I have been travelling mostly on my own since I was 16 back then I hitch hiked everywhere around Vic, NSW, QLD and just swagged ( sleeping bag ) out anywhere, when I got my licence and when travelling in a car or on a motorbike all over Australia ( every state & territory ) just working my way around I still mostly camped out bush on my own, I liked to camp deep in the bush were people don't see you, this also gives you a advantage to hear any noses because with all the sticks etc anything getting close you can hear well in advance and lucky for us in Australia there really is nothing that will find you as there next meal, in saying that I have had some things that get the hair on your back standing, but I go to that thought of there is nothing really that bad that would attack me ( except maybe my x misses lol ) so all good. well unless in the far north but then I never camp near a water hole or creek's - rivers up there.
I also when younger use to do 1 to 3 week backpack walks across the alpines on my own, on one trip back in the 90's I decided to start a walk from Harrietville up to federation hut, I got held up and never got away until late in the arvo but since I had been up here a few times before I new I could make the hut before dark no prob, then when I was about 1k from the hut heavy cloud - fog sleety weather came in fast and it become a white out, this made walking slow as and it soon got a lot darker to the point were I thought it is to dangerous to keep walking, so I set camp and figured I will head up the last bit in the morning no prob all good, a couple of hours went by and I jumped into bed early ( sleeping bag with cover sheet over the top ) then not long after wild dogs start howling and I can tell there not far away, this went on and off all night, I stayed awake for hours and then at some point I fell asleep. When I woke I packed up and as it turns out I was only about 300m from Federation Hut as I walked up to the hut 2 blokes walked out and said Gday you must have started the walk up early, I told them the story and they were like no way, we stayed in the hut and there was wild dogs howling all bloody night and they were ****** themselves, I said yep I hear ya
Jumping ahead many years to 2014 I was on yet another lonewolf motorbike trip into the outback, by now I carry a epirb with me were ever I go on my own, so I was going for at least a few months and plan was to travel through Vic to NSW and then SA to Cameron corner and up to NT to visit family, I zig zagged my way there and on day 8 I arrived at Cameron corner late, I was told there that rain is on its way and either go back or stay or head north, I decided to head west then north and would ride until late arvo and then set camp somewhere near Merty Merty Station, well I got about half way and had a major high side at speed in the sand and when I landed I felt my arm snap and new I was in real trouble ( I was so pissed off with myself for pushing to hard to try and beat the rain and that day I had covered 550K about and was super fatigued and I should have pulled up ealier, to late now what to do next, I was in a ton of pain as I also smashed my knee and head, so thought while i am warm still i need to try and pick my bike up and see if i can make it to Merty Merty station, my bike is 200kg and with one broken arm and smashed knee i just got the bike up only to see some of my gear had got jammed in the chain and i just could not get it out, so time to go into survival mode, so i turned my epirb on and then got water and cover sheet plus my smokes, I was in a ton a pain and really felt crook and thought ***** this could end bad so I better put something on vid just in case the worst might happen, that vid of me ranting off my head is on youtube still, it is almost embarrassing to listen to it now.
It was almost dark when I sat down and then I looked to my right and there was a Dingo, i thought ***** you waisted no time lol but i aint dead yet so you will have to wait, i seem to nod off and on and at one point in the pitch black dark i could hear lots of noises in the surrounding bushes and thought ***** the dingos sure are getting up in numbers, long story short many hours later Martin from Merty Merty station found me, he jumped out of his 4x4 and said are you ok bloke I said I am glad to see you and thank you, I said there has been plenty of Dingo's hanging around he said and lots of Camels, I said i never seen any and he said there tracks are all over the track just back there you are lucky a male did not come across you. The story go's on but i don't want to bore you anymore, ( except I went back months later with a ute load of beer for all who helped me out and have been back many times since and have made some life long friendships.
So back to camping on your own, just face your fears so to speak and get out there and enjoy yourself, you will be fine. If you wait for others to go with you, you will miss out on so many life adventures, like i said I have been travelling Australia all my life ( I am 51 now ) and I live out bush on a 80acre property on my own not far from Rushworth gold country
and love it, if ever in the area look me up and I will be happy to show you around
Happy Camping, don't forget to take lots of photos..
Cheers Mick.
