Live2Camp Magazine July 2016

G N I P M A C & KIDS ! a e d i T A E R G a W hy it’s

Sharp Park Canungra

BY! R A E N FEE F O C T GREA

MV Beagle Campground Fishing at Inskip Point

Exploring Country Towns Our Beautiful Australian Outback

Plus!

Upcoming Camping Events

Mt Barney Retreat‘BARTOPIA’

A

ustralia’s only camping directory showing you sites and facilities in high definition! Let us show you the way.

ng i p m a C h ac e B & h s u B

Check out our Facebook page

Live2Camp.com.au 2

Issue 2 - July 2016

pg4 pg6

A WORD FROM MATT Country Towns explored INSKIP POINT MV Beagle campground

pg8

‘BARTOPIA’ MT BARNEY RETREAT A private little gem.

pg10

8

v

CAMPING NEWS Upcoming camping events and news

pg12

SHARP PARK River Bend Country Bush camping

pg14

KIDS & CAMPING The joys and benefits of taking the Kids exploring in this great country.

6

v

v

12

v

14

4

v

Well, what a month it has been at Live2Camp! The launch of the first edition of the Live2Camp magazine has gone great guns! Thank you very much for all your support and feedback and we hope you enjoy reading it every month. Don’t forget to share it with all your camping friends who are perhaps not so social media savvy and don’t have a Facebook account!

We were lucky enough to head out west over the last couple of weeks and film a number of campgrounds in south west Queensland. I love travelling into the Australian Outback and I have to say this trip reminded me once again just how good a country this is to go camping in! We only had to drive a few hours west to see an abundance of wildlife.

I couldn’t believe how quickly we were spotting large numbers of kangaroos and emus. And not to mention the two magnificent Wedge tailed Eagles we spotted on the side of the road!

just how good little local country towns can be. We came across some absolute beauties on this trip and it was great to see a large number of caravans parked up in the main street enjoying what the locals had to offer. We stopped for a coffee in a little town called Surat and I have to say it was the best coffee I had ever had! So next time you are travelling by road, jump off the main highway and take a break in country town.

The locals will sure thank you for the business and you might just have the best coffee you have ever had!

I was also reminded on this trip of

Anyway, till next month remember, don’t live to work, Live2Camp!

THE MAGAZINE TEAM Editorial Matt Bloomfield Lize Bloomfield

Design Lize Bloomfield Jack McCappin

Photography Lize Bloomfield

Authors Matt Bloomfield Josh Ford

Tony Argyle

Stewart Jones Editorial & Advertising Enquiries info@live2camp.com.au

A

not-for-profit campground which aims to provide a family-friendly eco-tourism facility with low cost camping and accommodation. We offer canoe and kayak hire and provide qualified guides for white water activities and platypus spotting on the nearby Nymboida River.

!!

S U H T I YW A T S E M CO

3518 Armidale Road Nymboida, NSW Ph: 02 66494155

www.nymboidacanoecentre.com 5

T N I O P P I K INS

J

Click here for the Live2Camp video

ust over two hours north of Brisbane and located a short drive north from the Rainbow Beach village is Inskip Point which has numerous, well equipped campgrounds surrounding the eastern, northern and western sides of the well-known peninsular. Inskip Point is just a stone’s throw from Fraser Island and is an unforgettable camping area that is well worthy of a stop over prior to getting on the barge for the trip across the Great Sandy Straight to the world’s largest sand island.

Within these campgrounds is the M.V. Beagle Camping Area. Named after a 10m game fishing vessel of the same name that capsized in the area in April 1970, it is the perfect area for a family fishing holiday.

Located a very short walk to the beachfront where fishing is easy and the views spectacular is a sandy and grassy, tree lined campground that is both spacious and at times quite private.

Although this area can be quite busy on the weekends, during the week it's not uncommon to have the place almost entirely by yourself however watching everyone heading over on the barge to Fraser Island can be torture! A word of warning though, keep all your rubbish secure as the bush turkeys can be a touch intrusive and will spread your rubbish everywhere if it is left unattended. The M.V. Beagle camping area also has long drop toilets and large bins at the exit for all those empty bait packets.

6

Supplies including firewood, fuel and food can all be purchased prior to arrival at Rainbow Beach, which is where you will need to purchase permits for camping and beach travel if you plan to drive along the spectacular expanses of sand that the area is famous for before retiring for a night under the stars.

So if you have a trip coming up to Fraser Island or are thinking of heading that way, make sure you stop in for a night or two (or more) at the M.V. Beagle Campground and spend some time with the family fishing, relaxing and exploring in this visually spectacular place.

Words and Images by Josh Ford.

7

Bartopia - Mt Barney Ret

I

f the idea of escaping to a true wilderness hideaway, only 2 hours from Brisbane, appeals to you then ‘Bartopia’ at Mt Barney Retreat is for you. Adjacent to World Heritage Mt Barney National Park, this little oasis is designed and constructed to ensure sustainability and minimal

environmental impact. Here you are free from the barrage of mobile phones, free from the crowds of other ‘weekenders’ and free from noise. With only the birds and bush for company (and a few critters) it has the ability to make even a 2 day stay free you from stress.

8

There’s not a lot to do here, but that’s the point. You can choose to just relax around the open fire pit with a beer or a book (the area is covered), or bush walk to the upper portals and swim in the water holes. Or you can do a spot of exotic bird watching; this nature refuge is a roosting site for the Glossy Black Cockatoo.

This is the area of the Yamahra Creek surrounded by rainforest, creeks and mountains, ideal for both the serious bushwalker and for photographers - the views are magnificent.

For the kids there’s a natural dam, plenty of space to kick a ball and a soon to be completed 200 metre Flying Fox, for the more adventurous. (There is also generated power, so they can charge their Ipads if they can’t live without them) Dogs are also welcome.

treat

F

or the kids there’s a natural You will need a 4WD to access dam, plenty of space to kick Bartopia because the final 8km of a ball and a soon to be road is rough and unsealed. The completed 200 metre Flying drive to Mt Barney from Brisbane Fox, for the through Boonah and QLD’s Ideal for both the more Scenic Rim is gorgeous, adventurous. and once you arrive, you serious (There is also will be pleasantly bushwalker and generated surprised. power, so they for photographers An ideal place for whole can charge - the views are family stays, or for parties, their Ipads if you can hire out all 3 magnificent. they can’t live cabins to yourselves, it’s without them) very popular for 40ths and 50ths.

Dogs are also welcome.

They even do a Christmas in July!

The resort itself has everything All in all, I give it 3 stars for you need; a functional kitchen accommodation and 5 stars for with a fridge, hot water sinks, location. cooking implements and gas camp stoves. Or, you can choose to cook in the huge stone pizza oven Click here for the website: or over the open fire pit. The mtbarneyretreat.com.au resort has bathroom facilities with hot showers (one with wheelchair access), and 3 huge cabins (basic, but comfortable), each sleeping up to 10 people. All you need to bring is food, bedding and an Words and images by esky. Or alternatively you can Stewart Jones bring your tent or campervan.

9

Camping News 4—6 JULY 2016 BIRDSVILLE BIG RED BASH The 2016 BIG RED BASH will feature JIMMY BARNES on the 6th.

PAUL KELLY on the 5th. Glenn Shorrock and Brian Cadd be performing on the 4th July. There will be ANOTHER 8 fantastic artists and bands before tickets go on sale on 9th November, but hopefully this will get you excited for now.

Venue: Big Red - Birdsville QLD 28—31 July 2016 CARAVAN & CAMPING SUPER SALE Venue: Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville SA

SNEAK PREVIEW FOR AUGUST:

19 - 21st August 2016 The Clarence Valley Camp Oven Festival will be held and it will be a ‘Feast for the Senses’!

Venue: Nymboida Camping and Canoeing.

10

22 - 24 July 2016 MACARTHUR CARAVAN, CAMPING, 4WD, FISH & BOAT SHOW See an array of both indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as lots of entertainment for the whole family.

Venue: Tabcorp Park, Racecourse Ave, Menangle NSW

29 – 31 JULY 2016 GOLD COAST MIDYEAR CARAVAN & CAMPING EXPO + HOME & OUTDOOR LIVING IDEAS Venue: GOLD COAST TURF CLUB, BUNDALL, Queensland A MAJOR GOLD COAST EXPO !

11

Y

River Bend Country Bush Camping - Sharp Park

ou can’t beat living the outdoor lifestyle while still being within 4minutes of good coffee – and staying at Sharp Park Country Bush Camp, near the quaint hinterland village of Canungra, left me spoilt for choice with three coffee shops within spitting distance of each other.

Just 40 minutes from the Gold Coast, Canungra has a population of just a few hundred people, but with a community large enough to cater for the many visitors it gets. Weekends see the place jam packed with weekend motorcycle warriors and travelers heading to the Gold Coast or the nearby tourist regions of Tamborine Mountain and O’Reilly’s Plateau.

period. Booking was a simple phone call and I splashed out on a river front spot (at $8 per person per night why not?).

The creek makes a good swimming

place for young kids in summer and sightings of platypuses have been reported.

Facilities are simple yet clean with no showers but flushing toilets and a rainwater tank available for refills. Fire-pits are available near each site and I The park itself is a good size and found the owners friendly and divided into two separate areas. helpful with their nightly drive Long weekend’s see it fully booked around offering firewood at so I had to settle for a quieter 12 competitive prices.

The park has a number of regulars who work on the Gold Coast (cheers Steve for the help with my battery!) but you don’t see any permanent structures or run down elements as can happen in some camps with permanents.

There’s plenty to do with Binna Burra, Tamborine Mountain, Beaudesert, O’Reilly’s plateau and the Gold Coast all within an hour’s drive. There are some good local walking tracks and a very nice

local nine hole golf course complete with honesty box system.

They apologise for their recent price rise to $15 per round but I can’t complain as mine included a free beer shouted by the two members who were marking the greens.

Click here for the Live2Camp video Words by Tony Argyle Photos by Lize Bloomfield

13

Take the kids camping!

A

colleague asked me the other These camping experiences made day whether my kids liked board the kids far more resourceful than games and of course I didn’t some of their peers, because they hesitate and replied that they did. can set up tents, fold out a stretcher This got us talking about how these and know not to play with fire, as days, with all the technology my son found out the hard way on around, board games get dusty on one these trips! And also the the shelves. During this knowledge they have gained conversation, I suddenly realised throughout our travels across our why my kids love playing board beautiful country cannot be taught games so much. It all comes down in schools. The history that they to the fact that we have been taking have learnt along the way has them camping ever since they can helped them on remember! And My daughter will be numerous occasions when you go to complete those camping, you play forever known as the dreaded school board games. ‘black widow’’ for her assignments.

I remember my son take-no-prisoner For a long time coming home from now, we have been school one day and attitude to winning at loading up the car telling me that he with all the camping had met another boy Uno gear and heading who had been to the off on family camping holidays.

Mungerannie roadhouse and my son Sure, the kids have whinged from was so proud that he could talk time to time! “Not another camping about it as well. trip!” or “I don’t want to sleep on a stretcher again”! But despite the I will never forget, and I’m sure my odd whinge from time to time, we kids won’t either, the many games are glad we have taken them of Uno played under the annex of camping for all these years. our camper trailer whilst we waited for the rain to stop. My daughter I understand that taking the whole will be forever known as the ‘black family camping is not for everyone, widow’’ for her take-no-prisoner it IS a lot of hard work! However, I attitude to winning at Uno (and yes feel it has played an integral part in she always won!). the development of our kids.

Click here for Live2Camp.com.au

14

I also remember the many laughs we’ve had as a family sitting out in the open having dinners and conversations that you just don’t have at home. For some reason, these conversations seemed to always revolve around what invention my step-son wanted to create next.

Bacon-salt? Really?!

We have formed a special bond with our kids through these camping experiences. A bond that will not be easily broken.

So buy that tent, grab the kids and have a family adventure you and your kids will never forget!

Matt Bloomfield

15

! ! s u h t i w Advertise If you would like to promote your company or product in our magazine, we have advertising packages available. Just contact us on info@live2camp.com.au.

If you would like to tell us about your favourite camping site, why not write your own article for the magazine. Just put it into 300 words and send us some pictures: info@live2camp.com.au. If we publish the article we will send you a Live2Camp pack.!