Live2Camp Magazine Issue 18

Issue 18

We take the road less travelled

LAKE MOOGERAH campground

!

E R O M Perfect weekend gettaway AND COMBOYURO POINTÂ campground Moreton Island National Park

CAMPING with Teenagers Should you do it?

A WORD OR TWO FROM

MATT

Well it’s hard to believe

but it’s 2018! Where did the last year go? We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year with your families and we especially hope that you managed to go camping during this festive time. It is a great time to go camping, the weather is great and everyone is in great spirits. But now it’s time to start heading back to work which for us and probably you, means time to start planning your camping trips for the next year. I know we are, and what a year we have planned here at Live2Camp.com.au! Just for starters we have planned trips to the Northern Territory, The Gulf and then, when things warm up a little bit, we will head south to the beautiful Victorian High Country. What an exciting year it is going to be and we hope to bring you lots more videos from all the campgrounds we visit. So sit back, relax and enjoy our videos so you can plan your next camping trip with confidence. In the meantime we hope

you enjoy this issue of our magazine.

Once again it is full of great camping spots to get you motivated to pack up the camping gear, as well as all your usual tips and tricks of camping. This year is going to be a very busy and exciting year and we can’t wait to share it with you all.

Also, make sure you jump on our website for more campsite ideas and subscribe to our monthly magazine for FREE! Happy Camping!

Issue 18

Contents 3 4

MATT'S EDITORIAL A word or two from Matt

Moreton Island

COMBOYURO CAMPING AREA Moreton Island National Park

- The Wr ecks

GUTTER BAR 8 THE South Moreton Island

9

CAMPING WITH TEENAGERS Should you do it?

12

DILLI VILLAGE Fraser Island Queensland

14

TIP OF THE MONTH Keep your rubbish under control

16

LAKE MOOGERAH An oasis in the summer heat

19

A WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE Firelighting 101 e beach h t n o s n e Te

ar The Gutter B

Frase r Islan d

gerah Lake Moo

Queensland's best kept secret;

COMBOYURO CAMPING AREA Moreton Island National park

I love Moreton

Island! It is definitely one of Queensland’s best kept secrets and if you haven’t been there I highly recommend you add it to your camping bucket list. We have taken our kids camping there now a number of times and, from the very moment you drive your 4wd and camper off the ferry, you feel like you are in paradise. We have explored the entire Island and find that we return to the Comboyuro Campground every time and have

had some amazing family camping holidays there.

The campground is located at the North Western part of the Island just past the township of Bulwar and sits behind the sand dunes which gives it a nice level of protection from the wind. It’s a huge campground with plenty of room to spread out under the many shady trees and although it is mostly sandy, you can certainly find some sites that have a good layer of grass. If you go during the off peak season you may even find that you have the whole campground all to yourself as we did on our last trip there. The facilities are fairly new and are your basic composting toilets. There are also cold showers which are quite inviting

after a hot day swimming at the beach. But there are two things that I love most about this campground; The first is the beach. The campground sits next to the calm and very clear blue waters of Moreton Bay. Every time you look at the beautiful blue water you just want to go for a swim. Not to mention the number of dolphins, stingrays and other fish we have watched casually swim past.

Watching the sun set over the Brisbane skyline as well as the Glass House Mountains every afternoon isn’t too

shabby either.

Secondly, I love how close it is to the Castaways Café and Store at Bulwer. Only a couple minutes’ drive or a bit longer if you walk along the beach, not only can you buy almost everything you may have forgotten to bring from home, but you can also get great coffee and dinner on a Friday and Saturday night. The chicken ‘parmy’ was even voted the best we had ever had by our family. Now that’s a big call!

There is so much to do and see on Moreton Island that you’ll struggle to fit it all in on your holiday, and the Comboyuro Campground is centrally located to it all.

A day snorkelling at the Tangalooma Wrecks is a must and is some of the best snorkelling that you will do anywhere. There’s the Cape Moreton Lighthouse, sand tobogganing on your choice of numerous sand dunes, swimming at Blue Lagoon and the Champagne Pools, or you can spend a day at the Tangalooma Resort and of course some of the best sand 4wd’ing you’ll do anywhere. These are just some of the many things there are to do on Moreton Island. You definitely need a 4wd and an off-road camper trailer if you are going to visit Moreton Island as there are no roads. Well not the normal kind anyway!

And I know it can be a little pricy to get there on the ferry but I can assure you, it is well and truly worth the

hype. So, if you are looking for a camping trip to paradise, I highly recommend at least a week at the Comboyuro Campground on Moreton Island.

Words by Matt Bloomfield

Click here for the Comboyuro Camping Area video

THE GUTTER BAR

South Moreton Island

No trip to Moreton

Island in South East Queensland is complete without a trip to the Gutter Bar. Located at Kooringal on the southern most tip of the Island it is well worth planning your day around a visit there. Whether you 4wd down the Known for having the freshest seafood Island to get there or catch a ferry from sourced straight from the trawlers as the mainland it is well worth the effort. well as oyster directly from the local producers, it also does a great burger if seafood is not your thing. Or if your not hungry it is a great spot to take a 21 Kooringal break from 4wd and have an ice cold Esplanade, beverage whilst chatting with the Kooringal, resident parrot. Not only does the Moreton Island gutter bar do great seafood and very (07) 3409 0170 cold beer but they also sell all the things you need when you are camping like ice, bread and milk. So if you ever find yourself having a great camping trip on Moreton Island, make sure you make it even better with a day trip to the Gutter Bar.

Words by James Guerin

Camping with Teenagers.. their school work. The kids are all teenagers now and every year when it comes time to plan our annual trip, Lize and I have the same conversation. I think this will be the last year the kids will come with us, we say. They are teenagers now, they don’t Our kids having grown up camping. want to come camping with their Every year for the last ten years parents. But every year not only do without fail we have taking them on they come camping with us, they get an annual camping trip to somewhere very exciting about the trip. In fact in Australia and from time to time we they look forward to it. This has given have taken them on a big road trips us some fantastic family memories camping along the way. So I think it’s and we have really bonded as a fair to say that they are pretty good at family on these camping trips. Last camping. And after years of practice, year we decided to go to Moreton even the youngest of them can set up Island for our annual family camping their own tent, their stretcher and so trip. Once again we were unsure if our on. We believe that it has not only teenagers would want to come with made them very resourceful but the us. After all they were a year older. skills they have learnt over the years However, not only did all our kids has also helped them greatly with want to come but also our teenage

nephew decided to fly out from New Zealand and join us on the trip. To say we were a little anxious about taking four teenagers on a week long camping trip is an understatement. After all, it could go really bad. But it was a risk we were willing to take and a risk we are so glad we took because not only was it a fantastic camping trip, but we once again bonded even more as a family. It was a completely different type of camping trip to what we had had in the past and what we realised is that the kids have grown up and their expectations have changed.

We had great joy in teaching the boys how to four wheel drive in the sand. Two of them had their licence and the one that didn’t received driving lessons of a completely different kind! Not only did they learn how to drive in the sand but also how to get a vehicle which is badly bogged, out of a sticky situation, and they learned what is meant by the term 'low range'. There where many laughs in the car as they learnt these important skills and had experiences which they'll never forget.

Sure, there were some moments

Would we where we doubted our wisdom in do it again? taking them with us again; they are Absolutely teenagers after all. But once they got we would, past the fact that they can’t always and in fact we need to start planning charge their electronic devices and this years' trip. What I'm also looking that the reception is pretty sketchy, we forward to is the day that the kids had an amazing family holiday that will meet us wherever we are camping, be remembered by all. Instead of and they bring their own kids along. sitting on their phones, they used them We can then start to teach a whole to take photos of the amazing sunsets new generation to go camping. I highly we experienced every afternoon from recommend you take your own the beach and instead of watching teenagers camping. Remember, they Youtube, they went snorkelling and are never too old to leave all their saw it in real life! That’s something electronic devices at home and go out they will never forget. and experience the great outdoors. So what’s stopping you? Start planning that trip with your teenagers now.

They won’t be teenagers forever and one day they will be off doing their own things. I guarantee that both you and your kids will get great memories out of it.

Words by Matt Bloomfield

Dilli Village Fraser Island

Great Sandy National Park We recently enjoyed another trip to

bbq’s Fraser Island, this time we planned all for on doing something different and just stayed at Dilli Village which is owned $35 per night. On this trip we made by the Sunshine Coast University. an effort to see places we had not After the barge trip, Dilli Village was been before.We visited several of only a very short drive up the beach the less famous lakes including which was great having just driven up Lake Boomanjin, Benaroon, from the Gold Coast. The Birrabeen, Wabby, and campground was fully fenced to keep Girrawongera. The kids enjoyed the dingoes out and had all the swimming at all of them which facilities of a caravan park including helped break up time in the car for grassed powered sites, fire pits, them. Lake Birrabeen would have to flushing be one of Frasers best kept secrets toilets, and was just as amazing as Lake hot Mckenzie but bigger and without the showers crowds. At Lake Garawongera we and free saw about a dozen little turtles that

came right up to the viewing platform. Back south and on the beach we saw a very photogenic dingo and also collected Pippis from underneath the sand having located a patch with the tell-tale lumps popping up. Shortly after, the Pippis were on a hook and in the water, we caught a few nice whiting which got the kids very excited. On the last day we experienced a thunderstorm over Lake Mckenzie which made for some dramatic photographs and cleared out most of the tourists pretty quick, it also made for a very interesting drive back to camp as the inland tracks were reduced to boardwalks in parts. Closer to Eurong, we came across traffic similar to the M1 with multiple cars bogged in both directions due to the conditions.

Everyone helped out and each and every car made it through, eventually getting back to camp after dark. Once again, as always, Fraser Island showed us something different and left us wanting more. We will be back Ferry to one day soon for sure.

F

raser Is land

Words & Images by Michael Coad

Tip of the Month Keeping your rubbish under control is

very important when camping. There are definately consequences of the local wildlife get their paws, beaks or claws on it. The obvious concerns are that the critters make a mess and spread rubbish all about the place but more serious than this is that eating human food can be very hazardous for little native critters like wallaby's, possums, goanna's and kookaburras to name but a few. Most National Parks have clear signage re disposing

of your rubbish but even if there are no signs, it doesn't take much to sort your rubbish out at night and either use a canvas 'wheel-bin' or if you don't have one of those, locking it in your vehicle. Nothing worse than waking up in the morning to your rubbish bag ripped open and the rubbish strewn all over your campsite.

By Lize Bloomfield

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LAKE MOOGERAH

By Josh Ford Summer in Australia can be a real

drag, with endless hot days, and drenching humidity that makes the flies bond to your skin like they have little sticky attachments on the bottom of their feet. Thankfully though it doesn’t mean the end of camping and one way to beat the heat is to find your favourite body of water, be it Lake, Ocean, River or Creek and unwind with the wind blowing through your hair, a quiet and refreshing dip and a beer around the fire at night.

Campground

One such place that is close to Brisbane and very popular in the summertime is Moogerah Dam. With fishing, hiking and whatever water sports your heart desires, Moogerah Dam has a little bit of everything for everyone. A fishing permit is required to enable you to fish for Australian Bass, Saratoga, Mary River Cod, Silver, Golden and Spangled Perch and there are no boating restrictions

other than the obligatory speed limits around submerged log areas, boat ramps and the foreshore. The main place to stay is Lake Moogerah Caravan Park. Here you will find toilets, showers, kiosk and laundry and the list goes on. There are three boat ramps within the park as well as plenty of space to camp, cabins and even a “Lakehouse� to stay in if you are that way inclined. The Dam itself is pretty big, and there are some amazing places to explore.

From the canyon and seasonal waterfall on the northern end, to the upper woody reaches adorned with

old weathered trees and plenty of birdlife to the west. It can get quite busy with recreational watercraft, but being a fairly hefty dam you can usually find a spot away from everyone else. Moogerah Dam is a real treat for anyone wanting to get away from the city lights and cool off for a day or two, with its relative ease of access from South East Queensland being one of the reasons Moogerah has become one of my favourite destinations for a quick summertime break.

click here for the Lake Moogerah campground video

CAMPING SHOWS

February 2018

4wd SPECTACULAR Dates: 3rd - 4th February, 2018 Venue: Queanbeyan Showground, Glebe Ave, Queanbeyan NSW Website: www.4wdspectacular.org.au

Newcastle Caravan Camping Holiday Expo Dates: 8th - 11th February, 2018 Venue: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Brown Rd, Newcastle NSW Website: www.caravanexpo.com MORTETON BAY CARAVAN, CAMPING, BOATING & 4X4 EXPO Date: 16th - 18th February 2018 Venue: Redcliffe Showgrounds, Lamington Drive, Redcliffe QLD Website: www.bayexpo.com.au Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow Dates: 21st - 26th February, 2018 Venue: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale, VIC Website: caravanshow.com.au ILLAWARRA CARAVAN CAMPING 4WD & FISH SHOW Date: 23rd-25th February 2018 Venue: Kembla Grange Racecourse, Princes Highway, Kembla Grange, NSW Website: www.ruralscene.com.au

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A Woman's Perspective

By Lize Bloomfield

Campfires 101 It can be difficult to get a good fire

going and there are a few things that can really help get a fire started which will stay alight long enough to keep you warm and is hot enough to cook your dinner on. The aim of a good fire is to produce enough heat that it will burn well for hours. To do this, you need to start small and keep the fire burning for a long time. In order to cook on a fire and make enough red-hot embers, you need to get the fire started a good 3 – 4 hours before you want to start cooking. Firelighters are a great and easy way to get the fire started but I find that scrunched up newspaper pages or toilet rolls with lint from your dryer work just as well. The main trick, no matter which medium you use to start the fire, is to use very small twigs first and very slowly build up the heat in your fire. I have found that the best way to build the fire is to use two medium size logs opposite each other with a gap of about 20-30 cms in

between them.

Then you can start to layer twigs across them and then alternatively across in opposite direction, starting with small twigs found lying on the ground and gradually putting bigger and bigger pieces on top. I like this method best because this way, the fire won’t collapse and you can put bigger bigger pieces on top with the two bottom logs creating a space underneath for airflow and room to add twigs and small pieces of wood to stoke the fire. Just remember that a fire needs oxygen so keep lots of room underneath clear for air flow.

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THE MAGAZINE TEAM Editorial Matt Bloomfield Lize Bloomfield

Design Jack McCappin Lize Bloomfield

Photography Lize Bloomfield

Editorial & Advertising Enquiries info@live2camp.com.au

Authors Matt Bloomfield Josh Ford James Guerin Lize Bloomfield Michael Coad

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