Maybe you’re feeling spontaneous, having a case of wanderlust blues, and craving adventure. The next thing you know, you’re pumping up the gas and heading on a road trip to explore this vast, stunning country…alone. Whether you need alone time, or nobody else’s schedule matches yours, you’re now a wandering nomad. Congratulations! It takes serious brevity, curiosity outweighing risk aversion, and independence to go camping solo as a female in Australia, or anywhere really. In fact, I believe very few women (and men!) would be open to the idea of camping, road tripping, or adventuring solo.
Personally, back home in the States, I would never be open to the idea. But Australia is different: it’s a fraction of the population and with that, I expect slightly fewer dangers. Plus, there are no mountain lions or bears to worry about, just huntsmen, redback spiders, and other creepy crawlers. Which brings me to my shared experience camping solo as a female in Australia, so I can provide tips for other future travel dwellers out there.
Route and Transportation
For my first trip ever solo camping trip, I took the route of Perth to Margaret River, to Esperance, back up through Hyden. For a great rental car deal, I suggest Bayswater No Birds, which should cost about $200-300 AUD for a week with full coverage (I believe). Even if it’s more, that’s a steal compared to the embarrassing rate of nearly $700 AUD (!!!) I forked out. However, safety is key and that’s all that matters to me at this point (and not being in debt).
What to pack
- One reliable flashlight, a second backup
- An outdoor lantern or headlamp
- A whistle
- A pocket knife
- A jalapeno or spicy pepper (laughable or confusing, pepper spray is illegal/hard to come by in Oz, so this was my alternative!)
Extras:
- Fairy lights, to add warmth and comfort to your experience
- Pocket warmers
For general camping, always pack:
- Flips flops (thongs) for showering and moving about easily
- TONS of mozzie spray (they will attack your feet. I have scars from months ago)
- A quick dry towel
- Body wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- All-purpose soap, like Dr. Bronners. It’s excellent for all-in-one activities, serving as a laundry cleaner, to dishwash soap, body wash, etc.
You can find a lot of budget items at Kmart, which is drastically different from American Kmarts. Some items are decent quality, especially short-term. I would recommend bringing some solid headlamps or lights, because the Kmart ones are not very weatherproof.
You can also try Target, or for higher-end products, Kathmandu and Paddy Pallin.
Where to stay
Staying in caravan parks or popular campsites will make you feel completely safe! If you’re really bold and enjoy true bush camping, there are campsites that are more isolated as well, but I preferred busier campsites so I would be surrounded by others.
When browsing the options on CamperMate or WikiCamps, consider the following:
- Cell phone service: Having cell phone service always made me feel safer. On WikiCamps, there should be a 4G icon at campsites that do have cell service.
- Busy vs. Isolated Sleeping Sites: Sometimes, you might not have the option of choosing a busier site, so be prepared. In scenarios where I felt really uncomfortable, I chose to sleep in my car. For this purpose, having a vehicle with fold down seats or where you can spread out is ideal. Always make sure you crack a window open ideally for air flow, and you can always put a towel in the crack to prevent bugs from flying in.
- Exercise caution: I always slept with my pocket knife, whistle, and car key nearby.
Food
Of course, you can go all out and get the usual compact stove, gas, etc. I kept it simple since I was between driving and flying, and mostly pre-cooked foods that wouldn’t go bad easily before departing (roasted sweet potatoes and veggies), or ate a diet heavy in oat bars and fruits. When stopping at grocery stores, I’d pick up sliced deli meat. Hard boiled eggs are also excellent to make beforehand and bring along, as they should last a few days.
Many campsites might have a shared stove, BBQ, and even spices you can use for cooking. You often need your own pots and pans, and cutlery, but you’ll probably want your own anyway for hygiene purposes.
Always make sure you have enough water with you for hydration!
Best Practices for Camping Solo as a Female in Australia
Always let someone know your whereabouts, and use common sense. Nobody is impervious to car breakdowns, misdirection, or becoming stranded!
- Stay in contact. Before entering national parks or campgrounds, or going into any remote regions, contact a family member or friend and let them know your whereabouts. Give them details of where you plan to go, and how long you’ll be out of signal.
- Plan ahead with mileage and gas. In Western Australia specifically, it is very easy to become isolated and have long distances between petrol stations. Remember to use GasBuddy to check where the next servo is when running below 1/2 tank. Chart your mileage for the day, and guesstimate where you will end up and if you have enough resources to get from point A to point B. Remember: call into accommodation before 5-6 PM, when most places close up for the day! Some places may offer a lowered rate if you’re a solo traveler, so don’t be afraid to ask. Be aware of holiday weekends, when places may be booked up in advance.
- Pack extra water and petrol (optional). Water should always be carried in excess for both you and your car. Most people on the road carry an extra few litres of petrol, and it might be smart to do the same, depending on your path.
- Sleep with your keys. I’m overly cautious, but I always slept with my keys nearby and a plan to be able to drive off if needed.
- Cover windows and keep inconspicuous after dark. I usually kept things very low key after dark, using a flashlight to read and going to bed early. I don’t feel comfortable with anyone seeing my every movements. Of course, always lock the car!
- Air circulation and heat. You will need to prop open a window at least a bit for some airflow. I used a plugin desk fan at night attached to a portable charger, and would recharge it during daytime on my drives.
How common is it for females to travel and camp solo in Australia?
On another road trip from Melbourne to Sydney, I was tagging along with someone else, but saw two other females car + tent camping alone. In one hostel in Sydney, I met an Aussie girl who was embarking on a solo trekking trip up the east coast. Along my travels north of Perth, I also met more solo female travelers. So ladies, there’s a community of us! We’re just dispersed on our adventure routes.
Ready to hit the road? Check out my travel guides from Perth to Esperance and Perth to Exmouth!
Have any other questions, tips, or comments from your own experiences? Comment below about your experience camping solo as a female in Australia!
