Firewood when camping in the outback?

[gjws]

Hi all,

I'm off through NT in a few weeks and will be doing a lot of camping, and one of the best things about camping, is the campfire

I've read that most (all?) campsite in the NT are BYO firewood. Does that mean we are likely to find wood whilst driving between campsites, just throw it in the trailer and good to go, or does that mean bring wood with us all the way from Melbourne, because you are NOT going to find anything in the Outback!

Sorry for the basic question, but it's little things like this that it's really hard to find answers to.

 

[Toddyh]

NT is a big state but I think you're talking about the red centre in particular. There is limited firewood around but yes often near camps they have signs telling you to BYO. You should be able to collect wood between camps.
Palm Valley is obviously off limits to firewood collection but you should find some coming around the mereenie loop.

 

[gjws]

NT is a big state but I think you're talking about the red centre in particular. There is limited firewood around but yes often near camps they have signs telling you to BYO. You should be able to collect wood between camps.
Palm Valley is obviously off limits to firewood collection but you should find some coming around the mereenie loop.

Thanks Toddyh. Yes, sorry, I should have been more specific. I'm talking about the red centre.

 

[Kippie]

If you travel early in the season, like now, there will be plenty of firewood around from fallen trees and branches. Two weeks ago I travelled through the Owen Springs reserve near Alice and had to clear several downed trees from the tracks.

 

[G_ute]

Increased demands on camping areas through population growth and the popularity of 4wd/camping/touring/RV's has seen a massive increase in garbage, poo, vandalism and bad behaviours by a minority - a bigger minority.

I guess some areas benefit from removal of loose wood. Others not so much.
I have seen plenty where nearby trees have been stripped or cut down.

Because 'its part of camping' not so much for warmth or cooking.

 

[cam04]

Most of the N.T. is systematically burned to the ground every winter. If you aren't rasping from smoke you are probably in the wrong state.

 

[Tink]

Most national parks do not allow you to collect fire wood. Some do not allow open fires. Check local regulations. For example, Dalhousie Springs do not allow open fires. Kings Creek Station do not allow you to collect wood on their property.
Having said that if you just want a cooking fire, and not a huge bonfire to light up the night sky, collect some wood between camps. I have always found enough for a small fire in the NT.
If you can’t find wood, you need a contingency plan and in our case it is a butane cooker, small to pack and cheap to run.
Tink

 

[dabbler]

Not sure about NT.

I always carry a small amount if firewood with me. Some is cheap pine pallet wood, some is hardwood pallet that has passed a use-by condition, all from places like Bunnings, Harvey Norman.

I use it when I can't pickup firewood or kindling. There are lots of places you just have to grab roadside wood when you can and it can be sparse at times as you get closer to popular spots.

 

[gjws]

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone.

Dabbler, funnily enough I've already got 2 hardwood pallets from when our turf was delivered, looks like they're coming for a drive

 

[mikehzz]

Bags of charcoal are good too?

 

[dabbler]

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone.

Dabbler, funnily enough I've already got 2 hardwood pallets from when our turf was delivered, looks like they're coming for a drive

I switched to a recipro saw for pallets bht circ saw will work. I cut them sized to fit a storage box and my Wooshka, leave the nails and sift them from ashes.

Mind you, some pieces have travelled a long way over the last few years.

 

[typhoeus]

Not sure about NT.

I always carry a small amount if firewood with me. Some is cheap pine pallet wood, some is hardwood pallet that has passed a use-by condition, all from places like Bunnings, Harvey Norman.

I use it when I can't pickup firewood or kindling. There are lots of places you just have to grab roadside wood when you can and it can be sparse at times as you get closer to popular spots.

Should you be concerned that pallets are usually made from treated timber, and can emit toxic fumes? . . Especially if you are cooking on it.

 

[dabbler]

Should you be concerned that pallets are usually made from treated timber, and can emit toxic fumes? . . Especially if you are cooking on it.

Good point and something I omitted.

Some Bunnings don't separate pallets but some better ones dump pesticide treated pallets into a skip and leave pallets okay for woodwork or firewood in a pile where the public can grab them. Ask in store, they are usually really good about re-using pallet and packing wood.

My first pallet firewood was intended for woodwork but just had too many nails and staples.

Another trap is the increasingly common use of "chipboard" and plywoods for footings and flooring in pallets. This is usually full of nasty chemical adhesives and should be discarded.

I am very selective when collecting pallets and leave anything I can't trust. There are always plenty to choose.

Hardwood pallets are almost all heat treated but hard to find. Single use pine pallets are rarely treated though, unless they come from o/s. Some even have an obvious resin smell and bark edge.

 

[G_ute]

The hardwood pallets I see are 'Chep" and, like beer kegs and milk crates, cant be 're-purposed'
I work next to an electrical place and can score lots of pallets, but rarely see hardwood. Get some good wooden wire rolls though. Make handy tables.