Newbie to this forum apologize is question has been posted before we are heading off with 2 other caravans in June up from Melbourne then to Darwin back home via west coast, will be free camping as much as we can, with regards to park bookings can we just book a few days out or do they get pretty full? Will mainly be the larger towns that we stay in parks we think. Thanks
-- Edited by Loz59 on Wednesday 27th of February 2019 01:57:26 PM
Hi Loz 59, Some on here will say that you should book ahead but we have never done so as we don't know where we want to be and when. If we see something interesting along the way we will stay awhile or deviate down a side road to check it out. We do a combination or free/low cost camps, showgrounds, national parks and caravan parks. Keep in mind that in the winter months Grey Nomads head north and keep in mind also when it is school holiday time in the particular state you are in. When these two times are together it can sometimes (and in some places) be pretty full up. Do you have the new Camps 10 book and WikiCamps? There is also the book Caravan Parks 5. I'll leave it at that for now, others will have more to offer I'm sure. Enjoy your travels.
We rarely book ahead, once we decide where we will stop we either turn up on the day or ring through when on the way. We tend to not travel during school holidays as parks tend to fill up or are full, and when in outback towns, ie Cooper Pedy, Burke, we will check them out a few days beforehand to check availability as they can fill up unexpectedly.
We did the lap 3 years ago. We booked in Darwin and Broome well ahead. Not such a great idea imo.
We travelled with friends my wife knew for 20 years. You'd think they were loyal and returned goodwill but unbeknown to us, when our drawbar created a crack and needed repairing twice in QLD, they began to hold a grudge even though their inconvenience was only a few hours.
Sadly they didnt say anything. Eventually we left Kathryn and as usual they steamed on ahead (110 kph)against what we agreed (90kph) 60km from Kathryn we blew a crankcase seal. Stranded, where were they? Well ahead.
We caught up with them at Broome and it was all over. We missed the Kimberleys over their childish attitude. We would never have thought.
A lesson, so I'd highly recommend going your separate ways for a week here or there then once you meet up you have something to talk about, especially in large cities like Darwin.
Enjoy
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
We didnt book ahead . We ended up staying a few extra weeks on cattle stay farm. Often would ring in the morning to check prices . Often getting a deal we cannot refuse . If not we would stop over in nice location . Take your time going down non sealed roads to stations or 80 mile beach etc . Youll get there . Found 40kph about the top speed . Found the hardest thing to do was to slow down . Not speed wise . Stopping in places to have a good look around . Talk to locals, visit information centres . Which usually have free water and dump points .
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Just did Ballarat - Katherine - Broome - Geraldton - Kalgoorlie - Ballarat last year. Started Jun 1 (Start of Grey Nomad season I'm told). Didn't do Darwin. Been there before. Was away 10 weeks and ran out of weather & time to take in SW of WA. Get a subscription to Wikicamps. About $8.00 per operating system (Apple / Android). Plenty of good free camping in WA. NT has National parks at $3.30 per person. Get a 12 months WA Parks pass. Only booking we made was Broome and that was about 7kms out. It was "nomad" season and school holidays.
Similar to above , we did Ballarat to flinders ranges , then back down to port Augusta, then straight up the middle , eventually to Darwin , then back down to Katherine then over to Broome and down the west coast and inland as well to Perth, then Ballarat Obviously zigzagging everywhere lol, but we only booked flinders ranges , kings canyon and Uluru in advance prior to leaving , the rest we just winged , wikicamps is a must for free camps We travelled July - late September..... loved it Remember to service your vehicles prior to leaving and somwhere on your trip ( Broome for us , supplied the oil and filter )
We did 19500ks ( serviced it again after we got home )
Cheers
-- Edited by kesa32 on Thursday 28th of February 2019 06:43:49 PM
-- Edited by kesa32 on Thursday 28th of February 2019 06:45:46 PM
-- Edited by kesa32 on Thursday 28th of February 2019 06:47:19 PM
