If you’re considering a camping adventure Down Under, you may have questions about how common it is, if there are any restrictions on where you can camp, whether or not it is safe, how much it will cost to stay on a campsite, and most important of all: the wildlife you may encounter while you’re out there!

Want to learn more about the viability of camping in Australia? Read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Pack your mozzie spray and let’s get on with it…

Is Camping Common in Australia?

So, is camping fairly common in Australia? Or do the locals choose to stay indoors, away from all the creepy crawlies?

Believe it or not, but camping is a beloved pastime in Australia, cherished by both locals and tourists alike.

The country’s vast and diverse landscapes offer countless opportunities for memorable camping adventures, ranging from sprawling coastal sites to national parks, and luscious outback regions.

Australians have a deep appreciation for the great outdoors and never shy away from an opportunity to get in touch with nature. It will take much more than some crocs, snakes, and poisonous spiders to keep an Aussie from going walkabout, mate.

Is It Legal to Camp Anywhere in Australia? Is It Safe?

Camping regulations in Australia vary depending on the state or territory. While there are many designated camping areas, it’s important to understand the rules and restrictions that apply (so you don’t get yourself into trouble – or worse – end up somewhere incredibly dangerous by mistake). Here are some key points to consider:

• Designated Camping Areas: many camping areas across Australia require permits or fees. National parks, state forests, and private campgrounds often provide designated sites with facilities such as toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables. Everything you need for a quality camping vacation.
• Free Camping: there are also opportunities for free camping in certain areas, commonly referred to as “bush camping” or “wild camping.” However, it’s important to check local regulations, as restrictions and time limits may apply.
• Safety Considerations: when camping in remote areas, it’s essential to be prepared and practice safety measures. Inform others of your plans, carry sufficient supplies, be aware of fire restrictions, and familiarise yourself with local wildlife and potential hazards.

How Much Do Campsites Cost in Australia?

The cost of campsites in Australia can vary depending on location, facilities provided, and whether or not it’s a private or public campground. Here’s an overview:

• Public Campgrounds: prices typically range from $10 to $50 per night for adults, with additional fees for children, vehicles, and powered sites. National parks and state forests often offer affordable camping options as well.
• Private Campgrounds: prices can vary significantly, ranging from around $20 to $200 per night, depending on the amenities and services available, such as hot showers, laundry facilities, and powered sites with static caravans.

Are Critters Common When Camping in Australia?

Australia is known for its unique wildlife (to put it bluntly), and encountering critters while camping is not uncommon. Here are some key points to consider:

• Insects and Spiders: mosquitoes, flies, ants, and spiders are common in outdoor environments. It’s advisable to bring insect repellent, keep food stored securely, and shake out shoes or clothing before use.
• Snakes and Wildlife: while encounters with snakes and wildlife are relatively rare, it’s essential to be cautious and avoid disturbing their natural habitats. Familiarise yourself with local wildlife and follow any safety guidelines or precautions provided.

Is Camping Better with a Vehicle?

Camping with a vehicle offers numerous advantages, providing flexibility, convenience, and the ability to access remote locations with ease. Let’s elaborate:

• Flexibility: with a vehicle, you have the freedom to explore different camping areas and easily move between destinations.
• Storage and Comfort: vehicles allow you to carry camping gear, food, and other essentials more conveniently. You can also have a sheltered space for sleeping and protection from the pests and the elements.
• Accessibility: having a vehicle enables you to reach more remote camping spots that may not be easily accessible by public transportation.

What Is a Rooftop Tent, and Are They Worth It?

While on the subject of camping with a vehicle, what is a rooftop tent?

A rooftop tent is a popular camping accessory for vehicles (namely 4x4s) in Australia, offering a unique camping experience. Here are some key points to consider if you’re thinking about buying one:

• Rooftop tents are installed on top of vehicles, providing a comfortable and elevated sleeping area. Perfect if you are anxious about snakes and insects.
• The benefits include having an easy setup, protection from the elements and ground-dwelling critters, and improved views from an elevated position.
• They are particularly suitable for off-road adventures and camping in remote locations.
• For frequent campers or those seeking a convenient and elevated sleeping arrangement when they’re out on the road, we recommend that you buy a rooftop tent. 

Conclusion

Camping is a widely common and cherished activity in Australia, with a diverse range of camping options available across the country.

• While camping regulations vary, understanding the rules and safety considerations is essential for a positive experience.
• Campsite costs vary depending on location and amenities. Critters, while present, can be managed with proper precautions.
• Camping with a vehicle offers convenience and accessibility, with rooftop tents providing an elevated and unique camping experience.

Whether you’re a seasoned camper or have never been and you’re craving adventure, Australia’s diverse landscapes and boundless camping opportunities are waiting to be explored by you and your family.

So, pack your gear, get planning, and embark on an awesome camping adventure you’ll remember for life.

The post Is camping common in Australia? Is it legal to camp anywhere? How much do campsites cost in Australia? appeared first on hub cloud - All News updates .

In this article, we will answer these questions and more as we dive deeper into the world of commercial office renovations. Let’s get started! 

What is the difference between a fit out and refurbishment?

So, what is the difference between an office fit out and an office refurbishment? Is there any real distinction at all? 

What is an office fit out?

Before we can highlight the difference, first let’s define what office fit outs and office refurbishments are, individually: 

An office fit out refers to the process where designers, contractors, and tradespeople start out with a completely empty space and make it suitable for a working environment. 

So, if you have newly acquired an office building but it is unsuitable / unsafe for working, you will need an office fit out project carried out before you can move in. 

There are three types of office fit out, each of which depends on the level of finish that the building already has: 

• Shell and core: shell and core refer to the most intensive form of office fit out. This is when there is practically nothing prepped or installed in the space and you are starting with, more or less, an empty concrete structure. In this fit out type, you will install absolutely everything from the ground up.
• Category A: a category A office fit out refers to a project that already has some basic necessities installed. For example, there may be electrics and basic safety measures in place. Following that you will need to install all of the other required utilities and mechanics, such as lighting, ceilings, and flooring (to name a few). 
• Category B: the category B fit out stage is often confused with “refurbishment” because they are both at very similar stages of pre-fabrication. Category B refers to a project commencing from the point of a finished fit out process that is up to the recognised standards – where interior designers have a blank canvas from which to design the office from scratch. The shell is intact – it just needs painting. Refurbishment on the other hand (which we will cover in greater detail shortly), refers to a space that has already been fitted out and designed with furniture and all the trimmings. 

What if an office refurbishment? 

As mentioned above, an office refurbishment refers to redesigning and decorating an existing office space that has already previously been designed. 

Perhaps it was established a decade ago and its aesthetics appear to be dated and no longer optimally functional.

In this case, an office refurbishment will be required to modernise the space, bring it up to date, and put your own fingerprint on it. 

See commercial office fitouts by ACP in the Gold Coast for more information. 

What does cold dark shell mean?

So, what does the term “cold dark shell” refer to. It sounds rather grim, but it merely refers to a potential office space that has the following:

• Exposed and unfinished ceilings without any tiles or fittings
• A fire / sprinkler system that hasn’t been dropped to the final height of the ceiling
• No finished HVAC systems or ductwork in place
• Unfinished floors 
• An existing point of connection for sewers (though no real plumbing or electrical infrastructure in place) 
• Unfinished and unpainted walls
• Etc. 

In essence, a “cold dark shell” quite literally refers to a cold and dark shell of a building that requires a fitting out before interior design can take place. 

What is a cold GREY shell?

A “cold grey shell” is exactly the same as a “cold dark shell”, only with a slightly different name. It’s a space without any HVAC or finishes, or any real substance. These buildings are unfit for use and require plenty of work to get them into a habitable or professionally utilisable space. 

What does a warm shell include?

A warm shell (aka vanilla shell or semi-finished shell), as you might have already guessed by now, is a “cold dark shell” that has seen some love. You can expect to see the following in a commercial space classed as a “warm shell”: 

• Minimal furnishings 
• Completed construction with all of the basic amenities in place
• Basic heating, ventilation, and air con established 
• Flooring and walls finished 
• Toilets and plumbing arranged 
• Drop ceilings installed with fire / sprinkler systems hidden
• More or less ready to move in though with some basic finishing and customisation required
• Perfect for those who are looking for cheaper options and don’t want to spend a huge amount on their Category B fit out
• It is one of the most popular conditions for buying and selling commercial spaces in the office industry. 

Conclusion 

To recap: 

• An office fit out refers to the process of taking an “empty shell” of a building and getting it to the point where interior design efforts can commence. In other words, installing all of the basic utilities and essentials for safe utilisation of the space. 
• An office refurbishment refers to the process of changing the interior design, layout, aesthetics, and functionality of an existing office space that has already been completed and seen commercial use. 
• Office fit outs are broken down into 3 stages: shell and core, Cat A, and Cat B. 
• “Cold dark shell” / “cold grey shell” share the same meaning and refer to buildings or rooms that have little to no fixtures and fittings in place and require fitting out. 
• “Warm shell” refers to a space that has had a basic fit out complete (usually a Category B fitting) and is almost ready for interior design to commence.

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So, the question is, how can your store become more successful? What can you do to get ahead of your competitors and start attracting more customers through your doors? Perhaps its time for a new retail shop fitout! Understanding retail shopper psychology is also a great way to get inside the minds of your customers and find ways to increase the odds of them purchasing from your store.

Reasons to Hire a Retail Store Fitout Specialist:

• Update and renovate to attract new business
• Relocating to a new retail unit
• Removing old, faulty or dated fittings
• Re-branding your business
• Keeping up with your competitors
• Repairing fire or flood damage
• Compliance with certain health and safety regulations
• Seasonal changes such as Christmas & New Year

Some of the above might not apply to you, however ‘update and renovate to attract new business’, almost certainly will. If you are struggling, take a look at your surroundings. Perhaps your store only needs a lick of paint, or you could perhaps swap around some of your displays. Just be honest with yourself and think about how excited you’d be to enter your store. Inspiring people to come in and buy your products is no simple task, but its certainly not impossible, regardless to what you’re selling.

So, how to find a commercial shop fitout specialist?

It’s easy, – you can literally find a commercial shop fitout specialist anywhere online. The question is: how loosely the use the term specialist and whether or not they have any expertise to offer. As you will know all too well, when you’re shopping for anything online, everyone is the best. ‘The very best deals, the very best wheels and the finest quality products all round!’ But, how can you separate the wheat from the chaff? How can you differentiate between the sincere and the overly-embellished cow-boys?

Do Your Research

Now, having your store re-fitting isn’t going to be the cheapest of endeavours. Sure, you don’t have to break the bank, but it certainly won’t come for free, – especially if it’s high-quality that you’re after. You will be tempted to find the best possible deals, but the cheapest prices should never be your priority.

Have a browse online and try to shortlist a few potentials. Things to look for are how long they have been established, how many testimonials they have on their website, whether they are prepared to share any references and ‘before and after’ examples with you.

A reputable and reliable company, would gladly share their past experience with you. Any company worth their salt will have nothing to hide and will invariably by very proud of their work.

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Where does the colour come from?

Purity is one of the two major key aspects that will help colour a gemstone as it is often the presence of a different mineral or metal ore that can adjust the gemstones colour.  The more contaminants that are present then the further the stones chemical composition will stray from a pure version of that stone.  As such, the greater the purity of a diamond, then the less colour it has due to it’s pure chemical makeup of carbon in a cubic crystalline structure.  The other huge contributing factor to the colour of a stone, especially diamonds, is the amount of radiation that the stone has been exposed to.  Differing levels of radiation will produce different shades of green, black of blue diamonds and then these will be further adjusted to reach the desired colours via more complex means.

How valuable are they?

As implied above, the vast majority of coloured diamonds on the market are artificially coloured and as such nowhere near as valuable as genuine, naturally coloured diamonds.  Should you find yourself choosing a pink coloured diamond from a store counter, then it is a virtual certainty that the stone has been artificially coloured to achieve that beautiful hue.  This is not to say they are less valuable; obviously the diamonds are still just as valuable as unaltered diamonds of the same purity and structural quality, and given that they have been altered, this will affect the price as well.

Does this mean coloured diamonds are flawed?

Coloured diamonds are no more of less flawed than clear diamonds as a flaw is referred to the lattice structure within the stone, and this has little to no bearing on the colour.  However, if you were to visit a quality jewellery establishment, and examine their coloured diamonds you will find that the stones are much harder to examine internally due to the colour tinting providing an obstruction.  Do not let this put you off however as coloured diamonds will still make a fantastically beautiful and striking piece of jewellery that anyone would be lucky to own.

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Buying a new car means looking at so many that are slightly different, none will seem perfect.  The same is true of high end electrical goods; if you try and buy a laptop then you will find that they all feel very same and yet none of the options in front of you will have the perfect mix of specifications against cost. 

Jewellery is exactly the same if not more stressful as it is something that should be wholly personal; it is worn to decorate yourself or someone you love so average, generic or just ok will do.  This is where commissioning custom jewellery can make all the difference because you can have the item you want with all of the tweaks and modifications that would make it absolutely perfect.

Making the right choice

Entrusting someone to make your perfect item of jewellery is a difficult thing to do, especially when it comes down to the crunch of collection and payment.  So how do you set about choosing the best craftsperson for you project? 

There are a few factors that you should weigh up when making your decision, but the first thing to do is see what establishments are in your area.  Once you have found a custom hand-made jewellery shop, and a brief visit to the store gives you a decent impression, it is time to start digging a bit deeper. 

First and foremost you should check into the shops reputation by reading online reviews and checking for complaints against them to ensure they are a reputable establishment and if you are happy with what you find, the next step is to pay them a proper visit and ask a few questions.

Face to Face

Having done your preliminary checks, you should arrange a meeting with the store (some may be happy for you to just walk in, but check first).  When you meet with the jeweller, you should be sure to explain what you are hoping to have produced and then ask them about their history. 

See how long they have been trading for and how much experience their craftspeople have making custom jewellery.  As a general guideline, the longer a jeweller has been in the trade, the more experience they should have and consequently the better and more refined their work should be. 

The same is true of their business, if the shop has only been open for a short time, or has changed hands recently, then you need to ask yourself why this is.  You should also ask to see some of their previous work as they should have a catalogue of previous bespoke items they have made to show perspective clients. 

One final thing to check is if they make their jewellery on sight or not, this can make a difference in production methods and if they actually make it themselves or have it produced by a third party.

Make sure you check thoroughly before committing to a jeweller, and ensure you get the perfect item you desire.

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1 – Higher Productivity

A working environment with a clear safety plan in place will be far more productive than one without. This shows commitment from the company and will invariably inspire hard work and more confidence from your employees.

2 – Reduced Absenteeism and Fewer Injuries

In a safe working environment, you will have reduced absenteeism, which is invariably far better for business. On top of that, with fewer injuries and accidents morale will be higher and your employees will feel more comfortable at work.

3 – A Much Cleaner Environment

Safety and cleanliness go hand in hand, which is why it is always far nice working in a safer environment as this generally means that it will be much cleaner. A cleaner work environment is not only good for morale, but its great for inspiring discipline amongst your staff who will in turn, take excellent care of company equipment and their workstations.

4 – Save Money on Insurance Claims

Leading a company which doesn’t prioritise safety in the workplace is not good for business. Not only will your staff turn around be far higher, but you’ll end up having to regularly fork out on employees’ insurance claims if there are a high frequency of accidents in the workplace.

5 – Building a Better Brand Image

Not only is a safer working environment better for your employees, but it will attract more customers who actively seek conscientious companies that put safety for the staff and the environment before profit.

6 – Reduced Disruption

Depending on the severity of the situation, accidents in the workplace can massively disrupt operations, sometimes bringing the company to a complete stand still. With a safer environment that encourages employees to take extra care in everything that they do, the overall flow of operations can continue uninterrupted, which is of course, far better for business.

7 – Protecting the Backbone of Your Business

A well-oiled machine is one that runs efficiently and without issue. Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of you. It’s the simplest and most straightforward of transactions.

Something as simple as providing each of your employees with the appropriate safety equipment can make all the difference. A member of your workforce should never have to ask for PPI and nor should they be unfamiliar with how to use it properly. Reputable companies provide a wealth of safety items for industrial & agricultural companies. Find a reliable partner that can kit your staff our appropriately and you should never run in to any major problems during your day to day operations. A well protected employee is one that can work safely efficiently and happily, for both yours and their peace of mind.

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