Planning a trip to Darwin first time for us in small campervan .. over 3.. 4 months any info regarding stuart hwy etc appreciated .... From Darwin to Broome .. Perth then back to Melbourne big trip so any advice from you guys would help mainly fuel stops etc free overnighters and cheap one night stops on the way .
Have read a lot of info about this but never spoke to someone that has made this trip .
We stayed at Coomalie Creek, just out of Bachelor one of the cheaper parks but 80 k outside of Darwin while being really convenient to Litchfield which I recon is a must see particularly as its free.
Only know a few places from Three Ways up to Darwin, Dunmarra was a good stop for the night good counter meal and camping area, Pine Creek great people, Berry Springs a must for a swim in incredibly clear cool water.Stayed at Howard Springs caravan park quite with reasonable rates for the Territory and only 25km from Darwin ( everything is a few dollars more which should be expected) great area. Lock everything even at quick stopovers otherwise you will find that something has been misplaced. Just had a look at Howard Springs Caravan Park it is now a Big 4 so I can't recommend it as it's probably over priced!
Kev
-- Edited by Casualkev on Sunday 10th of January 2016 07:30:51 PM
Edith falls is a great spot, off the highway and need a couple of days. We stayed for one on a trip from Darwin to Argyle a few years ago. It was an honour system the, but I believe it has caretaker an a kiosk now.
Check it out.......... You get to be away from a town and out in the bush. Very worthwhile
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I Remember It ...............All Too Well
Wherever the four winds blow. I'm restless, I'm ready
We did virtually the same trip about 18 months ago towing an Avan Cruiser campervan - did very little research because we wanted the trip to be full of discovery and not a planned itinerary. Spent 50/50 free camping/van parks and never had a problem even in Darwin or Broome where we found parks in the town and not the outskirts with no worries. When arriving at Darwin/Broome just after the 60kph signs we just kept our eye out for van parks and when we passed one just rang their number for a stay that night - no problems both towns both had a vacancy first try and this was in July/August. We used Camps 6 for free camping plus word of mouth.
Our attitude was not to complicate the trip too much - make sure you fill with fuel and water before below half empty and take it easy. You will have a ball.
Good Luck.
Heaps of good places to camp on the highway to Darwin - lots of free camps - got your Camps Australia Wide Issue 8? Wilicamps? both invaluable assets to find camps. Couple of good places we stay - Lake Hart - no facilities, but the Ghan goes through there, and the lake is a huge salt lake, Woomera is nearby, as is Spuds (free camp at a roadhouse) - Newcastle Waters - The Pebbles - Devil's Marbles (fee) - in Darwin, The Polo Field - Robbie Robbins Reserve is in Berrimah, on the highway, about 12 minutes out of town, cheapest camping in Darwin we have found.
Best idea, is to do a section at a time, talk to fellow travellers,, ask about camps they have stayed at, word of mouth is always good.
Water is an item in short supply in a lot of places, so be sparing with it. On the way up to Darwin there is also Pussycat Flats at Pine Creek, or Mount Bundy Station at Victoria River, they have a no powered area for $11, as well as powered sites for I thin about $25. Showers, washing machines, swimming pool, group happy hours.
Most of all, enjoy your trip, take your time.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Lots of free camps all the way. Don't waste your money in Van parks, free camping is safe and fun. The most properous towns we found are those that have no commercial caravan parks and provide free camping areas. That $50 a night you don't spend in a van park you are more likely to spend in town and that provides employment and keeps the local shops alive.
Some of our favouritefree camps heading north from Melbourne are (Camps 8) VIC585 Lake Lascelles Hopetoun (gold coin donation hot showers), NT63 101km west of Erldunda on Lasseter Hwy, NT64 48km north of Lasseter Hwy, and NT14 (The Pebbles) 17km north of Tennant Creek (6km dirt).
Definitely invest in a 'Camps Australia Wide 8' book or the 'WikiCamps' app for your phone (Internet access required for WikiCamps).
Take enough Jerry Cans of fuel so that you can drive 5-600km as most map locations are just roadhouses that are at least 250-280km apart and if you don't stop at every roadhouse and fill up you may not get enough kms from your tank. Outside of the capital cities and larger towns you will get ripped off something ferocious for fuel up to $2.80 per liter with bulsh!t excuses about freight costs . They rip you off because they can, plain and simple and it has nothing to do with freight.
TIP:- Our best tool is a 2.5m x 1m length of old carpet and some extra strong occy straps. Along the way during the day we pull over and collect up branches from fallen trees and wrap them in the carpet and occy strap that to the draw bar. When we reach our desination we already have our campfire wood, because any wood close to a campsite will have been taken out to a good 500m, and the carpet becomes our door mat, which is really needed in the sandy outback.
thanks to you all for the info great to hear about the places on the way .. I do have a free camp book but nothing beats hearing from fellow travellers as not all places are listed in the book .
