Decided to winter in Darwin this year, last year the Cape, and thought some might be interested in the associated costs.
Distance travelled: 11,359 K's
Diesel: 1,505 Ltrs
Highest: $2.076 Barkley Roadhouse NT
Lowest: $1.310 St George Qld
Average: $1.563
Caravan Parks
Most Expensive $44.00 Sunset Top Tourist (Min 2 nights) Mount Isa Qld
Cheapest $10.00 Beach Front Beauty, Wagait Beach NT
Average Cost $30.00
Best Beach Front Beauty - Private home right on the beach. Only takes 8 vans in front yard, powered but no water. $10 per person. Check it out on WikiCamps
Best Chicken Schnitzel Tattersalls Hotel Winton Qld
Should still be in Darwin but had to come home early due to circumstances beyond my control and it's bloody cold.
Hendo
Flags2 said
12:33 PM Aug 13, 2019
Hi Hendo,
Great info and many thanks for taking the time to post it. That's our plan for next year - Winter in Darwin and surrounds. Especially after this winter in Canberra!!!!
Aus-Kiwi said
02:40 PM Aug 13, 2019
Thanks good info . Plenty places to free camp
For a few days too . Just came back from Alaska/ Caribbean. Nearly killing me in
NSW, old bones . . Last year we where staying in Mataranka . Hell yes . No such
Saying as winter, dry season . Lol
Radar said
02:50 PM Aug 13, 2019
Hi Hendo, thank you, very helpful infirmation for next year.
We spent June and July South Australia, I doubt werther we do that again, to cold and wet but no other tourist.
Dougwe said
06:23 PM Aug 13, 2019
Well done Martin. I hope all is ok back at base camp.
It's not cold here in tropical Townsville though and I tell you that for free.
Olive Oil said
07:48 PM Aug 13, 2019
Freezing down here in Melbourne but in a few weeks time we fly to Broome, pick up a Maui motor home & spend 25 days driving to Darwin, then fly home.
Got the summer attire packed already.
Mike Harding said
07:43 AM Aug 14, 2019
So your fule consumption was 7.6L/100km!
What size/weight van were you towing and what vehicle were you towing it with?
TheHeaths said
08:03 AM Aug 14, 2019
Mike,
Hendos figures equate to 13.24 litres per 100 km, and 7.55 kms per litre, not 7,6 litres per 100 kms.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Wednesday 14th of August 2019 08:05:03 AM
Hewy54 said
08:07 AM Aug 14, 2019
Mike Harding wrote:
So your fule consumption was 7.6L/100km!
What size/weight van were you towing and what vehicle were you towing it with?
Might be a good time to check your maths.
The consumption was actually 13.25 l/100 km.
Mike Harding said
09:51 AM Aug 14, 2019
I wondered who'd be the first to spot my deliberate mistake :)
Yes, 13.2/100 indeed - but still pretty damn good fuel consumption and my questions still stand.
Also what is your average cruising speed?
Hewy54 said
01:13 PM Aug 14, 2019
Mike Harding wrote:
I wondered who'd be the first to spot my deliberate mistake :)
Yes, 13.2/100 indeed - but still pretty damn good fuel consumption and my questions still stand.
Also what is your average cruising speed?
13.2 has been my average for the last 50,000 km, in a 2013 bt50 towing a 1650 kg Vista Crossover.
Hendo said
09:58 AM Aug 15, 2019
Hi Guys
Tow vehicle is a 2012 D-Max remapped. Van is a 2010 18' Fusion Predator Off Road manufactured by Paradise Caravans in Melbourne ( since gone bust) weighing in at around 2.2 ton fully loaded.
Average tow speed would be around 95 / 98 subject to road conditions.
Talking road conditions, by far the worst road travelled was the first 75ks from home to the Pacific Highway, the bloody Buckets Way, it is a disgrace!
PS. Dougwe, all good at base camp, false alarm! Bugger, could still be in Darwin
The weather is very nice here also in Port Douglas, it is a bit cooler than it has been for the past 5 years though only averaging about 26 degrees in August but feels about 23 with the strong SE tradewind blowing most days, not today though, no wind overcast and 25.
Decided to winter in Darwin this year, last year the Cape, and thought some might be interested in the associated costs.
Distance travelled: 11,359 K's
Diesel: 1,505 Ltrs
Highest: $2.076 Barkley Roadhouse NT
Lowest: $1.310 St George Qld
Average: $1.563
Caravan Parks
Most Expensive $44.00 Sunset Top Tourist (Min 2 nights) Mount Isa Qld
Cheapest $10.00 Beach Front Beauty, Wagait Beach NT
Average Cost $30.00
Best Beach Front Beauty - Private home right on the beach. Only takes 8 vans in front yard, powered but no water. $10 per person. Check it out on WikiCamps
Best Chicken Schnitzel Tattersalls Hotel Winton Qld
Should still be in Darwin but had to come home early due to circumstances beyond my control and it's bloody cold.
Hendo
Hi Hendo,
Great info and many thanks for taking the time to post it. That's our plan for next year - Winter in Darwin and surrounds. Especially after this winter in Canberra!!!!
For a few days too . Just came back from Alaska/ Caribbean. Nearly killing me in
NSW, old bones . . Last year we where staying in Mataranka . Hell yes . No such
Saying as winter, dry season . Lol
Hi Hendo, thank you, very helpful infirmation for next year.
We spent June and July South Australia, I doubt werther we do that again, to cold and wet but no other tourist.
It's not cold here in tropical Townsville though and I tell you that for free.
Freezing down here in Melbourne but in a few weeks time we fly to Broome, pick up a Maui motor home & spend 25 days driving to Darwin, then fly home.

Got the summer attire packed already.
So your fule consumption was 7.6L/100km!
What size/weight van were you towing and what vehicle were you towing it with?
Mike,
Hendos figures equate to 13.24 litres per 100 km, and 7.55 kms per litre, not 7,6 litres per 100 kms.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Wednesday 14th of August 2019 08:05:03 AM
Might be a good time to check your maths.
The consumption was actually 13.25 l/100 km.
I wondered who'd be the first to spot my deliberate mistake :)
Yes, 13.2/100 indeed - but still pretty damn good fuel consumption and my questions still stand.
Also what is your average cruising speed?
13.2 has been my average for the last 50,000 km, in a 2013 bt50 towing a 1650 kg Vista Crossover.
Tow vehicle is a 2012 D-Max remapped. Van is a 2010 18' Fusion Predator Off Road manufactured by Paradise Caravans in Melbourne ( since gone bust) weighing in at around 2.2 ton fully loaded.
Average tow speed would be around 95 / 98 subject to road conditions.
Talking road conditions, by far the worst road travelled was the first 75ks from home to the Pacific Highway, the bloody Buckets Way, it is a disgrace!
PS. Dougwe, all good at base camp, false alarm! Bugger, could still be in Darwin