Choosing a site:
To avoid blood-sucking insects: choose a well-drained site among sclerophyll (dry leaf) vegetation and away from creeks and marshes. Green grass or mosses are potentially protecting leeches from the drying sun. Also, popular bush-walking routes attract bloodsuckers.
It is possible to camp on ant-nests, and amidst busy honey bee hives, so long as you don't disturb them. Bee hives radiate some heat, and smell like flowers and honey. Ants also smell and taste quite nice, like eucalyptus oil.
To avoid cold: choose a raised site, with a northern aspect, where a lot of earth is exposed to the sun. Look for windbreaks against the strongest direction of wind, and against cold air descending down a slope. Look for scats, burrows, spiderwebs, and other signs of life: this will indicate a warmer (but busier) spot.
To avoid rain: Find caves, overhangs, or on the leeward side of thick vegetation. The forest floor of conifer forests is an excellent spot: they are usually very dry, soft, bug-free, and very private.
To avoid gun-toting drunks: Avoid sites within 5km of broken or empty beer bottles, cans, rubbish, dead camp-fires. Also, avoid public camp-sites, lookouts, day-use areas with toilets and/or water tanks, and places with barking dogs.
"TSR": In Australia, these letters on a sign on a gate mean you can camp there. It is a travelling stock reserve.
Private property: Only if you are discreet, silent, hidden, and don't leave a trace of being there. If there are houses in the area, you will probably have been spotted approaching, so it is better not to try such a place.
State forests are generally fine, so long as one doesn't start a fire, leave rubbish, etc.
Water catchment zones are off-limits to the public, but if one is very careful not to leave rubbish or pollutants, it is a camping possibility.
Don't camp in sight of passing vehicles, unless you are really desperate and are with someone else.
kellyjones00 (593)
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