Head north for those cold winter months
By Paul Smedley
As the winter chills begin to blow across southern Australia, many weather wise southerners are busily preparing for a journey, an annual pilgrimage for some, to warmer climates where thick bulky clothing is replaced with summer frocks, shorts and sandals.
For those travellers in the know, northern Australia is a destination that not only offers relief from the cold, dreary southern winter, but also provides a relaxed easy going lifestyle and an opportunity to explore the tropical “Top End” of our wonderful country. Many of these travellers revisit favourite locations while others search out new ones – either way, the aim of the game is to be warm. And of course there is always the likelihood of making new friends or catching up with old ones, which in itself is a good enough reason to head north.
By far the most popular method of making this journey is by caravan or motorhome, especially for those with no time restraints, as it is without doubt the most economical means of ‘long term’ travel. Finances are a major consideration in most travel plans and the precious dollar can be stretched even further by those who can occasionally do without the luxuries provided the many excellent caravan parks that abound in Australia. While providing first class facilities and amenities, caravan park accommodation comes at a cost, but many caravans and motorhomes these days are set up to be fully self sufficient, so this expense can be reduced by utilising other ‘low cost’ or even ‘free’ options that are available.
The various transport departments in each state have provided roadside rest areas at numerous locations on all major highways. The standard of these areas varies greatly but some are secluded picnic type areas off the highway among shady trees with facilities such as toilets, tables, seats, a fireplace or barbecue and in a few instances even a shower. Not only do these areas afford a convenient place for a break but they also provide an excellent place for a free overnight stop. There are also numerous camp grounds in National Parks, State Forests and Council Reserves that offer free or low cost camping for the budget conscious traveller.
North Queensland and Darwin are two of the most popular destinations for southerners during winter. Obviously, the Stuart Highway is the main access route for Darwin bound travellers and it offers numerous roadside rest areas that can be utilised for overnight stops. In northern South Australia the best of these are located at Agnes Creek and The Marryatt north of Marla, while over the border in the Northern Territory, Finke River and May Ann Dam rest areas have good facilities and are located to take advantage of the surrounding landscape in regard to shelter shade and views.
For something different to a ‘normal’ caravan park, Banka Banka Homestead offers a unique camping experience just off the highway north of Threeways. Good facilities and genuine outback hospitality can be enjoyed by all who stay here.
There are also several areas maintained and controlled by various government departments that provide travellers on the Stuart Highway with an excellent place to stay for longer periods of time. A day or two could easily be spent exploring the unusual granite boulder formations at the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve just north of Wauchope and Elsey National Park camp area near Mataranka has very good facilities located in a picturesque setting on the banks of the Roper River for those who would enjoy activities such as fishing or canoeing for a few days or more.
Also close to the highway, Edith Falls National Park north of Katherine has a camp area on the edge of a large waterhole fringed by monsoon rainforest at the base of the falls, offering travellers the opportunity of ‘camping out’ in the bush while still enjoying reasonably good facilities. Further north, Litchfield National Park offers the same experience and these areas can be enjoyed for less cost than commercially operated caravan parks.
Darwin can also be accessed from Melbourne and Sydney via outback New South Wales and Queensland. Although traversing a very isolated part of Australia, the outback offers travellers the unique opportunity to experience the history of how this amazing land was forged by intrepid explorers and colourful characters, and also enjoy a hospitality rarely seen ‘in the big smoke’.
Even in the outback, economical camping areas and free roadside rest areas offer relief to the wallet and provide some of the most memorable camping experiences. There is nothing quite like sitting around a camp fire in the middle of nowhere enjoying the company of friends or family under a canopy of millions of stars. The free camp area at Lloyd Jones Weir near Barcaldine in central Queensland is typical of this scenario and if there’s enough water in the Alice River, I’ve seen some good feeds of fish caught there too.
The journey to North Queensland is quite different in that most travellers use the coastal route along the Bruce Highway to reach the area. This route is nowhere near as isolated as the Stuart Highway and offers many more free and low cost alternatives to caravan parks.
The pick of the rest areas in southern Queensland include Six Mile Creek near Gympie, Petrie near Tiaro and Calliope River near Gladstone, with all having good facilities located in very pleasant surroundings. Waverley Creek rest area north of Rockhampton is the same but be warned, during peak tourist season all these areas are very popular as overnight stops and can become very busy and crowded at times.
For longer term camping in Queensland though, I cannot go past Seaforth Camping Reserve. Located on the beach at Seaforth just north of Mackay, is a large grassed camp area dotted with shady trees and coconut palms. Good facilities are provided here and the area is well managed by friendly council staff and comes at a fraction of the cost of a normal caravan park. Of course, electricity is not available here or at any of the areas mentioned in this article, but as previously stated, most caravanners and motorhomers are generally self sufficient and know how to get by without it.
The further north one travels, the better it gets. The weather is warmer, the lifestyle more relaxed and the options for economical camping just keep coming. Alligator Creek and Jourama Falls National Parks near Townsville have good facilities in areas of spectacular natural beauty while the rest areas at Bluewater and Rollingstone in the same region are as good as you will find anywhere. And for sheer tropical bliss, the local council campgrounds at Bramston Beach, Mission Beach and Bingil Bay are superb.
Imagine relaxing alongside the van under the coconut palms only meters from the beach and enjoying a meal or a drink while gazing out over the Coral Sea to offshore islands on a balmy tropical evening…..now that’s my idea of paradise! And I’m more than happy to forego the excellent facilities and amenities of caravan parks (and save a few dollars as well) to experience that.
Staying in camp grounds as opposed to caravan parks adds a real sense of adventure to any journey not to mention the range of activities such as bushwalking, fishing, canoeing that are available just outside your door. Just waking up to the sounds of nature in the bush is a delight in itself.
With the global economic crisis in full swing most of us are looking to save a few dollars if we can. But there is no need to put off living life to the full because of it and all it takes to save some hard earned cash on these trips is a sense of adventure and the knowledge of where to stay for minimum cost. Publications such as Budget Camps Australia can provide the knowledge – all you need to provide is the sense of adventure.
Reprinted from The Retiree Magazine