raybo ... all of this is why I find the term "free camping" more all-encompassing than "stealth camping".


Free camping includes ...

• camping for free in areas which allow free camping (like state forests, rest areas, bush camps, etc.). Your search on "free camping" might turn up quite a few of these options. Tourism sites might also have some information.
  
• camping for free in areas where you have to register ... but there is no charge to stay (like certain parks, along certain sections of beaches, in remoter areas of the mountains, etc.). Again, searching on "free camping", or having a look through Tourism sites, might help locate these.

If you can find free camping areas (of the above 2 types) within 100 km of each other ... the chance of finding a suitable spot to camp would be quite high.

• camping for free in likely-looking, legal spots such as ditches and road reserves (for these, you might want to be discreet, so as not to be disturbed ... tucking in behind the shrubbery, etc.).
  
• camping for free in locations where it is probably in your best interest to be a bit on the stealthy side (perhaps in a more populated area where you don't want to be noticed)

Next time you go for a ride or drive, have a look at the ditch/road reserve and think to yourself ... "If I were looking for a quiet, discreet spot to pitch a tent, what kind of spot along here would I choose? Remember to have a glance up the small gravel roads ... you might find the perfect spot 100 metres up a side road that doesn't appear to have a lot of traffic. Just don't consider trespassing.

As you do this exercise, ask yourself what sort of chance you might have of finding a suitable spot to camp in your area or the areas you travel. In my area, the chances would be really high.

• camping for free in backyards (or possibly staying at people's houses) with permission, of course (such as in the situation Burton mentions above ... in Canada one might frequent a Timmy's, in Australia one might frequent the local pub in order to find such accommodation).

Your chances of something like this being successful will likely be considerably lower. In all my travelling, a chance encounter that provided me with accommodation for the night only happened once. For me, that's less than 1%. But it has happened.

As mentioned in my first post ... you'll probably discover that your results vary in different parts of the world.


And Burton ... Australia (and particularly the part of Australia where Rowan and I live) is a beautiful part of the world to cycle and travel.