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advice
HOW TO BUY THE BEST ROOF TOP TENT FOR YOUR BUDGET
From bush tracks to beach camps its undeniable the roof top tent has taken over as the sleeping arrangement of choice for 4X4ers. There’s second hand $200 offerings ratchet strapped high above P-platers first cars, and high-end insulated offerings with LED lighting and charging points clamped firmly to the lightweight alloy rack of brand new 4X4s. They’re universal from hardcore weekend rigs to outback proven tourers, and there’s as much variety in the tents themselves as the rigs you can bolt them to. Sound great? Yeah, they kind of are. But before you dive in and slap one on your rig, there’s a bit to consider. The market’s packed with options, and while choice is a good thing, it can also leave you scratching your head. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about buying a rooftop tent, so by the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision and hit the road with confidence. WHAT IS A ROOFTOP TENT? First off, let’s cover the basics. A rooftop tent is exactly what it sounds like, a tent that mounts to the roof of your 4X4, or beat up hatchback if you’re a backpacker “finding yourself” in the Aussie Outback. Unlike your standard ground tents that require flat, even…
Dune Dynamics – How to Conquer the Sand
I’m going to hazard a guess and say that at least 90% of people who’ve wheeled in the sand are willing to admit they’ve also been bogged in it at some stage, and the other 10% are lying. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the sandy tracks of Australia’s vast Outback, or a backyard beach run. Sand is without a doubt the most humbling terrain you can tackle in your 4X4, one second you’re cruising up a dune on cloud nine without a worry in the world, and the next you’re bogged so deep you can’t even open the doors (ask me how I know). It’s soft, unpredictable, everchanging and some of the most fun you can have behind the wheel. In fact, I reckon some of Australia’s best campsites only come after a stint on the sand, especially if they’re in the Outback. If you’ve tackled a track Like Googs in South Australia, or even a Simpson Desert crossing and left with Post Traumatic Sand-Stress Disorder, or you’re a first timer looking to experience the thrill of Outback sand driving without getting stuck, this is the article for you. WHAT TO PACK FOR THE SAND When loading up for an Outback track that’s going to involve sand driving, it pays to make sure you’ve set yourself up for success by…
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History: Bold Ben Hall Bushranger
From humble farmer to the most brutal takedown in Australia’s history WORDS BY AUSTRALIA REDISCOVERED WITH RICKO Legend has it that Hall’s share of the Eugowra Gold Escort Robbery is still buried somewhere up in the mountains of the Weddin Ranges The notion of a good man turned bad through the harassment by law enforcement agencies is nothing new in early Australian history, but in most cases, it is a notion based on romanticised fiction, rather than fact. Perhaps the most famous tale along these lines is that of old Ned Kelly, however the harsh truth is that Ned was always a bad apple, right from the start. Enter Bold Ben Hall, who fell in with the wrong crowd and was targeted by the local Police Chief until the bitter, and brutal end! Ben Hall was said to be born in 1837 in either Breeza, or Maitland in NSW to convict parents, Ben Snr and Eliza. They settled in the northern NSW town of Murrurundi and Ben Snr even opened a store selling freshly butchered meat, alongside fruit and vegetables. However, it was around the end of 1850 that Ben Snr packed up the kids and headed off for a fresh start on the Lachlan River, where young Ben would spend his formative years developing his skills as a stockman and bushman…
Species Spotlight: Meet the Deadliest Bird on the Planet
Words by Naomi Stephens Which bird would be at home on the set of Jurassic Park, packs 120mm long daggers and has been known to kill humans? Meet the Southern Cassowary, one of the world’s largest breeds of bird with a fearsome reputation. Their sheer size and distinctive horn or “casque” are reminiscent of dinosaurs, so it’s no wonder that they are considered to be more like their prehistoric ancestors than most other bird species. Cassowaries are flightless, which is probably a good thing given they weigh between 50-76kgs and can grow up to 1.8m in height. They are the third tallest bird on the planet behind close relatives, the emu, and their more distant cousin, the ostrich. Where you’ll find them Southern Cassowaries are typically found in tropical rainforests and wetlands in north-eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and neighbouring islands, and may also be found in mangrove areas or savannahs in these regions. Solitary by nature, outside breeding season cassowaries generally keep out of each other’s way. Their diet consists mostly of fruit, but when in need of a protein hit they are not above chowing down on the odd small reptile or mammal, or carrion. And their poo is something to behold (metaphorically, obviously). Unsurprisingly, given their size and diet, cassowaries produce large mounds of dung so…