Barnhill Station

Barn Hill is a fantastic place to do the things you want.
You might want to call forward to secure a site though.
There is a nice beach suitable for swimming I think?
It can get quite busy this time of the year with long stayers.
We called in for an overnight stop where they have a big area to cater for the short term stayers.
We wish we could have stayed longer, but we were on a limited time schedule.
Ray

Hi Evan,

Barn Hill seems to be a place that you either love or hate - we are in the latter camp though we have only spent one night there. We were with friends towing a camper and they could not get into their unpowered site as it was so crowded and there were power/TVcables lying everywhere. So joined us in the unpowered section. There seemed to be unwritten rules about how and when you use amenities including washing machines - enough to reduce some women to tears apparently.

Maybe the fishing is OK but the beach looked pretty ordinary otherwise. If making crafty gizmos to sell at the weekly craft market held near the bowling green, and putting up little fences around your herb and tomato plot is your thing then its your kind of place - if not suggest you look elsewhere.

Cheers,

Val

We stayed at Barn Hill and 80 Mile Beach and indeed enjoyed both.
Yes they can get a little crowded in the peak season but if you are friendly you will find others are the same.
We actually liked the unpowered sites better and stayed there 2 weeks.
Caught fish had some long walks on the beach and mingled each day with many others as well as joined happy hour at the bowling green.
I was able to have a camp fire each night as well. I have my own portable campfire.
Barn Hill is a little primitive for some but we enjoyed it.

Evan

I don't know about Barn Hill but the 80 mile beach itself is a great place to walk and collect sea shells. Big, small and in between. I'm told that the fishing is great at times although we were out of luck when we were there. But, that's fishing I suppose.
At the south of 80 mile beach is Cape Keraudren, a low cost camp area where you have to be self sufficient. Great spot as far as we are concerned.

Paul

Have stayed at both Barn Hill and 80 Mile beach. Had a week at Barn Hill in 2007. Had an unpowered site on cliff top at Barn Hill - magic view across bay to Broome. Had phone and internet too. Hope to go back another time - the coastal scenery there is superb.
Had a couple of weeks at 80 Mile Beach, the same year. We've been there before. Fish were biting there but not at Barn Hill. The Driver caught our dinner, every day. Beach is great to walk on. This is a bigger and more impersonal operation than Barn Hill. There were some great sites amongst sheoaks - not sure if they survived this year's cyclone, though.
Had no problems with "attitude" - staff or other campers - at either place.

Hi Evan. Watch the sandflys - see thread 75022.

Cheers.

Hello Evan.
If I learned one thing when travelling it was to make up my own mind on these things. We got similar comments about places all over this land and often found the opposite. Just drop in and check it out for yourself. If first impressions don't suit move on. If you get past that step, stay and have the experience for yourself.

PS: Powered sites at Barn Hill are restricted power from memory, so high wattage appliances like kettles, toasters, air cond etc etc cannot be run anyway. The amenaties are roofless, which is novel or hovel depending on how you take it. There is a big communal lawn and a different communal function almost every evening. Have the experience.
The beach is large & long and full of great little shells.
Regards: Grant

Love Barn Hill. We also have a 4 year old. Its not the best kid friendly swimming (shore break) so now we head for Pardoo Stn and Port Smith (a few times a year).
Ive not spoken to anyone who has stayed at 80 mile since Cyclone Laurence flattened it during the summer. I guess it still going.

If I was 4, I'd want my dad to take me to Port Smith, complete with insect repellent and fishing rod.


Have fun.

Evren,

Have stayed at both on two occasions.

80 Mile Beach. I always look forward to it, good fishing at times, large well organised park usually fairly full during the season especially with caravans. we did not find the park cliquey at all in fact some of the regulars went out of their way to welcome us. Beach is long both ways and very wide at low tide. Driving excursions along it and good shelling (don't fall into the trap of over collecting, its easy to do). Splendid sunsets and good swimming but you have to keep up with the tide both ways.

Barnhill. First time there only a few campers (early) but in 2008 we were supprised at how popular it was and had to camp well down the cliff area with few facilities and unique open air toilets and showers (nothing wrong with that).
Of all things there was a bowling tournament on for the week so things were a bit hectic but we just ignored the hype (?) and really enjoyed the views and superb walks along the lovely beach (swimable but kids would need close supervision), fantastic rock formations and rock pools just below the south end of the park. Great sunsets.

Don't just drive in and out experience each for a few days that's what travelling is all about. As I said we enjoy them both and will return to them again.

Port Smith is different again and worth a visit. From what I remember the small camp ground is a way from the beach and the tides play a big part in the fishing and swimming access. when we visited there a few years ago it was a low key place, the park manager drove you to the lagoon and boated you to an island for fishing (for those without a boat).

Ps. The last visit to Barn Hill was with a group who would rather avoid crowded places and indeed we had just spent weeks in the desert. They loved the place as well.

Enjoy,

Mike (Vic)

Your enjoyment of Barn Hill is dependant on the individual.
I was hitchhiking around Australia for 9 months last year and stopped there by chance. I loved Barn Hill so much I stayed there for 6 weeks.

The first few days took me about 2 hours to get from my tent to the beach, because everyone kept inviting me over for tea, watermelon, chats etc. Many of the people who go to Barn Hill are regulars who book 3 months every year. They love the place - and so do I.

If you love a relaxed campsite with no defining campground lines, but lots of trees and birds, rustic showers, lawn bowls and long walks on beautiful beaches, I would recommend it.

But make your own mind up - here are 176 images of life at Barn Hill

http://flygirl.co.za/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=158