Hi all, planning our big trip... (leaving Sunshine Coast mid June) and wanting recommendations for 'must see' & 'must stay' (or 'avoid like the plague') places between Tennant Ck and Darwin, please.
-- Edited by Crane on Saturday 28th of January 2017 04:36:46 PM
You will see something new all the time!! Devil's marbles about 350k's from Alice, Lot's of Road Trains (they always have the right of way), wild life, the beautiful red earth. Katherine Gorge is worth having a look at, Mataranka hot springs. Too much to tell you.
Just don't act like a tourist! No matter what anyone else has told you just respect the people that live there and you will have a great holiday.
I lived in the outback most of my life and wish I still did!!
There's nowhere to avoid in the territory.
It'd help to know if you're a free camping type or the other.
There is so much must see/stay.
Most of what I'd recommend wrt staying would be free. Hahaha same with the 'sees' too.
I can't really help with 'tourist' mainstream though.
A fantastic stretch of road, the Stuart Hwy! Take your time is our advice.
On a recent fly/drive 3 week trip to Darwin & Kakadu we enjoyed Pine Creek & Mt Bundy Station near Adelaide River. Kakadu was awesome. We loved the rock art galleries at Ubirr near the East Alligator River.
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Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
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Daly Waters Pub - stay there overnight. When we were there, they had an excellent B&B (Barra and Beef) meal, and also top notch entertainment. Mataranka hot springs - a tourist take but most enjoyable anyway. Katherine - the gorge tour is really good. There are lots of other places to see en route - take your time and look into each town's visitor centre to get info on the local sights.
One place you might like to consider is Banka Banka station about 100km north of Tennant Creek
It's [been] part of the Kidman chain of cattle stations and is used as the training centre for Jillaroos & Jackaroos
Each happy hour they put on a show & tell for us tourists, where a Jill & a Jack give a slide show presentation regarding the cattle industry & their part in the industry
Well worth the night if it falls into your timetable
About the only town I would not suggest staying at is Elliott. All the fuel pumps were locked up to keep the locals honest. The flowers on the trees in the caravan park exuded a sticky mess on onto vehicles. The gate was locked at sundown for protection at sundown. It was our worst stay in all our trips up there.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
About the only town I would not suggest staying at is Elliott. All the fuel pumps were locked up to keep the locals honest. The flowers on the trees in the caravan park exuded a sticky mess on onto vehicles. The gate was locked at sundown for protection at sundown. It was our worst stay in all our trips up there.
And the frogs that come for a swim in the van park pool at night scare the ****e out of you. Similar experience at Mataranka.
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GRANDPARENTS & GRANDCHILDREN GET ON SO WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMMON ENEMY
Certainly recommend a trip to Devils Marbles south of Tennant Creek, with overnight stay in campground to see sunset and sunrise. Plenty of Rest Area camps on the road, but get into them by just after lunch time as they fill quickly.
Dunmarra is a nice little wayside park with a comfortable little CP and 3 pet buffalo that wander through park. We found Elliot to be ok, but it is disconcerting to be locked in.
Would stop at Mataranka to go to hot springs. Visit to Katherine Gorge for a cruise and Leilyn Falls at top end of the NP off of the Stuart Highway. Also visit Katherine hot springs and the Cutta Cutta caves just south of Katherine.
I would go into Kakadu from Pine Creek, and spend some time around Yellow Waters (Cooinda), go to Nourlangie Rock for the rock art, Ubirr up at Cahills Crossing (East Alligator River) for the rock art and view of the wetlands and Arnhem Escarpment. If you have time and a sense of adventure, you could also do Jim Jim and Twin Falls possibly.
On way into Darwin, perhaps Mary River, South Alligator River, a stay at Corroboree Park and a cruise on Corroboree Billabong, then into Darwin where there is a lot to do, including a harbor cruise, the Mindil Markets, the Military Museum, the Fuel Tunnels, Litchfield, Howard Springs and so much more.
We have been twice in the past 8 years (including last May/June), and are looking forward to going again. These things I have mentioned have been some of our favourites.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
Thank you all for your insight and recommendations. We are fairly new to the whole caravanning caper (this will be our second trip) and as yet have not tried the free camping. I guess we will have to 'dip the toes into the water' on this trip as we intend to do the NT, West coast WA and Nullarbor on return to the Sunshine Coast ...
