Advice needed- can anyone advise of free camping or showgrounds for Caravan Port Macquarie and Tamworth areas
TravellingAlong said
04:49 PM Oct 10, 2017
Hi there
we would like to stay in a free camp or showgrounds/racecourse with our caravan - however we cannot locate free camping around Port MacQuarie and Tamworth.
support would be appreciated
Thanks
Dougwe said
06:24 PM Oct 10, 2017
No free camps in Port Mac sorry, there is a show ground just south of PM but I can't think of the place sorry, I have racked my mind but Uncle Al has blocked it I think. Last time I was in Tamworth I didn't find one either so stayed in a CVP instead for 2 nights.
The big BP servo Centre at the roundabout on the Pacific at PM used top allow overnight stay out back but stopped it a couple of years ago. Bugga 'em.
TravellingAlong said
06:57 PM Oct 10, 2017
Thanks for yourquick reply - we are new to the caravanning game and still getting used to searching for free camps - we will go to a CP and keep on looking for free camps/ showgrounds as we head towards SA.
Thanks again
Dougwe said
07:01 PM Oct 10, 2017
If you haven't done so already, grab a copy of Camps Australia, I think the current one is 9 now. You could also get a copy of Wikicamps for your phone or poota, well worth the around $10 charge.
jules47 said
07:41 PM Oct 10, 2017
Hi Travelling Along - 60k west of Port Macquarie, on the Oxley Highway is Ellendale Reserve - a great free camp nice and flat, and lots of room - not at Christmas or Easter though - no limit, and free.
There is also the Wauchope Showgrounds, but they only have 16 or so spots, so got to ring.
Ellendale Reserve (DO NOT GO TO ELLENDALE FALLS- NO CAMPING), is on the Oxley Highway, head up there, bit hilly and windy, but definitely do-able with a van, couple of stop offs on the way to Walcha, where you can stop overnight, from Walcha - head to Tamworth.
Lots of places can be found on this forum in the camping/free camps section; but somehow I forgot to put Ellenborough in when we were there. We stayed for ages - loved the place, can have fires, and not far (country-distancewise) from Port M. Good shopping at Wauchope - or Timbertown on the Oxley. Long Flat shop & PO have the best chips in Australia!
Jules
-- Edited by jules47 on Tuesday 10th of October 2017 07:46:05 PM
DMaxer said
09:17 AM Oct 11, 2017
There is a showground at Kendall which is about 30 kilometres south of Port Macquarie. Turn off the highway and head to old highway to Kew and then turn left. Great little town and about $22 for a powered site.
Dougwe said
09:46 AM Oct 11, 2017
DMaxer wrote:
There is a showground at Kendall which is about 30 kilometres south of Port Macquarie. Turn off the highway and head to old highway to Kew and then turn left. Great little town and about $22 for a powered site.
That's the one I was trying to think of TravellingAlong.
Thanks DM.
TravellingAlong said
11:21 AM Oct 11, 2017
Hey thanks for the advice - now have WikiCamps on phone and we will check out Kendall.
Will get the hang of all of this as we travel more - thanks everyone
Possum3 said
12:32 PM Oct 11, 2017
I posted this back in 2015 and have been a couple of times since
Woolomin in Tamworth Shire
Woolomin is a small settlement on the bank of the Peel River, about 20 km north of Nundle, New South Wales, Australia and about 40 km south east of the city of Tamworth. It is on the Fossickers Way near Chaffey Dam. There is a FREE camping ground with water on tap, very clean flushing toilets, there are several powered sites ($4.00 night from general store). Great little village with very friendly general store less than 100 meters. Unhitch and explore the New England region - we only spent a week there, but met couple that were there 12 weeks fossiking. small river/creek with swimming hole.
TravellingAlong said
03:16 PM Oct 11, 2017
Thanks DM and everyone - really appreciate your tips and advice. Like the look of Woolomin
Cheers TravellingAlong
peter_s said
05:38 PM Oct 11, 2017
Chaffey Day whilst not free is a good spot about 30km from Tamworth minimal fee usually have a caretaker on site daylight hours... Hot showers $1, felt secure there and comfortable leaving the van when we went to explore
Tony Bev said
04:01 AM Oct 14, 2017
Tamworth opposite the airport, near the cemetery, (I think that it is in the Camp book), is the only official free overnight camp I know of, in that area
About 8 kilometres from the town centre
It has two flushing toilets, a male and a female, drinking water, some tables, and a dump point
I stay there when I go to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in January
Being close to the road it is noisy, and sometimes the industries close by, work through the night
Sometimes, RAAF come in to practice their touchdowns, and take off without stopping
I have been told by others, that if you are caught in an unofficial camp, you can expect a fine
jade46 said
06:31 AM Oct 14, 2017
Wauchope show grounds is a lovely little country town 20 west of PM.Also in town is a tourist attraction "Timbertown" which is a good day out
oldbloke said
02:02 AM Oct 16, 2017
Try down loading camper mate for the mobile phone. Free down load. Not as good as wiki buy not bad either.
PeterD said
12:40 PM Oct 16, 2017
jade46 wrote:
.Also in town is a tourist attraction "Timbertown" which is a good day out
Timbertown now have a camping area. It was entered into WikiCamps in June this year.
Kantiki said
06:13 PM Oct 16, 2017
As well as Chaffey Dam and opposite the Tamworth airport, consider Bendemmer $5 PER NIGHT and Wallabadah at the 1st Fleet Memorial Gardens.
Hi there
we would like to stay in a free camp or showgrounds/racecourse with our caravan - however we cannot locate free camping around Port MacQuarie and Tamworth.
support would be appreciated
Thanks
The big BP servo Centre at the roundabout on the Pacific at PM used top allow overnight stay out back but stopped it a couple of years ago. Bugga 'em.
Thanks again
Hi Travelling Along - 60k west of Port Macquarie, on the Oxley Highway is Ellendale Reserve - a great free camp nice and flat, and lots of room - not at Christmas or Easter though - no limit, and free.
There is also the Wauchope Showgrounds, but they only have 16 or so spots, so got to ring.
Ellendale Reserve (DO NOT GO TO ELLENDALE FALLS- NO CAMPING), is on the Oxley Highway, head up there, bit hilly and windy, but definitely do-able with a van, couple of stop offs on the way to Walcha, where you can stop overnight, from Walcha - head to Tamworth.
Lots of places can be found on this forum in the camping/free camps section; but somehow I forgot to put Ellenborough in when we were there. We stayed for ages - loved the place, can have fires, and not far (country-distancewise) from Port M. Good shopping at Wauchope - or Timbertown on the Oxley. Long Flat shop & PO have the best chips in Australia!
Jules
-- Edited by jules47 on Tuesday 10th of October 2017 07:46:05 PM
There is a showground at Kendall which is about 30 kilometres south of Port Macquarie. Turn off the highway and head to old highway to Kew and then turn left. Great little town and about $22 for a powered site.
That's the one I was trying to think of TravellingAlong.
Thanks DM.
Will get the hang of all of this as we travel more - thanks everyone
Woolomin in Tamworth Shire
Woolomin is a small settlement on the bank of the Peel River, about 20 km north of Nundle, New South Wales, Australia and about 40 km south east of the city of Tamworth. It is on the Fossickers Way near Chaffey Dam. There is a FREE camping ground with water on tap, very clean flushing toilets, there are several powered sites ($4.00 night from general store). Great little village with very friendly general store less than 100 meters. Unhitch and explore the New England region - we only spent a week there, but met couple that were there 12 weeks fossiking. small river/creek with swimming hole.
Cheers TravellingAlong
Chaffey Day whilst not free is a good spot about 30km from Tamworth minimal fee usually have a caretaker on site daylight hours... Hot showers $1, felt secure there and comfortable leaving the van when we went to explore
Tamworth opposite the airport, near the cemetery, (I think that it is in the Camp book), is the only official free overnight camp I know of, in that area
About 8 kilometres from the town centre
It has two flushing toilets, a male and a female, drinking water, some tables, and a dump point
I stay there when I go to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in January
Being close to the road it is noisy, and sometimes the industries close by, work through the night
Sometimes, RAAF come in to practice their touchdowns, and take off without stopping
I have been told by others, that if you are caught in an unofficial camp, you can expect a fine
Timbertown now have a camping area. It was entered into WikiCamps in June this year.