Port Smith versus Barn Hill

Hello Duncan, just had a look on Wiki camps and comments point towards Barn Hill.
I can recommend Pardoo station as we stayed for 3 days over the AFL Grand Final weekend 2016. Nice park; all grass with a pool, shop café camp kitchen etc.
We will go back probably this year on our way up to Broome from Busso.
Rob J

Barn Hill definitely. Pleasant campground and the coastal rock formations are brilliant. That said, I have only been to Barn Hill and not to Port Smith. We gave the latter a miss as we were told it was bad with sandflies etc.

Barn Hill,

Terrible place, would urge everyone to avoid it like the plaque, especially when I'm travelling that way :)

Stayed at port Smith several years ago and loved it.
It is a beautiful spot if you like fishing its great.

Regards Bushy.

The wife and I stayed at Port Smith for a couple of nights back in July last year. It's a lovely place, however, I can personally vouch for the fact that the sand flies are terrible! Both my wife and I got bitten so bad that we ended up being treated at Kununurra hospital when the bites got infected.
Not sure if there's an "off season" for the sand flies, but if there is, I would recommend going then.
Can't comment about Barn Hill as we were faced with the same choice as you and chose Port Smith instead.

I have stayed at both Port Smith is a better organised Caravan park BUT is 1k from water at high tide ,at low tide to get to the beach you have to walk a further 600 mtrs through soft sand ,mud and mangroves and then theres the Sandflys they are real .
Barn Hill has all the trimmings of a normal Caravan park but amenities are rustic, the unpowered area has water and beautiful ocean views from the cliff top and are 100 mtrs from a better beach imho than Cable beach and the coloured rocks are every where. No sandflys or mangroves to attract them
Barn Hill hands down

There are several options to stay along this stretch of coast south of Broome. One that has yet to be mentioned is the caravan park at 80 Mile beach.

The 80 Mile Beach caravan park has a similar coast line to that at Barn Hill however the caravan park facilities are ,in my opinion, much better. The 80 Mile park is well organised and the ground layout is more pleasant and is better maintained than those at either Barn Hill or Port Smith. eg; unless it has been repaired/replaced since last August the dump point at Barn Hill was diabolical and not much better than an open sewer pit.

Of all the stopping places between Pt Hedland and Broome, including Pardoo Station, I believe the park at 80 mile to be the pick of the bunch

Concur with sandlfies at Port smith but nice place to unwind for few days really need a boat to go fishing (and then the skippers ticket etc etc) but shore fishing is possible along cliff tops

Good for mudcrabs but limited to one per person per day

good little drive northwards along the cliffs sandstone in appearance, also possible to drive onto sand bar but need to watch incomign tide had a anxious moment when fishing one afternoon .

Recfish folks do pay a visit and have a talk about regs etc

Haven't sussed out barnhill so can't comment -one day hopefully I shall return to Kimberly

Mobile phone reception is none existent per say at port smith but if you have decent yagi and length of RG58 and antenna mast (read 5 -6 metres extendable pool scoop handle) its possible to get Bidgy community repeater

On subject of sandflies good tip i picked up at Pt hedland amcal chemist (located in shopping centre where Woolworths and petrol station is just short of the tourist info centre) was to use hemorrhoid cream has a local anesthetic and analgesic which stops swelling and pain associated to being eaten alive by sandflies

De grey 24 hr makes a nice spot to stop Pt hedland get bit crazy with trucks and port activities so if you want a popular but quiet stop over for free good option 80kms further east