Adventure

The Coral Coast is famous for the 1100 kilometres of white beaches, coral reefs, relaxed towns and outback desert. You can swim with whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef, get insights into the geological history of the planet, and visit the stunning Kalbarri National Park with jaw-dropping cliffs and gorges. The recommendation is to take at least 10 days to see the Coral Coast, and travelling with a caravan or a camper trailer is easily the best way to make the most of the opportunity and enjoy some brilliant campsites along the way.

Everything you need to know to visit Esperance

Located on the south coast of Western Australia, Esperance is one of Australia’s secret, most beautiful gems. With incredible white beaches, untouched scrub land, and dozens of offshore islands, it makes a great place for a caravan or camper trailer holiday.

A seven-hour road trip from Perth, you can also get to Esperance by air with Virgin Australia, or on the six times a week buses. It will be well worth your while, but with no local public transport, going by car, trailer, or caravan is probably your best bet.

Things to do in Esperance

• Visit the Pink Lake: Though sometimes more white than pink, be sure not to get this stunning location confused with Lake Hillier on Middle Island – also worth visiting at just a six-hour boat ride away. Natural water flow has reduced the salt level at Pink Lake – but it’s still an unusual and impressive site.
• Have a swim or relax on a beach: With vibrant blue water, amazing ocean views, beautiful wetlands, and unique plant life – Esperance’s beaches are reason enough to stop by … for at least a week or three. The beaches can be found all along the 38-kilometre Great Ocean Drive. You’ll definitely want to stop and check out Twilight Bay, with its sculpted rock formations, and Lucky Bay with its super-fine sand. Kangaroos often like to hang out at Lucky Bay, just near the camping ground.
• Visit the Esperance Museum: All the quaint old buildings along Dempster Street are worth a peek. The tiny Methodist Church was built in 1895, and other old buildings have been re-purposed into relaxing cafes. Definitely pop by the town museum. Open only in the afternoon, you’ll have to be quick in order to check all it’s curios, the steam train, and the antiquated machinery.
• Check out the power turbines: Located a short drive to the west of the town, the wind turbines are an impressive site from a distance, but almost intimidating close-up.
• Visit Stonehenge: No, we haven’t got that wrong. Esperance has its own, smoother version of Stonehenge. A full-size replica weighing 2,500 tonnes, and just like the local lake – a little bit pink, this site is just a 15 minute drive out of town. A great time to visit is at sunrise or sunset – especially during the summer or winter solstice.
• Have a beer: Stop by at one of the local pubs which haven’t lost any of their character, and get yourself a locally-made craft beer and a generous lunch.

Where to stay

There are dozens of wonderful caravan parks to stay at in Esperance, all with amazing views and at least the basic facilities. Esperance Seafront Caravan Park is located two kilometres from town and includes caravan and tent sites, as well as cute little cabins, a BBQ area, wireless Internet, and a well-equipped kitchen.

Esperance Bay Holiday Park is a smaller park within walking distance of the town. It also includes laundries, a TV room, a BBQ area, and a small children’s playground.

If you’d like to get away from the crowd, you can try Alexander Bay, in Cape Le Grand National Park and Thomas River in Cape Arid National Park, though you’ll be happy to know that the whole region is off the beaten track, and quiet. The Cape Le Grand is 57 kilometres to the east of Esperance, and there are plenty of opportunities for swimming, surfing, boating, and fishing. The Thomas River camping area is 8.6 kilometres along Thomas River Road, and you’ll need your own water and stove. You’ll be impressed by the display of bird life and flora in the area.

When to go

Visit Esperance in the summer, when temperatures are warm and you won’t be interrupted by rain. In the winter months, typical highs are around 18 degrees, and rain is more common.

The Bungle Bungles are an amazing range of rock formations located at the Purnululu National Park in the Kimberley. Over 450 square km in size and up to 300m in height, they formed due to erosion from wind and water over millions of years. The domes are known for their orange tiger stripe pattern which is the combination of mineral deposits and algae.

Although the land nearby is arid, the Bungle Bungles are an oasis of life, boasting over 200 different plant species, and more than 130 recorded species of birds, from rainbow bee-eaters to emus. The range is a protected world heritage site, and draws over 40,000 visitors each year.

Getting to the Bungle Bungles can be difficult, as the last 50km of road towards Purnululu is only accessible by 4WD. If you’re thinking about camping, make sure to bring a camper trailer that can keep up with the tough Australian environment.

Top Attractions Near the Bungle Bungles

Discover the unique history of the area with a guided tour, fly over in a helicopter or light plane, or explore on foot yourself. There are so many amazing sights to see at Purnululu:

• Echidna Chasm:Walk through a narrow chasm 200m deep, famed for its livistona palms and impressive boulders. At certain points the walls are close enough to touch both sides at once. Get there just before midday to catch the sun lighting up the chasm walls.
• Piccaninny Creek:Explore the Bungle Bungle range by walking along this dry river bed. Trails include a day trip (7km return walk) or overnight camp (30km return). You can also visit the lookout only 1.4km from the car park, providing excellent sunset views over the Bungle Bungle range.
• Mini Palms Trail:This trail is a 5km return walk, with brilliant views of the deepest part of the gorge, as well as an arena of rocks and palms. Toilets and a shaded picnic area can also be found at the nearby Bloodwoods carpark.
• Cathedral Gorge:This breathtaking natural rock amphitheatre was formed by a whirlpool over millions of years. A waterfall cascades down into the centre during the wet season, and in the dry season a pool remains in the shade of overhanging rock.

Where to Stay

Offsite

Spring Creek Rest Area is a little known free campsite near the turnoff to Purnululu. It’s a shady place near the river, and has toilets and an area to dump rubbish. Wooden BBQ’s are available, and there’s plenty of wildlife to see and walking trails to explore.

Bungle Bungle Caravan Park is located roughly 55km West of Purnululu. It includes powered and non-powered caravan sites, as well as excellent camp sites. Amenities include toilets, showers and hot water. Storage for caravans and camper trailers is also available.

Onsite

Camping close to the Bungle Bungles can be an amazing experience. These camping sites come equipped with drop toilets and bore water taps, but no showers. Supplies aren’t sold in the park, so make sure you bring enough food and water for your stay.The Walardi Campsite in the south is nearer to Cathedral Gorge, Piccaninny Creek and the Bungle Bungles. Separated into two areas – one for campers with generators and one for campers without, the generator area is also utilised for tours and helicopter flights.

The Kurrajong Campsite is in the north and split into three areas: a quiet area, one where generators are allowed and a tour group area. It’s closer to the Echidna Chasm and Mini Palms walk, and has its own sunset lookout.

When to Visit

Purnululu Park opens late in April, at the end of the wet season. Depending on the weather, it remains open from April to the end of December, but the visitor centre and camps close by Mid-October.

June to August is peak season, so its best to go as early as possible and beat the rush of tourists. Make sure you’re prepared for the cold, as during winter the temperature can easily drop below zero at night.

The weather warms up after that, and by October the temperature can get as high as 50°C! The whole park may close early because of heat or wet weather, or even temporarily due to bush fires. May is the best time to visit the Bungles, but even if the park is closed you can still fly overhead at any time.

Invest in the Right Caravan or Camper Trailer

If you’re planning a trip to the Bungle Bungles, make sure your caravan or camper trailer is built to handle the Aussie outback.

At PMX Campers we’re passionate about providing the best gear that’s custom-built for Australian environments. So contact us today and see our camping options.

Darwin – Why You Need to Visit With Your Camper Trailer

If you’ve never been to the capital of the Northern Territory, then maybe it’s time to put it on your list as your next destination? For lovers of natural landscapes and the outdoors, there are few better destinations. Darwin and its surrounding areas are literally teeming with natural beauty and untouched wilderness. And the best way to explore this breathtaking environment is by staying right in the thick of it, in your camper trailer.

Why you should go

Aside from the natural beauty, Australia’s top end enjoys warm weather all year round, making it the perfect destination for campers. There’s so much to see and do up there, from national parks to wetlands, to fishing and lots of great hikes. Taking a camper trailer allows you to get the most out of your trip. You can see more attractions and move between different bases as you explore.

Where you should stay

There are many different sites around Darwin to choose from, depending on your budget, needs and what you want to see. But here’s a small selection of camp grounds in different locations to help you decide.

Corroboree Park Tavern

The site is located on expansive bushland, near local wetlands and rivers systems, approximately halfway between Kakadu and Darwin. A big selling point of this campground is its proximity to the Adelaide and Mary river systems and the on site tavern. Rumour has it that they serve up a great pub meal and a nice cold beer.

Litchfield Safari Camp

If you’ve spent any time researching natural attractions in Darwin, then you’ll have heard mention of the Litchfield National Park. This camp is a great base for exploring the national park, located just a few kilometres from the Wangi Falls on the western edge of Litchfield National Park.

Mount Bundy Station

Fancy waking up to river views, surrounded by fantastic bushland? Then Mount Bundy Station is the place to be. Its slogan is ‘where the tropics meet the outback’ and is either nearby or en-route to attractions like Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk at Katherine and Daly River.

Darwin Boomerang Caravan Park

If you want to check out the sights in Darwin itself then this caravan park is one of the best rated in Australia. It’s only 20 minutes from the Darwin CBD but features beautiful tropical gardens and shady trees, perfect for nature lovers.

What you should see and do

There are loads of great attractions in Darwin and its surrounding areas, for the whole family. Take a hike in the Litchfield or Kakadu National Parks and check out the waterfalls. Go bird watching in the mangroves and wetlands. For any keen fishermen out there, Darwin has a world class reputation for fishing in the rivers, wetlands, and ocean. Take a day to cruise around the iconic Katherine Gorge or visit the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. You’ll find it hard to fit everything you want to do in. The best part about visiting Darwin with a camper trailer is that you can move your base every few nights to get the most out of the whole area.

Take a camper trailer

There’s really no better way to appreciate the incredible natural beauty of Darwin and the Top End, than by sitting out under the stars in a national park. Taking a camper trailer with you as you travel, allows you to get the most out of the experience. If you don’t own a camper trailer already, then there are some great options available for first timers. Make sure you find a company that is just as passionate about the outdoors as you are, like PMX Campers.