None at Darwin or Palmerston but there are free camping sites at the old WW2 Airstrips south of Darwin. Gorrie Strip absolutely fabulous camp-fire permitted must be self contained and take only photo's & leave nothing but footprints - Very Pleasant place to spend a couple of days.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
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Free everything? Macka. I'll tell you that many travellers are on a very tight budget. Maybe bad luck in that thay didnt inherit anything and had to pay for their parents funetals, or they didn't get huge super from long term employment or had bad luck with the 2007 GFC or retired early through poor health. These people of which I am one, can still tour this wonderful land but not at $50 a night like at Howard Springs Darwin where we stayed last year. We did the lap staying in a CP every fourth or fifth night. We also towed our mini caravan with our i30 diesel...18,500 km for $1900 fuel. Had a ball.
So everyone please cater for all peoples budgets. The modern grey nomad should still be able to tour around on a very tight purse.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
The caravan park we're currently staying at has a cafe that's always fairly empty all week except for Fridays at 10.00am when they put on free scones with jam & cream WITH any coffee or tea ordered. It gets packed with oldies looking for a FREEBIE, some of them are so miserly that they bring their own tea/coffee & help themselves to the free scones. Mention something for free & they're elbowing each other out of the way to get to the FREEBIES. Pathetic really.
Back on topic: We don't know of any FREE camping around the Darwin area & we've pretty much covered most of it. Flying up there in 6 weeks time, hiring a 4x4, staying in resorts the same as we did last year.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 04:08:28 PM
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Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
I never had nothing. Not even shoes most of time When I was young.
IN UK where we got snow and frosts\ice on the roads.
Made myself up to what I am today. AS DO most of us.
Looking round for cheaper parks. Camp sites. Fine. just natural.
But this FREE Camping. this. that and the other.
Free. Free. Sorta gets MY back up a bit.
Sounds like we trying to beg for things all the time.
The person that started that saying "FREE Camping" wants his b==ls
cutting off.
Causes a lot of bad feeling.
Out of townships. off main roads.Nat, Parks etc. Fine.
$5-10-12 a night for power and dunny maybe.
That's fair.
People just should remember though.
WHENEVER.Wherever. Somebody supplies an area. for camping or anything.
It instantly creates work. and maintenance for somebody.
PLUS. It's rates to some Council.
98% of "visitors"
DO NOT leave it as they found it, or better.
JUST supplying,, costs somebody.
Before you start other things.
But asking for it in Prime holiday areas.
IS a bit rood don't you think.
And Pensioners aren't too bad off. If everything their own. and running costs within their budget.
I Know a lot. in vans and on yachts.
that do it sweet. On the Pension.
Basically just stop for a while till next pension if overspend.
Not counting in the ILL and sick\disabled there.
They in a different bowl.
IF a normal person can't live comfortably on todays pension
Well.
They've had long enough work time to establish what and where they want in life.
Travelling. your whatever, will be paid for and should be reliable.
The single pension a bit lean for travel. But I know quite a few couples travelling and living on oldies pension.
They don't want for much.
Your pre planning is 90% of it.
As your, "YOUR" life begins when you retire.
Previously is just building up to and preparing for.
Anybody that didn't realise that decades ago.
Well.
They probably do have problems at times.
We ALL started off naked. With Nothing. Just a tit to suck on.
what a person does with it.
Is entirely up to them.
I sailed right round yrs ago. First time by myself.
I think total cost was $2 1\2 grand.
Coupla tanks of diesel and tucker.
Did it on a 600 dirt bike in late '80's.
that was around $7 grand.
Knew the inside face of my 8x12 silver tarp. Intimately when I got back.
Every single crease.
Well said Macka , We save money when on the road and still way our way .Someone has to pay for providing free camps in towns and it's the poor rate payer , There are plenty of free camp out of towns we you can camp drive into town the next day and move on to another free camp out of town . If you want to stay in town pay your way .
Agree with all that guys.
And the scone jumpers get my back up too. Penny pinching is a hobby for some.
We're at Cevil Plains tonight on our way south. The seaside cp's are too expensive for us. One night at Hervey Bay and we move on. But we attend the markets for local produce, avocados, tommies, pumpkin, Maryborough Esk, etc. Find a good affordable stop like Wyper Park scout camp Bundaberg for $10 a night. We can afford such but a pity the caretaker has to chase backpackers for that small sum every morning. They act so innocent but the requirements are clear. So if the tight budgetter has to resort to 90% of their travel to inland small town locations its not a bad thing. We are grateful some towns want us so we support in kind.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Yes We stop at Duaringa 113 klm west of Rockhampton for 2 nights donation camp at the tourist information centre on site . Went for a walk to buy some milk at the little store and Post Office on return to the camp the number of people who wanted to know how much it cost , I said I don't know and don't care I think it's great to have some place to buy fresh milk what a great service , The local loins club did a breakfast on the Saturday morning has a fun raiser , I was surprise how few people in the camp supported it , There were about 20 caravans and RV in overnight hot showers provided , When we we leaving we call at the Tourist information to make a donation we were one of the last to leave and ask how many donation have you had this morning her reply you are the 5 th . I rest my case when these sort of camp close down we can blame the free loaders who want everything for nothing .
Hi, not sure about 'free camps in Darwin' as most areas are patrolled and controlled by the National Parks & Wildlife rangers. However I have attached a web site that you may find useful
My kitcar cost a meagre $16000. My van I made myself for $12,000 10'6" with shower. /toilet. Not bad for being on a pension. Im pretty proud if the effort. Building vans aint easy.
See avatar.
Good point though, some much larger rigs dont mean the owners are wealthy.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...