Camping on Kangaroo Island
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 14, 2014 at 19:00
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ChrisVal7
We are planning a trip to
Kangaroo Island at the end of this week ( by which time the cool change will be here!), and are travelling with the offroad camper trailer. The costs of taking the van on the ferry are astronomical and is even dear enough for the trailer and car alone...
We have done a bit of planning already and note there is a variety of camping options. These include conservation parks, National Parks and private sites.
But we would like specific recommendations for a
camp site which is likely to be peaceful ( not overrun with hordes) and scenic. We have a four wheel drive and know how to drive on rough roads so the road less travelled is no deterrent to us. Being near water like a beach or river would be great but a view is a priority, as is nice vegetation and shade. I hope I am not asking for too much....
At this stage we are considering
Western River Cove,
Murray Lagoon Campground and
Stokes Bay.
Vivonne Bay has also been mentioned as a good spot. I am just a bit concerned that the weekend may get busy. We go this Saturday.
Does anyone have a recommendation?
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 at 06:57
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 at 06:57
Hi ChrisVal
Have a look at past posts, as there have been a number of enquiries within the last few weeks.
Firstly I hope you have allowed a reasonable time frame to see all the Island, as it is far bigger than you think with 1600 kilometres of good roads on the Island.
Unlike many other mainland locations, you will not have big crowds over there and even this time of the year, you will have many location to yourself.
There are many great location over there on the Island, but one great little spot that you have not mentioned is the eastern and western areas of the
Chapman River?
A great council
campground right on the water is
American River and the best caravan park I believe on the Island is the Western KI Caravan Park.
I have a number of
blogs about the Island, so
check out my blog details. Enough the Island, it is a fantastic place to visit.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 at 13:21
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 at 13:21
Hi Stephen.
Your advice is very useful. I have previously looked at your
blogs and found them very interesting indeed. I can see you love the place.
The Chapman Rivers
camp sites has not cropped ip in my research. Is it a Private concern? I have a list of all the conservation park, national park and council run campgrounds and can't see it there.
We have a week so should be able to
camp at two different
camp sites.
A
ranger has recommended
West Bay as likely to be nicely secluded and quiet. She also suggested we might like Snake Lagoon and
Stokes Bay.
We are after a quiet but scenic ( and shady!) spot. We are leaving before the long weekend, which will help!
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 at 19:14
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 at 19:14
Hi ChrisVal
The
Chapman River area is public land and camping is permitted.
Head out of
Penneshaw on the
Cape Willoughby Road. The first section that will be signposted will be the Western side
Camping area which has
toilet facilities, but access to the water is harder and this side has more shade.
To access the Eastern side, continue on and then you will see the sign to the eastern side. There is a large
shelter shed and
toilets at the end of the Eastern side, just follow the road, and see the third photo. The
Chapman River is not deep, but crystal clear, just like rain water.
Camping area on the Eastern Side of Chapman River
Looking over to the Western Side of Chapman River
Camping area further along the Eastern Side of the Chapman River
Enjoy your stay.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 16:21
Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 16:21
Again Stephen, solid gold information. This will probably be one of our
camp sites.
I do hope the expected cool change comes through on Saturday as it is 40 degrees at
Kingscote today!
FollowupID:
806330
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 20:01
Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 20:01
Hi ChrisVal
The cool change is now expected here in SA late Friday afternoon with the perfect weekend temperature of 28º C.
It should be perfect over on KI and enjoy the place.
One other
point of interest that is
well worth a visit to the Birds of Prey Show.
Birds of Prey Show
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
806354
Reply By: Member - Graham Watson (SA) - Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 00:47
Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 00:47
We found
Browns Beach a pleasant spot. Towards the eastern end of the island (between
Penneshaw and
American River) and not far from
Prospect Hill which is the highest point on the island. Solar hot water showers are available. There were a few people in the
campground when we were there during April School Holidays but we were not crowded.
Browns Beach Campground
Browns Beach Campground
Browns Beach Campground
Browns Beach Campground
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 16:19
Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 16:19
Thanks Graham.
It is great to have another option. We can call in and look at this one on our way past. Handy to have the pictures!
Chris
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 21:58
Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 at 21:58
Hi Graham
Yes it is a great little spot at
Browns Beach and here are a few more images at low tide.
Browns Beach
Browns Beach
Browns Beach
You also mentioned
Prospect Hill. This is an absolute must climb and the
hill is all sand, with unreal
views from the top.
Prospect Hill Carpark
At the start of the walk
Those steps keep going straight up
This is not even half way up
Looking back to the coast
Looking towards American River
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
806365
Reply By: Mazdave - Friday, Jan 17, 2014 at 15:15
Friday, Jan 17, 2014 at 15:15
Definitely
Stokes Bay was the highlight for us. Right on the beach and whilst no showers it has
toilets, quiet and a shady
campground. From memory it was $10 a night, if the store is open, otherwise no-one to collect the fees. Western KI is the best park, which is a great spot to base yourself for the attractions on the South and Western sides.
Vivonne Bay was small overcrowded and overrated. Ok if you like your neighbours at arms length. Steven L's
blogs are a must read for research on KI.
Have fun
AnswerID:
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Reply By: PeterInSa - Friday, Jan 17, 2014 at 16:45
Friday, Jan 17, 2014 at 16:45
Cannot recall the place that we slide down the big sandhills, had a lot of trouble finding it as there were no signs. Maybe it was on PP.
Peter
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ChrisVal7 - Saturday, Jan 18, 2014 at 15:16
Saturday, Jan 18, 2014 at 15:16
Thank you everyone for the wonderful information and detail provided. It has helped enormously. I loved Stephen's
blogs.
My husband Valdis has been out fighting fires with the CFS for the past few days and as a result we had to change our booking dates over and back on the ferry. We now go tomorrow. As our town was close to being evacuated yesterday we pray the weather holds fine for us.
Christine
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ChrisVal7 - Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 15:48
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 at 15:48
Well, we have just come back from
Kangaroo Island. The island is a beautiful place and we enjoyed wonderful weather, all of which is a bonus. We camped at
West Bay, Rocky River and
American River campgrounds. I wish we had been able to
camp at the superb
Chapman River sites but as it was the end of the school holidays and a long weekend, those spots were over subscribed.
While I have prepared a trip report on the trip, I can't attach it here as I am not a paid up member.
I am very grateful for all the help planning the trip - it made a big difference.
AnswerID:
525391