camping in Alice Springs & <span class="highlight">Broome</span>

Hi Henry, I was booked in to Tarangau CP in Broome for a few days in July until I had to cancel my trip a few days ago. You could try them....very obliging and CP looks good on their website...just Google Tarangau Cravan Park
Have a great trip...wish I was still going!
Ian

can't help with Broome but the Macdonnel Ranges CP at Alice Springs is probably our favourite Oz wide. Less than ten minutes from centre of town, activities nearly every night, great amenities and pools. it's two years since we were last there so hopefully still good.
KenD
Bris

We're in the same baot in regards to Broome and so are our friends as we exit the NT about mid July.

I'm sure we will find bush spots and great company to boot so don't "sweat" it too much.

Some advice will be given I'm sure and if not we quizz those going East about where to bush camp.

Cheers Baz

Hello Henry, welcome to the site and the forum. I will second both MacDonnell Ranges CP in Alice and Tarangau in Broome (although that is not the question you asked re Broome). Both are clean and safe.

The "northern beaches" around Broome offer great camping if you are self sufficient but getting a spot can be tricky. South of Broome there is Barn Hill but personally I actively disliked the place (which is very unusual for me). But Broome has so much on offer that you probably do need to spend a while in town, so its just a matter of traipsing around to see if there is a vacancy. I think that the showground is used for overflow accommodation too.

Have a great trip.

Val

Hi Henry

South of Broome is Port Smith CP...about 80k from memory. Just have to watch the midges.

North of Broome are a number of spots. We stayed at Point Quondong? a few years back. Free camping & overlooking the beach.

I think there is a CP on the way into Broome at Roebuck roadhouse, no idea if it is any good.

cheers David

Henry
At that time of year Broome is literally " buzzing" with cravanners and travellers all trying to locate that elusive spot.
Most parks are booked out well in advance and usually the overflows are full too.
The usual routine is to rock up to the tourist bureau first and they will aim you at any possible vacancies.

Broome shire in general, have a really bad attitude to " free campers" and dog owners ! and the rangers are very vigilant.

As said Quondong is ok if you can get i, but the road in can be bad, or Port Smith, we tend to give Broome the flick now as it gets really expensive and the tourists are an easy target.

Roebuck R/house is just that, a roadhouse with a caravan park to the rear and even that can become full pretty quick.

Was at 80 mile beach last year and there was a notice advising tourists not to go to Broome unless they had accommodation booked ! as the whole place was full.

MacDonnel Ranges CP in the Alice is always our pick - pristine throughout and a reasonable tariff (you can save $ a bit further out, but we only stay a day or two in town anyway). Re Broome - on our only visit, we drifted into town mid morning (after camping about 100km out) - much better chances then - we tried the nearest CP to the road in (Tarangau CP - second rung, but good enough) and got a space on the spot, under a spreading mango tree (had to pinch ourselves !). Won't always be that easy, but early to mid morning is the key I think. It would seem that no time is good for arriving at the high demand CP's. Agreed re not booking ahead - too restrictive on travel plans for anything less than a considerable stay.

Re Alice Springs:

You could always try the serene Temple Bar Caravan Park, Ilparpa Road, Alice Springs Ph (08) 8952 2533 Fax (08) 8952 2533.

It's a few short km south-west of the town, funnily enough near Temple Bar - aka Honeymoon Gap. Just 5 minutes from the above mentioned parks.

No way I'm going back to those parks - too loud, too suburban, too expensive.

Thanks to everybody who has replied.
lots of good suggestions and ideas.
I as usual we give it all to my good wife and let her make the decision as where she would like to camp. that way I can't get into trouble.
I hope to see a few members out on the track.

Thanks again
Henry.

Hello henry.

We were in the same position as you in 2008 (hate pre-booking constraints). We rocked up to Broome without a booking (phone calls revealed nobody took bookings anyway, most just lined up & hoped for the best). We just went to the visitor centre, who display a vacancies board for all CV parks and the numerous overflow parks such as speedway, pistol club, PCYC etc etc. We got unpowered at the PCYC leading up to restricted powered later on ($20 - 25pn). You must like close company though. Did'nt worry us and the amenitys were as good as a CV park. And right in town too. Roll in and check them all out.
Regards: Grant

How long are you in Alice for? We have lived at the MacDonell Range van park twice in the last 6 years (3-5 month stays). While we were there a lot of the residents moved into the Gday mate cvan pk. Whatever their reasoning behind their decisions to move on - we had a great time. It's typical Big4 and Big$ for a big powered/unpowered site and resort style ammenities.

If we were camping in Alice we'd stay in town for a couple of nights and then get out of town - All of the listed places you can get a camper trailer into- some are free or about $4-10 per person Trephina Gorge, Ross River resort, Old Ambalindum Station, Ruby Gap, Redbank water hole, Owen springs, Birthday waterhole, Palm Valley, Redbank Gorge, Chambers Pillar, Glenn Helen resort, Rainbow Valley, Boggy Hole & Gem-tree.

The PCYC is not a bad spot as mentioned above in Broome - small sites but close to town beach and town.
Happy travels

I've stayed at the Heavy Tree Gap Caravan park dozens of times. I have no idea how nice the other ones are because this one feels like home! Rock wallabies come down to visit in the evening.

Hi Henry, Just a reminder that August will be a busy month in Alice with the Transport Hall of Fame reunion. I know you mentioned July but some will be travelling early so phone ahead.

Happy Travels Dave

Just recently stayed at G,Day Mate at the Alice and while we did have a top spot near the amenities block and the hosts are top people ....I reckon at night one car went up and down the road outside 100 times or 100 cars went along the road at 5 to 10 min intervals....up the back of the park would not have heard it....cheers