MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

by David Sloane | Jun 10, 2019 | MARS Enthusiasts Facebook Group

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

We’re back from Carrathool after attending the 2019 NSW Camping Muster with the MARS Enthusiasts Facebook group. This time at Pinkers Beach near Carrathool NSW on the mighty Murrumbidgee River. Amanda and I love this group.

Pinkies or Pinkers Beach Carrathool NSW

We Donated to Buy a Bale

Sean and Laura decided to do something different with prizes this year and that was to do a raffle and donate all proceeds to “Buy a Bale” to which on the night $270 was raised. This was a huge effort by all and it is something we should 100% do again.

Saturday nights dinner was camp oven roast and veggies with salads and also some home made desserts. There was a small army of helpers cutting veggies and wrapping trays and also deserts where made Amanda Sloane and Suzi Pallett. We were also treated to some tunes from Muster legend Spikey Singline who bought up all his PA and guitars and sang for us all. Spikey goes good!

MARS Enthusiasts NSW Muster 2019 Camp Oven Cook Up

Plenty of Firewood

We were all kept warm by the wood cutting crew. We cut some of the biggest logs we’ve ever seen on a camp fire ever. Mark was the absolute standout in this regard, dragging back what was almost half of a complete gum tree chained up behind his ute.

Camping Muster Pub Lunch

Sunday came and most of us decided to go and help the local Carrathool Hotel by having lunch their. This was a Muster first as we normally all stay on site and this was a great way of getting out and about and doing something different. This was a terrific idea and one we should definitely do it again.

Family Hotel at Carrathool NSW

Sunday night and something that started at National 2018 was a slap together meal with what ever we had left over and we all just picked at it. It was a bloody ripper meal and thanks go out to all that made something. My personal favourite was the curried sausages made by Leanne.

Learn How to Bush & Remote Camp in the Safety of a Group?

by David Sloane | Mar 12, 2019 | MARS Enthusiasts Facebook Group

Learn How to Bush & Remote Camp in the Safety of a Group?

One thing I see posted a lot on social media groups is people asking if there are groups that they can get together with to go camping. I also see a lot of questions being asked about what it’s like to go to free camping places and how you go about doing it, is there a group they can join to get started.

The answer to both questions is yes. We have been a part of a Facebook Group called MARS Enthusiasts for about three years now and we have been camping with them on three occasions to official “Musters” and a few times to unofficial group gatherings as well as camping with individual families from the group. Each time it’s been at awesome free camping destinations.

Visit the MARS Enthusiasts Facebook Group

2019 MARS National Muster At The Dig Tree

People in the group cover all demographics, old, young, inbetween, some with kids, some with pets, some no kids, some have dogs, some don’t have dogs, pretty much everyone you could imagine, Some people in the group have been camping for over 40 years, some are just beginning their camping “careers”. Some people prefer to go to their local caravan park, others like to get out on road trips to iconic destinations such as Uluru, Cape York, Cameron Corner, Gibb River Road, Birdsville. You name it and somebody in the group will have been there and can answer any questions you might have about getting there and what do do after you’ve arrived.

2019 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster Camped at Aboriginal Camp Tibooburra NSW

Members of the MARS Enthusiasts group are mostly owners of MARS Camper Trailers however this is beginning to change. There are now a fair few caravan owners in the group (us included) and everyone is welcome to join. All they ask of you is that you be willing to share tips, tricks, help with ideas for mods to gear, camp cooking ideas and stuff like that. Everyone has a different skill set, there’s always something you can help out with, you’ll probably surprise yourself!

So join the MARS Enthusiasts Facebook Group and have a go!

Past MARS Enthusiasts Muster Locations

South Australian Muster 2020 @ Black Cockatoo Bush Camp (Naracoorte, SA)
Victorian Mars Muster 2019 @ Moonambel (Moonambel, VIC)
National Muster 2019 @ The Dig Tree (Coopers Creek, QLD) & Various other locations
QLD Muster 2019 @ Jondarayan Woolshed (Jondarayan, QLD)
NSW Muster 2019 @ Pinkies Beach (Carrathool, NSW)
South Australian Muster 2019 @ Lakeside Campground (Caurnmount, SA)
Victorian Muster 2018 @ Taylors Campground (Lake Eildon, VIC)
National Muster 2018 @ Burke & Wills Campground (Menindee, NSW)
Queensland Muster 2018 @ Queen Mary Falls (Kilarney, QLD)
NSW Muster 2018 @ Billy Grace Reserve (Wee Jasper, NSW)
South Australian Muster 2018 @ Lakeside Campground (Caurnmount SA)
New Years Eve 2018 Catch-up @ Blue Gum Flat Campground (Lake Eildon)
National Muster 2017 @ Jemalong Weir (Forbes NSW)
Victorian Muster 2017 @ Glendinning Campground (Rocklands VIC)

Visit the MARS Enthusiasts Facebook Group

Wingello State Forest Free Camping For The Weekend

by David Sloane | Dec 7, 2018 | Our Travel Blog, Weekend Camping Trips

Wingello State Forest Free Camping For The Weekend

Wingello State Forest is only about an hour from where we live in Southwest Sydney. As with all NSW State Forests it is dog friendly. If you are in to mountain bike riding then this is a great place for you. There are many marked mountain bike trails throughout Wingello State Forest. Many mountain biking clubs use Wingello State Forest for events.

There’s a main campground area in Wingello State Forest with drop toilets and we have camped there before. You can fit about a dozen vans/tents in there. It gets jam packed on weekends near Christmas and also over any public holiday weekends. If you’re a bit more adventurous like us there are at least half a dozen really good sites out in the forest itself where we are this weekend. If you are really adventurous (like us) and don’t mind getting your vehicle in to low range there are even more great sites down some little tracks.

Dog Friendly Free Camping Wingello State Forest Two Hours From Sydney

Wingello State Forest is only about an hour from where we live in Southwest Sydney. Distance wise it’s about 70 kilometres for us, plus whatever you need to add for getting to your camping spot out in the forest.

As with all NSW State Forests it is dog friendly. There is no drinking water available so you have to bring your own. Fires are allowed but with restrictions and only at certain times of the year. State Forest Rangers patrol the area.

Free Camping Wingello State Forest Sunset View

If you are in to mountain bike riding then this is a great place for you. There are many marked mountain bike trails throughout Wingello State Forest. Many mountain biking clubs use Wingello State Forest for events.

One last thing to keep in mind. Wingello State Forest is an actively logged area. Logging operations take place almost all year round so pay attention to logging trucks in the area when driving through the forest.

Camp Site Location

Driving in Wingello State Forest Looking For Camp Sites

by David Sloane | Nov 4, 2018 | Day Trips

Driving in Wingello State Forest Looking For Camp Sites

We went for a drive in Wingello State Forest today scoping out some camp sites for future camping trips. We have stayed here before in the main camp ground but we figured there must be more options available.

Driving in the state forest can be a bit rough. We had the ute in 4wd most of the way and down along the back fence we had it in low range for a climb up a very steep and sandy hill. As usual you know the drill when going out 4wding in places like State Forests. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect you’ll be back. Take basic recovery gear such a shovel and recovery boards and know how to use them. A tyre deflator sometimes comes in handy to reduce tyre pressure if the tracks are sandy and a 12v compressor is a great idea for when you need re-inflate.

We probably spent a few hours driving around and we did find some really great camp sites. You’ll need a capable 4wd to get in to most of them, particularly if like us you are towing a small offroad van. Offroad camper trailers would have no trouble at all. You need to be fully self contained as there are no facilities outside of the main campground. The main campground has a couple of drop toilets. There’s no water available either. There are lots of great camping spots in Wingello State Forest once you get in there and have a bit of a look around.

View From One Of The Camp Sites

At one site we came across some rubbish left behind by some inconsiderate campers so we cleaned it up and took it out with us. Really people, these state forests are free for us to camp in so how about doing the right thing and cleaning up after yourselves so that they remain open. It’s not that hard to take your rubbish with you when you leave and put it in a bin.

Next Time Take Your Rubbish With You And Don’t Leave It Lying Around For Someone Else To Clean Up You Grubs

Trilby Station To Bourke On The Darling River Run

by David Sloane | Oct 3, 2018 | Camping Trips, Darling River Run

Trilby Station To Bourke On The Darling River Run

It was beginning to rain in the morning as we packed up and kept on getting heavier while we got the job of preparing to leave done. We were meant to stay at Trilby Station for a few nights but only stayed the one. We loved it and were really looking forward to exploring the tracks around the property as we have heard that they are absolutely fantastic.

The BOM Weather app Save Us

We had very little mobile reception however we had enough to use the BOM weather app and it was saying that it would begin raining in the morning and up to 50mm was predicted by the evening. 10mm of rain is enough out here to close the roads for two or three days. We bit the bullet and decided to move on to Bourke. You seriously can not begrudge them a bit of rain out this way. Everything is so incredibly dry and they need every drop they can get.

Bourke Left Tilpa Cobar Right Raining At Louth

Rain began to fall in the morning as we packed up and kept on getting heavier while we got the job of preparing to leave done. The road in to Louth from Trilby Station was already getting soft as we headed off. Luckily we only had about a hundred kilometres to get to Bourke and we got there without too much trouble. Another couple of hours later and I think it would have been a very different story. Later that afternoon we heard that the road we had used in the morning had been closed off. We had made the right decision. We’ll be back to Trilby Station some time in the future so we can have that look around.

Mud Covered Supreme Getaway

Kidman Camp Bourke

We set up in a caravan park in Bourke. We don’t like caravan parks. We really don’t but this seemed to be the sensible option with the predicted rain. We stayed at Kidman Camp. We’ve been there before a few years ago in an earlier part of the year. It was a lot quieter last time. This time it was your typical caravan park abomination. Packed in like sardines with kids making a hell of a racket. we love kids and think it’s great that their parents are travelling around with them showing them our great country. As we get older we realise that we like the peace and quiet a lot more than we used to.

Kidman Camp Bourke

In the afternoon we went for a trip up the Darling River on a paddleboat. That was great and if you are in Bourke you should give it a go. The captain of the boat was awesome, he filled us in on heaps of things about the history of Bourke, this section of river in particular as well as environmental stuff. He also pointed out many different species of birds and knew a lot about each of them.

Aboard The PV Jandra On The Darling River At Bourke

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