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mikehzz

Member Since: 04 Sep 2009
Location: Springwood
Posts: 749

Freelander Friendly Fabulous Camping Trip

Well I finally went for a little camping trip a few weeks ago and even though I didn't take the FL2, it could be done and be a lot of fun in one. First stop was Bendeela Reserve in Kangaroo Valley. It is a wonderful camp ground by the river with amenities and it is FREE. All tar road in. and flat grassy sites. I have never seen so many wombats, I was woken in the night by one scratching his backside on my swag.

Click image to enlarge

Next I went down the coast to Depot Beach near Batemans Bay. I good gravel road in but National Parks want $20 a night to camp right next to the beach. A very nice spot with a stack of kangaroos everywhere, even on the beach. Good facilities.

Click image to enlarge

Next day I pushed on to Bendethera in the Deua National Park. Well I wasn't expecting it to be so good. The terrain is super rugged and you rise 1000 metres on the way in on a very good road. However, be warned it is STEEP....I mean STEEP. There is no risk of panel damage, the road is good, no rocks just a lot of irrigation humps to stop erosion from heavy rain. The only thing I would be concerned about is the brakes heating up from hill descent on the way in. It is a long, long an very steep descent into one of the most beautiful valleys you could imagine. Acres of park like camping with crystal clear rivers and creeks and it's FREE as well.

Check out this 2 metre Goanna crossing the road on the way in..

Click image to enlarge

Acres of campsites with hardly anyone there..

Click image to enlarge

There's about 6 river crossings, all quite easy with lucky stones on the bottom

Click image to enlarge

I made my way out of the park along Mericumbene Fire Trail, a super steep trail that takes about 2 hours winding through great scenery. The climb out will probably cause the FL2's transmission to overheat it is so long and steep, but just schedule some stops to cool down if that becomes a problem. I don't recommend dragging a trailer in with an FL2, it's tough enough without one. All in all, a great trip, no risk of denting the car, lots of wildlife, fantastic campsites and it cost $20 plus fuel. And the weather....just perfect.

PS apologies that my pictures are not up to Vesko standard, they were just taken on my phone.

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16th Oct 2014 9:12 am

pab

Member Since: 28 Aug 2012
Location: Now in Mid-Wales
Posts: 2007

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Manual Lago Grey

Quote:
PS apologies that my pictures are not up to Vesko standard, they were just taken on my phone.

They'll do, they'll do...

Love these Aussie trip reports!

16th Oct 2014 9:56 am

npinks

Member Since: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Ls25
Posts: 20090

keep them coming, no point in worrying about the photos, we can still sit at our desks in UK thinking i would sure like to camp there

As much as i love the UK scenery, Aus just has the edge for me (if i don't think about the poisonous stuff)

16th Oct 2014 10:00 am

cqr

Member Since: 05 Mar 2013
Location: kent
Posts: 1308

2008 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Auto Stornoway Grey

I need to move, that's beautiful just needed a fl2 in the back ground lol

16th Oct 2014 10:23 am

EYorkshire

Member Since: 18 Nov 2010
Location: (!)
Posts: 4392

Excellent Mike, really like the idea of camping for free

16th Oct 2014 10:28 am

Greybeard

Member Since: 10 Aug 2010
Location: E Sussex
Posts: 157

2008 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto Zermatt Silver

Great Mike! Love it - wish I was there!

16th Oct 2014 11:13 am

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

2011 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Stornoway Grey

Great trip Mike and nice photos (never mind my expensive camera). I’m so-o-o keen on the national parks stretching between Sydney and Melbourne. Haven’t seen much yet, except I think it was Pebbly Beach one year where we found thousands of strange dead sea-birds all around the beach. You are always giving me great ideas.

No desert this year, eh mate…

Ps The wombat must be my favourite animal.

16th Oct 2014 11:21 am

mikehzz

Member Since: 04 Sep 2009
Location: Springwood
Posts: 749

cqr wrote:
I need to move, that's beautiful just needed a fl2 in the back ground lol

Mate, I think you would love the 4wding out here, it's everywhere. I did a track on the way to Depot Beach that is definately not FL2 friendly. Massive ruts and boulders, I dinged the driver door of my Jeep. There is no way my FL2 could have made it. I needed the diff locks to scrape through plus the Jeeps higher ground clearance. Still, I now much prefer the easier touring trips.

Hey Vesko, you know what I mean when I say steep....there were a few butt cheek clenching moments in Deua NP.

16th Oct 2014 11:55 am

Lightwater

Member Since: 21 Aug 2014
Location: Sydney Northern Beaches
Posts: 4907

2013 Freelander 2 2.0T SE Auto Fuji White

Thank you for the very nice photos and information. Sorry to hear about the screw in the tyre. I pick up about 1 every few weeks off our local streets walking to the shops etc. Tradesman seem to be leaving them lying around in every increasing numbers.

19th Oct 2014 5:08 am

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