Apex Riverside Free Camp near the Thomson River toilets/covered picnic area. This time of year you need to arrive early ,as the council has fenced off some of the camping area ,so it has become some what smaller in size. When I went out to have a look today the place was over flowing with Vans /Motorhomes .Turn off is approx 4ks North West of Longreach on Landsborough Highway.
Regarding this free camp at Longreach, I read on this forum in another section where someone said it is a dust bowl, and other comment regarding another free stop would have a lot of noise due to trucks passing. The noise regarding trucks is not all that bad ,as most trucks these days are off the road by mid night due to the 12hr rule.The dust bowl remark just flawed me to read that remark, for god sake we are out in the out back ,do they expect lush green mowed lawns .If people want this kind of set up then I say go find a 5 star caravan park and pay $$$$$.Be grateful for these free camps as they are slowly disappearing.
We spent 3nights there last year and found it to be very good.
You have to be in early, all sites are fairly level,toilets cleaned every day by council and bins emptied. We found it to be very safe,leaving our van there each day while we enjoyed Longreach.we did see the police drive through a few times not sure whether they were keeping an eye on things or what but made us feel safer .
Wasn't a dust bowl when we were there but certainly not grassed.
Agree with you Herbie it is the outback and we should appreciate a town which provides such a great free camp. Water and dump point located at the showground.
Longreach and dust go together I would have thought. Even the CP we stayed in was mostly dust. We didn't expect anything else. We thoroughly enjoyed Longreach.
If you are going to Longreach, make sure to do the paddle steamer trip - the one that goes from the drovers camp - best value in town!! Pick you up from where you are staying, take you to the boat, nibbles and good commentary on board going eastwards, then turn round and return into the sunset - wonderful!! get off at the drovers camp for a delicious camp oven dinner of lean beef stew, apple pie and ice cream - bush poetry, music, all finished off with damper and golden syrup and tea or coffee. They then drive you back to your accommodation. A really good night!!!! Take your own drinks though, they have to charge a "cruise tax" on the boat.
Highly recommended!!!!!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
We camped at the Longreach free camp two nights ago, yes there were a lot a vehicles there, someone did a count apparently and said there were about 80, but there was still room for more. We arrived around lunch time, people were arriving about dusk and could still find a place to camp.
There is no grass to park on but isn't that what you would expect in the outback?
We did not hear any road noise, the highway is not very close to the camp.
-- Edited by Jaytee on Thursday 30th of May 2013 07:44:04 PM
Yes! Good site - But it is very busy at this time of the year. Probably around 40 to 60 Caravans and/or Campers, no firewood for miles, so if you are looking for a fire you will need to bring your own wood.
We camped there last week overnight our way to NT - would definitely stay there again, still have to do the paddle steamer trip. Yep! I agree, great town. I am so impressed by the effort made to accommodate visitors, by these outback towns.
We camped there 2 nights last July and you are supposed to pay at the Visitor Information Center - $3 I think it was. We paid but others we talked to had not. There were 70 vans the first night and 50 the second night but still space. A police car did come by the second night. Fish was caught in the river there and the toilets are cleaned 6am. If you need to go somewhere for a shower the CWA rooms behind the Visitor Information Center in town can be used for a donation. Menfolk can use it but need to be accompanied by a lady. If going on the river cruise the buses will pick you up from the free camp.
