MAPS Confusion

[Smurfy_CH]

Hi Folks,

What maps would you recommend for caching in Australia?
Till now I used the Shonkymaps but I’m not really happy with them.

At the moment I’m looking at:

Garmin Topo Australia NZ
OzTopo
GPS Topo Plus Au 5m

Thanks and Greetings Smurfy_CH

[gmj3191]

I've been using OSM on my Oregon and for caching they are just as good as City Navigator, and free.
In some country areas they are much more detailed than CN, just depends upon whether the locals have mapped their areas.
This site will give you a download you can put straight onto your Garmin GPS
http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

[roundcircle]

I'm using City Navigator with the Shonky contours overlay on.

I haven't found OSM to b anywhere near as complete, but haven't looked for a while either.

[GhostGums]

I use the OSM maps with the shonky contour overlay.

In SE Qld I find the OSM maps pretty detailed, and have a lot of detail for bushwalking etc, which city navigator doesn't have.

And as said OSM are free!

[Richary]

I've been using OSM on my Oregon and for caching they are just as good as City Navigator, and free.
In some country areas they are much more detailed than CN, just depends upon whether the locals have mapped their areas.
This site will give you a download you can put straight onto your Garmin GPS
http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

Yup, I used to use shonky but have switched to this as well. The advantage is I can go anywhere in the world and download maps for the area (OK I haven't been outside Oz since I got the 60cx but the theory is there).

[caughtatwork]

I've been using OSM on my Oregon and for caching they are just as good as City Navigator, and free.
In some country areas they are much more detailed than CN, just depends upon whether the locals have mapped their areas.
This site will give you a download you can put straight onto your Garmin GPS
http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

Yup, I used to use shonky but have switched to this as well. The advantage is I can go anywhere in the world and download maps for the area (OK I haven't been outside Oz since I got the 60cx but the theory is there).

I used OSM in the USA recently and they were brilliant. Way more than detailed enough for geocaching.

[CraigRat]

I used OSM in the USA recently and they were brilliant. Way more than detailed enough for geocaching.

That's coz they were allowed to use all the UGS TIGER data
NZ OSM project is allowed to use all the NZ LINT(?) data too, both are public funded departments who (rightly) allow the public to use the data they paid to have acquired.
If only Australia was so enlightened......

Although I can't complain, the Launceston City council have released all their road data and soon more GIS data for our little part of the world.

Now, back to my mapping... 250kms of roads traveled today that needs tracing..................

(I agree with the others saying OSM is the way to go, it's free, and in most areas as accurate as commercial offerings.)

[caughtatwork]

Hey, keep an eye on that GIS data and if it happens to turn up with Tasmanian parks areas, that would be most excellent.

[tronador]

Yeah I've used OSM in Thailand, Bali, Nepal and they were very good particularly in the cities. Not so good on the trail up to Everest

[Ozibags]

I find the OSM maps of Australian country areas to be quite patchy in detail. Some areas good, some bad depending if there is a keen OSM mapper in a region. For example many of the outer suburbs of Bundaberg and surrounding regions did not have street and road names but I'm slowly trying to rectify that.

You can check the detail of the areas you plan to visit on the website (http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php).

OSM worked great for me travelling thru Western Canada last year, on both hand-held and car GPS.

[Smurfy_CH]

Thanks for all the tips.
So I gave the OSM Maps a go, but the servers are pretty busy there my request is #1191 in the queue. The delay is approximately 5 days.

[CraigRat]

Thanks for all the tips.
So I gave the OSM Maps a go, but the servers are pretty busy there my request is #1191 in the queue. The delay is approximately 5 days.

http://www.osmaustralia.org/garmin.php has pre-built images, no waiting required!

[The Tardis Trio]

http://www.osmaustralia.org/garmin.php has pre-built images, no waiting required!

+1

This is what I use and they're great. Most national parks, reserves, etc have walking trails in OSM which aren't on other maps like Google (mostly because other cachers have been there and uploaded the tracks to OSM).

This alone makes OSM really worthwhile for me when planning walks through parks.

[Smurfy_CH]

http://www.osmaustralia.org/garmin.php has pre-built images, no waiting required!

Oh Cool THANKS
Just DL Vic and NSW and it worked great

[Bewilderbeest]

Thanks for all the tips.
So I gave the OSM Maps a go, but the servers are pretty busy there my request is #1191 in the queue. The delay is approximately 5 days.

http://www.osmaustralia.org/garmin.php has pre-built images, no waiting required!

Would they work on my Streetpilot? The installed 2007 edition City Navigator is starting to show its age!