Selecting the right sleeping bag for YOU!

Selecting the right sleeping bag depends on your destination, time of year, likelihood of moisture, whether you are hiking or travelling by car. Luckily for us sleeping bags come with different temperature ratings, many features and add-ons. They come in different shapes, sizes and thankfully in a wide array of prices to suit all budgets. So let’s have a look at some of the different things to consider before purchasing.

Temperature Ratings
Even in the summer, nights can get cold, especially in the mountains. Make sure your sleeping bag is made for the correct night temperature. A sleeping bag with a rating of 5 degrees Celsius should keep you warm when the mercury gets to 5 degrees. I do say 'should' loosely. Use ratings as a guide only. If you camp in winter and night temps get down as low as 2 degrees, you will need at least a zero (0) degree sleeping bag; maybe even a minus 5 or 10. I feel the cold, so I have a minus 15 degree bag for zero (0) degree temperatures. I use the same bag in summer, but I simply unzip it and use it as a doona vs get inside it. If you only use a sheet in summer, you may be fine with a zero (0) degree bag as you sleep hot. Please remember that sleeping bags are designed to keep you warm by insulating you, so zipping it up when it's cold is vital.


Add-ons
If you won’t be camping in the cold very often, a sleeping bag liner may add the extra warmth needed on occasional cold nights. That way you won’t cook on those warmer nights or need different rated bags for different seasons. A bag liner can add up to 25 degrees more warmth. Using a sleeping bag liner will also help keep your sleeping bag dirt and sweat free.


Sleeping Bag Fillings
Sleeping bags come in either synthetic or down fillings. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and your choice would depend on what type of camping you do and when.

Synthetics filled
Advantages:

• Less expensive than same rated down filled versions
• Easy to wash and dries quickly
• Handles moisture better and will still keep you warm if the outside of bag gets damp
• Hypoallergenic

Disadvantages:

• Bulkier and heavier
• Not as long lasting as down
• If the bag is stitched from the outside it can create weak points and allow cold in

Down filled
Advantages:

• Lighter and compresses much better
• Longer lasting than any synthetic bag when cared for properly
• Warmer than their synthetic counterpart

Disadvantages:

• A little more expensive
• No insulation once wet
• Takes a long time to dry properly once wet
• More difficult to care for
• Not hypoallergenic

Shapes
Sleeping bags come in 3 basic shapes – mummy, semi rectangular and rectangular, either hooded or unhooded. The reason for the narrower leg to feet area is they warm up faster. They also take up less pack space. They are highly recommended if you are camping in very cold elevated regions. Most Australian family campers will find a rectangular bag more than satisfactory. Rectangular bags give you more wiggle room and allow you space to place your clothing inside your bag with you. This way your clothes are handy if you need them during the night. They will be dry and warm in the morning.

Some bags come with hoods because heat escapes from the feet and head first.  These will help you stay warm on cold nights.  Pro Tip:  Leaving your beanie on whilst sleeping or using a hooded sleeping bag will help keep you extra warm through the night.

Sizes

Bags come in all sizes from junior to jumbo and king and queen singles. There are also singles that zip together if you need to make a duo.

Bags that unzip right out are always my preference because they can be used as a light blanket in summer, wrapped around you if you are cold whilst sitting around the campfire or as a spare blanket if you have guests. Sadly, sleeping with another is actually not the best way to stay warm at winter camping. Sleeping bags work best when they fit to your body reasonably well. The less opportunity for air pockets the better.


Additional tips: Please remember that what you wear prior to going to bed is what will maintain your healthy body temperature. Keeping a hat or a beanie on your head and socks and shoes on your feet whilst sitting around the campfire will help a lot. When you get into your sleeping bag you will actually warm up faster and stay warmer if you are wearing less clothing vs more. Maybe just your underwear. Try to avoid sleeping in cotton and try not to get into your sleeping bag with cold or damp clothing on.


Important Note: Sleeping bag ratings assume that you are sleeping on a rated sleeping pad of some form. This will further aid in keeping you warm.

Touring Border Ranges National Park, NSW

Border Loop Lookout

Border Ranges National Park is a World Heritage listed rainforest on the rim of an ancient volcano. It adjoins Queensland’s Lamington National Park. The park is home to rainforest, amazing scenery, views, waterfalls, mountain streams, and some pretty rugged wilderness.

There are 3 picnic areas if you are thinking of doing a day trip.  You would be cheating yourself if you didn’t make a stop at the Border Loop Lookout, which overlooks scenic views of Gradys Creek Valley.  Brindle Creek walking trail is 5km of medium hardness track and ideal if you want to enjoy a picnic, a spectacular waterfall and a shallow swimming hole.  You can access this track from Brindle Creek picnic area.  There are no barbecues allowed at Brindle Creek but one can be found at the others if you desire.  Bar Mountain picnic area looks like the better of them.  This also looks very wheelchair friendly but the website says all are.

Bar Mountain Picnic Area

Tweed Ranges Road

It's a reasonably good gravel road when you follow the Tweed Ranges Road and this leads all the way around the scenic loop which is on the Eastern side of the park close to the Qld – NSW border.   It is approximately 44 km long and will come out about 28 km’s from Kyogle. Both the loop and the campgrounds are 2WD accessible in dry weather.  Caravans should not go through the loop road due to the narrowness and steepness at a few different points but you can very easily access Sheepstation Campground from the Kyogle side.

There are 2 campgrounds in the national park.

Forest Tops Campground

1.  Forest Tops Campground is about half way around the loop.  There are only 10 campsites at this lovely grassy spot. It is bollarded so and you cannot park your car next to your campsite.  Alas, only suitable for tents and campers who are travelling light. From here you can try a short trip along Booyong walking track or walk the entire track – it finishes at Sheepstation Creek campground.
2. Sheepstation Campground is on the Kyogle side just at the entry to the park.  There are 40 campsites - tent, camper or caravans are all welcome here.  Be sure to enjoy a walk on one of the three tracks that leave from this campground – the easy Palm Forest walk is a great one for children while the Rosewood loop and the Booyong loop are longer day walks.

Both campgrounds have:

• Composting toilets
• Free Barbeques
• Picnic tables
• Campfires are permitted in the wood BBQ's provided.  You will need to take your own firewood.
• NO drinking water, so you will need to take your own (there is non-potable water available only)
• NO rubbish bins are not provided, so you will need to take your rubbish home

Collecting of firewood in NSW National Parks is prohibited so don’t forget to take your own.

No Domestic Pets are allowed in NSW National Parks

Costs

Self Registration

• Vehicle Fee p/day - $8.00
• Camping - $6 per adult per night. $3.50 per child per night.

The Kyogle side

Getting there from Brisbane

Via Pacific Highway and Murwillumbah  - 168 km (2 ¼ hours’ drive)

Via Mount Lindesay Highway - 130 km (2 hours’ drive)

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/border-ranges-national-park

Some video's for you to peruse.... 

VIDEO

6 Tips for Choosing a Good Campsite

1. Permission - Before you set up camp anywhere, ensure you are allowed to. Best to do this before you leave home. Phone ahead and book in. Obtain relevant permits if this is relevant. Check what the rules are for camping at this location. If the rules don’t work for you; please find somewhere else. Never camp on private property without permission.
2. Safety - Select a site that will not flash-flood i.e. creek beds or close to the river’s edge. Avoid spots where there is erosion as this can be a sign that this spot experiences lots of stormwater runoff. Avoid lone trees and high ridges as they can become lightning targets. Don’t camp near dead trees or trees that have lots of fallen branches nearby; the wind could blow them down on you.
3. Size - Make sure your site is large enough to set up your tent/s or camper/van, put your out chairs, park the car and cook meals. The average 4 man tent is approx. 2.5 mtr x 2.5 mtr but needs a minimum of 1 mtr surrounding it for guy ropes, pegs and safe walking space. The average car is 5 mtr x 2 mtr. Plus another 4 mtr x 4 mtr for a couple of chairs, esky, food box and cooking space. Always check to see you and your family will have enough space. You may need a second campsite if you want to put up tarps, take the BBQ, the dog or have a second tent for the kids.
4. Terrain - Make sure your site is slightly elevated and has good drainage in case of rain. A gently sloping campsite is ideal. The perfect surface is grassy, sandy or gravelly, so that it can absorb rainfall. Please don’t build trenches around your tent to drain away water. This causes erosion. Try to select a spot that does not have sharp rocks, especially under your tent area. Select the flattest part of the campsite so that you can sleep level. Check the area carefully to ensure you are not setting up on a bull ant’s nest or under a huge wasp nest. Remember to look up, down and around.
5. Protection - Hopefully you will be able to select a campsite that catches the morning sun and gives you shade in the afternoon. Remember that Ideal head positioning when you go to bed is west. This means that the sun is not hitting you in the face in the morning. Also be aware of prevailing winds and select tarp and awning orientations to allow for this. Maybe use car and tent as a windbreak if there is no shrubbery to offer some protection from the elements.
6. Privacy - Respect the privacy of others. Trees, shrubs and the shape of the terrain can screen your camp. Try to select a campsite as far away from others as you can. This doesn’t mean that you can’t walk on over and say Hi later. Just means you will not disturb each other whilst you are getting on with the fun stuff you like to do.

Perfect campsites are rare so you might need to compromise a little on some of the items noted but near-perfect spots do still exist everywhere in Australia.

Lots of things to do at Wivenhoe Dam, SE Qld.

I spent a few days of the holidays in the beautiful Brisbane Valley and took the opportunity to revisit Wivenhoe Dam.  They call it Lake Wivenhoe these days.  I’m not sure what the difference is between a lake and a dam but it has always been Wivenhoe Dam since I was a girl.  Please forgive me if I continue to refer to it as such.

Wivenhoe Dam is located approximately 45 minute’s drive north-west of Brisbane. Not only does it have great recreational facilities, water activities and fabulous camping; it’s a critical part of the South East Queensland’s bulk drinking water supply.  It is definitely worth a day trip at a minimum. If you get a chance, pop into the information centre and find out all about the dam and its construction.  I highly recommend you make some time to visit the viewing platform and see the spillway from that angle and then take a quick drive to the other side where you’ll find the Spillway Common. This will give you a totally different perspective on it.

There are several fabulous day use areas.  They are situated at Hamon Cove, Logan Inlet, O’Sheas Crossing and the Spillway Common.  All day use areas have toilets, picnic tables, shelters and free BBQ’s.   Logan Inlet and Cormorant Bay have playgrounds.  All areas are open 7 days a week from 6am – 6pm. Truly perfect for a Sunday picnic and cooling swim.

Also a great spot for a bit of fishing or put in some red claw pots.  Have a sail, kayak, canoe, paddle board or swim.  You will need a boat permit if you want to launch a registered/trailered boat and a fishing permit if you want to drop a line into Wivenhoe Dam. There are two boat ramps.  One at Hamon Cove and one at Logan Inlet, as well as a couple of kayak launch points at O’Sheas Crossing and Atkinson’s Crossing.  Unfortunately, water skiing, jet skiing, wake-boarding and tubing are not permitted but you can enjoy these activities nearby at Lake Atkinson and Lake Somerset which also have fantastic day use areas i.e. toilets, picnic tables, shelters, free BBQ’s.

Boats on Wivenhoe….

• All vessels are not to exceed 6 knots.
• All fuel powered vessels must only use low emission outboards/engines, (4 strokes or fuel injected 2 strokes)

If you wish to camp for a couple of days, there are two campgrounds to choose from.  They are both privately operated so you need to contact them for bookings, not SEQ Water. Captain Logan Camp and Lumley Hill Campground are both suitable for caravan, camper trailer or tent but when booking ask manager for recommendation on site to suit your setup.  Some sites are steep and vary in usable camping area; depending on the fall of the land.  Lumley Hill is the only one that has a couple of powered and slabbed sites.  If you are tent camping you will be delighted by the ease of access to tap water.  Pretty much a tap between every two campsites.  You can have a campfire but they must be lit in the wood BBQ areas that are provided.  Fines do apply if you light a randomly placed campfire. Both campgrounds have showers but they are now coin operated.  $1 per 3 minutes.   Cost $25 (peak) & $20 (low) p/night for 1-2 persons for unpowered tent site. It is an extra $8 p/additional person.  Under 5’s are free.  These are busy campgrounds, especially in peak season.  I would strongly recommend booking, not just turning up.

The most special thing about camping at Wivenhoe Dam is the beautiful views of the dam from each and every campsite.  There is heaps of bird life and kangaroos to watch. Sunset and sunrise are peak hour for wildlife as they all head down for a drink.  You can swim and kayak safely without worrying about ski boats and jet skis.  I think this is what makes these campgrounds super family friendly spots. Oh… and trees… lots and lots of trees.

Sad but necessary, domestic pets and other animals are not permitted into any of the catchment areas, lake or recreation areas at Wivenhoe Dam.

http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-operations/wivenhoe-dam

http://seqlakesideescapes.com.au/

Camping at Lennox Head, NSW

I headed to Lennox Head, NSW on the weekend.   Lennox is only 2 hours south of Brisbane and 1 hour from the Gold Coast. Lennox Head is surrounded by some of the most beautiful national parks and rainforests you will ever see if you ever want to explore this coastal region further.



Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head, NSW

We booked into the North Coast Holiday Park.  The park staff was both friendly and helpful.  There is a choice of cabins, tent or caravan sites.  The park is immaculate and has all the basic tourist park necessities i.e.  BBQ’s, camp kitchen, dump point.  It does lack a playground and swimming pool though and sadly, it is not pet friendly.

Lake Ainsworth in the background

North Coast Holiday Park, Lennox Heads, NSW

My favourite thing about this park is how perfectly situated it is to everything.  It is only a short walk to the main street of Lennox Head.  Ideal if you fancy brunch in one of the busy coffee shops.  The surf club is directly across the road.  I’m also told the bowls club is a great feed if you need a night away from the kitchen.  All within easy walking distance.

I didn’t see a lot of children in the park but maybe they were all at Lake Ainsworth Recreation Area, which is a tea-tree stained dunal lake right beside the holiday park.   This lovely, well grassed recreation area has barbecues, picnic tables and a couple of blocks of toilets very close by.  It is perfect for swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking or canoeing.  Ideal for children as there are lots of shallow areas and no motorised water sport is allowed in this protected lagoon.

Lake Ainsworth

Lake Ainsworth

To the front of the holiday park is Seven Mile Beach which is a renowned surf beach.   It was super busy on the beach with all the little surfers having a club day and many bigger surfers enjoying some waves.

Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach

A lovely weekend was had by all and both this holiday park and region come with glowing recommendations from me.  Definitely one of my favourite spots as it is just that little bit away from the hustle and bustle of Byron Bay and the Gold Coast.

https://www.northcoastholidayparks.com.au/park/info/lennox-head