We went camping at Mount Crawford's Rocky Paddock Campground, and it was a great experience. It had been a while since I last went camping, so it was nice to get out into nature again. I heard that Rocky Paddock Campground is one of the best campsites in Australia, and I can definitely see why. The campsite is surrounded by beautiful rocks and pine trees that make for a really peaceful and relaxing environment. I couldn't tell if it was all natural or man-made, but it was definitely a great place to escape from the city for a bit.
If you are planning on camping at Mount Crawford Forest Rocky Paddock, it's important to be aware that you must obtain a permit beforehand. This permit can be procured by booking a campsite through their official website. On the website, you will have access to information about each campsite's features, such as the availability of toilet facilities, picnic areas, and campfire spots.
It's essential to keep in mind that the park has specific check-in and check-out times. You can check in at 12 noon and must check out before 11 AM. This ensures that the campsites are well-maintained and ready for the next visitors. Additionally, following the park guidelines will help ensure a safe and enjoyable camping experience for everyone.
We got to our destination super early and saw that other campers were already packing up. But we were determined to enjoy the outdoors, even if it was raining. We opted to walk along the trails close to our campsite instead of hiking to other areas since some paths were closed for tree harvesting.
The trail is wonderful. It's nothing like the trail that I've been to before. The trees are lined up in columns, and they are very tall. In the afternoon, we went for another walk on a different trail that was around 3.2 miles long. During the walk, my mother was amazed by the sparkling trail and was curious about what made it sparkle. She even dug out something from the dirt which she thought was the cause of the sparkling, but we still don't know what it was.
After our hike, we returned to our designated campsite to set up our tent. My mother chose campsite 8, which turned out to be a great choice. Unfortunately, the toilet facility was quite a distance away from our camp, so we had to walk several meters to use it. To make things easier, we improvised and created a portable toilet from a used fertiliser container. Additionally, the water provided at the campsite was unsafe for drinking, so we brought our own drinking water to cook our meals.
We took a break at the campsite and spent the time playing sungka. As evening approached, we started a campfire to cook dinner and make coffee. To keep us warm, we added an extra piece of wood to the fire, which helped it last longer., and we enjoyed gazing up at the stars, which were crystal clear that night. We savoured the peace and the sounds of animals at night. The only downside was that we couldn't sleep due to the storm, which raged from late evening until dawn. Nevertheless, we were safe and secure inside our tent.
Overall, it was a great experience, and I hope to find more adventures and campsites to explore.