I’d really like to avoid getting eaten.

"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker) 10/03/2018 at 21:36 • Filed to: This could go... poorly

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Edit: not sure why this posted... yesterday. Trying again in 3... 2... Howdy Oppo. Going to Australia. Need advice. Have a bikecat for your time.

Well, 10 months into this new job, and things have gotten interesting in a hurry. I’m headed to Australia for a month on business, and somewhat unexpectedly, I may have the option to take advantage of unusual accommodations. Renting a campervan so I can get out and explore on weekends? Cool. Air bnb and a rental car to switch things up? Sure. Tent it while bikepacking? Maybe, but bitey pois onous things abound. I’m sure there are options I’m not not aware of, so if you’ve spent any time traveling through Australia’s interior, I’d love to hear your experience.

WilliamsSW > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/04/2018 at 21:59

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No advice but that’s awesome! Take advantage and enjoy the hell out of it!

The Lurktastic Opponaught > WilliamsSW 10/04/2018 at 22:03

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I hope to- I’ m trying to solve a hellishly complex problem,  but I’ll be damned if the weekends aren’t mine.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/04/2018 at 22:05

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I’ve lived here for nigh on fifty years. And nothing has eaten me yet despite actively seeking out and wrangling some of the feared beasties...

Most Australians wouldn't have a clue about most of this because they live in town and read about them on the internet

The Lurktastic Opponaught > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 10/04/2018 at 22:09

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That’s what I figured. I’ve had a bunch of colleagues go down, and aside from the one with a pathological fear of snakes , they all said it was no big deal. The bigger hazard seems to be running over largish wildlife. Do you have a ny experience renting camper vans? I’m going to be in rural nsw, and want to get out and explore.

Nom De Plume > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 10/04/2018 at 22:11

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The correct answer.

Another correct answer is the Rabbit is far and above the most plentiful vehicle o n this Island nation.  If the rabbit can conquer Australia there can’t be much to worry about.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/04/2018 at 22:25

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Where in rural NSW? It's a big place...

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/04/2018 at 22:41

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Easy mode: hire a wicked or a juicy camper from the city you fly into. If you don’t mind a jdm Lucida/Estima that smells like bong water.

Hard mode: look for a camper on Gumtree and ditch it when you leave.

On where to explore? Depends where you’re based, NSW is pretty big and filled with a lot of places that are pretty much the same.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/05/2018 at 03:44

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Remember, you don’t have to swim faster than a c roc, you just need to swim faster than a tourist.

Oh, wait...

Cé hé sin > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/05/2018 at 04:59

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Relax. Salt water crocs and sharks aside very little in Australia will eat you.

It’ll kill you, mind.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 10/05/2018 at 06:18

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In the neighborhood of Narrabri. 

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Cé hé sin 10/05/2018 at 06:20

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Thanks for the reminder. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/05/2018 at 07:15

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coming to Victoria?

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/05/2018 at 08:01

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I can help. I’m just an hour down the road. Google Kaputar , Pilliga, Warrumbungles... regardless, four weeks is nothing.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 10/05/2018 at 21:26

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T hanks. Those are the spots I’ve been poking around looking for fun stuff to do on the weekends. All within easy driving distance. Any campgrounds you’d recommend in Narrabri or the surrounding areas? 

The Lurktastic Opponaught > pip bip - choose Corrour 10/05/2018 at 21:28

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No, sadly not. I’m either c oming in through Sydney or Brisbane. And looking at a map, an ~11 ish hour drive isn’t in the cards for one of the weekends. 

The Lurktastic Opponaught > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/05/2018 at 21:32

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Good call on wicked camper!

pip bip - choose Corrour > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/05/2018 at 22:34

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Fair enough then

Just remember to drive on the left  and watch your speed

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > The Lurktastic Opponaught 10/06/2018 at 07:19

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There are campgrounds within each of the national parks I mentioned. There are many in the Pilliga...mostly wherever you like...given its enormous size. Kaputar has cabins on the mountain top which are brilliant. Given you are a bicycle rider, the ascent and descent from Narrabri or even the full Narrabri to Barraba MTB/gravel bike traverse is a thing worth considering.

Honestly, doing everything in Kaputar is a solid weekend. Warrumbungles...very solid weekend if you do Grand High Tops and Mt Exmouth but skip Sidings Spring etc. But two is better. The Pilliga could swallow you...but if you do Sculptures in the Scrub (I have posted about this here), Salt Cave and Sandstone Caves...and Pilliga Pottery...then you get a taste...

If there were me...book a cabin on Kaputar while you are here and try and get a decent soft roader just to get around on the weekends. And the use of a gravel bike! If it helps, we use a first generation Forester for our travels around here.

For the love of Moses, Buddha and Huey... don’t drive after dusk off the main highways though. Roo strikes are very common and rental companies have insurance waivers for this sort of thing...

I’m assuming you are either into CSG or irrigated agriculture given the way things go in Narrabri?