Should we book accomodation?

[mayney]

Hi all,

My fiance, nearly 3 yr old daughter and myself are doing a 3 month run either up to the Cape, around the Gulf, across to Nt, the Kimberleys and down to Uluru then across home to the Gold Coast or vice versa.
As we are in no rush and don't know where we will be from one day to another it will not be possible to pre-book accom.
Has anyone else just played the happy go lucky or is it really a necessity?
Any advice will be much appreciated.
Regards,
Mayney.

[TOPNDR]

We rarely book accommodation unles we know we're going to be in a popular spot at a popular time, for example Broome in the dry season, Melbourne in March.

I believe the QLD Govt has changed camping on Cape York Peninsula, and one much book ahead, on-line. Rumour suggests that the LNP Govt might rescind this but until then, it'll be painful.

[mayney]

Ahh riteo, thanx for the input TOPNDER!
 

[fishfinder]

we did a long trip and only booked where we thought was full of tourists as already suggested  and whilst travelling if we thought we would arrive late , early or not at all at a pre booked destination we would give more than 5 days notice and no probs in changing or cancelling bookings.Matter of fact in the 15+ years of the camper trailer thing i have very rarely booked at a cp but only once got sorry we are full answer on arrival , that was in carnarvon so was happy to move on

[fuji]

If you are going to Broome, then I would suggest booking. We only managed to find one spot at a van park in August.
Wayne

[mayney]

If you are going to Broome, then I would suggest booking. We only managed to find one spot at a van park in August.
Wayne

Ahh yeah thanx Wayne, we will be going there and up to cape leveque, well there abouts!
I have old school friends in Broome so may have it cushy for a couple of days 

[SteveandViv]

Mayney. The advice given re Broome and Cape Leveque are spot on. In the dry you will be very lucky to get a spot. Many time what we call overflows are opened which is basically a park with a few porta-loos only. There is no free Camping in Broome and they are cracking down this year. You can travel up to Quondong or other places up the Manari road where yo can free camp for 3 days before being asked to move on. There are no facilities there, no water no nothing but for those that like that, t's great. But, it is very busy and you almost need to sit a wait for a spot to come up. Through the Gulf you will not have such an issue and you can call ahead if you need, ie, a late check-in. The Big4 in Alice is always booked a week in advance so you need to book as soon as you have an idea of when you will be there (if you chose t stay there, it is very nice)

Send a PM if you want more detail or post here

Steve

[mayney]

Awesome Steve, thank you very much for your input. We will be self sufficient so where we stay is no drama but it's Broome and me want some Broome time (I am a West Aussie) so I will get on the phone and make sure I get somewhere. Any recommendations Steve, or anyone for that matter. I have old school friends there and I know we will PARRRRTYYYYY!!! Don't wanna set the camper up on there front lawn though!
Just undecided with going to Cape York first or through the centre across to W.A first...
Thanks heaps!
Mayney.

[SteveandViv]

Cable Beach Caravan park is the best IMO and they have a great pool for a swim at the end of the day. It is close to Cable beach. On a side note. You can not access Cable beach at the moment via cable beach ramp due to the loss of sand during the last Cyclone we had. You need to go up Cape Leveque road and turn off at Coconut Wells to access the beach. I'm not sure when it will open again.

[KieranR]

I'll be in  Broome in 2 weeks, I rang the cable beach caravan park yesterday to book an unpowered spot for a few days, was told by them that i need not bother booking, just turn up, as they reckon they only have issues from the end of june to the end of August, so there advice is to book if your there between end june and august.

However i did book cape leveque for a few days from 4th june, When i was at cape leveque last year in june it was very busy.

[mayney]

Thanx again Steve. When does the stairway to the moon light up on cable beach, is it most full moons?

Thanx Kieran. We wont be there until late July or early Sept. Pat Callihan went to a spot near Cape Leveque that doesnt get the crowds as much as the Cape, can't remember what its called but that sounds like a go. Steve may know about it?

Prefer to camp away from crowds if possible.

[KieranR]

Middle Lagoon maybe?  Thats a cracker spot i reckon, it's about 3 quater the way up to cape leveque, and when i wwas there it def wasn't as crowded.

[chester ver2.0]

We did Melbourne up to Darwin then across to Broome and down to Perth
Only places we booked were as follows
Uluru
Alice Springs
Mataranka
Darwin
Broome
Coral Bay

This was on advice of others we met along the way and they were spot on each time, all other destinations we just turned up to

Darwin we could not even get in anywhere and just stayed out near lichfiled and did day trips to darwin
Broome we could not get into cable beach and had to stay at the van park near the speedway it was OK except for speedway night

[SteveandViv]

Thanx again Steve. When does the stairway to the moon light up on cable beach, is it most full moons?

Thanx Kieran. We wont be there until late July or early Sept. Pat Callihan went to a spot near Cape Leveque that doesnt get the crowds as much as the Cape, can't remember what its called but that sounds like a go. Steve may know about it?

Prefer to camp away from crowds if possible.

We just had the staircase to the moon, not sure when the next one is. Go to the broomevisitors centre web page, it's on there. It is at Town beach not cable beach. They have a markets on on those days to so you can get a feed while your watching.

There are plenty of places you can go on the way up to Cape Leveque. Middle Lagoon is really nice as is Chillie Creek. Pop into the visitors centre as they have  a mud map that shows you where all these places are. Just a side note, you need to pay ten bucks each time you go into a community. The best swimming is either at Middle Lagoon or Cape Leveque.

[whitey1]

On a side note. You can not access Cable beach at the moment via cable beach ramp due to the loss of sand during the last Cyclone we had. You need to go up Cape Leveque road and turn off at Coconut Wells to access the beach. I'm not sure when it will open again.

We drove onto Cable beach last week, even with our camper in tow! No worries, just a bit bumpy over the rocks.
 

[mayney]

Middle Lagoon maybe?  Thats a cracker spot i reckon, it's about 3 quater the way up to cape leveque, and when i wwas there it def wasn't as crowded.

Yeah not sure Kieran but I will be there!

We just had the staircase to the moon, not sure when the next one is. Go to the broomevisitors centre web page, it's on there. It is at Town beach not cable beach. They have a markets on on those days to so you can get a feed while your watching.

There are plenty of places you can go on the way up to Cape Leveque. Middle Lagoon is really nice as is Chillie Creek. Pop into the visitors centre as they have  a mud map that shows you where all these places are. Just a side note, you need to pay ten bucks each time you go into a community. The best swimming is either at Middle Lagoon or Cape Leveque.

Ahh bugger, hope there is a stairway when we get there! Thanx for the tip.
$10 bucks is a small price to pay to enjoy freedom I reckon!

We did Melbourne up to Darwin then across to Broome and down to Perth
Only places we booked were as follows
Uluru
Alice Springs
Mataranka
Darwin
Broome
Coral Bay

This was on advice of others we met along the way and they were spot on each time, all other destinations we just turned up to

Darwin we could not even get in anywhere and just stayed out near lichfiled and did day trips to darwin
Broome we could not get into cable beach and had to stay at the van park near the speedway it was OK except for speedway night

Duly noted...Thanx Chester!

[SteveandViv]

We drove onto Cable beach last week, even with our camper in tow! No worries, just a bit bumpy over the rocks.
 

Your not meant to. The rocks are being listed as heritage and they are trying to close it for every, including the camels, we are fighting that move. I'm not sure why the gate was open. I'm happy you did though, maybe they just opened it, Obviously I don't go down there every day, not sure what the story is then