A Beach Weekend on Straddie With the Awning Out

A 200 Series sits on the sand with the awning out and the roof rack loaded. Nothing fancy. A beach weekend rewards a setup that is quick to open and quick to pack away.

BFA has done Straddie trips, and the weekend pattern stays simple: shade, a fridge, somewhere to sit and a way to get out of the wind. It does not need a long-term touring loadout.

That is the Local Weekend Adventurer setup in action. Build for the trip you take most often, not the one you might take one day.

Do the homework early. Island rules, access and conditions change, and the official authority is the only place to get the current answer. Do not rely on an old post or a mate’s last trip.

A short list to work through:

• Vehicle access and camping permits, through the official issuing authority
• Barge bookings, made before you need them
• Tide times for the days you are there
• Current beach and track conditions, from the official source
• Recovery gear, and knowing how to operate it before you need it
• Water, shade and a plan for taking your rubbish home

Sand changes the routine. Gear sinks, pegs hold differently and the wind has nothing to slow it down. Park, work out where the wind is coming from, then put the awning out on the sheltered side.

An awning works like a sail. If the wind picks up, wind it in. It is better to lose ten minutes than bend a frame.

Camp above the high-tide line, and check the tide times rather than guessing. A beach that looks wide at lunch can look very different at night.

Tyre pressures for sand depend on your tyres, your load and the beach. Ask a tyre specialist or check the manufacturer’s guidance rather than copying a number from a mate.

Keep the beach gear in one place. Wash the salt off the 4x4 and the gear when you get home. Write down what you missed and what you never touched.

Do that a few times and the next beach weekend becomes restocking, not rebuilding. That is the whole idea behind a weekend setup. You get away more often because it does not feel like a project.