GPS if you get lost. You’ll also want to know where the nearest towns are, so that you can easily stock up on supplies, dispose of waste, charge batteries and access services. With some careful planning, you’ll be safe to do your own thing in peace.
Stay Connected
While we’d usually encourage disconnecting from devices while camping, it’s perfectly OK to allow yourself some leeway when you’re flying solo. Movies, music, podcasts, and audiobooks can be amazing time-passers while you’re lounging in your Ezytrail bed or outside by the fire. It’s also important to be able to access friends, family, or emergency services if needed. Upgrading your data plan ensures that you can binge watch that series your friend keeps nagging you about, while having plenty of data leftover for a video call. However, it’s very possible that you’ll be out of reception, so you might need to find the nearest town with a signal if you need to make a call.
Know Your Risks & The Myths
It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room—in this case, the snake in the grass or the croc in the river. While we Aussies like to brag about our dangerous animals, we never really speak about how unlikely it is to encounter them, or how easy it is to avoid them.
A simple warning sign by the water with a picture of a croc or shark should be all the reason you need to not jump in. Back on the land, your footsteps are all the reason snakes need to stay away from you. The simple fact is, being alone doesn’t put you at any greater risk from any animal, and the risk is incredibly low to begin with. As long as you stay alert and use common sense, you’ll be just like most other Australians who've never even seen one of our dangerous animals (other than at the zoo!).
Choose the Right Caravan
Choosing the right caravan makes all the difference in your solo camping experience. Our Winton 10 is a great compact option, although it's more suited to on-road travel due to its limitations off-road.
If you're looking for something with an adjustable roof or lower height without compromising off-road performance, consider our popular Parkes pop-top hybrid caravans, which give you a good balance of comfort and convenience. Due to popular demand from our community, we created a hard-top version of the Parkes called the Ceduna, which is often a go-to for people seeking an off-road hybrid caravan. Our Ceduna and Parkes models are also great options for anyone looking for a hybrid caravan with loads of space. If you’re looking for all the extra features, our premium caravan models, such as the VZ5400 off-road hard roof caravan or its multi-terrain sibling, the VX5400 caravan for two, are the way to go.
The Adventure is All Yours!
The greatest appeal of solo camping is the freedom to do it your way. Wake up early, or sleep in late, cook up your go-to meals and explore the outdoors for as long or as little as you want. For anybody with a family, this is a rare opportunity—a dream-like scenario that will never be repeated back in the ‘real’ world, so enjoy it while it lasts! It’s also a great time to be social.
Feel free to stop by an outback pub, book yourself in for a group adventure or get to know some fellow campers around the camping ground. Whether it’s a good yarn or a lifelong friendship, you never know what could come out of it!
Camping on your own is a unique moment of self-reliance and self-reflection that anyone can enjoy. If you find yourself on the fence about it, unsure what you’re going to do, hopefully this guide has given you some reassurance and inspiration to pack your bags and hit the road.
Happy Camping!
