is it safe for a single woman to travel alone in a campervan in Australia?

Answer 1

Absoloutley. I have done it around the top of SA and Victoria and I didn't have any troubles. Just make sure you are camping some where with reception, so you can call emergency services if need be.Also, if it gived you piece of mind- a steering lock or crow bar wouldn't go astray, but I doubt you will need one.
Have fun!

Answer 2

So Long As You Keep To Well Populated Areas That Have Mobile Phone Coverage Yes It's Perfectly Safe. If You Want To Explore More Off The Beaten Track, I Would Suggest Letting The Local Cop's Of Rangers Know Your Intentions And How Long You Expect To Be In The Area In Case You Break Down Or Run Out Of Fuel?
Whatever You Do Just Be Sure You Enjoy Your Trip And Stay Safe You're In A Beaut Country, Go Explore!

Answer 3

A campervan? gee, its safe ofcourse, but i think you would have more fun backpacking.... catching busses and staying in hostels. It does however depend on your age and if you are after some fun or just some sightseeing and relaxation. Most campervaners in australia are retiree's if you have grey hair go for it! but ofcourse, lots of families do this aswell so plenty of adults about even if you are not grey yet = ).

If on the other hand you are under 30? or under 35 perhaps? backpacking is the common and only option i would suggest. You can then meet a lot of other travellers your age from all corners of the world and Australia, and will therefore have plenty of people willing to join you on your journey to your next destination, or just to the beach or a pub. And there tends to be multiple backpacker hostels in any popular tourist destination. And any bus you catch between distant cities tends to have atleast 10% backpackers on board.

Also consider that petrol is expensive and there is fair distances between towns. So yes, a mobile phone and/or CB radio would be a must, some roads go unused for weeks if you head outback, but if you stick to major roads where possible then you shouldnt have to worry about much other than how far to the next service station divided by how much fuel you have left and if the next road train will blow you off the road or not.

It should also be noted that there are tourist information centres in practically any town of significance or over 10,000 people. A valuable resource for any information or help you may be searching for.

Most importantly, just enjoy yourself, use your head, and travel how you choose at the speed you choose. However, there are many many places to see, so it may help to try to keep to some sort of schedule, i've met a few travellers that have run out of time and not done everything they planned.

Answer 4

Yes, Very dangerous. A Kangaroo or Wombat can steal you in the night. Please be real. It is the safest Country in the World. We have the least Murders, Rapes, Attacks in the Western World. But now I am serious. Out of the Eleven of the Thirteen most deadly snakes and spiders in the World, We have them. Ask the Locals before you go anywhere outside of a town or City. Let someone know where you are going to. They can alert the Police if you do not arrive at your destination. This is a vast Country, The Locals WILL look after You. As you are a woman, They will do their best to make your trip a great experience. I was born here and it is very seldom we have any rapes etc. Do not worry, Just enjoy the people, They will be glad to assist you in any way they can.

"But Why", Want to end your Holiday at your point of entry, Just bring in a firearm. Your feet will not touch the ground on your next Outbound Flight.

Answer 5

As you can see, it really depends on where you are going? do you speak Spanish? how well do you know the culture? and other things as well. If you are going to a well-known vacation spot like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cancun, Ixtapa, Cabo, Huatulco and so on, you will be safer than in most American cities. The "tourist police" are very efficient for the most part and designed to protect the vital tourist trade and the vital tourist. Those criminals who prey on tourists will quickly find themselves floating face down on a deserted piece of beach area. Mexicans in general are polite and very well-mannered in general, much more so than Americans and this is often a problem. Being their usual, pushy, self-centered and rude selves, many Americans are the cause of their own problems when it is entirely unnecessary. Beligerant, harrassing and obnoxious behavior is completely unacceptable in Mexico, even when one is drunk. One reason that some Mexicans, especially single, drunken, low class, horny males can be so unpleasant is that they have taken their cue from drunken American "frat-boys" and feel that they can treat an American female in ways that they wouldn't treat a Mexican girl. If you are unfamiliar with Mexian culture and don't speak much Spanish, (it is just downright stupid to visit Mexico without ANY Spanish - sort of like arriving in Davenport, Iowa speaking only Arabic...) then you should stick to the tourist areas and tourist hotels, bars and clubs. You will be very safe and you will meet a lot of Mexicans, who will for the most part speak passable English. You may even make some good new friends. If you are a single female travelling alone, well, its the same everywhere isn't it? Most single men think only with the "little head" not the big one when it comes to "socializing." If anything, Mexican men of the middle class MAY tend to be a little more cultured and "gallant" than their US counter-parts. I say MAY, heavy on the MAY, if I were a single girl, I wouldn't bet my virginity on it! For Gawd's Sake NEVER listen to any American idiot who suggests that you carry a gun! Any kind of firearm possession by a foriegner (or just about anyone in fact) is completely and totally ILLEGAL. The borders and airports have very sofisticated detection equipment and if you are caught with any type of firearm, anywhere in the country - YOU WILL GO TO JAIL! AND YOU WILL SPEND YEARS, NOT MONTHS IN A HORRIBLE MEXICAN JAIL! Unless your father is Bill Gates, you will NOT have even a fraction of the money needed to bribe your way out! People who give you such insane advice are the same that would suggest that you smuggle 5 kilos of opium into Turkey! On a lighter note, Mexico is fantastic. September can be the end of the rainy season, or not, its a crap shoot. Some hotels have drinking water from the taps, other supply drinking water. In Mexico it is not common for anyone to drink from a faucet, (even if the government says you can.) If you use some simple common sense, Mexico is a really wonderful place. I have lived here for 12 years and with my wife and 12 year old son take about 4-5 beach vacations per year to Acapulco, Vallarta, Ixtapa, Vera Cruz and so on and we have never had a serious problem, just great times, great people, great food and great beaches! Some have suggested that Mexico is "cheap," they must have been there in the 70s and 80s. Today you should expect to pay around $100 and up per night for a decent hotel and similar prices to the US for your meals. While the prices have gone way up, so has the quality of service and accomodations, dramatically, over the past 20 years. While it is extremely fun and a LOT cheaper to get off the beaten path, it is not something a novice traveller alone should consider this time round. Get your feet wet, have a great time and discover Mexico. Next time you can think about that bus trip to Tecolutla.......

Answer 6

I say yes,we own a motor home and travel a bit and have met a lot of lone men and women on the road on our travels.

Having CB radio and mobile phone helps,for assistance if needed.
There is a pretty big network out there on our roads 24/7
Joining a motor home/caravan club is another option.
Always let ppl know what area you will be travelling around in case of emergencies.
Just keep on the beaten track and I say go for it. We have met women in there 70's on the Rd's alone ....they love it.
here are a few places to look at for more travelling info for solo ppl.
we are members along with thousands of others.

http://www.cmca.net.au/
With over 50,000 members, the largest motorhoming (RV) club in Australia offers many benefits including tailored insurance, a monthly magazine, social events through 85 local chapters throughout Australia, a Solos network for members travelling alone, two national rallies per year and lots more. We represent every type of motor home and owner. Our Members are young & old, families & singles, millionaires & pensioners, workers & retired people. There are full-timers, part-timers & wannabes.

Good Luck and "Happy Travels" :-) maybe one day we will meet up along your travels.

Answer 7

I think whatever dangers are in Australia by far the biggest is when people just go off into the bundu like they're in Europe or somewhere populated. We have sadly have people die who have just wandered half a mile off the track. If you familiarise yourself with some bush survival skills, let people know where you're headed you should be right. If you see some cretin getting a bit interested just ask if your .357 magnum will be adversely affected by the dust. Oh and take plenty of water. My apologies if you already know this.

Answer 8

Well, it is and it isn't. In any country, you need to use common sense and pay attention to what's going on around you. NEVER hitch-hike - the Backpacker Murderer is in jail but his brother R. isn't (possible accomplice), and there are plenty of other creeps out there. And no, he didn't have "murderer" written all over him: apparently he was charming and friendly - at first. (We know this because Paul Onions lived to tell the tale.)

You can't legally carry a concealed weapon such as a pistol, but there are lots of other things which can be used as weapons if necessary, such as a Stanley knife (box-cutter to Americans). I'd suggest that although you probably won't need it, self-defence lessons might be in order, if only to boost your confidence.

"Splurkle" is right about needing to know how to look after yourself in our harsh climate too ~ even Aboriginal desert people have died in recent years from lack of water when their vehicle broke down. You always carry extra water, and you have to be able to change your tyres and do minor repairs on your own.

People are perpetually getting lost in the bush too, stung by jellyfish, and drowning in the sea, mostly because they don't take appropriate measures to protect themselves.

That said, most Australians are very friendly and hospitable to tourists, and you will have a fabulous time!! xx

Answer 9

Australia would have to be the safest country in the world for a travelling woman. Having said that, if you leave the coast our climate becomes harsh and population sparse so you'll need to be capable of looking after yourself.

Answer 10

I have travelled safely arond the country on my own, but I also know of people who didn't make it safely home. I think you would be safe if you camp in caravan parks and the like, but less safe if you just camp by the side of the road, particularly in the outback.