Sue and I are heading on our annual trip up to Darwin in mid May, We will be taking our time this trip as we have found so many great spots that we want to stay several days at to relax and explore. My Daughter lives at Noonamah so have a very nice base while up there to enjoy with the Grandchildren. We plan to head down the west coast to Perth, so will leave around the end of July. We have never been on this trip south so would appreciate any comments and tips, places to stop and places to see. We Plan to spend time around the wineries at Margaret River and then head west across to the South Coast of N.S.W. Via the Barossa of course.
Hi, we are doing Adelaide to Darwin in July ish. i posted a question a week ago, so if you want any info up to Darwin, then take a look at my last post and the answers i received. Sounds awesome, enjoy and travel safely.
Greg/Sue, Too many great places on the west coast to mention but camping along the river at Old Onslow was a particularly memorable time, with great fishing (beware of crocs - they do come up the river). Plan to spend a little time around the Boulder/Kalgoorlie areas and then down the centre of WA to the other significant "Rock" i.e. Wave Rock. There is a lot to see in the middle of the State with a lot of history of bygone era. Hutt River Province is an absolute must - Prince Leonard is a wonderful and interesting host, as are his Sons and although getting on a bit we spent many hours with him discussing mutual interests (be sure to take your Passport, to have it stamped as you will be in another country).
We did basically the same trip as you are planning May -Sept in 2014 (we spent extra time in Perth with son and his family). We mainly free camped other than Broome and Monkey Mia. WA Tourism have provided many places with free Wi-Fi and all the free-camps are kept spotlessly clean and are more friendly than most caravan parks.
We will be doing WA again as soon as we can fit it in, although we will take longer next time.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
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Some places high on my list would be:
Keep River National Park - first campground about 18kms from highway. Some excellent walking. Bungles-like scenery.
From Kununurra - cruise up the Ord River - maybe the one that also does dusk cruise on Lake Argyle, then returns you by bus.
El Questro - road sealed to entrance, then few kms of unsealed road and shallow water crossing. Stay there if you can get the van in there. Walks, tours.
Barn Hill - south of Broome. Great caravan park - powered/unpowered. Brilliant scenery along beach. Great place to relax.
Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park - wonderful beach walking, fishing - threadfin salmon are the best eating!
Marble Bar - scenic, historic. Visit old Corunna WW2 air base.
Karijini National Park - Dales Gorge campground. Lots of walks. Wonderful scenery.
Exmouth/Cape Range National Park/Coral Bay - excellent coral reefs. Can swim/snorkel over them from the beach - no need for boat trip.
Denham - visit Monkey Mia, day trip in Peron National Park, see historic Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station area.
Kalbarri - coastal scenery, walks in national park.
Cape Le Grande National Park, east of Esperance - brilliant coast.
If going to Wave Rock, I would like to recommend Tressie's Museum and Caravan Park, 26.4 km up the road. Stayed there last year and was very impressed with the cleanliness of the facilities. Spotless camp kitchen, laundry and showers. Big drive through sights if you need plenty of space and not crowded. And go have a looked through the museum. A few dollars for a guided tour. The elderly gentleman who took us through last year was lovely. I used the washing machine and drier there overnight and paid at the office the next morning as the machines weren't coin operated. A good free camp in the wheat belt area is in Kulin. 48 hours and right in town. Park on bitumen and nice clean toilet and shower block. The showers were free too. A small IGA around the corner. Enjoyed going along the Tin Horse Highway for something a little different. We stayed in a caravan park in Freemantle and explored from there. The blue and the red circle buses are free. Took the train to/from Perth (only costs a few dollars) and the Cat buses there too are free as is guided walking tour. Very knowledgeable guide. Visit Rottnest Island on Cheap Tuesdays but must buy tickets at the office at Fremantle wharf.
Flying up to Darwin in September from Melbourne. Hiring a 4x4 & spending 3 weeks in the Kakadu, Katherine area staying in luxury accommodation along the way. Too much driving to even think of towing our caravan up there.
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
Some great suggestions in replies above! I'd add that Katherine Gorge is definitely worth the short trip in. We've been there several times. You can take a tour up the gorges in a tour boat, or hire a canoe & paddle yourself up there! There was a chopper flight over the gorges (probably still is) that we took one time - stunning!
Edith Falls is another great place to stop & if you're game, go for a swim!
Lichfield NP is great!
On the bitumen road between Katherine & Broome there is lots to see! Timber Creek, Gregory NP, Lake Argyle, Kununurra, Wyndham, Bungles, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, the road into Tunnel Creek & Windjana Gorge is an easy drive from there & sensational scenery! :) Derby has Frosty's pool & the prison boab, heaps to see along the way.
If you like crowds, then Broome will be a good stop over.
Personally, I think that the drive up is half the fun! ;)
On way up to Darwin, You should call in to the Litchfield Park - three good waterfalls and a swimming hole.
Another I didn't see on the list is the De Grey river (WA free camp, but the toilets are not the best)
East of Geraldton/Walkaway is Ellendale Pool (was $5 per night last time we were there)
Billy Goat Bay (just north of Greenhead) and Sandy Cape are both just over the sand dunes from the beaches.
Can free camp at Kwolyn (inland), and go to Kokerbin Rock. The free camp used to be there, and then the council shifted it to Kwolyn.
Between Albany and Denmark there is Cosy Corner - free and on the coast.
At Esperance there is a free camp at Gibson Soak (about 25klm north of Esperance)
Also the National Parks have camping areas - they have upgraded quite a few and the facilities are kept clean by rangers - eg Esperance, Hopetoun, Shannon Nat Park.
In SA, there is a good free camp at Minnipa - Lions park east edge of town.
Enjoy
Glen
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Glen
A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
