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Are you a fan of adventure? Do you love spending time in the great outdoors? Are you interested in exploring the wilder side of traditional camping? If you answered yes, then you’re the perfect candidate for dispersed camping.
This unique style of camping is a bit more rugged than traditional camping in that it’s typically done on land that’s just outside of designated campgrounds. This allows you a glimpse into true wilderness camping and will allow you to spend some great time decompressing in nature.
If this sounds like the perfect adventure for you, read on to see how this style of camping can benefit you as well as how you can get to planning.
What Are the Benefits of Dispersed Camping?
While dispersed camping may be a bit different than any style of camping you’ve experienced in the past, there are tons of unique benefits to be enjoyed by giving this adventure a try.
Connect with Nature
As more people spend hours each day on their screens, it is an ideal escape to take a step back and connect with nature.
Dispersed camping offers a special disconnect from the hustle and bustle and is designed to help you reconnect with your surroundings. You can use the time spent at these sites to sit back and observe nature’s beauty, which you may forget to look at in your everyday routine.
Enjoy Some Privacy
While traditional camping is a great way to escape to nature and enjoy some time away from your day-to-day routine and interactions, there is something extra special about spending that time in a dispersed camping setting.
These spots are usually off the beaten path and are meant to provide a unique sense of privacy and alone time that you really can’t get elsewhere.
Whether you’re camping alone or with a party, make sure to bring along an EcoFlow Portable Power Station to keep your phone powered up in case you need to reach anyone. Besides that safety precaution, your only job is to enjoy your time in mother nature and respect the peace and quiet.
Reduce Environmental Footprint
Dispersed camping requires a certain level of simplicity. You will likely have to forgo access to electricity, showers, and air conditioning, but other benefits must be celebrated.
This simple camping style is a great way to reduce your outdoor environmental footprint. Many people don’t realise that traditional campsites often attract litter and other pollutants that damage the surrounding area.
By following the rules set out by Leave No Trace, you can thoroughly enjoy nature in the way it was intended to be enjoyed. Just sit back, relax, and listen to the quiet and subtle sounds nature has to offer – there is really nothing like it.
Unique Activities
When you escape from the hustle and bustle of a traditional campground, you open yourself up to a world of opportunities. Many dispersed camping sites are located on beautiful plots of land that beckon exploration.
If you enjoy hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, or even fossil hunting, this style of camping is for you. You won’t have to fight the crowds, but you’ll still have the chance to enjoy your surroundings while taking part in activities unique to the location where you’ve set up your campsite.
Enhanced Adventure
Anyone can go out, buy a tent, and set it up in an overcrowded campsite. Not many people, on the other hand, can say they opted to stay at a dispersed campsite and enjoy the wilderness in this fashion. If you love to experience new and exciting things, you should absolutely lean into this enhanced style of adventure.
Dispersed camping will challenge you in the most rewarding ways. You’ll have to lean on your self-sufficiency skills and learn what living off the land for a few days is like. If you aren’t overly comfortable with this idea, there are workarounds.
Most dispersed campgrounds will still allow you to bring along a portable power station for your electricity needs. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series Portable Power Stations like the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max make a great pair and will easily transform your campsite into a home away from home.
Where Can You Find Dispersed Campsites in Australia?
If you’re ready to experience this special adventure for yourself, it’s time to start looking for the perfect dispersed campsite for you.
There are tons of these campsites scattered all around the world, though there are some spots where they tend to be concentrated. Typically, you’ll be able to find plenty of sites open in national and state parks, just outside of the more traditional, designated campgrounds.
Where Is Dispersed Camping Allowed in Victoria?
If you’re looking for dispersed camping spots in Victoria, you’re in luck. There are several spots to look into prior to setting out on your journey, and we guarantee that you will find the perfect spot.
Here’s a list of some of the more popular dispersed camping sites to help you with your search:
- Wombat State Forest
- Big River State Forest
- Otways State Forest
- Alpine National Park (in designated areas)
- Around the Howqua and King Rivers
- Mount Stirling and Mount Buller areas
- Hattah-Kulkyne National Park (in remote areas)
- Grampians National Park
- Big Desert Wilderness Park
This is just a small list of all the places you will have to pick from. As mentioned above, state and national parks are great places to research to see if you can find a designated spot to set up camp. It is also important to note that some of these locations may require a permit to camp in these offsite areas, so make sure to call ahead of time and be prepared.
How To Prepare for Dispersed Camping
Even if you are an experienced camper, you should take some additional steps to prepare before setting out on a dispersed camping trip.
Assessing the area
Your preparation for this upcoming trip should start well before you leave. Take the time to do your research and fully assess the area you will be staying in. Map out the location and make sure you have a solid understanding of your surroundings. Develop a plan in case of emergency and have a planned evacuation route to use if it were to become necessary.
Dispersed camping sites are typically located in more rugged climates, some even deep in the wilderness. Assessing the area and learning about where you will be staying is an important step in preparing for your trip.
What to Pack
Now that you know more about the area where you will be staying, you should have a better idea of what you will need to pack. Climate and weather conditions are important factors that should help guide you in the right direction when packing your tent, clothes, bedding, and other related items.
You should also consider the length of your planned stay. This will help you prepare for how much food and water you will need, as well as any other items that will be needed over the course of a few days.
Whether you are camping in a van or a tent will greatly change your packing list. Do not rush this process, and overpack if necessary to ensure you have everything you need for the duration of your stay.
Setting Up Camp
Now that everything is prepped and ready to go, you are officially on your way to experience your first dispersed camping trip. Once you have arrived at your chosen destination, take some time to get a good lay of the land and make sure you have selected a proper campsite for your needs.
Try to find a dry piece of land that is in a safe and secure area before setting anything up. It is better to take your time and find the perfect spot the first time so you don’t have to move anything after the fact.
Once this is all said and done, the hard part is behind you. All that is left to do is enjoy the peace and quiet of nature and relax in your freshly set up campsite.
The Importance of Leaving No Trace While Dispersed Camping
As we’ve touched on, the entire point of camping is to enjoy the beauty and peace that nature offers. To keep nature healthy and prosperous, we have a responsibility to take care of it and clean up after ourselves—especially when camping in these offsite locations.
If you choose to explore the world of dispersed camping, you must follow the rules and leave no trace that you were ever there. This means that you should come prepared with garbage bags and take the time to clean and pick up anything that may be hazardous to the surrounding environment.
Dispersed campsites offer a unique glimpse into authentic wilderness living. To keep this opportunity available for years to come, you must take it seriously and ensure that you leave only footprints once you pack up and leave your campsite.
Final Thoughts
If you have been seeking your next big adventure to enjoy, we guarantee that the experience of dispersed camping is exactly what you are looking for. This unique style of travel is likely unlike anything you’ve experienced before and will leave you excited for the next chance you have to do it again!
Do you want to spruce up your camper van before setting out on this adventure? Look no further than the EcoFlow Solar Generators and the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series Solar Generator range. These portable generators are perfect for adventurers like yourself and will help to ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.