we are currently in Broome and the plan is to have about five weeks between here and Carnarvon including a stop in Karijini.
Not knowing the area at all but have been looking up places and only getting confused where to go as I think we may need to book in. Any suggestions , looking for maybe 5-7 days at each place , Cape Range looks nice but which campsite and is it safe to leave the van and go out for the day. Also around Karratha and where is the best place at Coral Bay. Any suggestions most appreciated . We are from SA and don't want to miss the best places as we may not get back this way again
At Cape Range we stayed at Kurrajong Campground which we liked, though most of them looked good. All of the campgrounds there have a camp host in season and there is no problem at all leaving your van and going out for the day. You do need to book online before you get there, availability may determine where you end up as its very popular.
Both caravan parks at Coral Bay are close to the beach, Peoples Park is very slightly closer and have similar facilities though Bayview is the only one with a pool. We stayed at Bayview, but either would be good. Neither have water connections to vans, so fill your tanks before you get there, you can fill them at the Visitor Centre in Exmouth. There are taps with drinking water scattered throughout the park, but you can only fill containers, not tanks. The showers use bore water which isn't suitable for drinking. I would also shop in Exmouth which has a good supermarket, as the small general store in Coral Bay had a very limited range and was expensive. The bakery in Coral Bay was very good. Both caravan parks are apparently very popular in season and I would definitely book before leaving Exmouth at least. The snorkeling at Coral Bay made it one of our favourite stops.
We also liked 80 Mile Beach, only had a short stop there but its on our must return to list.
I would assume if you are traveling in this part of WA you would be or should be utilizing Wiki Camps & Camps Book 7/8.
We have been through the area last July7August only in the opposite direction. Just check these stops/camps coming from Broome ; Sandfire Roadhouse, Eighty Mile Beach, Pardo, plus several free camps in between such as DeGrays. Port Headland has a temporary free camp for the peak season and there are reasonable caravan parks at South Hedland..
Exmouth has good selection of CP#s we stayed at Light House. You can stay at Light House CP and the queue to get into National Parks.
For Coral Bay if you have not booked then you need to free camp close by and phone to check powered site availability. Unpowered sites cannot be booked and first in basis.
From Port Hedland you should head to Karinji and there is a very spectacular camp at the Gorge prior to getting to the National Park.
We headed down the Great Inland Norther Road to do the "Wild Flowers" and again that is another drive that you are not doing if heading to Carnavon.
Guess what this e-mail is coming to you from Vienna in Austria having just attended a concert at the Liechtenstein Palace.
Coral Bay is a must if only for the snorkeling - where else can you get nose to nose with fish? Rocky Pool East of Carnarvon is an excellent stop also, but the track in is a little rough and not suitable for big rigs. And then there is Wittenoom, interesting place but wear a respirator!
South from Broome - 80 Mile Beach - right on the beach and packed during summer! Probably mostly southern retirees during winter, Great if you like fishing.
We stayed for 4 or 5 days at the de Grey river - free, but you need your own water. Having your own onboard toilet is a plus!
Then there is a cheaper camp site at the Pt Headland showgrounds.
If you are going inland down to Karrijini, then there is a free camp at Mt Robinson (I think that was the name) before you get to Newman.
I noticed that the latest Caravan mag has a few of the northern free camp sites, but haven't checked to see if they are on Wikicamps.
Might be a little early for the wildflowers.
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Glen
A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
