V & C Impressions

Almost Grey Nomads in Australia

Tag: camping

  • Smoko Campground – Free

    Smoko Campground – Free

    This has to be one of the nicest free campgrounds we have been to in a while. Beautiful scenery, which for us was reminiscence of Canada. A lake to cool down in, plenty of space and walking tracks.

    This campground follows on from our previous over night camp at Echuca Rotary Park.

    • Website: Bright & Surrounds
    • Fee Category: Free
    • Booking: No
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Toilet – long drop
    • Dump point: No
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes
    • Telstra: Good
    • Starlink: May have problems with trees
    Smoko campground track
    Smoko campground track

    Our Experience

    We were initially going to stay here for one night, but liked it so much we stayed another night. The drive here through Bright was beautiful and scenic, so after the outback we were taken aback by how lush and green everything was.

    The campsite itself is quite large with lots of nooks and crannies you should be able to find a spot. When we arrived it was very busy, a 4wd club had finished their run up in the Highlands for 9 days so they were camping before the drive back home. The next day the place emptied out with just a few remaining. The spot were had was by the drop toilet so once everyone had left, we decided to move to a better position next to a fire pit. The fire pit had a movable bar that you could put a camp over over.

    The campsites are relatively level and suit all types of campers from tents, roof top tents, motor homes, vans, trucks and caravan – we saw the lot. The single long-drop toilet was clean and you do need to bring your own toilet paper. With the mountain ranges surrounding you, plus the trees, I would think this would be a good sheltered place to be. The tracks are dirt so in the rain it could get slippery.

    This campsite, and in fact the whole area, is now on our list to visit again and instead of passing through we will stay for a few more days or weeks. Definitely worth a look and stay.

    I would think in winter it could get very cold, as further up the road and round the corner is Mt Hotham and ski fields.

    A few pics

    Smoko campground campsite
    Smoko campground campsite
    Smoko campground track leading into campsite
    Smoko campground track leading into campsite
  • Lake Lonsdale Camping

    Lake Lonsdale Camping

    We stayed at Lake Lonsdale a few weeks ago for a over night stop on our way to Melbourne. Besides the warning about blue/green algae which means don’t touch the water, even for our dog Shadow. It was a good, peaceful place with drop toilets, which surprisingly were clean and not smelly.

    • Website: Lake Lonsdale
    • Fee Category: Free
    • Booking: No
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Drop toilets
    • Dump point: No
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes
    • Telstra: Good
    • Starlink: May have problems with trees
    Lake Lonsdale lake view
    Lake Lonsdale lake view

    Our Opinion

    This campsite is massive and made up of smaller sections along the lake and all with drop toilets. We headed to section 2 and got ourselves a lakeside spot right under some trees which gave us some much needed shade as it was very hot.

    3 hours from Melbourne and on the edge of The Grampians, I am sure it is a popular location for that weekend getaway. There is a ranger that comes round and he advised that we could have a fire only up to midnight as a total fire band was being put in place. Since it was 32 degrees, too hot for us.

    Unfortunately for us at the time we were there, the lake level was low and algae had broken out in the lake. Normally you can swim in the lake however due to the algae it was not advisable. It looked nice from a distance. There were signs saying don’t touch, poisonous.

    The drop toilets were a pleasant surprise, as any seasoned camper will tell you they are usually a ‘last resort’ however these ones did look reasonable new and were actually nice. Plenty of loo paper and a sink to wash your hands.

    We would definitely stay here again and maybe in the cooler months. Be nice if the water level in the lake is a bit higher next time. The website link above will give you an indication of the current lake level.

    Images from Lake Lonsdale campsite

    Lake Lonsdale campground
    Campground
    Lake Lonsdale warning signs
    Warning signs
    Lake Lonsdale driveway
    Lake Lonsdale driveway
    Lake Lonsdale amenities
    Lake Lonsdale amenities
  • Bordertown Recreation Lake

    Bordertown Recreation Lake

    This is a review of the Bordertown Recreation lake, a donation camp next to a lake and the town of Bordertown, SA. An excellent overnight stop, or stay for a few days.

    • Website: Bordertown Recreation Lake
    • Fee Category: Donation
    • Booking: Bookings not required
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Flushing toilets
    • Dump point: Yes
    • Fire Pits: No
    • Rubbish bins: Yes
    • Pool: No
    • Telstra: Good
    • Starlink: May have problems with trees
    Bordertown Recreation Lake artwork
    The Water Tower

    Our Opinion

    If you are passing this way and need a place to stop overnight then this is a little gem of place to consider. For a very cost donation of $10 per campsite, it comes with decent toilets, bins, dump point, water and your choice of where to camp. This can be in the dirt area under trees or on the other side of where the toilets are located, on bitumen. The dirt section is a lot larger than the bitumen section.

    This is a big park with plenty of trees and very flat. We didn’t need to level the van and put blocks under the car tyres only because the car is not level with the van. The toilets were clean with a hint of urine and flushing, a bonus in this class of camping. There is a dump point and potable water, though we didn’t need to fill our tanks.

    We felt safe and is always encouraging when other caravans turn up and stay as well. There was a little bit of road and train noise, (the train tracks are not too far away), and other than that it was all good.

    The only thing to note is that there are Jumping Jack ants, (also known as Bull ants), in the area, so maybe camping in tents may not be the best idea unless you can find a spot where the ground is clear. They didn’t give us any problems. Doesn’t matter where you go in Australia there seems to be ants.

    This lake is not swimming one due to water quality, different depths and items at the bottom of the lake. In fact we saw signs that you can be fined if caught. The lake area was originally dug out out to make a bank for a road bridge and rather than fill it in, they decided to turn it into a lake. Interesting to walk around the lake on the walking tracks as there is some great art works to see along the way.

    Bordertown Recreation Lake, Shadow out for a walk
    Jetty on the Lake, Shadow out for a walk
    Bordertown Recreation Lake campground
    The Lake beyond
    Bordertown Recreation Lake campground
    Bordertown Recreation Lake campground
    Bordertown Recreation Lake campground
    Bordertown Recreation Lake campground
  • Stuart Town Recreation Reserve

    Stuart Town Recreation Reserve

    • Website:
    • Fee Category: Donation
    • Booking: No bookings needed
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Toilets
    • Pool: No
    • Telstra: Unknown
    • Starlink: No problems experienced
    Stuart Town Recreation Reserve
    Stuart Town Recreation Reserve

    Our Review / Opinion

    Stuart Town, located in the Central West region of New South Wales. Originally known as Ironbark, the town is famously immortalised in Banjo Paterson’s poem, “The Man from Ironbark,” which reflects its colourful past during the Australian gold rush era.

    With a current population of approximately 240, it is a small place.

    Lake Burrendong is situated nearby, this large water reservoir offers opportunities for fishing, boating, and camping.

    No bookings, just turn up. When we were there we were the only ones there, one other caravan did turn up, otherwise the place was to ourselves. There are flushing toilets and a defibrillator. The sites were flat, so no problem levelling up.

    The grass was full of Bindies, so dog boots needed for our little dog.

    There really isn’t much else to say here, for an overnight stop it was good. Not much else around here.

  • Coonabarabran Golf Club Campsite

    Coonabarabran Golf Club Campsite

    • Website: Coonagolfclub.com.au
    • Fee Catagory: Patronage at the club
    • Booking: No bookings needed
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Toilets during trading hours
    • Pool: No
    • Telstra: Data Flakey
    • Starlink: No problems experienced
    Coonabarabran Golf Club campsite
    Coonabarabran Golf Club campsite

    Our Opinion / Experience

    Coonabaraban Golf Club campsite – Coonabarabran is known as the “Astronomy Capital of Australia” due to its proximity to the Warrumbungle Observatory and the Siding Spring Observatory. Apparently, every year around Labour Day long weekend there is a StarFest. Could be worth a look so check out their website.

    This is a basic campsite with toilets at the club, which are available for use during club hours. Other than that you have to be self contained. There is plenty of space, no need to book. Great for Starlink.

    The club asks that you buy a beer, and/or a meal. We decided to have a Chinese meal at the restaurant located inside, which was a decent size. If you have a dog and want to eat at the club, there is an outside balcony area where you can sit. You just have to bear in mind, that by the time you pay for your meal and a beer, your free camp has just turned into an expensive camp.

    Also available is a shaded area with a bbq. Suggest you check if you can use this area first. Visitors can enjoy a game of golf as well.

    The ground is on a slight slope, which depending on your gear (and where you park) it may mean that you can’t get your van level. We couldn’t get level but close enough. Other than that, it was a good place with only a few minutes drive into the town centre.

    If you are driving through this area, then this is a good place to stay overnight – safe and quite.

    A couple of pics

    Coonabarabran Golf Club building
    Coonabarabran Golf Club building
    Coonabarabran Golf Club playground
    Coonabarabran Golf Club playground

    Have a look at our NSW Campsites to find more potential campsites.

  • Platypus Point – Northern Rivers

    Platypus Point – Northern Rivers

    • Website: WikiCamps
    • Fee Catagory: Paid
    • Booking: by phone
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: No
    • Pool: No
    • Telstra: Data Flakey
    • Starlink: Depends on site, lots of trees
    Our campsite at Platypus Campsite
    Platypus campsite

    Our Opinion

    Platypus Point is about half way between Casino and Tenterfield, with both being abut 50 min to 1 hour drive away. The small town of Tabulam is about 10 minutes away heading towards Casino.

    After spending the last few months in caravan parks, this place was a definitely a change of pace. Quiet, plenty of space, and secure, we liked it. It was a little bit unfortunate about the weather, storms most afternoons, we would definitely stay here again.

    At $20/night, we consider this to be reasonable cost. You do have to be self contained though, as nothing is provided. The hosts were friendly and helpful, allowing us to walk around and pick the site we wanted as we were the only ones there.

    We opted, due to the unpredictable weather to stay up higher, closer to the road. There is not much road noise and the site was reasonably level. The track to the lower level by the river looks steep and tight for a caravan, the hosts assured us other caravans have been down there. Also the lower level will be sheltered from the wind, if you want the breeze then this is not the place to be.

    Starlink will have a few trees to dodge, we found a good location with a clear view of the sky facing south. We didn’t find Telstra to be very good, especially with the data, slow and dropping out. This may be a deal breaker for some people. Solar seemed to work ok, but due to the days being overcast, we could not confirm this.

    Overall, considering everything this campsite is highly recommended.

    Access to the lower level (river side) campsites at Platypus campsite
    Platypus campsite access to riverside camping
    Platypus campsite
    Platypus campsite riverside camping
    A picture of our campsite at Platypus campsite
    Platypus campsite
    Platypus campsite
    Shadow chasing ball
  • Galaxy Caravan Park – Brisbane

    Galaxy Caravan Park – Brisbane

    We’re a quaint holidaying destination located in Tanah Merah, Queensland. Nestled comfortably between Brisbane City and the Gold Coast, our caravan park boasts outstanding friendliness, a relaxed atmosphere and exceptional cleanliness. This is the perfect place to base yourself as you explore all that South-East Queensland has to offer

    Galaxy Caravan Park
    Shadow outside Galaxy Caravan Park

    Our Opinion

    This is a pretty good, well run park, with clean amenities, the park itself is quite, but warning here, the M1 motorway is noisy, so if peace and quite is your thing then this place is not for you.

    Location is excellent, being only a few kilometres away from Brisbane CBD, not too far from the Gold Coast, A major shopping centre on the other side of the motor way. Location wise, it is close to everything.

    Sites I would describe as sufficient for a caravan and car, with not much to spare, pretty typical for a caravan park this close to a city.

    Access to the Galaxy caravan Park is not difficult, Google maps got us there no problems. wether you are coming from the north or south, you should not have any problems.

    Directly opposite, on the other side of the motorway is the Hyperdome, here there are movies, restaurants, Cafes, Supermarkets etc. Also close by, there are the other useful stores, Supercheap, Repco, Bunnings etc.

    We have been here twice now this year, and would not hesitate to book again.

    Galaxy Caravan Park pool
    Galaxy Caravan Park