When selecting your camp site there are five main things to consider. Firstly pick a spot protected from the wind by using a line of trees, scrub or the lee of a hill as a windbreak. Level, firm ground is important, but don't select the lowest ground as water will pool when it rains. Select your site according to when you want shade. An always shady spot will be perpetually damp - make sure it gets some sun. Avoid setting up directly under large trees with large boughs, especially gums. Make sure you are within close proximity to a reliable fresh water source if no facilities are available.

You need to adapt these rules according to your camping environment. Australia has such diverse landscapes to enjoy, so it's vital to understand how to approach each one.

Rainforests 

As the name implies, rainforests are wet environments. Your prime considerations are keeping dry and coping with soft soils.

• Use a tarp as a second fly. You can also use a tarp underneath your tent as an extra moisture barrier.
• Dig a small trench on the high side of your tent to divert run-off.
• Avoid any area that will become the fall line when it rains.
• Look for hard ground - if it's damp when you set up it won't get any better. Avoid dried mud patches, as they will be the first to get boggy when it rains.
• Camp on the high side of walking tracks as tracks tend to be good collectors of run-off water.
• Use longer tent pegs or sand pegs for softer rainforest soils.

Beaches 

Our coasts are exposed to the elements, particularly the wind. How you deal with them will make or break your camping beachside experience.

• Avoid unprotected headlands or sand dunes. Find a sheltered spot behind shrubs and trees or a dune valley and walk to the view instead.
• Face your tent opening away from the prevailing wind. The prevailing wind direction is identified by the way the trees lean. Afternoon sea breezes are the most common winds.
• Avoid stagnant pools and tidal flats as they are prime sandfly breeding grounds.
• Use sand pegs - they are longer and thicker than ordinary metal pegs.
• A precautionary technique is to use two sets of guy ropes. Peg one set with sand pegs and tie the other set around a rock or a thick piece of wood that can be buried in the firm and damp sand layer.

Rivers and lakes 

Rivers and lakes are our most popular camping locations. Changing water levels and the possibility of insect problems should dictate where you camp.

• Check tides to ensure you won't be swamped at high tide. In the north, tidal fluctuations can be dramatic. Look for the high-water mark and locate your site well above it. The high-water mark is a line of driftwood, weed and debris forming a line across the ground or against trees.
• Research the potential for flash flooding in times of heavy rain.
• Biting insects breed around water. The impact of sandflies, mosquitoes and other insects can be reduced by camping 100 metres back from any body of water.
• Pay attention to warning signs relating to wildlife such as crocodiles and the presence of poisonous marine life.

Alpine and mountain regions 

Away from safe, designated camp grounds, alpine and mountainous regions are hazardous places to camp and are best left to experienced campers. The golden rules:

• Ensure you seek advice on locations, avalanche zones and snowfall forecasts.
• Ridges or saddles between peaks are too exposed and dangerous for camping.
• Use protected sites such as rocky platforms, ledges and river terraces.
• Camp on a hard surface such as a flat slab of rock if it has nearby points for securing your ropes in the ground. Only do this if you have a good tent, a thick roll-up mat and warm clothing. Packed snow also works well as a flat, hard surface.

Dry areas and deserts 

These conditions are what we face in many parts of Australia. The best camp sites are on the edge of dry clay pans or in a dune valley. Don't camp in dry creeks or river beds. A distant storm may send a flood of water when you least expect it.

• The spindly grasses of drier areas often hide large ant nests, so thoroughly investigate your site.
• Travel equipped with sand pegs (for sandy soils) and conventional pegs (for dry clay) when travelling in outback areas.
• If camping near a water supply, don't crowd it. It will be used by local wildlife.
• Use a tent with large meshed openings to prevent heat build up - and don't travel in the summer months.