"Matilda" - Our 2005 Aussie Swag Camper

Our camper is a 2005 Aussie Swag - named by our boys "Matilda". We purchased it second hand in April and simply love it.

A camper had been on the wish-list for a long time, however we couldn't really justify the expense. All was to change on one camping trip!

We always knew one of the self-inflating mattresses had a slow leak, however I thought it was just my bad luck to get it every time. A firm mattress at bed time would slowly but surely turn into a thin mat allowing every undulation, rock and blade of grass to be felt. I loved camping, but was coming home with more aches and pains than when I left home.

The better half let slip that she had worked out which one of the self-inflating mattresses leaked, and revealed she could tell by the older style logo on the cover. Needless to say I swiftly swapped mattresses when she wasn't looking. The next morning, I awoke blissfully refreshed - but a little anxious as to what The Bride would say after her night becoming acquainted with the rocks of the Buckenbower State Forest. Instead of berating me about swapping mattresses, or even chastising me at all, she simply looked at me with bleary eyes and said the magic words “Let’s get a camper trailer.”

So along came Matilda – a pre-loved Aussie Swag Camper.

We had decided that a hard-floor camper would best suit our desire to travel around the country in a few years, however were worried about the general lack of storage space in most hard floor campers which seem more suited to couples. The Aussie Swag solved most of our immediate concerns by having a large pantry and fridge stowed on the trailer, freeing up valuable room in the car for more important things like kids colouring in books and the like.

Our first go at setting it up was at Yadboro Flat. It wasn't necessarily pretty (in terms of getting the canvas crease free) - but we found the camper extremely comfortable to base ourselves in. It is heavy – and we had a bit of fun coming home up the Clyde Mountain – but it travelled beautifully behind the Terracan.


We took it to Son of Trials Plus the other day – and whilst the Terracan found the going of the competition a little tough – we did enjoy retreating to the comfort of the camper's bed at the end of the day’s activities.


Of course one of the most important things is to make sure the camper is waterproof. I recently took the two little helpers to Jervis Bay for a couple of nights. Just after getting everything set up, the heavens opened and we received somewhere in the vicinity of 115mm of rain in the next few hours.

The little helpers thought this was great fun, having a road turn into a river, and all dirt turn to a most spectacular sticky mud. Thankfully hot showers were but a few metres away, and after getting them washed, dry and in their pyjamas, we retreated to a dry bed for the evening.


Some of the features we love about the camper:

• 80 Litre fridge – ample storage for a family, including all important ‘paddle pops’
• Comfortable queen size bed
• 2x 105 AH deep cycle batteries – keeps the electrics running nicely
• 120 Watt solar panel – almost keeps up with the fridge and other electrical requirements
• Pantry – huge pantry drawer above the kitchen
• Loads of storage - in front box, under the bed and in the body
• Waterproof canvas
• Enough room on bed to store kids mattresses and bedding

Source: Matilda

Deua National Park - January 2010

Deua National Park

A really special place for us is the Bendethera Valley in Deua National Park, south of Braidwood. This was our first 4WD camping trip in our new (2nd Hand) Terracan, and we didn’t know what to expect of the trip in, or the valley itself.

We set off for a weekend camping armed with a great guide book, which we followed closely. We were blown away by the steep tracks, awesome views and then the descent into Bendethera Valley. The exit via Merricumbene Fire Trail was even more exciting with some extremely steep sections that felt more like a roller-coaster ride!

This valley just has to be seen to be believed with beautiful large grassy areas grazed by Wombats and Wallabies. No matter how many people seem to find their way into the valley, there seems to be enough space to find your own piece of paradise.

Our two little boys loved exploring the area, watching wombats and splashing in the Deua River, as did we!



Our trip into the Bendethera Valley started our family's love of bush camping. We have since explored some other great areas of the South Coast and Southern Highlands. We have found that there are plenty of remote areas to explore so close to home and how it doesn't require heaps of expensive equipment to get out there and appreciate it.

Deua River


Source: Burke and Wills 150th Anniversary Competition

Wee Jasper and the Real Roothy

A long weekend with no work was a welcome change, and one we determined to make the most of. It was thus with much anticipation that the camper was hooked up and we set off with grandparents in tow to Wee Jasper for a weekend of camping with a bunch of friends.

The little helpers were most excited to be heading off to camp with a bunch of their mates, and we were looking forward to a relaxing weekend in good company.

We were not to know that one of the highlights of the weekend was to happen as we pulled into Yass. The little helper who can spot a Bob Cat at 500 yards started to get most excited at the site of a green 40 series familiar to all who subscribe to 4WD Action magazine. It was non other than John Rooth, Milo and Jack, pulled over for a break on the side of the road. We were fortunate to say G'day to the "Real Roothy" and meet the man and machine that had entertained us on several rainy afternoons.



It was then onto Wee Jasper for a couple of nights at Billy Grace Reserve. Wee Jasper is located about 50km south west of Yass, on the banks of the Goodradigbee River. It is a beautiful campsite, complete with children's playground and bike track, hot showers and flush toilets.

We found our group and set up camp and enjoyed our time thoroughly enjoying the warm campfire and great company. Unfortunately on Saturday night, at the Wee Jasper Woolshed across the way, a 21st party also enjoyed themselves thoroughly with loud music blaring all night (well there was a 10 minute intermission at 5.25am).

As hordes of bleary eyed campers trooped to the markets on Sunday morning, salvation was in sight in the form of a mobile coffee stand! The queue quickly formed until there was a loud hiss and the machine broke. DISASTER. If there was ever a time to have a licence to print money it was by selling coffee to the hundreds of campers who had not had any sleep the night before... Thankfully a couple of hours later (or so it seemed) the machine was restored to normal and coffee started to be distributed again.

The rest of the weekend was great, with the kids enjoying exploring the playground and bike tracks. We tried fishing for the first time (with lures tied to the fishing line and no hooks at all, to avoid both injury and the likelihood of actually catching a fish). We came home with a collection of dinosaur eggs (they look a lot like rocks to me) and a pair of exhausted but happy boys.

Wee Jasper is a great spot, and despite the crowds for the long weekend, we had a great time. We are already looking forward to heading back - although perhaps will avoid the peak periods (or parties at the Woolshed) next time.

Zig Zag Railway and Turon National Park

It isn't often that we get to pack a full adventure into a short period of time, but that is exactly what we did last weekend. With car and camper fully packed we set off on Friday morning for our friend’s house near Mudgee, via Tuena, Bathurst and Sofala. It is a very scenic drive at any time of year, and it is great to see the country so green after so many years of drought.

A great night with friends around a campfire was enjoyed by all, before an early start on Saturday morning to make it to the Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow for one of the highlights - A Day Out With Thomas. All the travelling was worth it to see the expression on the boy's faces when Thomas The Tank Engine chuffed into the station!



It doesn't get much better than a ride in a train, but when that train is Thomas The Tank Engine and it travels along some incredible viaducts with spectacular views, I don’t think we will be able to top the experience (that is until they start reading Harry Potter and we come back for the Wizards Express in a few years!) The day was very well organised, and we enjoyed meeting the Fat Controller. All in all we had a ball, well recommended for kids (and big kids too).

On the way home we stopped a night at Turon National Park at The Diggings campground. It was very pleasant to find a nice grassy spot on the Turon River, although the water was a little chilly for swimming!!!


We found the directions to the campsite on Australia4wd Forum here. It was nice and easy to get to, being only about 7km from the black top - so made an excellent diversion for a single night stop over. Also being a Sunday night we had the place to ourselves which was very pleasant.

I since found out that we wern't the first of our family to have been there. It would seem a previous generation was in the neighbourhood during the 1850's... although his talent was not in finding gold but rather sketching the diggings!

A big special thanks to all our friends who made the weekend what it was. You know who you are :)

Addendum
These sketches were by Thomas Balcombe, published in 1852 in the book "Gold pen and pencil sketches, or, The adventures of Mr. John Slasher at the Turon diggings" by G.F.P. with illustrations by T. Balcombe:

Racecourse Beach

It isn't often the boys get away for a camping weekend, but last weekend that is exactly what we did. Whilst Mum went to work, the boys shot off to the beach for a cool, but enjoyable weekend, with one of some little mates from next door and their Dad in tow.

Racecourse Beach was the destination, and for the next 48 hours we camped in the near deserted campground.

It was a weekend for the boys and for the next couple of days the four little ones formed:
1. a bikie gang doing laps around the campground,
2. a construction company doing excavation on the beach,
3. a small city with matchbox cars and bulldozers making a series of roads and tracks, and
4. a band of environmentalists trying to photograph, or alternatively catch, every possum, kangaroo or goanna in sight.

The Dad's of course waited until after the little ones had gone to bed to sample a nice little warming drink or two before retiring also :)

Whilst the nights and days were cool, there was no rain to spoil our fun. The only glitch was a loose connection with the fridge that caused melted paddle pops - and whist this could have been disastrous - a quick decoy with the promise of fish and chips for dinner resolved any angst on behalf of the little people.

We explored some more of the tracks in the hinterland, visiting Meroo National Park, Mogood Lookout and Shallow Crossing before returning home. The Terry sailed up the Clyde Mountain although I must admit I gave a little cheer at the top! We made it home in good time after a great weekend.

It is always good fun getting out and about in the camper / holiday house and choosing a campground, with the luxury of hot showers (albeit with 20cent pieces required) and power, right on the beach. It was superb.

The only near tragedy of the trip was when I load tested the iPhone by driving over it - but it too survived with barely a scratch. Full details of that story can be found here.

All of the boys had a great time; although we agreed next time it would be more fun to bring the Mums along!

Some more snaps of the weekend can be found here