Announcing the “BEST OF” our Outback Aussie Camping Adventure, Winter, 2024

Now our 16,000km “Across The Centre – through the Pilbara – across the Gibb River Road and home via the Stuart, Barkly Highways and the Matilda Way” (phew) is over, it is time for a “BEST OF” round up!

And yes, we travelled the Outback Way, Adventure Way, Barcoo Way, Strzelecki Track, Oodnadatta Track, Stuart and Lasseters Highway and a fair chunk of Australia’s Longest Shortcut! Not in that order.

Here’s our run down and recommendations for your future trips … including Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland, covering a whole lot of dirt and a Black Stump. So grab your CAMPS books, a highlighter and a cuppa, and let’s get to it!

Fave town
– Mitchell, Blackall, Tambo and Augathella, QLD
Most RV friendly
– Proston – Augathella (both QLD)
Hike
– Manning Gorge, WA (plus billabong near Kynuna and Longreach, QLD)
Pub
– Innamincka, Morven, Blue Heeler, Kynuna, QLD
Best Live Music
– Barkly Homestead, NT
Most surprising
– Croc feed Timber Creek, NT and Kumarina Roadhouse, WA
Waterfalls
– Galvans Gorge, Manning, Fern Pool at Karijini (all WA)
Worst Road
– last 30 km Gibb E end (but the road from Newman to Marble Bar was ordinary, too!) All WA
Museum and tour
– underground hospital, Mt Isa, QLD
Big thing
– Big Stubby, Pink Panther Hotel, Larrimah, NT
Best Caravan Park
– Timber Creek, NT and Wyndham, WA and their “Biggest Boab in captivity”
Best drive
– Wyndham, WA; Painted Desert, SA and London Bridge, Brewery, Sandstone WA
Historical site
– Giles Weather Station, WA
Trivia
– the only trivia was at Innamincka Hotel, SA and we won!
Coffee
– Bambino’s Mt Isa, QLD
Burger
– The Central Hotel, Leonora, WA
Hot spa
– Bitter Springs, NT but loved them all – Running Waters Waterhole, WA
Best Beach
– Pender Bay, Barn Hill (but we saw very little coastline, and only WA)
Best priced steak
– Morven Hotel, QLD – Waterhole
Best waterfall swim
– Manning Gorge, WA

Plus:
Fuel Best $1.89 and worst fuel $3.60 per L