Free camping sites near Meekatharra and Marble Bar

Steve/Carol I believe the local rangers have put a stop to camping there now a-days. I've camped there in the past and agree it's not a bad spot but as you say no fire wood so collect before you arrive.

It has been reported that the whole area has been closed to campers, but for a quick overnighter, i doubt they'd stop you pulling up in the roadside rest area part. People leaving a mess spoilt have it for the rest of us with the lovely lakeside spots further from the highway.

Motherhen

I actually think the local station offering stations stays has put an end to the free camping area. When we travelled down earlier this year it was signed as closed to camping.
DM

Hi There,

I think these co-ordinates are a bit closer: S27 15 41.0 E117 59 07.0

The co-ords are a little wrong. They should commence with 27 and not 26. This map shows the correct co-ords.

If you can make it 104 km past Meeka then here is another good spot. - I camped about where the green arrow points to. There was a track just before you get to the lake to take you into that side. There was water in the lake when we were there (the street view from the NE corner shows water.)

It's a pity Lake Nallan was closed. We went out on the peninsula (almost an island) in the centre and enjoyed plenty of bird life and a glorious sunset across the water. Next morning a works crew came to close off the peninsula as they said campers were disruptive to wildlife. He pointed to the side where your green arrow is PeterD, where there was a couple of caravan, and said that there were bins over flowing and mess left all over the ground. I'm not surprised that it was all closed. I hadn't heard that it was anything to do with input from Nallan Station as David has reported. We have also stayed at Nallan Station on a previous occasion.

Mh

My comment is speculation only and may be incorrect but there were a few strange coincidences that triggered my thoughts. Anyway it is signed now.
DM

Lake Nallan is in a nature reserve, and nature reserves are normally no go areas for camping, so very easy for them to close it to campers. Camps Australia Wide had been advised by the local council that the area was closed to camping prior to our visit, at which time there were campers on both the north and south sides and no signage forbidding campers. They were making a physical barrier to prevent vehicle access to the centre peninsula where we were (but kindly waited until we left).

The roadside rest area may well not be part of the nature reserve, and as a rest area, they would be hard pressed to move anyone on. All the late arrivals the night we were there just stopped in the rest area. However roadside rest areas are not quiet as trucks keep up during the night.

Mh

Hi

I went through there in July after the gathering, there is a home made, hand painted sign that says "By order of the Shire...". I would have though if the shire actually has stopped camping then they would have a proper sign.

People still stop there, although there is now a earth wall put up to stop people from going all around the lake. So access is only from the southern side.

I heard from another traveller that the sign was put up to move a certain person on who had set up permanent residency there and was acting like the mayor, although I cant confirm that.

But I cant see any problem with it as a overnighter.


Alan

Hi

In September, 2009 there was a poster in the Shire Office at Cue advising that camping at Lake Nallan was no longer allowed. Conservation area.

There were significant fines for doing so.

Since that date the signs have gone up. The hand painted signs stating that you can no longer camp there do make you wonder a bit, but being a small council it is probably an interim measure.

No doubt the nitwits will vandalise the signs and a small shire may have trouble with the costs of replacing them.

Camps Australia Wide were advised by Council in May 2009 that Lake Nallan was closed to camping. There were no signs when we went there in June, unaware of any changes. As aforesaid, workmen were only closing the centre for conservation reasons.

Mh

There's a good spot at Coongan River, drive up the track (which will be on your right as you approach MB) on the Western side of the river for a couple hundred meters, or on the Eastern side of the river (track will be on your left) drive some one hundred meters.
Camped there couple years back, was great.
Have a good one.
Cheers
Baz

We enjoyed our overnight stay at Nallan Station in 2003, found the fee quite cheap at the time, and the place very quaint and very rural.

Mh

Hi

Nothing at Milly Soak.

Just a few old graves on pastoral station.

Rough track in September 2009.