· 1 min read
How to choose a good campsite
Five checks that take two minutes and save you a bad night's sleep.
The best tent in the world won't save a bad site. Before you unpack anything, walk the spot and run through these checks.
1. Look up
Check for dead branches above you. Gum trees drop limbs without warning, even on still days. Never pitch directly under a large eucalypt.
2. Look down
You want flat, firm ground without roots, rocks or ant nests. Lie down where your head will go; it takes ten seconds and you'll feel any slope immediately.
3. Think about water
Avoid dips and dry creek beds. If it rains overnight, water collects in the lowest point, and that shouldn't be your tent floor.
4. Read the wind
Note where the wind is coming from and face your door away from it. A car, van or bush on the windward side makes a good windbreak.
5. Plan the morning
East-facing sites get early sun, which is lovely in winter and brutal in summer. In hot weather, look for afternoon shade over the tent.
Quick checklist: no overhead limbs, flat and firm, not in a low point, door away from the wind, shade where you need it.