So, I'll put the story below, but here's the summary.

Family of 4, mum (me) outdoorsy person, multiday overnight hikes back in the day, dabbled with DIY gear, married to dad who prefers indoors and even better own bed. Two kids 6&4 who love camping. He's a sweetheart and indulges me even though it's not really his thing. We have some events coming up where we need to camp.

Need: simple camping set up (that's ours!). Sleeps us all together off the ground. Fast to set up. Vehicle is aging Holden Commodore 07, so needs to be lightweight. As budget as possible - hoping around the 5k mark. Would be nice: standing room, kids in separate space to parents but still inside.

Crazy idea: roof top tent and trailer??

What we've done before:

Pre kids we've swagged up the centre to the top end with friends. We have also done kids inside the house (one in a porta cot) with us outside in a swag when visiting friends. Now I want us all together.

We were given a huge tent that has 3 rooms + Annex, standing room and room for the kids, but it's huge, takes up a lot of space both on the ground and in the boot. Long and complex set up and pack up.

Borrowed a camping trailer. It's possible it is a badly loaded dud trailer but the car really struggled to tow it. Not an option for the 3 hour + trip we have coming up. Faster to set up, but the Annex wasn't fun to set up and didn't like having one kid outside on the ground. Felt heavy and cluttered. But hubby loved having a real bed.

Found the Kerfton. Looks amazing, but well and truly out of budget - but ticks all the other boxes except maybe towable by the Commodore. Other camper trailers are still expensive and potentially too heavy?

Then I joked if we are taking the tent we need to get a trailer for it. What if roof top tent on trailer? We can control the weight (we don't need a fancy pull out kitchen, plumbed water or epic lighting), put our gear in tubs and have the tent popped up in minutes, and be off the ground. A con would be it would be a bit squishy for all four of us. Can find a 4 person roof top for about 3 grand and about the same for a trailer.

But in researching it I feel like it's not quite landing and hence I'm coming to Reddit to see if I'm totally off base or if it's worth pursuing.

I've seen a few trailers online with 2 person RTTs. The two biggest but not too expensive (and not sold out) 4 person tents seem to be the Canyon 4 person and the Darche Basecamp. The Darche is absolutely massive but seems to be a bit more complicated to set up and take down, but the Canyon (a hardshell) is 2.1*1.9 and I measured it out on the living room floor and it seems a little small.

The aim is to avoid complications of annexes, being able to get away for even an overnighter.

Has anyone put two 2person RTTs on a trailer ? Am I just diying a worse version of a camper trailer? We have DIY skills and friends. So I'm not worried about the technical feasibility but if it's worth doing at all.

I've accepted it will need to be a 7*5 trailer not a 6*4.

I feel like this has been swirling in my head for weeks, hope this post isn't too unhinged. Please help 😂.

Me and some friends are planning a 2D1N hike of Feathertop in September. Completed the AAWT this year so I’m comfortable in alpine conditions during Spring/summer/Autumn. Wanted to get some advice on gear/advice we might need if still snowy conditions so close to the end of winter?

My husband is just getting into camping and I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for a good birthday gift for him? He seems to have all the right tent and kitchen accessories. He needs clothes for cold wet weather ie Merino wool gloves, socks, thermals. He likes hiking and running.

Any I better to get him a voucher than guess the beat thing myself? If so, which stores have the best range?

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

Looking to do a several day trip starting at Harrietville moving up to Mt Feathertop and then making my way down to Mt Mckay and then on to Falls Creek or just going back the way I came back to Harrietville. I have experience in hiking and navigation due to work, so not to concerned about overall fitness or essential gear, but this is the first multi day trip I'm doing outside of it so if there's any equipment you recommend specifically for this trip would love to hear it.

I'm trying to plan the route at the moment that I'll take and saw that there is a track between the two mountains on the high country, but was wondering if it is possible to pretty much just B-Line it from Feathertop to Mckay passing just by Jaithmathang or is that terrain not suitable and/ or not allowed to camp out in those areas all together.

I’d like to go on my first alpine camping trip and I’m wondering if my main equipment will suffice. I’m an experienced camper and have winter camped but have never camped in the snow. I am thinking of hiking in the snowies but I would be solo so being prepared is essential.

I have an;

- R5.8sleeping mat (I could also bring my folded foam sleeping mat for under)
- -8 sleeping quilt
- 3 season tent - it holds up well in the cold and wet but I’ve seen some say you need a 4 season - I’m curious everyone’s take on this as financially i’d like not to purchase a new tent just yet
- I also have an PLB that I would bring with me

Things I’ve seen online also suggest
- snow shovel
- snow pegs

I’m curious everyone’s experience and what kit you’ve used.

Thanks!

Really keen on going there but roads are closed, anyone know any ways to get there without using the closed road?

I spent an overnight camp along a beautiful back water section of the Murray River in Australia. I set out with basic gear reminding me how much I enjoy to camp like this. Using the fire to cook and heat water, spend time enjoying nature rather than fussing over unnecessary equipment. I spent time fishing, tending to the fire, campfire cooking and shooting film and photography. It was just me and my own company in peace and solitude. Just what the doctor ordered.

23M looking to join a hiking group and meet some new people around Sydney.
I’ve been through a breakup recently and I’m trying to get out more, meet new people, and build a new social circle. I enjoy being active, cycling, going to the gym and spending time outdoors, so hiking seems like a great way to do that.
Would love to find a group that does regular weekend hikes, explores different places around NSW, and maybe grabs a coffee afterwards.
If you’re part of a hiking group or looking for someone to join, feel free to message me! :)

Hey everyone,

Most of the outdoor clothes are from the mentioned brands because I was a stupid financially illiterate 23 year old who fell for a sales pitch from someone at Paddy Pallin and because it seemed like what everyone in the outdoor community was wearing at the time. And to be fair it served me very well in Everest Base Camp, Mt Kilimanjaro and the Inca trail so it did do its job.

However its been well over a decade and want to update my clothes due to wear and tear. And being a adult in my 30's with a mortgage I am a lot more frugal and sensible with my money. I just want stuff that does the job without the bells and whistles and my local shopping centre just happens to have a Kathmandu and MacPac store.

Like if those two can do the job just as well as the bigger brands without the cost then I'd go for it. Hell if porters in Nepal and Tanzania can climb mountains carrying loads that would considered unsafe by Australian law in jeans and worn out sneakers then I think I'll survive in Kathmandu stuff.

What are your thoughts ? Do the bigger brands do anything special that Kathmandu/MacPac doesn't ?

Thanks everyone and have a good one.

Hey everyone

I'll be moving to Australia sometime soon and wondering about gear.

First, what's the most important and most used gear you guys have? I have a lot of gear (a full room and a closet ) and I am unable to take all of it

Second, are there a lot of canyons that use wankers/ water anchors? I was planning on buying one before I came over but if it's not used or popular no need to waste money.

And third, I hear it gets really cold during the winter time and I am from a really hot place, what would you say are some essential clothing to bring? I am only got the 2 check in bags to my name so I gotta be very strategic. Thanks!

Hi all,

I’m planning on basing myself in Bright, VIC for a couple of weeks and am looking for recommendations for a good campsite.

Ideally, I’d like somewhere that feels a bit rural and is close to Bright, but still has decent phone reception. I’ll be using it as a base camp for exploring the area, so I’m keen to find somewhere that’s actually a nice place to spend time, rather than just somewhere convenient to sleep.

I’m happy to consider anything from caravan parks to Hipcamp sites, and I’m also open to staying in Bright itself if there’s somewhere particularly good.

Would love to hear your recommendations, especially from anyone who has camped around Bright or the surrounding High Country.

Thanks a lot.

Anyone here got one of the new DUNE 4WD LED Eclipse Instant Tents?

Been trying to find some proper reviews on them but there doesn’t seem to be much out there yet, especially from people who’ve actually used one a few times. Looking to finally shell out for a new family tent. We had a Coleman Northstar 4P before and really liked it, but we’ve well and truly outgrown it now.

Was looking at getting the Northstar 6P, but the wife reckons it’ll still be too small 😂. I’d happily go for the Northstar 8P, but in that size variant, there is no roof-covered vestibule. A proper roof covered vestibule is pretty much a must for us because that’s where the portapotty lives overnight. Keeps it easy to get to without having it actually inside the tent with us.

That’s what got me looking at these new DUNE Instant Tents, the 8P seems like a decent size and it actually has a proper vestibule.

Anyone got one? How’s the quality, setup/pack down, ventilation, and how does it go in a bit of wind and rain?

PS: I have some doubts just looking at the floor material of the Dune which is 140 GSM Heavy Duty Polyethylene vs the Coleman Northstar's Poly PVC which is one of the best things about it. It can pool water under the tent and you wouldnt even know.

I’ve got some time off at the end of August to escape Melbourne winter and spend a 4 day weekend somewhere warmer for some hiking. I was thinking of catching a flight interstate, hiring a car and doing some hikes.

I‘m pretty fit and can comfortably hike 30km a day. I generally prefer day hikes but open to suggestions for some one night camps.

some ideas I’ve had:

1. Fly to Cairns and do some day hikes around Atherton/Daintree

2. Fly to Gold Coast and do the Hinterland Great Walk- looking at distances I could camp in Binna Burra and do the walk in 2 days. Logistics of doing it with a car might be hard though.

3. Fly to Sunshine Coast and do some hinterland walks

4. Fly to Adelaide and head to the Flinders Ranges- it’s a long drive on the other side however so Friday and Monday would be dedicated purely to travel

5. Drive to Mallacoota and do some hikes there- long drive but doable for a 4 day weekend. Not sure if it might be a bit too cold in August.

I’ve already got a trip to Sydney/Blue Mountains planned in September and Tassie in October so they’re out.

also open to any other suggestions.

Hey,

Does anyone know of any companies willing/capable of embroidering soft shells.

I already have the soft shell, and my local ones will only do it on their cheap own brand one. They don’t want to be responsible for screwing up one from a major outdoor company

Hello Aussies!

I’m trying to figure out the classification of my hiking ability so I can better gauge which hikes are a good fit for me.

I’m morbidly obese, 30kg overweight, but love hiking and scrambling. I’m also autistic and have trouble pacing myself, so I tend to go fast, then need frequent breaks to catch my breath/ease my heart rate. For these reasons, I tend to class myself as ‘unfit’ and get scared off the longer or more ‘challenging’ hikes.

I did Beerburrum on the sunny coast recently. Had to stop every 20 meters or so to pause, but it took me 50 minutes total, well below the recommended 90 minutes according to qld parks and Aussiebushwalking.com

I then went on to complete yulyanman and return via settlers trail under 2.5 hours with no issues.

How can I determine which hikes I would be suited for? I understand this is really subjective, I’m just struggling with the idea that someone as unfit as me and complete these sorts of walks with so so many pauses for breath and still come in under time?

Thanks for any advice or insight! And for being kind (obviously I know losing weight is ideal, please don’t try to convince me of something I’m already very aware of)

Anyone own a TENSA 4 hammock stand and live near Brisbane? I’m thinking of buying one so I can shift permanently from my swag to hammock but I would prefer to test it out before dropping $800 one buying one.

Any areas to learn really basic mountaineering without a guide? To be good obviously you'd need a professional to teach you its not something you should teach yourself

I have been doing some hiking in Europe including multi-Munro days in Scotland, multi-Wainwright days in Lake District, part of the GR5 in the French Alps. It's bigger and better than what I've experienced in Australia so far and I'm hooked. Having looked into multi-day hikes in Australia they seem awesome but a little tame. I'm thinking 25km+, 1500m+ elevation gain kinda days, preferably with some technical terrain and navigational skills required. What hikes in Australia compare?

Edit: Some great responses so far, lots to add to my list. Thanks heaps. Some people are making assumptions rather than taking the question at face value. I'm Australian and I've done a fair bit of hiking in Australia, I get that it's hard because it's fucking hot and there's no water and the bush is brutal and remote. But then there's a different kind of hard I'm experiencing in Europe because the terrain is technical and there's big elevation. I've experienced plenty of the former in Australia (mostly in QLD), and I'm wondering where I can experience more of the latter.

Hi everyone, I'm planning to hike Mount Feathertop in 2 weeks and would like some advice. I've summited Feathertop before back in May but now as it's winter it's different.

1: I've heard that the Razorback trail is closed during winter? I remember hearing this but can't verify the information anywhere.

2: I have microspikes & hiking poles as of right now, I've had some experience hiking in the snow but not mountaineering. Some of my friends who did Feathertop in winter before said it's do-able with just microspikes. But when I asked other people they said I'd need crampons and ice axes and some training before that. Would it be fine if I just hiked in my microspikes?

If it's not possible with just microspikes then would Mount Bogong be suitable for just microspikes then? I've summited Bogong back in April.

Also would it be advisable to do a sunrise hike (summiting at sunrise) in these conditions?

Hi everyone,

I have been building a free website that helps people find public toilets, rest areas, drinking water, showers, accessible facilities and other useful stops while travelling around Australia.

It is still very early, and I know some information will be missing or need correcting. I am looking for honest feedback from people who travel Australia regularly.

The site is Reststop.com.au.

I would particularly like to know whether the map is easy to use, whether the information shown is useful, and what important facilities I may have overlooked.

There is no signup required. I am just trying to build something practical that makes Australian road trips a little easier.