Base camp up north somewhere
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 11:49
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Member - Melissa
Okay, at the risk of sounding a bit strange...I was looking at some footage of the
campsite at
Bathurst Bay where the recent croc attack took place and found myself thinking "Gee, that looks inviting" - except for the croc bit LOL.
Anyway, turns out hubby was thinking the same thing so now we're thinking about heading north sometime next year and setting up
camp for 2-3 weeks at a yet to be decided location. Basically, instead of touring from place to place as we tend to do, we want to just plonk and bludge, maybe a bit of fishing (is it still fishing if you don't catch anything???), crabbing, sleeping, reading and if we can find some like-minded travelling companions, just enjoy some good conversation around the campfire.
Does anyone have any suggestions for the perfect location? We're after something in the north of WA, waterside (ocean or river), fishing & crabbing,
bush camping away from the crowds, freshwater supply within reasonable distance.
:o) Melissa
Reply By: Bob H - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 12:07
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 12:07
Hi Melissa
when you find it please let me know as we will be doing the big trip around oz for about 2 yrs with wifey and 3 kids.
Bathurst Bay sounded good for lightening the load (just kids..oops kidding). this is truly an amazing country and we want to see and experiance as much as we can.
Bob
AnswerID:
80190
Follow Up By: Bros - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 13:20
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 13:20
Bob H & Melissa,
Melissa :- Sorry cant help with the WA bit, hardly been out of Qld, too much to see here.
Bob H :-
Bathurst Bay is a spectacular piece of the Australian landscape.
Awesome scenery, tranquil and yet you still have to have your wits about you. Fishing, crabbing, oysters, fresh running
water, home of the foxtail palm, 4x4 access and history. Been there several times and going back.
Cheers,
Bros.
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Reply By: Des Lexic - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 17:04
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 17:04
Shhhhh don't tell anyone but
Cape Leveque is my special place.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Al & Mrs Al (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 19:04
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 19:04
is it Des?
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 19:22
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 19:22
Bet that Elaine knows that too.................
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:34
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:34
Thanks for the suggestion Des. We also love
Cape York and the rest of the
Dampier Peninsular but we were hoping for somewhere off the tourist beat and
bush camping in the real sense. Wouldn't mind sharing a stretch of beach with a few other campers but ideally would like not to actually see anyone else unless of course they were travelling with us.
:o) Melissa
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Follow Up By: Des Lexic - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:47
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:47
Maaaaaaaa you know it is and now John knows and he's going to tell Elaine. And now we won't be able to go without her lol
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Al & Mrs Al (Vic) - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:52
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:52
just have to be sneaky...anyway if John knows he might tell Al, then he'll want to come....
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Reply By: Member - Karl - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 17:09
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 17:09
What about
Coral Bay up near
Exmouth. I hope to take the family up there next year for a trip.
Or you could try
Denham in
Shark Bay, nice area, on
the beach, close to
Monkey Mia but far enough away from the 'other tourists' to be enjoyable. Just spent sometime up there and it was good.
Port Sampson - north of Karatha looks like an okay place. went and had a look a couple of weeks ago whilst in
Karratha working. It's set up for holiday makers and is on the coast.
I think my list could go on but I think anyone of these three will suffice.
Karl
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:46
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:46
Hmmm, thanks for the suggestions Karl but one of the essential criteria I mention in my post was "
bush camping away from the crowds". That definately rules out
Coral Bay,
Denham and Port Sampson. Having said that, all nice spots. We've had 2 lengthy breaks at
Denham before with Francois
Peron NP being a favourite spot. Had a nice stay at CB about 5 years ago right after a cyclone wiped out
Exmouth and scared all the visitors away from the
Cape Range region. Spent 9 days on
Ningaloo station last year which was lovely. As far as I know, there is no where to
bush camp around Port Sampson - just the one small (and booked out
well in advance I believe) CVP.
So back to the drawing board...
:o) Melissa
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Reply By: Max - Sydney - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 19:33
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 19:33
Hey Melissa
Your biggest problem is choosing just one! I reckon I'd look pretty seriously at the coast near
Kalumburu -
Honeymoon Bay & Macgowans Point are the two
camp grounds I think, about 30 kays away. Neither is as isolated as
Bathurst Bay sounds, but less of a resort than the idyllic
Cape Leveque.
Then again, somewhere along 80 mile beach can be pretty ok too.
Happy choosing!
Max
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Andrew R (VIC) - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 20:55
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 20:55
Hi Melissa,
Cape Leveque is special as Des said, but Middle
Lagoon is pretty special also.
I wish I was there now!!
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:29
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 21:29
Thanks for the suggestion Andrew. We also love
Cape York and the rest of the
Dampier Peninsular but we were hoping for somewhere off the tourist beat and
bush camping in the real sense. Wouldn't mind sharing a stretch of beach with a few other campers but ideally would like not to actually see anyone else unless of course they were travelling with us.
:o) Melissa
FollowupID:
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Reply By: SUNSEEKER - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 23:34
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 23:34
I know that coast very
well and a place cosidering is Prices Point north of
Broome and there is also
bush camping further up the coast from prices point where you can be on your own.Prices Point is less than 2 hours from
Broome so getting restocked with fresh
water shouldn't be a problem.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: bushfix - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 09:31
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 09:31
G'day Melissa,
Yep, Sunseeker is pretty much on the money there. Prices/
James Price point are is beautiful. You may see other people there but not many I would think as it is a big stretch of sand. I am not sure how you would go towing in there however. It is at least ten years since I was last there and the approach to
the beach itself was pretty hairy (I was driving a Hilux with nothing in tow.) Great sunsets, fishing but be croc aware. If you want "freshwater supply within reasonable distance" I would keep it at a reasonable distance, you just don't know when/where the crocs will turn up out of the ocean or a
creek. Mud crabbing toursare available at
Willie Creek if you want to be safe and maybe pick up some local knowledge?
kind regards,
Jeremy.
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:37
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:37
Thanks Sunseeker & Jeremy,
We've been along the
Dampier coastline to the
places you mention, but that was 5 years back. So far, this stretch of coastline is probably at the top of list of possibilities. Having been there before I'm sure we'll have no trouble towing the camper in.
:o) Melissa
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Reply By: motherhen - Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 23:42
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 at 23:42
Find a quiet spot along the coast anywhere north of
Coral Bay - if their aren't too many retirees wintering along the coral coast these days. Lots and lots of gorgeous spots. Not a lot of fresh
water in the vicinity though.
Coral Bay has changed since they bitumised the road in - just too-oo crowded. When we stayed there last (before the bitmen!), some outback travellers we'd met out onthe tracks drove straight through
Coral Bay, over the sand
hill to the South and down to a spot known as the 3, 4, or 5 fingers. Can't remember how many fingers jut out into the sea to give it it's name, but i sure looked isolated when we went down that far in a boat.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:32
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:32
Hi Motherhen,
Thanks for the suggestion. We spent 9 nights at
Ningaloo Stn last July and thoroughly enjoyed it although we really feel that you need to have a boat to get the best out of it - unfortunately we don't. Explored most of the coastline from CB to
Exmouth. Have to disagree with your comment about not too many retirees wintering along the coral coast these days. We saw a steady stream of campers of all ages coming and going throughout our stay and certainly very busy in some of the more popular spots (eg. South Lefroy). Not quite as busy north of Ning Stn in the airforce practice range which is free and open to campers most of the year except when live firing exercises are taking place. Anyway, lovely part of the world but we'd really like to go somewhere new next time.
:o) Melissa
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Reply By: Member- Rox (WA) - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 12:58
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 12:58
Melissa, how about The Asburton River as lister in "western 4wd magazine" Haven't been there but from the decription not many tourists.
In Manjimup now but will hed there next year. Do you have a dingy or just shore based fissing?
Kevin
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:25
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:25
Hi Kevin,
Actually, we spent 5 nights there in June this year. It was our second time there and can confirm it is a lovely spot. It is sort of
well known with tourists but the rough road out there and need for total self sufficiency tends to put off all but the most dedicated. Also, I know that the
Onslow tourist bureau and the shire are trying to discourage people from
camping out there without going so far as to ban it. Always a handful of campers about but with about 2 mile of river bank to
camp along, your nearest neighbours aren't usually within shouting distance. Anyway, definitely worth a stopover if you're up that way.
Don't have a dingy so will just be shore based fishing. However, if we decided we really needed a dingy we may decide to get one before we go. Be ideal if we could organise some good company to join us, especially if they happened to have a dingy ;-).
:o) Melissa
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Reply By: Coops (Pilbara) - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 17:22
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 17:22
Cape Keraudren just north of
Port Hedland (150 km's) near Pardoo is a great spot where you could do all of that and is not too highly populated.
No power so self sufficiency is a must but small generators are okay.
I have photos if you're interested.
Gnaraloo would be along similar lines also
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:38
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:38
Thanks Coops, some pics of Cape Keraudren would be great. I'll member message you my email address.
:o) Melissa
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve & Paula - Saturday, Oct 16, 2004 at 00:45
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004 at 00:45
Ditto Melissa,
We were there in July. Not totally isolated as you seem to be desiring, however the
camp sites are spaced and the whole area is managed so it isn't overcrowded. There is a fee for
camping, but it;s not much. There are crabs in the creeks and plenty of fish to be had. There is a fresh
water creek about 15 km from the cape and we used this
water for showers and washing up - There was plenty for everyone.
Cheers
Steve
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Reply By: Swerv - Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:52
Friday, Oct 15, 2004 at 20:52
Hi Melissa
May I suggest quobba station 80km north of
Carnarvon. Try a google search and type in quobba.I was just looking at the site. It is south of
Coral Bay
Swerv.....
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