Adelaide River Showground cheap camp review

Really good set up! And good value at $20 a night ($10 for no power). It's pretty much got everything you would want from a caravan park. All nice grassy areas with good shade etc. They have even put up shadecloth covers in a heap of spots to give extra shade over the sites.

There is a pool. The bathrooms are a bit old but they obviously put work into keeping them nice with shower caddies and curtains etc.

There is a couple of washing machines and a laundry tub. And a book exchange in the laundry area.

And from Thursday to Sunday they even have meals out there! There is an open sided pub sort of set up that is really nice (which is where they had the ANZAC day breakfast). Beers are a good price.

Banka Banka cheap camp review

Banka Banka Station.
Stayed one night, $8 per adult. Very relaxing and pleasant camp site. Could easily stay longer if you just wanted to sit back and relax for a breather on the trip.

Considering that it is not even really tourist season up here it is amazing that all of a sudden there are caravans everywhere! There were at least 15 other vans ranging from just a couple to a family but apparently in tourist season they have about 120people each night and shut the gates mid afternoon cos they are full! I'm not surprised.

Lush green grass with not a prickle to be found! They are on a fresh water spring just 14foot under ground. The water tastes great and they make sure they keep the place nice and green. There was a bit of shade from a tree for most of the vans (well, the ones that arrived early!) and good amenities. If you are keen for a walk there is apparently a nice waterhole for swimming but it's about 2km from the camp area (closer by car down the highway i found out later).

The laundry facilites are basic but i did not even expect a washing machine and there were two and at $2 a load i can't even complain about the frogs that went along for the ride in with the clothes :)

The managers are friendly and they run a slide show each evening that is really interesting. There is a kiosk for beer and a packet of chips or a loaf of bread etc. There is no power but you can run your generator during the day.

Fill your water tank up when you leave.

Devil's Marbles cheap camp review

Devils Marbles Campground (National Parks).
Stayed one night. $3.30 per adult.

Great facilities with toilets, little wood fire BBQ areas, picnic tables that also double as a platform for your swag, several little bays with a shady tree to camp under etc.

And right smack bang in the middle of the Marbles with walking trails and information boards etc.

You might encounter a few flies! But you get that.

Wal's Camp review

Wal's Camp, Cloncurry.

Stayed 1 night. $10 a night for the site for up to 2 people. Kids (not infants) are an extra $2 a night. I think that if you had to pay more than $10 a night it would be getting close to not being worth it during hot weather. A bit cooler and probably not so bad. And if there were a bunch of other travellers there to chat with around the (basic) camp kitchen then it might have more atmosphere.

For a cheap camp it is pretty good but if you want grassed areas and decent shade then head to a van park. There are a number of thin trees that do give some shade, and the camp kitchen area has a nice shaded roof area so there is certainly shade but i think the gravel of the camp just radiates heat and we were there on a stinking hot day.

There is a fire place and a couple of picnic tables. (note that the fridge in the picture does not work! It's just a cupboard). Big troughs you can use to wash up in if you cart the water. You can run your own generator for power or if you stay a full week you can pay extra for power.

The toilets and showers are pretty decent. They are in a converted shipping container but are nice and clean with ample space.

In all honesty i would probably choose a van park next time but i think the extra advantage of power and grass and a pool for the kids makes the difference for us.

Crystal Creek NP review

Big Crystal Creek, Paluma NP.
Stayed 2 nights. Standard Qld NP charges of $4.35 per person which is great value for such a beautiful camp site.

The road in is a little pot-holey but not much of an issue. And it is incredibly only about 5km off the highway even though it feels like you are miles away. There is no mobile phone reception for either Optus or Telstra Next G.

Lots of trees and a decent amount of grass. Lots of big ants though and it was flying bug city! LOL! But the mortein coils kept the bugs away from camp just fine.

There are a heap of little bays and nooks for each van with a lot of them having a picnic table or a water tap. The water is not drinkable so it's just for washing etc.

The toilets and cold showers are at one end of the camping area and while they are not flash they are pretty good for a national park and much better than the standard we are used to in NSW parks.

There is also a large day use area with free BBQs.

The creek is glorious and the scenery and bushwalks in the area are lovely.

Marlborough Hotel review

Marlborough Hotel.
Stayed 1 night. $4 per person (including Jordy) to use the facilities.

There is a large grassed area with a couple of big trees in the back of the pub. For $4 you can use the toilets and showers but there is no water or power.

The hotel itself is nice enough (see Tim's CRAP review) for meals and whatever but not really cheap if your plan is to save money.

Convenient location as an overnight stop. If you have kids under 4 that are free at a van park but you get charged for them at Marlborough then it might be borderline as to whether it is worth it if you can keep travelling through, but for a single or couple it was good value.