Camping near Robe SA - Advice

[ChrisVal7]

We have done a lot of camping over the years with a caravan but now have a campertrailer as well as the caravan. That opens up all sorts of camping possibilities. We are keen to do some camping in or near Robe SA with the trailer.

We have been through that region in the past but were looking at camping spots through the eyes of people with a largish offroad van. Now we can be much more flexible with smaller camp sites or spots which can accommodate the smaller rig. I know there is some nice camping around Robe - and Little Dip NP comes to mind. Has anyone been in or around this region and able to comment on suitable spots?  Or Beachport Conservation Park?

And no, we will not be going over Easter!  It will be bedlam at that time.

Chris

[JCOJ]

We recently had a MySwag SA Meet at Robe and we stayed at Lakeside Tourist Park in the unpowered section and it was just magnificent.

http://www.lakesiderobe.com.au/

There are some spots in Little Dip Conservation Park with camping being $12pn.

[ChrisVal7]

Thanks KJohn.
We like bush camping and particularly like being in a nice quiet location away from the madding crowd so would prefer not to go to a caravan park.

Our caravan is a dedicated offroader and we have been to some pretty special places - but the camper trailer will allow us to access even moe options.

I gather Beachport Conservation Park is nice.  Anyone been there?
Chris

[graham]

G,day Chris carpenters rocks right down the bottom is a very nice place. In,fact one of the best places i have been to in Aus. also met a family who live quite close to Robe toooo hectic ,they go to carpenters rocks .Nice place  cheers Graham

[gazza66]

Hey Chris, we stayed at Beachport on Australia Day. Found a nice campground called Three Mile Bend Campground,in Beachport Conservation Park there was only 6 sites and  2 or 3 that are suitable for camper trailers but they have a drop toilet and are very sheltered.

[gurules]

Hi mate i live down near there have done lots of off roading around there lake george near beachport is nice spot coming from robe you can go through little dip park some rough sections,be very aware that some of the beaches down there will swollow a 4wd hole so if your on your own stay inland ,you can drive from robe to carpenter rocks on the tracks plenty to see. its a beutiful part of our coast,south end has some nice bush camps which is around 12ks(by the beach)or 18-20ks by road from beachport.let me know when your coming and if im home and you want me to i could show you some highlights.

[ChrisVal7]

Thanks Graham and gurules for your help - and everyone who has responded.

Graham, do you get to Carpenter Rocks from Port Macdonnell or via Mt Gambier?  Is there any particular spot you like or can recommend?

Hey, gurules, that is a kind offer to give us a personal tour!  I am very keen to see more of this special part of Australia, as the little I have seen so far is pretty spectacular indeed.

I bet it is busy down there over Easter.....
Chris(tine)

[Kangaron]

Hey Chris, we stayed at Beachport on Australia Day. Found a nice campground called Three Mile Bend Campground,in Beachport Conservation Park there was only 6 sites and  2 or 3 that are suitable for camper trailers but they have a drop toilet and are very sheltered.

Some great spots there

[ChrisVal7]

That is great Kangaron - thanks for the picture! 

Tell me, how were the mozzies? 
Chris

[Kangaron]

This spot is about 50 m from lake george and 8 minutes from town





a nice long jetty at beachport for whiting, squid etc and the backbeach for snapper, salmon etc from the surf

[graham]

hi Chris,  you can access Carpenters from Mt Gambier ,drive all the way through town ,and you will see the sign at the roundabout , turn left follow that road all the way it will take you right there .frollow the signs to the lighthouse and there is camping at the lighthouse ($7.00 per night ??) drop toilet ,easy access onto the beach, a fantastic beach too i might add im pretty sure you can get there from pt Mcdonnell, you come up through the blackfella caves, have not done that trip myself ,so i cannot honestly say .but the trip from Mt Gambier is a very easy drive ,infact to the lighthouse two wheel drive  all the way. if you go there a trip out to the No2 rocks to a big rockpool is the ducks nuts (if the tides are not too big wade out to the reef an catch what you want. a place i really do like  cheers Graham

[graham]

be buggered it worked  cheers Graham

[ChrisVal7]

Oh wow, I can see we need to go for at least a week (maybe two!) and visit several spots!

You can see that I am a convert to camper trailing....

For years we camped with a tent, as we lived in remote spots in the NT.  Then we started doing a lot of hiking, especially in Kakadu, and carried everything on our backs.  Carrying five days of food and some water up into escarpment country teaches you how to travel light, I can tell you!

Then we had an offroad van made to our own design - and we learnt how not to travel light.  It is fully independent with solar panels all over the roof, a 230 litre fridge/freezer, shower and toilet etc.  But of course, you can't access those special spots that a camper trailer can.  I am too old now for camping with a tent (the bones don't like getting down onto a swag any more).

So the camper trailer is an ideal mode of travel.  Why did we wait so long!!?

Thank you so much Kangaron and Graham, for sharing this great information.
Christine

[MADCOW]

We have always stayed at Southend at the other end of the bay from Beachport, Stan the guy who runs the caravan park there has a "bush block" within walking distance from town and has a "locked gate" at th entrance, there is a flushing dunny, firepits, fresh bore water and shelter to get out of the wind if it blows up. All behind the main dune to the beach and all at $4 a head per night. We caught elephant sharks off the beach,

[Kangaron]

The beauty about Beachport / carpenters Rocks / Southend is the amount of day trips available.
Stay at one, visit the others.

[gurules]

madcow ill keep an eye out for ya when we are there next,i think jackos been told no more fires in the bush camp by the council,if you go again tell him hutch said hes a wanker and you should get free camping,but its agreat spot for us an oly 45min drive for us.

[MADCOW]

I'd like to get back there one day. The last time we dropped in I walked in and mentioned "remember me?" and with a puzzled look he did not say much but as soon as the misus walked in he mentioned "Here's Trouble". He's a bit of a wag and calls a spade a spade but still we loved camping there.