Know where you are going
Plan your route to the forest before you leave home. Directions available via Google Maps are not always reliable so know where you are going and do not attempt to navigate unknown areas at night.
Aim to travel to our campgrounds and accommodation facilities during daylight hours and using the official maps provided.
Running water and electricity
Our campgrounds offer a simple, bush camping experience. We do not offer powered sites, and there are no electricity sources within campgrounds. Solar lighting operates at key amenities within campgrounds and within most accommodation and hut facilities.
Other than Thomas Hill House, our campgrounds and accommodation facilities are not connected to mains water. Rainwater tanks in our campgrounds are to service our toilets or for firefighting purposes. Rainwater tank water is not suitable for drinking.
Please bring water and battery or fuel operated appliances with you when you visit, noting fire danger season requirements.
Leave no trace
“Leave no trace” principles apply in the forest.
Consider how you may be able to reduce the amount of waste you create and take all rubbish with you when you leave.
We do not provide bins.
Mobile phone reception
Reception is limited in many any areas of the forest. Be sure to purchase your forest permits, make your bookings and download your maps and forest information before you leave home. In the interest of safety, it’s also recommended you let someone know where you are going.
Interacting with wildlife
We love our native wildlife and want to help them. You may think that you’re doing this by feeding them, when in fact it can actually cause more harm than good. It can cause problems ranging from poor nutrition to aggressive behaviour, or even physical injury to the animal.
Some birds and animals, including kangaroos and emus at campgrounds, associate humans with food and will approach us to beg.
Reinforcing this behaviour by providing food can expose animals to risks including disease, or after a while they may forget how to find their own food.
Appreciate wild animals while you visit, but remember to keep a safe distance. This includes keeping your dog under effective control, preferably on a lead. This is also for your dog’s safety.
Being safe around water
Our forests contain some special water falls, creeks and in the Limestone Coast, lakes too. You may also discover we have small dams which provide important water for fire fighting.
For your safety and to protect water quality within natural aquatic ecosystems, please do not swim, adhere to signs, stay behind any safety barriers, and supervise children.
Extreme weather and risk of falling trees
We love our trees. But it is important to know that trees and their limbs may fall, sometimes without any warning. Trees are more likely to fall or drop limbs when they are damaged or become stressed because of high wind, extreme temperatures or sudden changes in temperature, drought, fire, or flood.
We conduct regular inspections of trees at sites where visitors are invited to stay for prolonged periods of time (e.g. huts, campgrounds, picnic areas, day visit areas, carparks and buildings).
We endevour to make our forests as safe as possible, but your safety is your responsibility. Park vehicles in designated carparks, camp within designated campsites, and keep to marked tracks and trails.
Our team may decide to close sites due to risks associated with high winds or extreme temperatures. This is for your safety. Any events, bookings or permits effected by forest closures will be fully refunded.
The forest is closed to the public on declared Total Fire Ban days. To report a fire, call 000.
For fire ban information phone 1800 362 361 or visit the CFS website. Being aware of a Total Fire Ban is your responsibility.
Fire is prohibited on ForestrySA land between November 1 and April 30 in any year. (These dates may be extended in areas where high fire danger persists).
