Australia & New Zealand Outdoor Adventure Forum

In one mountain resort that we go to camp for the weekend, the ranger checks our things because they prohibit deadly weapons like guns and knives. Even the kitchen knife is not allowed so that becomes a problem when we wanted to cook. That's why we always bring cooked food and just reheat it, usually barbecue, for convenience. But at night inside the tent, I always feel uneasy at the thought that if there is an intruder then I couldn't defend myself.

If you decide to take a firearm camping with you in Australia or New Zealand you are going to get your ass arrested. Without a special license you can't import one, as a tourist you can't buy one, and as a person without a national-issued license you can't possess or carry one. And honestly the average person is at more risk if they take a handgun camping rather than less.

Take a nice hefty hammer. It's legal, effective, and won't blow your foot off if you get spooked by a possum panting in the middle of the night (they sound a lot like perverts in the bushes to people not familiar with Aussie possum noises).

I agree with penny and it's not only true for Australia but back in my home country if you enter a camping or jungle area with a firearm or hunting knife you are certainly asking for truble as most of the hunting arms are prohibited in our country and even the ones allowed for self protection are not allowed in camping areas. We often hear celebrities overlooking these rules paying a heavy price for their arrogance or being over confident.

Indeed it is a bit scary to venture into wilderness without a method of self defense. A walking stick may be handy in some cases.

It is true that many camping sites do not allow weapons however, toolkits can also sometimes be converted into weapons. I have even known people who carry acids for this particular purpose.

I think that depending on where you intend to camp, doing a prior research obviously, you don't have to carry any kind of weapon for that purpose. Although it's always important to have something self-defense... After all, there may be some "surprise factor" during some time in the camp.

So... It's 50% to 50% to me. Safety first, right?!

To be very frank, I always go to safe and known camping sites which have good reputation and with clean record. Besides most of camping areas so populated that we can always call for help or go to help someone in trouble. Besides, the sounds of singing and dancing so assuring that one cannot think about baddies getting away without a good thrashing.

Maybe I will have to remember that walking stick suggestion of @Decentlady. At least that is safe with the authorities that it doesn't need a license. And it can protect me from wild animals. Perhaps I'm just used to sleeping with a gun or a hunting knife when I go on a camping trip. Our place is not safe unlike Australia which have stricter laws and people are not as bad as people here.

I think possessing a firearm without a proper license will definitely land you in jail and this is the law in most of the places I think. Like @Decentlady said, a walking stick may be handy which will be a good self-defense weapon because I myself has used my grandpa's walking stick to save myself from a thief who tried to pull my bag away from me when I and my grandpa went for a walking.

I guess everywhere rules are the same. Here too if people get caught with any kind of that thing then surely they have to pay heavy price for it. Though still many people used to keep it with them for the protection purpose only. Here at some area security checking is not that strict so people sometimes keep such thing with them.