camping in Australia in Winter

see also:

• photography and camping main index page
• camping in Australia at Easter / April
• camping in Australia in Summer (Dec-Feb)
• camping in Queensland
• camping in Victoria
  • Youtube Wikicamps brief videos of camp sites in Australia
• choosing a tent for Australian conditions
• comparison of full fabric 2P and 3P tents for colder nights
• hot tents (tents with wood stoves inside)
• tips for camping in the rain
• the Australian climate
• how to sleep comfortably and healthier at 7deg C without a sleeping bag

• the main downside of winter camping is the short days and cold long nights - but you do get the lovely camp ambience of nice camp fires and camp fire chats
• camping in winter in the southern parts of Australia generally means cool to cold days and longer, colder nights but if you are prepared for this, it can come with many benefits:
  • no crowds
  • wonderful winter clouds and atmospheric (albeit cold) morning fog and perhaps ice
  • minimal insects such as bullants, flies or mozzies
  • snakes are less active (but still will bask in the morning sun on walking tracks)
  • less water needed to carry on hikes
  • hikes can be more enjoyable as you don't have the hot summer sun
  • no bushfire risk - especially important when alpine camping but also allows campfires
  • waterfalls are likely to have water flowing
  • the wonderful Winter Milky Way will be visible if there are no clouds (the summer Milky Way is far less interesting)
  • unlike hot summer camping when it is hard to cool down - you can always warm yourself up to get comfortable (if you have a heat source and warm, dry gear)
• camping in winter in northern parts of Australia or in central Australia has the most enjoyable weather for swimming or exploring
  • no cyclones, minimal thunderstorms, less rain and thus less flood risk
  • roads are likely to be more accessible
  • much less humid and hot
  • no stingers in coastal waters (there still be crocs and sharks!)
  • less water needed to carry on hikes
  • hikes can be more enjoyable as you don't have the hot summer sun
  • even the insect numbers are less especially if there has not been rains in the previous two weeks or so
  • see also:
    • Camping on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
      • water is just warm enough to swim, no tropical nasties around in general, temperatures generally 12-22degC in August (cooler in the ranges / hinterland which makes hikes to waterfalls a pleasure)
    • camping in Queensland
      • there is one camp ground on Magnetic Island near Townsville and lots of lovely beaches which will be warmer than Sunshine Coast and dryer with less rain and humidity than far north Queensland
  • the wonderful Winter Milky Way will be visible if there are no clouds as is likely to be the case in Central Australia or in Broome
  • HOWEVER, these times are the most popular, especially for grey nomads who may book out camp grounds, and in inland Australia the nights will be very cold and even sub-zero temperatures while the many waterholes around Alice Springs are also very cold and generally unattractive for swimming even if there are no crocs.