AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM

AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM
https://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Camping - Caravanning - Camper Trailering - Four Wheel Driving - Off Road - Fishing >> Camping Locations & Travel Blogs >> Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking. https://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1327903959 Message started by Graybeard on Jan 30^th, 2012 at 4:12pm

Title: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Graybeard on Jan 30^th, 2012 at 4:12pm

Hi peoples ....

Its 5 or so years since I posted here. I am not advertising and this post is exclusive to this forum. No where else and to no one else.

I have bought a Mountain in the Bunya Mountains. It is not in the small tourist enclave that is known as Dandebah. It is a few kilometres from there, and off the tourist trail. A large and rugged property. Remote, beautiful views, peaceful and scenic. The only noise you will hear is if you make it yourself.

I have spent the last 2 years building my retirement shack there, as well as a guest house for a couple or family. Very modern, all amenities and architect designed.

At the front of the property I have an acre or two that is reasonably flat, the only flat land on the whole mountain. I have been mowing this regularly and it now looks like a perfect campsite.

Do you think there would be any interest in this area from members of this forum ? For camping and camp fire cooking ?

There are many many things to see. do, and explore in the Bunya Mountains and this would be an ideal base camp.

I can provide and host the following:

2WD access ... any vehicle.
Campsite of your choice.
Ironbark Firewood, full billets or splits, unlimited
Fire site or pit.
Electricity.

What do you think would be a fair price for a nite for the above ? I was thinking 20 bucks ? Too dear ?

If required, and extra: Toilets and Hot Showers.

I do not know what the average price for a camping ground is ... but for members of this forum I intend to be very low priced provided I get feedback from happy camper-cookers. In fact if any Forum Member wishes to 'road test' this campsite then it is available free provided I receive feedback on the site. I do not mind if the feedback is good or bad, but so long as it is constructive.

I will include some photos.

The Bunya Mountains are 2 hours from Caboolture. 2.5 hours from Brisbane. 1 hour from Toowoomba. 30 minutes from Kingaroy or Nanango. If you don't know these places then it is 3.5 hours from Surfers paradise.

It may be that this post gets deleted by a moderator who may judge it as spam or advertising. So before posting contact details here I will wait till a moderator approves.

I am especially interested if the Bunyas are of interest to COCIA members. I do not wish to open my property to the world, but members here are always polite and considerate an so I would prefer to cater to a smaller exclusive market.

If it works, and I get constructive feedback, then I will implement changes accordingly.

I can provide any amount of photos.

For the moment any feedback at all is welcome to me. ie: is this a destination on the camp fire cooking itinerary ?

cool bananas ... greg

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Rufzgutz on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 6:39am

sounds too good to be true :D :D

too far away for me, but if you want to buy a small mountain in south oz, I'll road test it for you :) :) :)

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by poddy dodger on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 7:23am

Sounds good Greg, I'll be up that way April/May and would be interested in staying a cupla nights.

pd

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by TBF on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 8:25am

Bunyas are a beautiful part of Qld.
Apart from some wineries not that far away, its mostly, bushwalking, birding and relaxing.

Gets a touch cold in winter.

I'll keep it in mind Greg for when I'm next up that way.

Aart

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by thedeckie on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 6:57pm

Have a COG there, I'm sure that will be a good road test and no doubt would attract a lot of people for initial feed back.

I don't know about $20 bucks a night, or is that per camp site?? If it's per person that's probably as steep as the hill you are on ;D

Anyway, best of luck Greg with it, sounds good and would be happy to road test.

Cheers

Paul

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Graybeard on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 1:15pm

Rufzgutz wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 6:39am:

sounds too good to be true :D :D

too far away for me, but if you want to buy a small mountain in south oz, I'll road test it for you :) :) :)

One mountain is enough ..... but thanks for the kind thoughts ... lol

poddy dodger wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 7:23am:

Sounds good Greg, I'll be up that way April/May and would be interested in staying a cupla nights.

pd

No worries mate .... If you show you will be my first guest that is not a member of my family ... I will PM the address and details.

TBF wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 8:25am:

Yes ... It gets really cold in winter. Have just come back to Brisbane and was up there all last week building the front fence ... only about a third finished and I am aches and pains all over. But every nite i had to have the Du-na on the bed (iz that how u spell it ?)

thedeckie wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 6:57pm:

I was thinkin $20.00 for the campsite ... this would help with the tank water, electricity and the firewood.

Firewood is bloody hard work .... first you catch your dead iron bark tree, an he has to be dead to burn ... then you sharpen your chainsaw ... then you cut a billet ... then you sharpen your chainsaw again ... lol. Then you have to truck it across ravines and gullies and all the way back to the house. It ain't easy.

Thanks for all the nice comments peoples. I hope I make a good host but until I know for sure then it is free to those here.

I do not know how to 'hold a COG' ... no experience at that never having done it before.

cool bananas ... greg

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Graybeard on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 1:44pm

For those interested here is a link to photos that show the building of the shack and some surrounding photos.

http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=1016396

Not sure if I posted the link before or not. you can enlarge the pics by clicking on them

cool bananas ... greg

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by outback jack on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 2:21pm

good photos greg, nice house you've got as well [smiley=cheers2.gif]

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Derek on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 6:54pm

Greg, have you got liability insurance. Would be a must if you are going to charge people to stay.

Wouldn't be too hard to organise a COG if enough people are interested.

Just out of interest, who might be interested at some time later in the year???

Derek [smiley=chef.gif]

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Graybeard on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 6:36am

outback jack wrote on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 2:21pm:

good photos greg, nice house you've got as well [smiley=cheers2.gif]

Thanks Jack.

Derek wrote on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 6:54pm:

Greg, have you got liability insurance. Would be a must if you are going to charge people to stay.

Uhh - Ohh .... No I don't ... didn't even think of it. Would I need it if if I didn't charge to start with ?

I was thinking about all the things I would need ... a stack of fire wood, water and power .... but insurance never crossed my mind. Bummer.

Derek wrote on Mar 5^th, 2012 at 6:54pm:

Wouldn't be too hard to organise a COG if enough people are interested.

Just out of interest, who might be interested at some time later in the year???

Derek [smiley=chef.gif]

I would gladly hold a 'COG' but I wouldn't know how to do it ? I can do the following ....

A large Fire pit.
Heaps of Iron bark.
Water
Power
Toilet

There are a number of towns within 30klm of me here. Quite often the Pubs in Maidenwell, Cooyar and Kumbia hold a Camp Oven cook nite.

They hire a local guy who comes to the Pubs in the morning and he has about 10-15 Large cast iron pots. He builds a looonnnnng fire on the footpath or nearby paddock and spends most of the day cooking. Then that night the Pubs serve the meals at a cost. But this is expensive.

Its very nice. But the Pubs tend to mark the meals up quite a bit ... like $10.00 a bowl. I don't know how much he charges for this ... but I think he just likes doing it and the real money is made by the pubs.

I would certainly like to host a COG ... but that is as far as my experience goes.

My neighbour is into Camp Oven cooking as well ... He would help me, but I need to know what is needed

I would like to try

cool bananas ... greg

PS: I like it ..... we are very remote and about 8klm (by road) and 2klm by crows flight from the tourist trap at Dandebah. Only about 3 occupied houses in my area. Good idea and I'm willing to give it a go.

PPS: Would you need insurance for a COG ?

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Derek on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 1:59pm

Greg, you may need seek somelegal advice on that. Litigation is such a big issue these days.

As far as a COG all you would need to do is have an area where people can camp or tow a caravan to. A firepit is not really a necessity although a place for a fire will be needed. Toilets and showers would be nice although a lot of people are self sufficient.

How a COG generally operates is everyone cooks a dish or two and we all share. Some people will cook nearly all day and provided snacks and samples.

Generally a wine or port or two during the evening and a great time had by all.

Numbers and menus are organised through the site here.

Cheers

Derek

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by outback jack on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 7:55pm

good point there derek,

for the upcoming mini cog at avoca, everyone should be mindful that i will not be responsible for any injuries that occur, in my opinion i am asking a number of "mates'" to come up for a couple of days camping, cooking, relaxation, and days tours (if they choose)

perhaps i will be held responsible if they wake up with a hangover [smiley=cheers2.gif]

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Michaelb on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 3:39pm

outback jack wrote on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 7:55pm:

i will not be responsible for any injuries that occur

Will I be signing an indemnity

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by OzJeeper on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 3:58pm

Greg. If you are inviting guests to a gathering at your property and there is no fee charged then public liability is not required. The "guests" are normally covered under your household insurance, but I would do a check on that.
If your "guests" where of a mind to leave a donation of beer, wine, spirits or similar then there is no perceived "fee for service" which immediately brings on public liability, council permits and other facets of public safety that comes with a public gathering on private land.
Do Not Charge A Fee! Just hint there is a letterbox at the end of the driveway which will take envelopes......

Hope this helps....

Ross

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by outback jack on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 7:35pm

Michaelb wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 3:39pm:

outback jack wrote on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 7:55pm:

i will not be responsible for any injuries that occur

Will I be signing an indemnity

no way michael, I've got a spot for you and the boys just outside my boundary [smiley=cheers2.gif]

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Kingsthorpe David on Mar 8^th, 2012 at 4:46pm

Any chance of visiting for a look and perhaps a Saturday overnighter?

David - Kingsthorpe (Oakey)

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Michaelb on Mar 9^th, 2012 at 3:11pm

outback jack wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 7:35pm:

no way michael, I've got a spot for you and the boys just outside my boundary

Ha Ha

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by TBF on Mar 10^th, 2012 at 9:30pm

Derek wrote on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 1:59pm:

How a COG generally operates is everyone cooks a dish or two and we all share.

And they're good fun too.

Aart

Title: Re: Bunya Mountains Camping and Cast Iron Cooking.
Post by Graybeard on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 8:11am

Dear Peoples .... sorry about the tardiness of replies. I have been busy building a fence, with Crowbar, Shovel and a bucket to mix concrete.

I'm back in the 19th century ... lol

Derek wrote on Mar 6^th, 2012 at 1:59pm:

Thanks for that Derek.

OzJeeper wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 3:58pm:

Thanks Ross .... I have had quite a few inquiries ... and to be honest I wasn't expecting any. I am definitely doing what you say ... there is no charge.

Kingsthorpe David wrote on Mar 8^th, 2012 at 4:46pm:

Any chance of visiting for a look and perhaps a Saturday overnighter?

David - Kingsthorpe (Oakey)

Yes ... no problem ..... I will be there next Fri, Sat, Sun ..... and most other following weekends ... so just drop me an email or PM and we can work it out.

I have been taken a bit off guard at the response ....

Heres what I have ....

A mown area about the size of two houseyards.
Power to this area.
No fire pit yet built.
I have firewood.
I can offer toilet and Hot showers ... but I am on tank water so they need to be kwik showers.

I am 2klm from the Tourist resort at Dandebah by crow flight ... but 8klm by road.
I am 800metres above sea level. Dandebah is about 1000-1100 metres above sea level.

If any one wants to check this out, and the surrounding area then please feel welcome and drop an email and I will return the address.

The hill (bitumen) up to my place is about 200-300 metres long and is quite steep. People tow caravans up here but you may wish to check it out first by a scouting trip.

Ta peoples for the interest ...... sorry about this short reply. my email tex@photo.net

greg