north west WA- our experience and recommendations

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 19:27
ThreadID: 80966 Views:4968 Replies:3 FollowUps:3
This Thread has been Archived
hi fellow travellers-
For the past 6 months we have been on the road travelling, we left Coffs Harbour NSW and travelled south to the murray river, through the centre via Uluru to Darwin, across the Gibb River Road to Broome and today we find ourselves at a great little free camp near Karatha. We have stayed at many, many places along the way in many towns. I just want to share with those who are interested or may be travelling to the north west coast of WA in the future, our experiences.
I will start from Broome, we stayed at the Vacation village tourist park @ $49 per night 2A and a 3 year old in an ensuite site. The sites the were great, and the ammenties were clean, however you did need to supply your own toilet rolls after the first "complimentary" roll was used. I can recomend this place if you can afford it. We the travelled up to the Dampier peninsula and stayed at an Aboriginal campground "Gambanan" @ $30 per night with spectacular views over the water. The locals came around and shared a yarn with us, showed us how to make spears and really showed us a great time. Its further north than cape leveque and is highly recommended, the only downside is a cold shower. We then ventured to Port smith caravan park, we were not made feel very welcome by the "regulars", we felt like the outsiders. The park itself is great and the ammenties were fantastic.
THEN- we reach Eighty mile beach caravan park, its stacked with regulars but such a friendly bunch. On the second day we were there the wind picked up and blew our annexe off our camper trailer and it was flapping about like crazy, we were down on the beach at the time, but a few blokes saw it and rushed over to tie it down for us, many people would have laughed, but the blokes were fantastic and we couldnt thank them enough, even though didnt end up finding out everyone who had helped. I just hope they are member of exploroz and get to read this and accept our thanks.
We are now at Cleaveville Beach, $7 a night, no ammenties but great views and friendly caretaker only 30 odd kilometres from karatha for water and supplies.
To sum it up, we think this part of the country is awesome and offers so much to the traveller, it can be a little pricey but it can be done on a budget too if you find the right places. I can highly recommend a vist up here to anyone as already so many travel here as the roads are packed with grey nomads, familes and britz vans.
Happy travels
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Motherhen - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 20:03

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 20:03
Hi fugwurgin

What a great report. Lots more to see in WA yet. I hope you can spent some time in the inland Pilbara too. People you meet when out travelling are mostly just wonderful.

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 428533

Follow Up By: fugwurgin - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 20:57

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 20:57
hi motherhen
we are hoping to explore inland a bit whilst we are here. Coming from coffs harbour its been a while since we have seen the beach so we have found a comfort zone for the time being near the water. lol.

And yes, we have met some really great people since we left home.

fugwurgin
0
FollowupID: 699243

Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 20:38

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 20:38
fugwurgin,
Go up to Roburn when you need good clean fresh water and Karatha for food, I used to stay there as a winter getaway before it got as busy as it gets now.
Some good fishing is at the southern end in the 'creek' entrance too.

Do they still have the two distinct areas, 'Honda valley' (north of the beach) for the generator users and with the general bay area for the general campers ?
Image Could Not Be Found Maîneÿ . . .
AnswerID: 428538

Follow Up By: fugwurgin - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 21:04

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 21:04
hi mainey
we have been told roeburn is the place for water, but we stocked up today in karatha as we were there getting some tucker and larger tent pegs and ropes because the wind here last night was a bit strong.
We hope to try some fishing over the next few days, we put a crab pot in tonight some hopefully crab for lunch tomorrow.
I think up near the caretakers van (north of the beach) is honda valley, there seems to be a lot of vans up there close together whereas along the rest of the beach line there is hardly anyone there, our closest fellow camper is a good 300m away on the next dune.
life is tough isnt it?

fugwurgin
0
FollowupID: 699245

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 21:13

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 21:13
I was there for the 1999? Australian census, there were 163 people camped at Cleaverville that night.
This is a photo taken at the Census 'party' we had at Honda Valley that evening, the Census collector even supplied a few beers too Image Could Not Be FoundMaîneÿ . . .
0
FollowupID: 699249

Reply By: Member - pilbara60 (WA) - Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 22:23

Thursday, Aug 26, 2010 at 22:23
hi fugwurin, if you are still around next wednesday 1st sept , why not come into karratha and meet up with red dog 4wd club. we have a club night the first wednesday of every month at the golf club so come have a social chin wag and a lollywater with us. we are a touring group so would welcome fellow travellers cheers wayne[pilbara 60]
AnswerID: 428560

Sponsored Links

Popular Products (9)