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Camp Grounds

Horsehead Creek, Devonport Tasmania

HorseHead Creek

Upon arriving back at Devonport, this time we chose to stay at Horsehead Creek.

The campground is fairly large and is located at the boat ramp with plenty of fishing options available off the pontoon and along the Mersey River.

Horsehead Creek Campground is at Quoiba just 5 minutes south from Devonport and it is around an 8 minute drive to the Spirit of Tasmania Devonport terminal.

Horsehead Creek

Horsehead Creek Camping Facilities

The Horsehead Creek Camping ground is only available for fully self-contained vehicles. It an accommodate motorhomes, caravans and big rigs.

Vehicles must have their own shower, toilet, washing, cooking and sleeping facilities on board and holding tanks to hold both black and grey water for 72 hours. No tent camping is allowed.

Maximum stay is 72 hours. Bins and picnic tables are available at the Horsehead Creek Camping area.

There is a Dump Point directly opposite the campground with a separate drinking water tap. We choose not to use water at dump points though so we didn’t use it.

Fires are not permitted.

We also had excellent Telstra and Vodafone coverage.

Horsehead Creek Camping

Are Pets Allowed at the Horsehead Creek Campground?

The Horsehead Creek Campground is Pet friendly.

We were travelling with our beautiful Golden Retriever, MACKS, at the time and therefore we were able to stay at Horsehead Creek.

Read more: Travelling Australia with our dog MACKS

Horsehead Creek campsite

Cost to stay at the Horsehead Creek Campground

Cost is $10 per night per vehicle, payable at the Info Centre in town. Simply visit the Devonport Visitor Information Centre during opening hours or you can call them on 03 6420 2902 to make a card payment over the phone.

Cost Update February 2022:
$11 per night using the Easy Park App or $10 to the Ranger

Our stay was 25th February 2017

View our 29 Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia here>

Horsehead Creek Camping Contact Details

Phone: 03 6420 2902
Address: 19A Devonport Road, Miandetta, Tasmania
Website:

How to get to the Horsehead Creek Campground

Upon disembarking from the Spirit of Tasmania head to the exit. Take a sharp right then turn left onto Murray Street. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Wright Street.

Turn right onto Tarleton Street and in 1km merge onto the National Highway 1. In 400 metres take the Formby Road exit towards Sheffield/Cradle Mountain.

Keep left at the fork and follow the signs for Formby Road/Spreyton/Sheffield/Cradle Mountain. Then in 1.3kms turn left and the Horsehead Creek Campground will be on the left.

Read about more: Great Low Cost Campgrounds in Tasmania

Horsehead Creek Campground is just 8 minutes from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal

5 Essentials – Ryobi Tools for Traveling

  1. A chainsaw certainly is an essential tool while traveling especially when camping and 4WDing. Perfect for cutting up wood for the campfire and ideal for clearing tracks of fallen branches when 4WDing. I really like the Ryobi Chainsaw and will be looking to buy one very soon to match all of my other Ryobi tools.
  2. The Ryobi Cordless Hand Vacuum has been super handy for the motorhome while traveling and now it is also great to use in our 4WD.
  3. Even prior to traveling, I have always used a Ryobi Cordless Drill. They are an essential tool for use at home and while on the road.
  4. We have had heaps of use from our Ryobi 18v Area Light. It’s great for fishing, camping and outdoor entertaining and even when we want to save power at night while free camping. Just charge it up the next day when you have solar.
  5. There are so many uses for our Ryobi Blower while traveling. Blowing the leaves off the top of the slideout before bringing it in, accelerating the campfire, clearing away any dirt, grass or sand from around your campsite.
Spreyton Cider House

What else is there to do near Horsehead Creek

Spreyton Cider House

Spreyton Cider is close by to Horsehead Creek and definitely worth a visit. We stopped in for an afternoon drink and Kev experienced one of their tasting paddles.

All of the Spreyton Ciders are made from 100% Tasmanian apples and pears.

When visiting the Cellar Door, you can enjoy a refreshing cider, ginger beer or juice in the outdoor area overlooking the orchard or inside.

Horsehead Creek Fishing

Horsehead Creek Fishing

Right beside the Horsehead Creek Campground is the Horsehead Creek boat ramp for launching your boat to go fishing on the Mersey River.

There is also the pontoon which you can fish off as well but in summer months the pontoon apparently does get busy with people using it to load or unload passengers from their boats.

Small flathead and bream are often caught in this area.

Railton

Railton

Railton is Tasmania’s Town of Topiary. Neil Hurley started talking about turning Railton into the Town of Topiary in 1999 and it literally grew from there.

There are now over 100 topiary characters in different shapes and sizes located in the main street of Railton.

Railton is just under 23kms from Devonport and is a great little town to check out on your way to Cradle Mountain.

Sheffield Murals
Kev standing in front of one of the many murals in Sheffield

Sheffield

Sheffield is known as the town of murals. Originally an industrial hub in Tasmania’s northwest, it turned into an arts community and now the entire town is full of beautiful murals.

Sheffield in the foothills of Mount Roland is the gateway to the magnificent Cradle Mountain and is just 25.6kms from Devonport.

Dove Lake

Cradle Mountain

The iconic Cradle Mountain Cradle Mountain in the heart of the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area is one of the places simply not to be missed when visiting Tasmania.

Cradle Mountain is just 87.6kms or approx 1.5hrs drive from Horsehead Creek in Devonport.

Take a walk around the stunning Dove Lake and don’t miss the famous boat shed.

The boat shed at the edge of Dove Lake with the jagged outline of Cradle Mountain background is one of the most photographed scenes in Tasmania.

Also check out the Very Best Things to See and Do in Tasmania

Arriving in Devonport to this beautiful sunrise – Mid January 2017

Devonport Weather

In Devonport, the weather is generally warm and temperate. Although even in the dry months there is a considerable amount of rain.

The warmest month of the year in Devonport is January and therefore January is a popular time to visit Tasmania.

Average temperature in January is 17.4 °C and in July their coldest month the temperature averages just 7.9 °C.

Other great places to stay in the region:

Pin – Horsehead Creek Camping

Pin - Horsehead Creek Camping
Pin - Horsehead Creek Camping
Pin - Horsehead Creek Camping

Have you camped at Horsehead Creek Devonport on your first night after disembarking from the Spirit of Tasmania or the night before your departure?

Tell us about your Horsehead Creek camping experience.

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

____________________________________________________________________________

Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps.

Samsung s21 Phonehttps://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.

Canon 800dhttps://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Nikon Coolpix p1000https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lenshttps://ebay.us/br9MeO – This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lenshttp://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

_______________________________________________________________________

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Camp Grounds

Florence Falls Campground, Litchfield National Park NT

Florence Falls Campground

Litchfield National Park is a fantastic location south of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Within a short walking distance to Florence Falls is the Florence Falls Campground.

The campground is excellent with big sites making it easy to park your Caravan, 4WD or Motorhome. 

There are two camping areas at the Florence Falls Campground.

The lower level and old 4WD Campground has smaller sites that are more suited to campervans and tent camping with the upper level campground suitable for all 2WD.

Florence Falls Campground Facilities

Most of the camp sites in the Florence Falls Campground are sloping so you may need to level up your Van.

The sites are all gravel and they are all unpowered. There are no powered sites.

Each site comes with its own fire pit although you will need to bring your own fire wood.

On our latest visit in 2021 we noticed there is a sign saying you can collect firewood from the side of the main road in to Litchfield National Park.

There are modern toilets and showers at the Florence Falls Campground which are currently quite new and very clean.

The facilities also include barbecues.

Florence Falls Campground Amenities Block

There are no bins and you will need to take your rubbish away with you to dispose of. Please ensure the area remains clean and tidy.

Generators are not permitted in the Florence Falls Campground.

Caretakers are now located within the campground and were helpful to us in providing information and advice about roads and where we could go.

Our Campsite at the Florence Falls Campground 2017
Florence Falls Campground Campsite 2017
Our 2021 Florence Falls Campground Campsite
Florence Falls Campground Campsite 2021

Are Pets allowed at the Florence Falls Campground?

This is National Park and therefore it is not pet friendly and dogs are not allowed.

When we first visited Litchfield National Park we had MACKS looked after with Mad Paws.

Read more: Travelling Australia with our dog MACKS

The Florence Falls Campground has no phone coverage although in the early morning, sometimes we did receive limited coverage until around 9am.

Phone coverage is spasmodic throughout Litchfield National Park and isn’t something you should rely on having access to during your stay.

Florence Falls Campground Pay Station
Florence Falls Campground Pay Station

For the best chance to find a site you should arrive before midday, ideally between 8am and 10am.

Many campers arrive late in the afternoon and end up disappointed as the campground is almost always full by soon after lunch time.

There are 2 Campgrounds at Florence Falls Campground, the upper section known as the 2wd campground and the lower section known as the 4wd campground.

The campgrounds are near to each other and both are accessed by a sealed road.

Cost to stay is $6.60 per adult per night, children are $3.30 per night or there is a family rate of $15.

Update March 2022:
$10 per Adult per night, Children 5 – 17 years $5 per night and Families (2 A & 4C) $25 per night
Update June 2025:
$15 per Adult per night, $8 per night per Child up to 15 yrs old.

Our stays at Florence Falls Campground were 25th-27th June 2017 and 19th – 20th May 2021

View our 29 Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia

The video provides information on how to pay for your stay at the Florence Falls Campground and lots more about Litchfield National Park.

Florence Falls Contact Details

Phone: 08 3999 3973
Address:
Florence Falls Trail off Litchfield Park Road, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory
Website:

How to book Florence Falls Campground:

There is an on-line booking facility for the Florence Falls Campground, pay to stay at the website for Florence Falls Campground.

Tip: The Florence Falls Campground 2WD and old 4WD Campground fill up fast so best to arrive early in the day to secure a campsite and avoid disappointment.

Update March 2022: There is now an on-line booking system via the N.T. Government website

Check out our: Brisbane to Darwin Free Camping

How to get there:

From Darwin it is approximately 115kms drive to Litchfield National Park and takes about 90 mins to drive there.

Take the Stuart Highway south from Darwin to the Batchelor Rd exit on the right.

Follow the signs along Batchelor Rd through the township of Batchelor and also Rum Jungle until you arrive at Litchfield National Park.

The road in from Berry Springs is now fully sealed and is another entry in to Litchfield National Park.

Follow Litchfield Park Rd until you see the sign to turn right to the Florence Falls Campground.

The roads to Litchfield National Park and the Florence Falls 2WD Campground are fully sealed.

Do you need a permit for Litchfield National Park?

A permit is not required for Litchfield National Park however you do need one when you enter nearby Kakadu National Park.

Find more information on the Kakadu National Park Pass here>

Florence Falls is within easy walking distance from the Florence Falls Campground
Florence Falls

Florence Falls

The Florence Falls Campground is the perfect place to stay to get out and enjoy Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, Wangi Falls and so much more.

Florence Falls is 135 steps down from the Lookout to a short track at the base of the falls. Here you can swim and enjoy the scenery of this amazing waterfall.

Please don’t climb to the top and jump in, we witnessed people ejected and fined by National Parks staff for doing so.

It’s also extremely dangerous for both those who jump and others below.

Florence Falls is 135 stairs down from the Florence Falls Campground

5 Essentials – Camping Accessories

A good Tent or Swag is the first decision for going camping. We like the Coleman Tent from Tentworld or the Wanderer 7 Man Tent from BCF. For a Swag, we were so close to buying the Kings Double Swag from 4WD Supacentre .

We like our BCF Wanderers Camping Chair which gets a lot of use as we travel Australia.

No more lugging around a huge BBQ and gas bottle now that we have a brilliant Gasmate Dual Burner Butane Cooktop from Tentworld

A good Portable Fridge Freezer we have found to keep the beers cold and steaks frozen are the Kings 70 L Fridge Freezer in the budget range, the Waeco 75L Dual Zone Fridge Freezer or the ever popular and long lasting Engel 75L Fridge Freezer.

A good quality Hand Held UHF is ideal and I like this Uniden UH750 5 watt UHF for long range and quality. The 5 watt range will give you maximum distance, especially if you need help!

Buley Rockhole
Buley Rockhole – Rock Pools

Things to See and Do in Litchfield National Park

There are a number of other falls and rock pools to explore in Litchfield National Park.

By basing yourself at the Florence Falls Campground, you are easily able to access all of the other attractions.

Buley Rockhole

Nearby Buley Rockhole rock pools are a lot of fun. Lay in the fast running stream and swim and jump in the deep holes of water.

There are different sections you can enjoy, just be careful of the very slippery rocks whenever walking across the waterways.

Buley Rockholes are our favourite spot in the park and it is often busy with lots of people enjoying the cool fresh water rock pools and swimming holes.

Wangi Falls

Wangi Falls is a short drive further on from the Florence Falls Campground.

This is a big rock pool with lots of fun to be enjoyed. Climb into the rocks to find small pools of water with views back over the main area.

Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls

You can also have a picnic in the grounds overlooking the Falls or take the walking track

There is also the Wangi Falls Cafe to enjoy lunch and a drink after your swim.

Tolmer Falls

The Tolmer Falls plunge 35m into the pool below and are one of the most magnificent of the waterfalls in Litchfield National Park.

Take the 1.5km loop Tolmer Creek Walk along the side of creek, up and around to the top of the falls and ending up at the lookout and viewing platform before the short walk back to the carpark.

No swimming is permitted at Tolmer Falls.

Tolmer Falls

Read more: Things to See and do in Top End Darwin, NT and Kakadu and Litchfield National Park by Motorhome

Check out these great places to stay in Kakadu National Park:

Pin – Florence Falls Campground

Pin it
Pin it

Have you enjoyed a stay at the Florence Falls Campground? Tell us about your Litchfield National Park camping experience.

Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

__________________________________________________________________________

Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps. We have sourced this one which is approx $500 less than we paid for ours.

Samsung s21 Phonehttps://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.

Canon 800dhttps://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Nikon Coolpix p1000https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lenshttps://ebay.us/br9MeO This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lenshttp://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

_______________________________________________________________________

Where to Find Us

Follow us or Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment on our website and social media here:-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

_____________________________________________________________________________

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on this page we may receive a small commission. It will not cost you any more, in fact we’ve sourced out some great deals for you. Thank you for supporting us.

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Camp Grounds

Little Roper Stockcamp, Mataranka Northern Territory

Little Roper Stockcamp

Are you heading north to Katherine or Darwin? Don’t miss this great place to stay at Mataranka called Little Roper Stockcamp.

It opened only 5 weeks prior to when we were there the first time back in 2017 and we have visited a couple of times since.

Little Roper Stockcamp is one of the most enjoyable outback stays you will have.

It’s also listed as one of Our Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia.

Des and Telka, the owners of Little Roper Stockcamp are fabulous.

Checking out a snake at Little Roper Stockcamp
Owner Des gave us a snake to check out

Des is a former stockman and school Principal while Telka is still teaching at the local school.

They are a lovely couple and work hard on their property in Mataranka.

Every morning is free brekky and there’s friendly python snakes you can hold or pat Cows, Buffalo, Pigs, Chickens and their pet dogs.
Update 2021 – Johnny Cakes are $2 each and are delicious!

All the animals are friendly and the kids get a lot of enjoyment out of interacting with them.

Des making the awesome Johnny Cakes

Little Roper Stockcamp Facilities

There are rustic toilets and showers with a unique difference that are semi-open air which adds to the country atmosphere.

Washing facilities are available for a small donation.

Update 2021– There is now a Guest Laundry with washing tubs and two Washing Machines.

It is just $4 per wash and it is a case of leaving the money in the bucket.

There is a Dump Point in the township of Mataranka just 5-10 minutes away.

Little Roper Stockcamp campsite
Camp Oven Dinners at Little Roper Stockcamp

During our stay we had 1-2 bars with the Telstra network, just enough to use it.

We had no Vodafone or Optus coverage.

There’s a communal fire pit set up each night to cook dinner on an open fire in the cooking pots provided.

You can start up the fire at any time if you’d like to sit around it or cook a meal.

The grounds aren’t great for being level so the hosts provide levelling chocks to use if required.

Read more about: Our Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia

Are pets allowed at Little Roper Stockcamp?

Little Roper Stockcamp campground is pet friendly.

This allowed us to stay the first time with our adorable Golden Retriever MACKS only a few weeks before we had to say farewell to her in Darwin.

Read more: A Tribute to MACKS the Best Dog I’ve ever known

Kev making hay while the sun shines at Little Roper Stockcamp

It’s best to bring as much water with you as possible, the local H2O is bore water in the town of Mataranka and doesn’t taste that great.

Just 2 kms down the road is the Mataranka Thermal Pools or it is a short 5 minute drive to Bitter Springs.

Both of these are incredible and definitely need to be visited during your stay.

Come meet Des and Telka, enjoy a fabulous outback experience with some very special features.

Mataranka is an hours drive south of Katherine in the NT, around 4.5 hours south of Darwin.

Entrance to Little Roper Stockcamp
Camping at Little Roper Stockcamp

Cost to stay at Little Roper Stockcamp

Cost to stay is $15 per night unpowered or $30 per night powered.
Update 30/7/2018: Unpowered cost is now $20 per night. Powered remains $30 per night
Update 27/3/2022: Unpowered cost is $30 per night and powered site is $35 per night for 2 adults. Extra adults are $10 a night. Single Adults – $15. Children are free.
Update June 2025: Unpowered cost is $30 per night and powered site is $40 per night for 2 adults. Extra adults are $10 a night. Single Adults – $15. Children are free.

Our stays were firstly 25th-27th May 2017 and again on 17th May 2021 as part of our Brisbane to Darwin trip.

Read more: Brisbane to Darwin Free Camping

5 Essentials – Outside RV Accessories

  1. To plug your RV with standard 15amp in to standard residential 10amp power source you will need a converter. We love our waterproof Ampfibian and after over 4 years it’s still perfect.
  2. Most people carry a Generator for back up power. 4wd Supacentre has a good low cost and popular generator while the Yamaha 2000w is a robust yet quiet excellent performer.
  3. A 20m 15amp Power Lead will ensure you reach your power source in Caravan Parks and Campgrounds.
  4. You will want a good blue Drinking Water Hose. Your typical green garden hose is not suitable for drinking from.
  5. A 4 way tap handle will help you find water whenever you need it

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Contact Details for Little Roper Stockcamp:

Phone: 0427 880 819
Website:
Address: 547 Homestead Road Mataranka NT

Open hours are during every dry season starting in April

Beautiful Bitter Springs
Bitter Springs

How to get to Little Roper Stockcamp

Mataranka is approximately 100kms and a 1 hour drive south of Katherine in the Northern Territory.

From the Stuart Highway just south of Mataranka turn East in to Homestead Road.

Follow Homestead Road and go over Roper Creek and Little Roper Stockcamp is on your left soon after.

5 Essentials – Camping Accessories

A good Tent or Swag is the first decision for going camping. We like the Coleman Tent from Tentworld or the Wanderer 7 Man Tent from BCF. For a Swag, we were so close to buying the Kings Double Swag from 4WD Supacentre .

We like our BCF Wanderers Camping Chair which gets a lot of use as we travel Australia.

No more lugging around a huge BBQ and gas bottle now that we have a brilliant Gasmate Dual Burner Butane Cooktop from Tentworld

A good Portable Fridge Freezer we have found to keep the beers cold and steaks frozen are the Kings 70 L Fridge Freezer in the budget range, the Waeco 75L Dual Zone Fridge Freezer or the ever popular and long lasting Engel 75L Fridge Freezer.

A good quality Hand Held UHF is ideal and I like this Uniden UH750 5 watt UHF for long range and quality. The 5 watt range will give you maximum distance, especially if you need help!

Refreshing Bitter Springs

What is there to do in and around Mataranka?

Bitter Springs

Once you have found your Bitter Springs accommodation at Little Roper Stockcamp it’s time to head to Elsey National Park and find these amazing spring fed thermal pools within Roper Creek.

Take some noodles with you and float down Bitter Springs where the water temperature is 33-34c.

Whilst Crocodiles have been spotted at Bitter Springs they are rare and it’s not often you visit without there being a crowd already enjoying the fun.

Bitter Springs is located by following Martin Rd all the way to Roper Creek.

There is a carpark there and signs directing you to the short walk to Bitter Springs Thermal Pools.

Mataranka Thermal Pools
Floating in the Mataranka Thermal Pools

Mataranka Thermal Pool

The Mataranka Thermal Pools are a series of crystal clear natural pools which you can float down to Mataranka Falls.

This is a small water flow over rocks that has incredible force given it’s small size.

Mataranka Thermal Pools are located just behind the Mataranka Homestead at the end of Homestead Road past Little Roper Stockcamp.

Territory Manor Barra Feeding
Matt feeding Barra

Territory Manor Barramundi Feeding

Territory Manor is located on Martin Road on the left as you head out to Bitter Springs.

We stopped in for an ice cream and to watch the Barramundi feeding.

Our son Matt was invited to feed a Barra.

If you’ve never seen a Barramundi bite you should try.

But you better be watching closely, they are super fast and it all happens very quickly.

Katherine Gorge
Cruising Katherine Gorge

Katherine Gorge

Just an hour north of Mataranka is Katherine Gorge located in Nitmiluk National Park which is simply amazing.

It is made up of Sandstone and has formed in to 13 Gorges and features waterfalls and rapids.

Kayaking the Katherine Gorge is very popular way to experience it.

Katherine Gorge Swim
Swimming in Katherine Gorge

During the wet season the Gorges fill with water and Salt Water Crocodiles are able to make their way in to the waters of Katherine Gorge.

There is therefore no swimming in the wet season.

At the start of the dry season the Salt Water Crocodiles are captured and removed back to the lower reaches of the Gorge.

Fresh Water Crocodiles live in Katherine Gorge and there all year round.

They do not attack humans and it is safe to swim there during the wet season as we did.

To see the full beauty of Katherine Gorge, you do really need to do a tour which is our experience.

Book your Tour of Katherine Gorge here

We of the Never Never Homestead

We of the Never Never

Jeannie Gunn left Melbourne in January 1902 after her husband bought in to the Elsey Cattle Station at Mataranka.

In those times white woman were not considered appropriate on a cattle station is such remote locations but Jeannie had other ideas.

In 1908 Jeannie wrote an Autobiography called We Of The Never Never of her life moving from Melbourne to Mataranka.

She talked about her time there which was short lived when her husband Aeneas died of malarial dysentery just over 12 months of arriving.

The park in Mataranka has memorials of people featured in her book.

We of the Never Never Book had sold over 1 million copies over 30 years ago in 1990 and in 1982 a movie by the same name was made and filmed in Mataranka based on Jeannie’s novel.

Nathan ‘Whippy’ Griggs –

Nathan ‘Whippy’ Griggs

Whenever you are visiting Mataranka, be sure to check whether Nathan ‘Whippy’ Griggs is doing a show at the Mataranka Homestead which is just down the road from the Little Roper Stockcamp.

Nathan is a legendary whip cracker and is a five time Guiness World Record holder.

His show is very captivating and entertaining.

You can even be one of the lucky audience members and join Nathan up on stage!

Photo with Nathan ‘Whippy’ Griggs after the show

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Other great places to stay in the region:

Pin – Little Roper Stockcamp

Pin -Little Roper Stockcamp
Pin - Little Roper Stockcamp

Check out these other interesting stories:

Have you stayed at the Little Roper Stockcamp in Mataranka?

Tell us about your Mataranka camping experience.

Safe travels   

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

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Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps. We have sourced this one which is approx $500 less than we paid for ours.

Samsung s21 Phonehttps://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.

Canon 800dhttps://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Nikon Coolpix p1000https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.

Lenses

Lens – Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lenshttps://ebay.us/br9MeO This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lenshttp://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

_______________________________________________________________________

Follow us or Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment on our website and social media here:-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

_____________________________________________________________________________

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on this page we may receive a small commission. It will not cost you any more, in fact we’ve sourced out some great deals for you. Thank you for supporting us.

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Camp Grounds

Barn Hill Station, Western Australia

Barn Hill Station

Barn Hill Station is one of our favourite Campground locations in Australia and has one of our very best beaches in the country.

Located just south of Broome, it sits on a large cattle station overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The sunsets each night are simply spectacular.

Magnificent beach at Barn Hill
Barn Hill Station beach

Barn Hill Station is a family run cattle station in the Kimberleys region in the north of Western Australia.

It is located just over an hour and a half drive and approximately 140 kms by road south from Broome.

In 1986 the owners of Thangoo Station passed on a parcel of the Cattle Station to their daughter and soon after Janice and her husband established 3 huts in the area that is now a thriving camping ground.

There are now 400 sites attracting thousands of visitors each season.

The campground is 9kms from the Great Northern Highway along the gravel road which is suitable to Motorhomes, 4wds and Caravans, Big Rigs or Campervans.

Read more on our favourite Beaches: The Best Beaches in Australia 1-10

Take walks along the beach and enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and red rock cliffs.

The Campground comes with a rustic charm, typical of a Station Stay but with a quality all of its own.

Our campsite at Barn Hill Station
Rustic open air toilets at Barn Hill Station
Open air toilets at Barn Hill Station

Barn Hill Station Shop

Barn Hill Station has its own shop with basic supplies plus ice, ice creams, milk and bait.

It also bakes fresh bread each day and some other yummy delights.

Don’t miss the vanilla slice, they are delicious.

Entering Barn HIll Station
Lawn Bowls at Barn Hill Station
Lawn Bowls – just one of the campground activities

Barn Hill Station Campground Facilities

The Campground offers powered and unpowered sites. The unpowered sites have the best beach views.

The energy for the powered sites are self generated by Barn Hill Station and therefore it is unsuitable for the use of power for air conditioning and your hot water system.

Barn Hill Station provides some quirky facilities including open air toilets and showers.

With no roof you can shower at night under the stars and see the Milky Way.

Campers parked up right around the cliff edges
Spectacular caves along the beach
Exploring Caves along the beach

Fresh potable drinking water is available to fill your water tank in your RV. Some unpowered sites have a tap to use.

Telstra coverage was patchy at best during our stay.

A dump point is available and there are Gas Bottles to swap also on site.

Are dogs allowed at Barn Hill Station?

Barn Hill Station Campground is pet friendly and dogs are allowed to stay. We were able to stay with our beautiful Golden Retriever MACKS.

Read more: Travelling Australia with our dog MACKS

Beachside camping
Glorious contrast of turquoise water against the rugged red cliffs
Barn Hill Station beach

From tents to Big Rigs and everything in between, Barn Hill Station can accommodate everyone who would like to stay and enjoy this breath taking part of the Western Australia coastline.

The Campground even comes with it’s own bowling green. Feel free to book in for a game 🙂

Barn Hill Station Fishing

Fishing from the beach can be great and if you have a boat it’s even better.

4WD’s are only allowed on the beach for the purpose of launching a boat or retrieval.

The road into Barn Hill Station
Road into Barn Hill Station. Open and close 3 gates

The road in is 9kms of unsealed track and does have corrugations which varies in severity however it is suitable for all vehicles including Motorhomes and 2WD’s.

There are 3 gates to open and close as you make your way in.

Generators are ok to use between 8am to 9pm. Bins are also available.

There’s a great playground for children and Pony Rides for $5 are sometimes available too.

MACKS loved the beach at Barn HIll
Our dog MACKS loved it too

It does get very busy during peak times and all 200 sites can be booked out.

We recommend contacting the campground ahead to ensure availability, especially during June and July.

Cost to stay for 3 adults on an unpowered site per night was $37.50.
Updated March 2022: Cost now is $45 powered or $35 unpowered for 2 adults, $17.50-22.50 for extra adults and $8 extra for children.

Updated June 2025: Cost is $55 powered or $45 unpowered for 2 adults per night. Extra adults are $22.50 per night. Children between age 5-12 are $5 per night.

Our stay here was 24-25th August 2016

Barn Hill Station remains one of our favourite stays around Australia and we really look forward to getting back there again.

Read more on our favourite Campgrounds: Our 29 Best Low Cost Campgrounds in Australia

For more details and a walk through Barn Hill Station watch the video and enjoy one of Australia’s best places to visit.

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Barn Hill Station Contact Details

Phone: 08 9192 4975
Address: Great Northern Highway, Broome,Western Australia
Website
Facebook

When is Barn Hill Station open?

Barn Hill Beachside Station is open for camping from April to October each year.

How to get there:

From Broome, head East for approximately 35kms to the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse and turn south in to the Great Northern Highway.

Drive south for approximately 90-100kms and turn right into the entrance to Barn Hill Station just past the Eco Beach Resort turnoff.

5 Essentials – Outside RV Accessories

  1. To plug your RV with standard 15amp in to standard residential 10amp power source you will need a converter. We love our waterproof Ampfibian and after over 4 years it’s still perfect.
  2. Most people carry a Generator for back up power. 4wd Supacentre has a good low cost and popular generator while the Yamaha 2000w is a robust yet quiet excellent performer.
  3. A 20m 15amp Power Lead will ensure you reach your power source in Caravan Parks and Campgrounds.
  4. You will want a good blue Drinking Water Hose. Your typical green garden hose is not suitable for drinking from.
  5. A 4 way tap handle will help you find water whenever you need it
Stunning Barn HIll Beach

What is there to do at Barn Hill Station?

Rock Caves

Walk up the beach to discover the incredible coastline along with amazing rock caves and stunning views.

The Limestone cliff faces provide a stunning backdrop along this rugged coastline.

Fishing

The fishing can be excellent even directly from the beach.

Friends who are regular visitors have often caught some great fish from their tinnie so if you have a boat it’s a great spot for fishing.

Swimming

Go swimming in the gorgeous turquoise waters off Barn Hill Station beach.

As always in tropical waters be aware of sharks and stingers whenever swimming.

Rustic open air Showers

Campground Activities

Play bowls or enjoy the many events put on around the Campground including live music, Sunday morning markets and Taichi classes and more.

Barn Hill Music Festival

Keep an eye out for the Barn Hill Music Festival each year with lots of great music and fun.

Read more: 49 Amazing Things to do in Western Australia

Pin – Barn Hill Station Camping!

Pin It! Barn Hill Station

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Safe travels

Kev & Adele
Indefinite Leave

We are Adele & Kevin, an Aussie couple from Brisbane in Queensland Australia who have embraced our adventurous spirit and ventured out to explore the world around us. We had spent so much time overseas we decided it was time to see our own truly amazing country and we needed to take some time to see everything it has to offer.

Our Aim is to inspire others to travel and help design the greatest adventure they can experience.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Photography and Socials

Our camera equipment we use for all our photos and videos are:

Samsung Note 10 Plus Phone – http://ebay.us/9vMXEH – Most of our photos are simply from our phones. The Samsung phone cameras are pretty insane. Our phones have 512gb storage in ours but the 256gb in this one is heaps. We have sourced this one which is approx $500 less than we paid for ours.

Samsung s21 Phonehttps://ebay.us/QAdwva – this looks an insane camera within a phone. We have friends and our son who own one and it seems quite extraordinary with their camera quality. If you’re after a new phone this is what I’d be looking at.

Canon 800dhttps://ebay.us/Q0UV1z – the latest DSLR Canon 24mp camera, buy here to save.

Nikon Coolpix p1000https://ebay.to/37cORUV – We have the Nikon P900 and this is the new model. The zoom lens is unbelievable and so awesome when travelling and you want to capture photos from a distance.

Lenses

Canon 50mm lens – https://ebay.to/3nx5pyG  This is the lens I use the least, ideal for still, close up shots.
Canon 24-105mm lenshttps://ebay.us/br9MeO This is my all round, everyday use, zoom lens. Amazing quality, great price.
Canon 70-300mm lens – https://ebay.to/33xYeht – I use this one a lot for long range shots.
Sigma 10-20mm lenshttp://ebay.us/zWvfuI  – My wide angle lens for all my inside photos & video plus lots more, love this lens.

Our Go Pro 9 Hero Black – https://ebay.us/6CQOVC  –  is an awesome piece of equipment. I use this for all underwater, action video and some general use. Buy here brand new and great value.

Mavic Pro Platinum Drone – https://ebay.to/2ARPxTo  This is an absolute ripper of a drone. The Fly More Combo will provide you with everything you will need. I use this for all my aerial footage and this price is well below other retail stores.

__________________________________________________________________________

Follow us, Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment on our website and social media here:-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indefiniteleave/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indefinite_leave/

Website: https://indefiniteleave.com.au/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/indefiniteleave

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/indefiniteleave/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/indefiniteleav3

_______________________________________________________________________

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on this page we may receive a small commission. It will not cost you any more, in fact we’ve sourced out some great deals for you. Thank you for supporting us.

Continue Reading

queensland