Visited Lorella Springs last week. Campground is lovely – spacious with basic facilities which are fine. Unfortunately, while driving on one of their tracks, we had a stick go through our AC condenser and radiator causing the vehicle to breakdown and this is where Lorella Springs staff let us down severely. We asked if help was available – as there is a notice the Workshop is open 8 – 3 each day. The answer we got was “our mechanic is away for 10 days and he doesn’t like people touching his things”. We asked if we could purchase Knead-it/Body filler – but not even these basics were available. Requests to various staff were greeted with the same negative answer and no other assistance or advice provided. After a trip (with friends) to Borroloola to find the knead it and/or body filler the repairs didn’t work. The following morning we asked for use of the bar phone (as no mobile coverage) and were reluctantly granted use, which is timed and charged for. During a call to Katherine Toyota, an LS staff member interrupted to tell us we shouldn’t be using that phone. Our very good friends made the return trip to Katherine to collect a new radiator which had been sent overnight from Darwin to Katherine. We removed the old radiator, but the use of a pinch bar would have made it much easier (to separate the condenser from the radiator). A request for the use of a pinch bar from the workshop was also too much for LS to help with. One staff member announced on day 4 he was a ‘mechanic’ and would come down later with his tools, he didn’t appear. Also, their ground-maintenance person drove around the campsite every morning and could clearly see us working on the ute with the bonnet up for days (even waving at us!!!) – but hadn’t the interest or work ethic to ask if we needed any help. Surely there has to be some Duty of Care, even in the Bush? Where is the “Outback Way” in LS? We spoke with a few staff members and the attitude was always the same. We did not expect a full mechanical repair – but we did expect and hoped for a basic level of interest or help. We replaced the radiator and drove out after 5 days at the campground. Also dinner at $39 is not worth it – steak was tough and just about warm. This place needs Customer Service training and an attitude upgrade to bring it up to scratch – even for the Bush. Lovely property – just don’t expect any help if you have a problem.

We booked the most expensive room due to health issues, under the understanding it had at least basic tea/coffee facilities and A/C. We didn't need the AC, so that's fine but to even make ourselves a cuppa after 8pm and before 8am we had to use our own little camping gear (that we were not going to take as it was advertised as self contained) . After paying $220 each per night for 4 nights we decided $39 was a bit much for dinner for 4 nights so thankfully we had a few tins of beans etc. If the website was more honest we could have been better prepared and would not have paid that amount for our accommodation or stayed as long. The nice big room had a big bed a TV that didn't work, mine had a small bar fridge and a small table, that's it. The BBQ outside was handy but no kettle to boil for a cuppa or anything else. The helicopter flight we splurged out for our holiday was well worth it, the young pilot was wonderful, informative and very patient with my friend who has health issues. Top marks to him. Feeling disappointed in the only 4 days I have had off in a long time and my 'splurg' holiday really did not meet the price I paid for the room. The roads were what I expected and the places we visited were what I expected, just too much money for their top range room that did not deliver what they said.

We were sucked in by all the hype about Lorella Springs and the great 'wilderness adventure' with its abundance of wildlife across the 1 million ha property. The access and on-station roads/tracks were a disgrace, experienced 4x4 people were constantly being 'rescued' from deep-rutted sand-filled tracks (we counted three on the same day) - and charged $500 a time for the recovery. Toilet and shower facilities were filthy and some were over-flowing, Diesel was $2.50 a litre, evening meals were an eye-watering $39.95 (nothing cheaper). When a customer who paid top dollar for a self-contained cabin complained that the promised aircon, tv and other basic facilities were not as advertised, she was told she had an 'attitude problem'. We could go on ... Lorella Springs definitely is an experience! But it's definitely not one we would recommend.