Hi, we are thinking of travelling from SA around the coast to Broome for an extended period of time. Can any seasoned travellers advise where the best free camps are along the way pls and any other information you think would be of help to novice grey nomad wannabees. We have a 4 wheel drive and 21 ft caravan plus a small dog. Many thanks
-- Edited by sabright on Wednesday 3rd of June 2015 03:31:54 PM
shekon said
03:43 PM Jun 3, 2015
sabright, having just come across the Nullaboor, it is wonderful. There are so many free camp spots along the road, most are large areas away from the road, the scenery is to die for, never a dull moment, there is fuel every 200k's or so, so no need for copious amounts of fuel canisters. Water was the main area of concern for me. Had to use it very sparingly, there just isnt the water available, due to drought.
My advice, just do it and if anyone tells you it is a boring drive do not believe them. Take your time, get off the beaten track and explore the little towns off the Eyre Highway. Talk to the locals, and enjoy it all.
sabright said
03:49 PM Jun 3, 2015
thanks for the advice shekon
Bruce and Bev said
04:17 PM Jun 3, 2015
Hi Ann & Steve. There are heaps of free camp sites between you and Broome. We've done SA, NSW and VIC and without a doubt WA has the most and best free govt provided sites. Be aware that many WA rest areas (including along the Nullaboor) have 2wd tracks going well back into the scrub. It pays to pull into the area you think youre going to stay at and take a walk. Often you can drive well off the road with shelter from the sun and be away from heavy truck road noise.
Spend the less then $8 per year and get wikicamps App for your Android device, Ipad or Windows v8.1 You can download the App fully functional and try it for 14 days without paying a cent. It will show you almost every known free and low cost camp in Australia, all the caravan parks, eating places (Maccas for example), fuel servos nearest to you by kms, dump points, Info Centres and so on.....Its worth while spending $200 to buy a low cost Android tablet just to install wikicamps - you will more than save the money and drama without it. If youre not a techo nerd - find a kid and he/she will set it all up for you lol
Broome is VERY expensive to camp at. If you are prepared to stay about 45-60 mins drive out of town, you can farm stay and theres also a few parks a similar distance out as well that are half the price of the rip-offs in Broome. The Shire ban free camping in their area - which extends north and south of Broome for some distance and they actively enforce it with their rangers. The Mayor of the Shire, by the way, owns the biggest caravan park in Broome!!!!
ken thomas said
04:34 PM Jun 3, 2015
And is involved in the information centre
conflict of interests
Ken
done dreaming said
04:57 PM Jun 3, 2015
As you have a dog you can stay at the pcyc in broome.cheaper than caravan parks.Other great low cost and free camps we stayed at along the coast were Coronation Beach,Sandy Cape, 40Mile Beach and a fabulous free camp 50 klm north of broome is James Price Point.I agree with B&B WA has the best rest stops especially up north where numerous ones have dump points. Enjoy your travels and don,t rush.
It lists free sites plus cheap campgrounds as distinct from flash holiday parks. A bit of light reading for the last few nights.
Treecrest14 said
09:18 PM Jun 3, 2015
There is another free camp north of Sandy Cape (Near Jurien Bay) and it is just out of Green Head (which is north of Jurien). It is called Billy Goat Bay - free but only 2 nights allowed! The access road is heaps better and shorter than Sandy Cape road!
Just 2 nights at each of the above!
Trouble is not one app or book contains all the free camps.
Glen
Moonraker said
10:43 PM Jun 3, 2015
Sabright, I agree with all the above. Wikicamps on my Ipad and Camps 8 just about covers the lot. I also have a copy of the listed 24 hours rest stops which can be found on the WA Main Roads web site. Worth printing a hard copy to put in your Camps 8 book. Broome has The Pistol Club, PCYC, and sometimes the race course for overflow camping especially if you have a dog. I think they are still first come first served do no booking. There is also a lot of caravan parks which are dog friendly over here now. But not in Broome. We will be leaving Perth beginning of July with our dog and van for a slow drive up as far as Broome, no plan just take it as it comes. It will be our first trip after retirement so have all the time needed to smell the roses and stay away from Perth while its is cold and wet. We will be free camping while travelling but may use CPs if we want to stay a few days in a town and if we want to do some day trips around the area without the van in tow. Return trip will be to follow the wild flower season as the season moves south. Dont rush its a very long way and dont just stay on the main route 1 as many do you will miss too much. If you have time have a look at the coast at Shark Bay and north of Carnarvan. Good Station Stays toward Exmouth. Cossack and Point Sampson worth a couple of days. Then a choice of a few places along 80 mile beach, we will probably go into Barn Hill before Broome. The south west corner of WA is great in Summer too cold for us in winter others will disagree, there will be less people there if you like the colder weather. Esperance, Albany all the way around to Bunbury and through the forrest, Bridgetown, Nanup etc. so much to see. I'm sure you'll have a great trip. Cheers Nigel
-- Edited by Moonraker on Wednesday 3rd of June 2015 10:46:29 PM
SS Mirada said
01:23 PM Jun 4, 2015
This is from the WikiCamps Website FAQ's. So once off and no other fees
Wikicamps Australia is AUD$7.49. This is a 1 time purchase and will let you use WikiCamps on multiple Android devices * There are no monthly subscription fees or fees for downloading additional content. **
* Devices must be logged in to the same gMail account. ** Additional carrier and internet service provider charges may apply. *** Prices are subject to change. Please check the store for the most up to date price.
Hi, we are thinking of travelling from SA around the coast to Broome for an extended period of time. Can any seasoned travellers advise where the best free camps are along the way pls and any other information you think would be of help to novice grey nomad wannabees. We have a 4 wheel drive and 21 ft caravan plus a small dog. Many thanks
-- Edited by sabright on Wednesday 3rd of June 2015 03:31:54 PM
My advice, just do it and if anyone tells you it is a boring drive do not believe them. Take your time, get off the beaten track and explore the little towns off the Eyre Highway. Talk to the locals, and enjoy it all.
Spend the less then $8 per year and get wikicamps App for your Android device, Ipad or Windows v8.1 You can download the App fully functional and try it for 14 days without paying a cent. It will show you almost every known free and low cost camp in Australia, all the caravan parks, eating places (Maccas for example), fuel servos nearest to you by kms, dump points, Info Centres and so on.....Its worth while spending $200 to buy a low cost Android tablet just to install wikicamps - you will more than save the money and drama without it. If youre not a techo nerd - find a kid and he/she will set it all up for you lol
Broome is VERY expensive to camp at. If you are prepared to stay about 45-60 mins drive out of town, you can farm stay and theres also a few parks a similar distance out as well that are half the price of the rip-offs in Broome. The Shire ban free camping in their area - which extends north and south of Broome for some distance and they actively enforce it with their rangers. The Mayor of the Shire, by the way, owns the biggest caravan park in Broome!!!!
conflict of interests
Ken
It lists free sites plus cheap campgrounds as distinct from flash holiday parks. A bit of light reading for the last few nights.
Just 2 nights at each of the above!
Trouble is not one app or book contains all the free camps.
Glen
Sabright,
I agree with all the above. Wikicamps on my Ipad and Camps 8 just about covers the lot. I also have a copy of the listed 24 hours rest stops which can be found on the WA Main Roads web site. Worth printing a hard copy to put in your Camps 8 book.
Broome has The Pistol Club, PCYC, and sometimes the race course for overflow camping especially if you have a dog. I think they are still first come first served do no booking. There is also a lot of caravan parks which are dog friendly over here now. But not in Broome.
We will be leaving Perth beginning of July with our dog and van for a slow drive up as far as Broome, no plan just take it as it comes. It will be our first trip after retirement so have all the time needed to smell the roses and stay away from Perth while its is cold and wet. We will be free camping while travelling but may use CPs if we want to stay a few days in a town and if we want to do some day trips around the area without the van in tow.
Return trip will be to follow the wild flower season as the season moves south.
Dont rush its a very long way and dont just stay on the main route 1 as many do you will miss too much. If you have time have a look at the coast at Shark Bay and north of Carnarvan. Good Station Stays toward Exmouth. Cossack and Point Sampson worth a couple of days. Then a choice of a few places along 80 mile beach, we will probably go into Barn Hill before Broome.
The south west corner of WA is great in Summer too cold for us in winter others will disagree, there will be less people there if you like the colder weather. Esperance, Albany all the way around to Bunbury and through the forrest, Bridgetown, Nanup etc. so much to see. I'm sure you'll have a great trip.
Cheers
Nigel
-- Edited by Moonraker on Wednesday 3rd of June 2015 10:46:29 PM
This is from the WikiCamps Website FAQ's. So once off and no other fees
Wikicamps Australia is AUD$7.49.
This is a 1 time purchase and will let you use WikiCamps on multiple Android devices *
There are no monthly subscription fees or fees for downloading additional content. **
* Devices must be logged in to the same gMail account.
** Additional carrier and internet service provider charges may apply.
*** Prices are subject to change. Please check the store for the most up to date price.