reviews

Southern Cross make good gear. But is all that goodness worth the money? Check out the video on the Southern Cross's Ultimate Trekker tent.

We've been using the Black Diamond light for about six months now, including two major camping trips.

It's small, light and bright. Packs down to half it's operational length and when this happens it covers the off-on switch so there is no way it can accidently be switched on. It also has a very well designed double-hooks that makes it easy to hang up just about anywhere off anything. Overall the design of the unit is excellent as is the build quality.

It's pitched as a hiking light, and I suppose it would do a good job of that, but we don't do a lot of hiking. Leave that for the latte sippers... So we've been using it as our main light in our tent. Our tent is 4mx3m centre pole and it lights up that area no problems. We've played cards, set up the sleeping gear, find clothes etc all with only this little light.

While space is not a huge issue when touring in the car, the size of this light makes it very convenient to pack and use.

Here are some specs from the manufacturers:

• DoublePower LED with 45 lumens (max setting) enclosed inside a frosted globe produces bright, non-glaring light

We went to Kangaroo Valley's Bendeela campground on the June long weekend. We'd been there a couple of times before and for being so close to Sydney, it is an excellent destination for a weekend.

It has huge grassy campsites, wombats roaming everywhere and the odd kangaroo, close to the river with good canoeing and fishing (although no one I spoke to had caught anything), good family pushbike riding and best of all it is free. Unfortunately no fires allowed, even in a fire bucket.

But when we turned up this time we were confronted with a security guard?

"Just making sure the boys don't get too rowdy," he said.

Not exactly a good recommendation for a family campsite.

Anyway, it seems that there has been some trouble and the Water Authority hire a private security company to man the site in school holidays and long weekends. Worst of all, the best sites next to the river are closed in winter.

"The boys get down there and do donuts and rip the place up so it's closed for regeneration over winter," our security man said.

On our way back from the Simpson Desert last year we were heading towards Dubbo and thinking of camping there the night, but thought it would be expensive. We pulled out 'Camping in Australia' and it listed a free campsite in Warren. We pulled in and it was a beautiful small campsite beside the town weir with a fire already going and horses for the kids to play with. The book can't guarantee that at every site but we have found many good sites through this book. It's a ripper.

Friends introduced us to 'Camping in Australia' when they arrived at our place having just travelled from Kunnanurra to Sydney in six weeks and had only paid for one camp site the whole trip - because they had this book to guide them.

We always take it with us.

It has an easy to use location structure, with brief, accurate information about more than 2500 sites.

In addition to the info on campsites it also includes information about national parks, permits you might need, costs and facilities.

It is described as the most comprehensive guide to camping in Australia and we would agree that it is an essential companion on a touring camping trip.