Alternative route from Adelaide to Melbourne via Naracoorte
jbrinks said
01:42 PM Dec 27, 2016
we are looking to take about 3-4 days to drive to Melbourne and thought we would take a couple of alternative routes there and back. One way maybe to Naracoorte and then onto Edenhope and up to Horsham the other maybe down to Casterton then Hamilton and either up to Wartook then Horsham or from Dinkeld across to Ararat. Any information on road conditions and places to camp at this time of the year. Plan to leave the end of the week so the weather looks okay to free camp.
Desert Dweller said
05:20 PM Dec 27, 2016
Between Naracoorte & Edenhope is a nice friendly little hotel at Apsley with a ''free camping'' area out the back. Goroke west of Horsham has a community run caravan park $20 for a powered site. Green Hill Lake near Ararat would most probably be packed out but it's a large area so it might still be worth a look. Dartmoor ''free camp'' is popular also but it's quite large as well. Hope this helps.
jbrinks said
05:37 PM Dec 27, 2016
Thanks Desert Dweller for those suggestions, it's hard to know what will be packed out at this time of the year which is the reason we are giving the coast and Murray a miss but they will only be one night stops so not too hard usually to find something I guess. Aspley sounds nice
sufil said
09:39 PM Dec 27, 2016
Lake Wallace at Edenhope is almost full again after many many years of being dry . The Apsley pub has a free camp.There is a little community park at Harrow.
After all the rain the south west had over winter the roads are pretty ordinary which ever way you go.
JeffRae said
10:31 PM Dec 27, 2016
There is a camp ground at Wannon Fall (just before Hamilton), you could also stay at Smythesdale (just off the road between Ararat & Ballarat)
goannaway said
12:57 AM Dec 28, 2016
Did that area earlier in the year, Casterton caravan park is good, just watch the water gully's makes it difficult to unhitch. dump point here. Lake Ratscastle (free)east of Edenhope, was dry in May, toilets and good as an overnighter or longer. Naracoorte has a showground, didn't stay, used dump point but would not supply water. The Wimmera Hwy has a lot of dips and rises if my memory serves, so need to keep your eye on your speed as sometimes your front tyres seem to lose contact with the road
Desert Dweller said
05:02 AM Dec 28, 2016
Lake Ratzcastle is full of water now after the Spring floods. Another nice free camp'' nearby is Lake Bringalbert. Harrow is nice but very small & most probably full. Both lakes are popular with locals as well as tourists but are quite large.
PeterD said
12:26 PM Dec 28, 2016
jbrinks wrote:
Any information on road conditions and places to camp at this time of the year.
Regarding road conditions in that area, I find that most road atlases are OK if they are recent editions. Just look for the unbroken red lines and the roads there will be fine for towing caravans over.
Ole Grizzly said
02:24 PM Dec 28, 2016
Black ****atoo Bush Camp
Turn off signposted approx 11 km on left North of Naracoorte on Riddoch Hwy.
Is a Fee (Cheap) but neat place to throw anchour for day or two.
Address
Chapples Road via Naracoorte, SA, 5271
Phone
08 87621612
Mobile
0428 621613
-- Edited by Ole Grizzly on Wednesday 28th of December 2016 02:26:23 PM
geoffc said
10:04 PM Dec 28, 2016
If you are going through Edenhope instead of going up to Horsham you might like to look at via Harrow, Balmoral, Cavendish, Dunkell then the Glenelg Hwy all the way through to Ballarat. Other members might be able to bring me up to date re the Lake Bolac Highway Park. All roads are good
GeoffC
jbrinks said
09:05 PM Jan 2, 2017
Thanks for all your replies, we went through to Cavendish and stayed there, nice spot looked after by the community then o to Ballarat was a nice drive.
we are looking to take about 3-4 days to drive to Melbourne and thought we would take a couple of alternative routes there and back. One way maybe to Naracoorte and then onto Edenhope and up to Horsham the other maybe down to Casterton then Hamilton and either up to Wartook then Horsham or from Dinkeld across to Ararat. Any information on road conditions and places to camp at this time of the year. Plan to leave the end of the week so the weather looks okay to free camp.
Thanks Desert Dweller for those suggestions, it's hard to know what will be packed out at this time of the year which is the reason we are giving the coast and Murray a miss but they will only be one night stops so not too hard usually to find something I guess. Aspley sounds nice
After all the rain the south west had over winter the roads are pretty ordinary which ever way you go.
There is a camp ground at Wannon Fall (just before Hamilton), you could also stay at Smythesdale (just off the road between Ararat & Ballarat)
Regarding road conditions in that area, I find that most road atlases are OK if they are recent editions. Just look for the unbroken red lines and the roads there will be fine for towing caravans over.
Black ****atoo Bush Camp
Turn off signposted approx 11 km on left North of Naracoorte on Riddoch Hwy.
Is a Fee (Cheap) but neat place to throw anchour for day or two.
Address
via Naracoorte, SA, 5271
-- Edited by Ole Grizzly on Wednesday 28th of December 2016 02:26:23 PM
GeoffC
Thanks for all your replies, we went through to Cavendish and stayed there, nice spot looked after by the community then o to Ballarat was a nice drive.