Spent many hours researching yesterday & came across a number of Stations which provide free or for a charge "powered" sites......anyone have any good recommendations on these...was very impressed with the "fast & informative" reply that I received from Curtin Station.

PS have always thought I'd like to experience the "Station" life for a time....does that sound crazy??  might have something to do with being raised on a small farm!!

-- Edited by Patricia on Wednesday 6th of May 2009 02:27:44 PM

It's a great life! I miss it. Many stations have some facilities for powered and unpowered sites. They offer camping space, tucker and sometimes fuel for a couple hours of chores for each of the days you are there. Some charge for the space but you don't have to work. It may be gardening, cooking or some maintenance around the homestead compound. Some may pay instead of "in-kind" reward, but either way, you're in front for the experience. You will have to phone or email to make arrangements, and get specific directions. Some of the station gates are hard to find, and you need to get some information on the condition of the station access road. While road trains and 4WD's do it all the time, your caravan may not be up to the challenge. You sometimes may get one of the station crew to show you around the "paddock", to see country not seen by many others. You may get to go for a run with the boreman while he services windmills, pumps and bores. Or you may get to do a couple days fencing, or other paddock maintenance, such as scrubbing troughs. Depending on the time of the year, you may even get to help with mustering or shearing shed work. It's all out there, and all you have to do is ask. Most station operators, owners or managers welcome visitors, even entertaining visitors, sharing the hospitatility over a bbq or dinner in the main house or cook house with the station hands. It's a great experience. Always phone ahead and ask. It may not be convenient to have visitors at the busiest time of the year. But all you have to do is ask. No payment has been received in the making of this PR exercise for Australia's outback stations. Cheers Chris - Former Kimberley Cattle Station Housekeeper, Gardener, Cook and occasional Boreman's Offsider.

I agree with everything granny has stated and just like to add that everytime we have rolled up to a station we have been welcomed with open arms and have enjoyed many memorable nights by the big fireplaces with all the "wags'