Laverton to Alice Springs, Adelaide & Norsman

[kavs]

Im starting to to organise for our family holiday for the end of September early October.
All up were going to be away for 4 weeks. We are going to be leaving home (Kalgoorlie) and travel up to Laverton, then taking the the Great Central Road to Uluru & Alice Springs, Then heading down the stuart highway to Port Adelaide & Adelaide, Then across to Port Lincoln and follow the coast along to Norsman and then finally back home. Or we might go in the reverse direction, haven't made our minds up yet.

My first question is whether anyone has done the Great Central Road before with there caravan in tow, I have read that its basically a gravel highway with not to many corrugations, but im still a little cautious about the conditions.

Also if anyone can recommend any good camping spots, caravan parks and things to see and places/towns of interest to visit along the great central road, stuart highway & eyre highway.

Thanks

 

[millers]

Kavs,

We where in Alice October 2012 (Masters Games) and some of the people came over from WA via the Great Central Rd and where not happy. Tyres and windscreen damage and a rough ride. I beleive that they where critical of the NT side. Roads can be graded etc. so check this one out and get up to date info. Around Alice springs there is a lot to see and do (check tours and brochures as too many to list). The loop from Kings Canyon to Western McDonald Ranges was (in my opinion) not worth the trouble and Glen Helen was not a good caravan site. Check out camping ground up the road (Orminston Gorge). May mean a bit of back tracking if you go into Kings Canyon.

On the way down have a look at Cooper Pedy at least.

Cheers
smiller

 

[jeff]

These are a few spots we have camped at, they suited us as we would rather be in the bush than a carvan park. You may need to look hard to find the tracks that these bearings relate too, some will involve driving over drains to get off the road.

Lake Giles 33° 5' 17.538" S 136° 41' 29.3352" E - Camp off the road out of sight, may be a but damp in winter. Free camp
Nullabor 31° 32' 17.4912" s 130° 41' 35.5092 E - Free camp
Nullabor - there is a track that runs along the fence across the road from Nullabor Roadhouse that goes down to the Bight, good spot. - Free camp
Koonalda Homestead Road - 31° 34' 30.1' S 129° 54' 32.4" E - This gravel road runs to Koonalda Homestead, camping is available, you may have to pay a small fee now
Koonalda Camp 31° 36' 35.3" S 129° 43' 38.8" E - Free camp
Mundabilla Camp 31° 53' 44.17" S 127° 39' 42.6" E - Free camp
Madura Camp 31° 55' 45.8" S 126° 46' 32.06" E - Free Camp
Caiguna Camp 32° 14' 35.9" S 125° 32' 54.18" E - Free Camp
Balladonia Camp 32° 26' 13.9" S 124° 6' 15.93" E - Free Camp
Newman Rocks Camp 32° 6' 52.8" S 123° 10' 15.12" E - Free Camp
Norseman Camp (Old Mine Site) 32° 3' 25.29" S 122° 15' 36.7" E - Free Camp
Norseman Camp 2 31° 48' 59.15" S 121° 39' 55.12" E - Free Camp

There are numerous camp spots across the Nullabor if you wish to free camp. Most roadhouses have caravan parks where you can hook up to power, but don't expect water.

Caravan Park at Fraser Range is OK, you will pay more for showers and will be asked not to use your microwave

If you get a few spare days This is a great spot - www.wilpenapond.com.au - right in the heart of the Flinders Range National Park
The caravan park is great, there is a restaurant in the resort if you want to shout yourself a feed