Solo, Not Lonely: The Case for the 24-Hour Bush Reset

When the world gets too loud, Lisa packs a swag, grabs a round of egg sambos, and heads bush. 24 hours is all it takes to strip life back to what matters.

Don’t get me wrong, I love hitting the road with my camping buddies who are all on the same wavelength, but they’re not always available. So I simply choose to travel life’s highway alone with nothing but an esky, hammock, swag, and a loose plan to follow the sun; hang by a campfire; bask in a waterhole, and eat whatever I please. 24 hours is enough to tune into the outdoors, the weather, and my own rhythms.

Hit the Road

I’m a hodophile (Greek words hodo, meaning journey, and philia, meaning love), it describes someone who enjoys being on the move. For me, the road trip is the beginning of the wind down. I hate driving in the city, but get me out on the open road and I’m filled with joy. Just think of all the driving related songs ever created, it’s obvious I’m not the only one!

A two hour drive is long enough to get stuck into an audiobook or binge some podcasts, without cutting far into my precious outdoor ‘me time’.

I don’t journey far. Western Australia is vast but there’s a handful of incredible getaways within two hours of Perth. In winter I head for the wheatbelt; Kwoylin Campground on the Granite Way is a favourite. I can light a campfire and get some incredible astro shots (if I stay awake long enough). In summer, Lane Poole Reserve is my go-to. It’s close to swimming holes and has maximum forest-bathing opportunities.

Find Basecamp

I love waking to bird calls, filtered sunlight, and a sense of anticipation. The tension headache I’ve held all week vanishes and because I’m not one to sleep-in, I’m usually up with the birds. Besides there’s a whole world to explore just beyond the tent zipper. I have gear to unpack and coffee to brew and birds to watch. And importantly, I don’t have anyone to answer to.

According to the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, a simple walk in a natural area significantly lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which can trigger anxiety and depression. While in Japan the practice of forest bathing (shinrin–yoku) has proven to be a powerful way to battle depression.

Scientists call this biophilia and studies show that walking in the forest creates ‘lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city environments’. Just half an hour a day is enough.

I definitely feel those cortisol levels drop as soon as I hit the road and the work week drops away. My breathing slows as I swap thoughts of my inbox with a photography checklist.

Trust Your Gut

People often ask me if I’m worried or scared camping on my own, or they tell me that I’m brave. As a Tasmanian who grew up with Brushtail possums outside my bedroom window and snakes in the kitchen, nothing scares me in the Australian bush.

People are another matter; but I find most campgrounds are fairly benign and people who go bush camping are usually very friendly. Most times I’ll exchange a wave or have a chat with my neighbours just to suss out their vibe; and I always go with the attitude that if things turn pear-shaped with weather or something doesn’t feel right it’ll take me half an hour to pack and hit the road back home.

If you’ve never tried a solo camp out, find a spot where you feel comfortable and give it a go. Solo camping means carrying less, moving slower, and tuning into wildlife, weather, and your own rhythms. Proving you don’t need much time, gear, or company to feel properly wild again.

My Tips For Getting the Most Out of 24 Hours in Nature

• I book campsites for two nights to ensure maximum coverage. That way my 24 hours can stretch from dawn to dawn or dusk to dusk and there’s always the option to have an extra night if I’m feeling it
• I have a crate of camp items for one pre-packed for a quick get away
• It’s my preference to keep meal prep to a minimum. If you fancy yourself a Masterchef of the forest, you do you, but my road trip go-to is a packet of servo egg sandwiches to eat on the road. Nothing suits breakfast, lunch, and dinner better than fresh white bread with egg and mayo. I pack simple food and a small box of camp kitchen items

• I switch off my phone and leave it in the car when I arrive at my destination. Everything and everyone can wait 24 hours. It’s even better if phone coverage is sketchy
• I hang my hammock, kick off my Crocs, and get horizontal as soon as I’ve set up camp. The hammock is the universal symbol for relaxation and the answer to resting or sleeping without pressure points. I defy anyone not to feel relaxed in a hammock
• I go to bed when I like; no guilty feelings about climbing inside my tent as soon as the sun goes down. Besides, I’m usually exhausted from a busy work week
• I keep non-nature sounds to a minimum, preferring to immerse myself in bird song and wind in the trees. An exception being the sound of my coffee pot hissing first thing in the morning, I love that sound!
• I pack a notebook and pen for some writing, my binoculars for birdwatching, and a camera to capture little moments in between

Solo Exploring Can Be Deeply Fulfilling!

• An Introduction to Solo Trips & Adventuring Alone
• You Can Have a Beautiful Day Alone
• Reflections on Camping Alone For The First Time
• 12 Things I Learnt From 12 Months of Solo Camping