C/P in Broome. Need advise on which one

Mark · Senior Member

C/P in Broome. Need advise on which one

Sylva · Veteran Member

Hi eveveryone pete and I have survived the Gibb River Road and are spending one night in broome before going back to Kunnunara for the caravan.

The plan is to come back via the blacktop then head south, so far the caravan parks in broome look much the same and very expensive as a whole. So I was hooping for some difrent options from those that have gone before us...

thanks in advance

sylva

spida · Guru

Roebourne Road house is fine - easier than going to Broome!

Fried Rice · Guru

When we were there a couple of years ago, the Broome Visitors' Centre was up to the minute with availability information.

Unfortunately at the time the only option in town was the PCYC, which is an overflow facility. We found that to be a friendly, clean and convenient place.

I'm sure it would be ideal in your circumstances requiring only a short stay.

Fried Rice.

wendyv · Guru

When you start to head south from Broome, check out Barn Hill - great place.

Mark · Senior Member

Fried Rice wrote:
When we were there a couple of years ago, the Broome Visitors' Centre was up to the minute with availability information.
Unfortunately at the time the only option in town was the PCYC, which is an overflow facility. We found that to be a friendly, clean and convenient place.
I'm sure it would be ideal in your circumstances requiring only a short stay.
Fried Rice.

As the main parks are now emptying I believe the PCYC is not taking anymore visitors, but your suggestion of the Visitor Centre is of course great advice. I just know that Broome C/p has plenty of space as I am there myself.

pambaz · Senior Member

Hi Sylva,

I would like to hear what you thought off the GRR. We are thinking of doing it next June. We have a semi off road van and tow with a Prado. Did you find the conditions ok.

As far as a park in Broome, we stayed at the Vacation one out on the Port Rd.and it wasn't much. Saying that we were there in June 2011 and we were jammed in like sardines, amenities atrocious and all for nearly $50 night!. Loved Broome though.
The overflow had heaps of room and grass to boot.

Pam

Sylva · Veteran Member

Hi pam

The GRR was good, we were with a group of people that did not enjoy it so we endup doing it very quickly missing a lot I wanted to see, so I guess I will be going back.

We did it in a new Holden Colorado with a roof top tent, some minor issues little losing cb antenna from shaking on the corigation. Peter and I have done 4x4 camping in the high country of Victoria which as driving goes was more challenging. Biggest issue was the 100 of kilometre of corigation.

The road up to Mitchell falls is the biggest callange but not to bad. Best places to stay are often in stations so expect to pay for camping (one of the issues with my group was most did not want to pay to camp so we ended up in the middle of nowhere when I Would rather have paid the $20 per night to be close to the amazing Gorges and waterfalls!!!)

Try to carry as much fuel as you can as it was $2.45/L, we had an extra 80 L with us but still needed to buy about $60 more.

If you have any specific question feel free to ask and I will try help.

Sylva

Ps best advice is to do it by yourself ( there are so many cars on the road that even if you get in trouble help would not be hard to find) that way you can pick and choose what you want to do and how long to stay at each place.

wendyv · Guru

I am surprised that your group was able to find places to stay along the GRR where they didn't have to pay. The land through there is pastoral leasehold, or aboriginal land, with some National Park. There are "No Camping" signs up all over the place. It didn't used to be like that, but has changed due to earlier irresponsible campers doing the wrong thing (some of those lovely creeks you would like to camp by, are someone's water supply further down), plus a realization that money can be made from supplying camp grounds for travellers.

As you point out, the camp areas where you have to pay are where the best attractions are.

Group travel has lots of hassles.

pambaz · Senior Member

Thank you Sylva,

As much as we are quite sociable people we don't travel long trips with friends .we like to do our own thing

It's good to know we won't be alone though on GRR. We would stay at stations rather than free camp as we did a bit of research and found that is closer to gorges etc

We have dual tanks and carry a small amount of fuel in a Gerry can. Over long distances we just top up one tank (we did this on the Nullabor) and we have coped ok. Have paid big prices before. But to see the country you have to cop the price changes.

We expected the road to be corrugated but I guess how bad it is is the issue. We dont plan on rushing .

If we stayed at the stations then we could leave the van and do day trips into the gorges. Is that the way to go.?

Once at the gorges is there a lot of walking? Neither of us want to do long hikes.

It (GRR ) is still a thought and not a definite plan but we have heard so much about it that its on our wish list.

Thanks for your reply.

Pam

gypsynolmate · Senior Member

Hi there Sylva, dont know if I am too late for my suggestion for Broome, but we stayed for 4 months at the Cable Beach Caravan Park, where you can walk to the beautiful beach, of an evening and watch the sunset with a chair and a drink if you wish. Enjoy

wendyv · Guru

Pam,
how corrugated you will find the GRR just depends on when the graders were on it.These days, because it is so popular, there tends to be ongoing upkeep once the Wet is over.

The station campgrounds are certainly places you can base your van or tent and do day trips out from. Windjana Gorge and Bell Gorge are National Parks campgrounds - as is Mitchell Plateau, but I suggest you be cautious about taking van up there.

Both El Questro and Home Valley are worth staying at. El Q has a number of short-ish walks. I am not sure what walks/drives are available at Home Valley since we were last there.

Mt Barnett is a popular camp area by a beautiful, safe waterhole. The walk to Manning Gorge and Falls from there is really worth trying to do, if you can possibly manage it.

We have stayed at Mornington camp = run by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. From their camp is a couple of very scenic drives to gorges on the upper Fitzroy River. When we were there, we were able to hire a canoe and paddle one of the gorges.