Caravan parks Alice Springs

I'd second that. Have stayed here on quite a few occassions and found it to be a very good park with excellent ammenities, particularly for kids. I usually try and grab an ensuite site which is a little more $. Having your own shower and toilet is fairly handy.

They are booked pretty solid so I'd be making enquiries now for May.

Cheers Mick

I was just out at Ormiston on the weekend, heaps of water in there but I wouldnt reccomend the camping with a campertrailer, the sites are too small for a car and camper, and IMO too close to the day car park and all squeezed in close together.

I would think its better for people in little camper vans. I guess each to their own but we sussed it out for ourselves for campertrailer camping and decided it wasnt relly designed with that kind of camping in mind.

its still raining here in the centre on and off so I would say there would still be water around in May. bit cold for swimming by then though!

Maya

Good point about the restricted space.
Image Could Not Be FoundI walked the western 1/3 of the Larapinta Track last May, I can assure you the swim was good at the end of the day!
The previous year we stayed with our CT at Glen Helen and regretted it.

We squeezed into the very sloped dirt patch at Ormiston and it was worth it to do the Pound Walk starting early morning. Get there early in the afternoon to get a place, and shower before the rush as with solar hot water it doesn't last the distance.

Camp grounds without showers (just pit toilets) that were good were Trephina Gorge in the East Macs and Redbank in the West Macs - choice of Woodland campground or eight only sites up on the Ridgetop - fantastic up there.

Mh

thanks for the tip Motherhen, we had been wondering where the best spots were, havent been out to redbank yet. we checked glen helen after we visited ormiston and it was very dissapointing.

it seems crazy that there isnt more bush camping with a bit of space between sites, a few trees around. it doesnt seem like rocket science but I find it hard to find the spots that are like what I remember as camping from when we were kids. in the terrirtory it seems like you have to pack everyone in like sardines... I cant understand it when there is so much space here to use.

but we'll head out to redbank before the hoards arrive.

Hi Maya

Simply messy irresponsible people doing the wrong thing have spoilt it for the majority. There are a few places you can still free camp with no amenities in the West Macs, and these are usually listed in good camping books. We looked at one but it was too sandy to risk taking our heavy rig into, and we preferred to camp on site to do walks early before the heat of the day.

Parks fees in NT are very cheap and worth visiting (if we can fit in amongst the bollards that set up camp sites for in most cases camper trailers and tents).Park camp sites often have free gas barbecues too, and they prefer these to be used where provided rather than wood barbecues to reduce fire risk.

Motherhen

Maya

I tried to send you a MM as this is getting off the original question.
But if you have the time and energy make sure you do the climb to Counts Lookout, the views are apparently magnificent. I did a climb to a lookout to the west which was spectacular, but Counts is apparently even better and both are superior to Mt Sonder.

Redbank is a more closed in narrow gorge than Ormiston, water temperature will be a bit cooler.Image Could Not Be Found

Hi Mark

Where is Count's Lookout? I have not heard of it. A couple who we shared the Redbank Ridgetop with took the walk to Mt Sonder.

Water at Redbank Gorge can be surprisingly cold. There is a tale of what happened in my West MacDonnells 2008 blog in My Blog.

Mh

G,Day John,

We have used many over the years, now a regular at G,Day Mate.

It has survived a mangement change, now with more room under the palms.

Cheers

John

If you want to stay in town, then a big thumbs up from us for the Wintersun as well. It is on the northern side of town, and very well managed. Lovely, polite, and helpful management, which seems to be rare these days, especially in very busy locations.

Fred.

Enjoy the trip John.......wish I was able to get back out there this winter.

Ahh maybe next year :~)

Fred.

Thanks Fred will do, going from Alice to Longreach then home 3 weeks

At $40/$45.00 per night for a powered site the pancake is hardly free.

Bob

Wow,
Has it been that long since i was there.... i recall something like $23.00..

I need to get out more

DAN