Caravan Parks in Darwin

Hi Graeme

Wife and I stayed a few nights at the Top Tourist park fairly close to town 12 mths ago and found the overhead air traffic fairly disruptive to a decent nights sleep - close to town is convenient for shops etc, but figure on staying further out next time.

Don't forget to include Parry's Creek and Wyndham's Five Rivers Lookout in your Kimberley visit.

Enjoy - regards, Phil

Depending on the time of year u r going book well in advance

G'day Graeme, we recommend Lee point caravan park. Its close to the main shopping area of Casuarina and there is also Tracey Village Club. It is a secure park as well, you are given an access code when you sign in. We also wish to say that not to stay at Malak van park or KOA as both of these parks are right on the emergency freeway,(MacMillians Rd) All emergency vehicles use this road 24/7.
Also both these parks back onto the Darwin International Airport. I hope you find what your looking for and also enjoy your stay in the top end.

Second Lee Point.............

Hi Graeme

As we headed towards Darwin July last year, we were talking to people along the way and they were trying to book a CP in Darwin without success and found there were lots of little ones - not all listed in the same registers. Many of these said they did not take bookings and just call in and see.

Someone next to us at Mataranka (Bitter Springs) told us he had spent some time going around the CPs and being turned away, and found a small one by chance right near where he was getting fuel; Leprechaun. It is not obvious from the highway unless you know to look for it. It was in the area we wanted to go for for air conditioner repairs - Winnellie.

Coming out of Kakadu where our time frame had been an unknown, we had planned to stay overnight at a lagoon on the way to get to Darwin in the morning, but camping there was no longer permitted at that lagoon, so we went on to Darwin, arriving late in the day. I did try ringing this CP on the way but signal kept dropping out. I thought it was my end, but the receptionist was out in the park with a cordless and too far from base. We called in on spec and they found us a place that suited our big rig. As none of their sites were drive through, we needed one we could back into and have the vehicle straight to unhitch - not always easy with the length of the F250 and an AT35 hitch. I think they do take bookings, unlike some of the Darwin CPs.

Leprechaun is a small CP and amenities block very old but serviceable (see my review in Badger's) and more than adequate for the full park; I never needed to wait for a shower and usual plenty were vacant, with water always hot. I saw someone use the motel customers swimming pool, but never saw anyone use the caravan park pool. Both looked clean. Surprisingly not noisy being behind the motel rooms and backing onto a commercial area which was silent overnight (we are bush campers and like quiet nights). Proprietors were nice and helpful. Bus stop right outside gate which would be very convenient for sightseeing in the city, and it is the closest park being 5 kms from Darwin CBD. Winnellie Post Office was a short walk. Although near airport (aren't they all in Darwin?), plane take off path was not directly over the CP.

If we weren't able to get in at Leprechaun, we were going to go out to Lee Point , but we wanted to be in Winnellie to take the caravan to a refrigeration place the next morning to get work done on the air conditioner.

If you don't want to be right in town, the parks at Howard Springs sound OK.

Motherhen

Thanks Guys very helpful.

Be aware the mossies at Lee Point can be fearsome at times.

We were warned not to go there in May last year.

The first park in to town from the south
Kookaburra ???

Our friends stayed there was cheap but fairly small sites They couldnt put awning right out.

We stayed at Free Spirit Great park but reasonaly expensive.

Hidden Valley is run by same outfit

Hi Graeme,
if you dont need kids playgrounds or a swimming pool or a BBQ/campkitchen and games room ,but would like a large open area with a coin opp washing machine and new showers and toilets then I would stay at Robbie Robbins reserve on the main HWY into Darwin took us about 10 min to get to the city centre and it was the right price 2xAdults and 2xkids $25 per night for power or $15 per night for unpowered ,we had a ball just 5 mins down the road at the FREE water park and as we were on the road for so long we were able to save enough money to afford to stay and have a good look at Darwin ,Im not bagging any other park but I just was looking for a secure place to stay that had clean ammenities and this was great .

Cheers .

We stayed for three weeks at Coolalinga CP in 2008 from May to June. It is about 25 ks out of town but it is an easy drive. It made a good base for exploring the area. If you want peace and quiet this park is well off the road and away from the airport. Pool and amenities were very good. We booked ahead and had a large shady site. It was a well managed comfortable park. There is a good shopping centre with all facilities within walking distance. It is one of the very few dog friendly parks in the Darwin area. All dogs (including ours) were very well behaved. By the time we left they were turning people without bookings away.Lynne

Recently stayed at the Big 4 at Howard Springs for a week. Spitting distance from Palmerston and about a 30 min easy drive to Darwin. We camp unpowered so getting a site is always easy. Great park - friendly staff, top pool, amenities are excellent. Was $25.00 per night for an unpowered site.
Cheers
TG

Hi,
We were in Darwin for 2 weeks in August (end of) and stayed in the Boomerang. Shady sites, smallish park, basic amenities but clean, shopping centre back towards Kakadu, near Palmerston and it has a pub at the entrance to the park. Despite which, it did not intrude noise wise on the park. Pool and bbq/kitchen area.
No air planes or traffic noise either.

Need to book in the season though.

Bill