Our Darwin to Melbourne Campervan Adventures

After our Japan Campervan adventures last December, Ann and I have been yearning for another Campervan holiday. We googled, researched and we finally decided to do a big road trip in Australia from the top end of Darwin to Melbourne.

All 4000 kilometres. No itinerary.

We partnered with Mighty Campers and got away with some great deals. As usual, friends and family have been asking us about our campervan road trip.

Below are some of the highlights of our trip!

Darwin

We flew via Jetstar direct to Darwin where we reach in the early morning and proceeded to Mighty Campers to pick up our Britz 2 Berth Venturer which is an upgrade to one of their sister’s campervan companies.

The staff took their time to explain to us the in and outs of the vehicle, and after feeling very comfortable we strapped our seatbelts and away we went.

• Check out: Explore Australia with Mighty Campers

We headed to the nearest supermarket in Coolalinga to stock up on our necessities and it is highly recommended you buy all your needs here as prices can triple in the outback!

Kakadu National Park

Bowali Visitor Centre

We drove towards Kakadu National Park and the first place we visited was the Bowali Visitor Centre in a town named Jabiru. Here you can find information and tips to navigate the national park.

• Tip: You can get your Kakadu National Park passes here too!

The staff would let you know the sites that are open for the season to make your planning a breeze.

Kakadu Lodge

We googled for campervan parks with powered sites and we found one with a huge swimming pool in the sweltering heat of the Northern Territory of Australia that we just had to make a booking at Kakadu Lodge.

It is a 3 min drive from Jabiru town centre, boasts tropical landscaped gardens in the heart of Kakadu National Park with many places of interests nearby.

For us, the lagoon styled pool was the deal clincher in the heat of summer! We had a dip in the pool, cooked dinner and rested for the night after the day’s drive.

View Kakadu Lodge rates Here

Ubirr Rock Art

The next day after a good night’s sleep, we headed out to Ubirr early in the morning to avoid the summer heat. Ubirr consists of a group of rocky outcrops where the highlight of this place would be the Aboriginal Rock Art found throughout the area.

The Rock Art here is known to be one of the best in Australia and it depicts life in the outback when the Aboriginal people first encountered Europeans!

If time is on your side, do stay for sunset at the top of the rocky outcrop!

Warradjan Cultural Centre

After viewing the Ubirr Rock Art, we drove to Warradjan Cultural Centre, a must-see museum of the way of life of the Aborigines.

The museum consists of informational videos, as well as artifacts and stories the traditional owners of the land, want to share with the visitors.

It was a very educational and informative place to start our Northern Territory adventure. Both Ann and I were pleased that we made the trip to this place.

Katherine Holiday Park

We continued our journey and headed towards Katherine Holiday Park where we stayed the night. There are many caravan parks in this town but we chose Katherine Holiday Park as it was one of the quietest and away from the main road.

We grilled a steak dinner. Washed up and just rest from the driving we had done. It has been an amazing road trip so far and we cannot wait for more adventures to come.

We did a little research to find out more about the places of interest and happily slept in our campervan under the stars!

You can view more on Katherine Holiday Park Here.

Mataranka Hot Spring

The next day, we headed to Katherine town centre where we stocked up on our groceries and away we went to Mataranka Hot Spring which is about an hour’s drive.

We have seen this place many times on our Instagram feed and felt that we just needed to see the place for ourselves and have a dip in the clear water pool.

We spent most of our day here at Mataranka as the weather was way warmer than the hot spring which is a relief from the sweltering sun.

Midland Caravan Park

We planned to drive to Tennant Creek for our next sleep stop but as we were too tired from all the fun we had at Mataranka, we decided to rest at Midland Caravan Park in Elliot which was in the middle of nowhere and pretty much away from civilization. 😛

However, we had one of the best nights here as the owner of the Caravan park allowed us to have an open fire to cook our meals and have a mini BBQ. I collected some dry wood, started my mini BBQ fire to the rolling eyes of Ann.

The park is also very quiet at night and we had one of the best sleep.

The only downside though would be the diesel prices at the attached mini-mart. Petrol and diesel prices are double away from the big towns and cities.

Karlu Karlu aka Devil’s Marbles

The next day we headed towards Tennant Creek, had a mini pit stop and planned to visit the Aboriginals Heritage Centre but it was closed when we reached.

We then proceeded to drive towards Karlu Karlu aka Devil’s Marbles. The Devil’s Marbles are natural rock formations which are of great spiritual and cultural significance to the Aboriginal people of the area.

Like its name, the area was hot as hell when we came but the Devil was nowhere in sight. 😛 Nevertheless, Ann and I had some fun snapping photos and learning a thing or two about the place at the information centre.

Tropic of Capricorn

We passed by the Tropic of Capricorn line and we were amazed that no one stops here to check it out. However, being a Capricorn myself, we parked the van and snapped a few photos.

There was nothing much there anyway except for the Tropic of Capricorn marker. We then proceeded towards Alice Springs.

Alice Springs

We googled a few places and decided to head to Wintersun Cabin & Caravan Park. The caravan park is gated and has a pool. The front desk staff we met were very friendly and gave us tips for our campervan adventure.

We did not do much in Alice Springs except to stock up on groceries, rest and hang out with some grannies from the Netherlands who were doing a campervan trip too. We are amazed that you are never too old to go on a road trip adventure in Australia.

Check out Wintersun Cabin & Caravan Park Here.

Uluru Ayers Rock

The next day, we drove to Uluru Ayers Rock Campground and checked in to the only Caravan Powered Site in the area. As this is a hot tourist spot, prices for anything and everything is quite steep.

• Tip: Plan and buy your groceries in Alice Springs as well as fuel up the campervan too before heading to Uluru Ayers Rock

That afternoon we headed to Ayers Rock to catch the spectacular sunset and we were not disappointed. Finally, after only seeing the Uluru Ayers Rock on TV and magazines, Ann and I get to see it in person Rock! 😛

Words failed us. You have to visit Uluru Ayer Rocks to really immerse yourself in the beauty of this place.

Ranger Guided Mala Walk

We stayed another night at Uluru Ayers Rock and the next morning we headed back to the rock for the Ranger Guided Mala Walk.

A park ranger took a group of us for a complimentary walk along Uluru Ayers Rock, telling us stories of the Mala people who used to live at the rock. We learnt a thing or two about the Anangu Culture, Rock Art and other personal stories from the Park Ranger.

A highly entertaining and informative guided walk that we highly suggest you not to miss it.

That afternoon, we went to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural centre (just beside Uluru Ayers Rock) to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the magnificent place. We drove to visit Kata Tjuta too for sunset but it rained heavily when we reached.

Nevertheless, we still had an enjoyable time here.

On a side note, do carry some cash with you for emergency purposes. While we at Uluru Ayers Rock, there was a storm which knocked out the telecoms. There was no phone network, no data, ATMs and credit card machines did not work.

Many people were stuck at Uluru Ayers Rock because they got no cash to pump their petrol as well as get groceries. And they could not call anyone for help either.

As for Ann, she immersed herself with a book while I stared into thin air after a round of laundry. 😛

Coober Pedy

Our next adventure stop was the world-renowned Opal Mining Town of Coober Pedy. We stayed at a popular family-run caravan park named Oasis Tourist Park. The park is clean, with shaded parking for our campervan which is a blessing, and has a pool plus many other amenities. The owner even gave us a BIG4 discount even though the park is not affiliated.

• Note: BIG4 is a network of caravan holiday parks in Australia. Mighty Campers drivers receive 10% off for staying at any of the affiliated parks.

Coober Pedy is known as the Opal Capital of the world for the opals found there as well as the underground attractions/residences that scattered the land which was built due to the hot scorching daytime heat.

Pitch Black’s Spaceship

@vindiesel left his spaceship behind #pitchblackmovie #mightycampers #cooberpedy #roadtrip #southaustralia #campervan #travelblogsingapore #vanlife #travel

A post shared by Fat Starfish (@fatstarfish_) on Dec 3, 2018 at 3:53am PST

Coober Pedy was also one of the towns that were used as a location for the Pitch Black movie starring Vin Diesel. The remnants of Riddick’s spaceship is still there for an Instagram-worthy photo.

Many of our Sci-Fi loving friends were in awe as we shared this photo via our Instagram. Do follow us too! 🙂

Umoona Opal Mine & Museum

We decided to learn more about Coober Pedy and headed to Umoona Opal Mine & Museum. It is the largest single underground tourist attraction and a must-visit place in Coober Pedy. The museum offers group tours, underground accommodation, an opal shop as well as photos and artifacts of Coober Pedy yesteryears.

Eric, the Pliosaur fossils are also found here at Umoona.

Every morning at 10 am, Rudy, a former miner of Coober Pedy will give a one-time-only guided tour of the museum after which he will be done for the day. We highly suggest going for Rudy’s guided tour as he gives insights into the life of an opal miner back during his time. You can ask questions and Rudy will answer to the best of his knowledge.

Rudy was the shining gem of the museum with his vast knowledge of Coober Pedy. We had a very informative and personalized tour as there was no one that morning to join us.

Adelaide

The Lochiel Monster on my all-boys road trip in 2003

The next day we drove towards Adelaide, passed by Port Augusta, and reached Lake Bumbunga just after sunset. This is the first time on our campervan road trip that we did not check in to a Caravan Powered Site as I wanted to show Ann the Lochness Monster named Lochiel, an art installation made of used car tires at Lake Bumbunga during sunrise.

I have seen it before during a road trip with my friends.

However, to our disappointment, the Lochiel Monster has been vandalized and it is no longer there. 🙁 We then proceeded towards Adelaide where we bought Lamb Chops to cheer ourselves up.

We did not stay long in Adelaide as the city was bustling with cars in the early morning rush hour and both Ann and I have been to Adelaide before so we decided to skip it.

Pink Lake

We took the scenic Southern Ocean Drive instead of the direct route and passed by Pink Lake. The Pink Lake is the result of high salinity combined with the presence of an algae species known as Dunaliella salina and pink bacteria known as halobacteria.

It was like our own huge strawberry shortcake and we would want to gobble it all up!

Mount Gambier

Pine Country Caravan Park

We reached Mount Gambier just before sunset but many of the Caravan Powered Sites were already closed. We drove around and the husband and wife owners of Pine Country Caravan Park welcomed us with open arms even though they were closed for the day.

We were very grateful to Nathan and his wife Emma for welcoming us and even gave us tips on Mount Gambier as well as sharing his favourite places to dine in the area.

Pine Country Caravan Park is undergoing a facelift but all is well when we there. The park is clean, very spacious, pet-friendly and we hang out with some of the permanent residents there. One permanent resident, named Rudy even invited us fishing. If you are looking for a personal tour guide or fishing buddy, just look for Rudy on house 37!

Check out Pine Country Caravan Park rates Here

Umpherston Sinkhole

Spot Ann in the photo

The Umpherston Sinkhole is a spectacular Sunken Garden formed by the dissolution of limestone. The sinkhole was formed when the top of the chamber collapsed downwards.

James Umpherston created a beautiful garden in 1886 and it is now one of the must-visit places in Mount Gambier. Ann and I spent a few hours here soaking in the flora and fauna as well as the possums that have made this place their home.

Blue Lake

Another top attraction in Mount Gambier would be the Blue Lake. It is one of the many crater lakes created many centuries ago by volcanic activities in the area.

Scientists till today have not figured out the exact cause of the Blue phenomenon. There are many activities to do here such as cycling, having a picnic or just have a stroll. We spent our afternoon here strolling by the parks and snapping photos.

The Main Corner Complex

If you are really interested to know more about the geographical history of Australia, head to The Main Corner Complex in the heart of the city in Mount Gambier.

Here, the hour-long Volcano documentary features the history of Australia and the various tectonics movement of the country. The complex also hosts several art exhibitions throughout the year so you can enjoy a little bit of history as well as view some works of art.

Best of all, it is all complimentary!

Great Ocean Road

A road trip in Australia is not complete without driving the Great Ocean Road. Ann and I have been to the Great Ocean Road countless times but this is our first time together.

We visited the London Arch, 12 Apostles and many other limestone formations along this popular coastal route. We highly suggest that you visit this place at least once in your lifetime as the constant erosion of the rocks is causing many of the features of the Great Ocean Road to diminish over time.

The 12 Apostles, although started with 9, is only left with 8! And the others getting smaller by the day.

NRMA Port Campbell Holiday Park

We drove along the coastal route and ended up at NRMA Port Campbell Caravan Park. Here, we went for long walks along Port Campbell River and beachfront which is just opposite the park.

It is also 10 mins drive to the 12 Apostles and 3 hours away from Melbourne. We spent our afternoons lazing around, watching the greenery as well as the birds that flock to the river to feed.

If only life is this simple. 🙂

Check out NRMA Port Campbell rates Here

Lorne Beach

We have been driving the coastal route the past few days that we decided to have a dip in it. Although it is summer in Australia and the weather is hot, the waters off it are extremely cold to our Asian feet.

Nevertheless, Ann and I changed to our swimming suits had a little swim and picnic at Lorne Beach. We had an enjoyable time here away from the busier beaches along the route.

Apollo Bay Fishermen Co-op

Apollo Bay Fishermen Co-op is renowned for its Fish & Chips and it did not disappoint us when we came with our grumbling tummies.

It is situated overlooking the Apollo Bay Harbour where the fishermen will deliver their freshest catch to the shop and battered deep fried to perfection.

Ann and I had the Fishermen’s Basket for 2 as well as half a dozen of fresh oysters and of course not forgetting Australia’s owned Bundaberg Ginger Beer.

Great lunch, great views and of course great company! Nothing more I can ask for.

Melbourne

Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park

We finally made our way to Melbourne and could not believe that our Australia campervan road trip is ending! We checked in to Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park in Coburg which is about 20 minutes away from the city.

• Tip: Don’t forget to ask for your 10% discount if you are driving with Mighty Campers

The holiday park was one of the best we had stayed throughout our trip. It has many facilities such as gym, swimming pools and even an entertainment centre with movie screenings throughout the day.

Check out Big4 Melbourne Holiday Park rates Here

Places to Eat in Melbourne

We have been to Melbourne countless times that Ann and I have a motto we live by, “We never plan for Melbourne, Melbourne will plan for us.”

Every time we are here, our phones will keep on ringing with messages from friends and relatives in Melbourne who are always eager to meet up and we are very thankful for that. Therefore, our schedule for Melbourne is always very packed and busy.

However, we would like to share some of the restaurants and cafes we checked out on this trip.

Lune Croissanterie

Voted as the best croissants in the world, Ann and I just had to check this place out. Situated in a huge warehouse in Fitzroy, we came early in the morning to try out their best selling croissants that get sold out very fast every day.

Flaky, crispy, and buttery goodness and shaped to perfection like an OCD person making croissants, we were in awe of this French pastry by Lune Croissanterie.

It was so good that Ann even bought some to take away that comes in a cool-looking box. Highly recommended and we suggest you get the plain butter croissants as well as the Pain Au Chocolate.

Makoto Sushi Train

Tuna Kuro Tobiko Rose

We were having some sushi cravings and fate brought us to Makoto Sushi Train situated at Melbourne Central which is highly accessible to many.

Makoto Sushi Train has an array of sushi, great friendly service and the prices are reasonable for a restaurant. My personal favourite sushi is the Tuna Kuro Tobiko Rose pictured above which they used a piece of tuna sashimi to wrap the rice instead of seaweed and topped with fish roe!

Laksa Bar

Last but not least, one of our favourite places to visit in Melbourne would be the Laksa Bar on Little Lonsdale Street. We have been here a couple of times and it rarely disappoints.

Our fave dishes to order here would be the Soft Shell Crab Laksa as well as the Char Kway Teow (stir-fried noodles). Laksa Bar has always been our Go To place for lunch in Melbourne or to meet up with friends.

Do check it out if you are into Asian cuisine or craving for some great Asian food.

End of Our Australia Campervan Adventure

So here are the highlights of our itinerary-less campervan road trip adventure from the top end of Darwin to Melbourne. We could not believe that 16 days just passed by us in a flash.

Nevertheless, we still had tons of fun, learned a lot about Australia, and had experiences that no amount of money can buy.

After driving down Australia from the north to the south, we were informed that driving from the east to the west or around Australia is a longer route and another adventure we should check out. 🙂

Probably another campervan adventure for another time! And we will definitely do it again.

Special thanks to Mighty Campers for making this adventure happen. Do check them out for your Australia or New Zealand campervan road trips.

Till then, Safe travels wherever you are. 🙂

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