Name: Basic bush camping, with amenities close by.
Item: Lorella Springs Wilderness Park
Rating: 2
Author: PeterJT46

8 - 13 of 127 reviews

Fiona C

Reviewed 23 July 2021

Unexpected adventure

We heard about Lorella Springs while chatting with other travelers on the Savannah Way. Our plan was to drop in for a night and visit the Lost City the next day. Well! 5 nights later after exploring Lorella Springs and camping out in the wilderness some nights, camping by the homestead and bathing in the warm springs, we reluctantly dragged ourselves out to see the Lost City (which is amazing).
Staff were welcoming and helpful, food was great, limited supplies and diesel available and a beautiful wilderness full of adventure and wildflowers to explore. Tracks 4WD and not for the feint hearted but fabulous.

Room tip: This is largely a BYO room for campers but I think there were cabins.

Date of stay: July 2021

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K8983WDlindac

Reviewed 22 July 2021

Very disappointing.

Dusty, dirty facilities, no bathroom sinks, no covid sanitation or signage, toilets and showers were not cleaned the entire time that we were there. No rubbish bins available in toilets, an outside tap at a bog hole sufficed for a sink for hundreds of people. Couldn't wash face, hands, teeth without water splashing out of mud. Very unhygienic! Nowhere to hang gear in most showers as facilities have not been maintained at all for what looks like season after season. No hot water unless donkey going, and that's ok, except to keep the donkey going, people needed to BYO firewood, from outside the park. Considering how much firewood was available in the park, a small amount could have been continuously stocked at the toilet block. At $25/person, and even in a remote area, this was not good. The sights were very disappointing. The waterholes were long since fouled up by visitors as the drier conditions set in. We did not swim in them. Nanny's Retreat still ok, but sheer numbers of tourists will rapidly make the condition of this waterhole poor, and it's a shame as humans can do without it, but wildlife cannot! Other sights were also not as claimed and the roads were atrocious in some areas to the point that people should have been warned just how bad they were and perhaps closed off until they could be attended to. The hard sell for Helicopter rides met us on arrival, and we did not appreciate the push to do them before we'd even checked in, along with sights that were not as we found them. Direction signage was poor, misleading and too small. We've done years of 4WD trips and remote area camping, dealt with the roughest of roads and poorest of camping facilities, but this far from met our expectations because it's sold as a highlight of an NT visit. It's grossly overated.

Date of stay: July 2021

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302alisab

Rylstone, Australia

Reviewed 19 July 2021

Major Privacy Issues

It is beautiful there. And for that alone I would recommend going. However I feel the need to share an unfortunate experience. There are huge privacy issues on the campgrounds. Especially with the hot showers. We were set up close to the wood fire block.
One of the teenage girls in our group had a man pull open the shower curtain ( a flimsy, cheap, ripped one fastened with a square of Velcro) whilst she was in there showering. He Opened it fully and had a good look at her before scampering off. Another one in our group saw someone leering to look at them on the toilet.
I brought the incident up with the cleaners (who were very sympathetic) and then to reception, only to get a response of “Wow, why would anyone want do that? That’s never happened before” I then asked if there were any showers available on the block with doors. And got a gruff “It’s on our to-do list along with a million other things, everything has to come from Darwin you know and it’s a very long way…” (a rather passive aggressive guilt trip for daring to ask). After being told that “it was our choice to shower there” Her advice was to use the colder central shower block instead which has female/male sections. I left bewildered and was later shocked to find out that this lady who unconsciously condoned questionable conditions, was one of the owners. 🥺
There was no apology or care towards our kids feeling violated at all. Just a dismissive “I get it”. And I’m saddened to see that this issue has been brought up in a previous review from 2 years ago. Everyone has a right to personal privacy. We left the following day feeling unheard and obsolete.
Lorella Springs is a beautiful spot with breathtaking scenery. And most of the staff there are more than accommodating. I just feel compelled to warn others of the potential risk that we unfortunately encountered there. This man was a visitor. And I fully accept that the owners have no control over his decision to invade ones personal space. But doors aren’t a huge ask. Even if they’re tin ones. Just something that can be secured. However after the response I got, I don’t see it ever happening. Just something to be wary of when visiting.

Date of stay: July 2021

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ThePugglz

Reviewed 14 July 2021

Great nature, but horrendous roads and too busy and expensive

The natural areas around Lorella are indeed nice. But there's a level of marketing hype that doesn't match the reality. Here's our experience in July 2021:

-The roads in are horrendous. Lorella's website says "when taking it slowly and with care most vehicles and caravans should have no problem being able to travel through.", which is completely misleading. The corrugations were absolutely horrendous, and the campground was a wasteland of busted caravans and cars. We saw vans with completely snapped suspension, two disabled cars, 15 shredded tyres, busted shower doors, cupboards, and the roads are littered with pieces that have fallen off vans and cars en-route. We've done plenty of 4wd travel, and this road is on par with the Tanami, or other remote tracks- it is wide, but in very poor condition- its most definitely NOT suitable for dragging a regular caravan through.
-Just accessing the main campsite involves a steep and rutted-out river crossing. With our large caravan, we needed 1st low range and the lockers on. A camper trailer or lighter & smaller van would be fine.
-The campsite was full. Think busy caravan park. That isn't Lorella's fault, but the claim "there's room for everyone" is misleading in that many stay at the campsite. That meant people playing music until 11pm, constant dust from the passing vehicles, and a feeling very different to being remote and away from it all.
-Its expensive for what you get- $51 for a family of four. Which gets you.. a dusty campsite and access to the property. Basic toilets and water. I appreciate Lorella is truly remote and its expensive to get supplies there- but they don't supply you with anything! Plenty of other camps in the NT charge around $20 for the same level of service, and are almost as remote.
-The tracks out around the property are decent 4wd tracks- no way you can take your regular car. Just 10 minutes from the camp you'll find deep bulldust and a deepish river crossing you need to navigate to get anywhere. So average speeds are slow, and it means it takes a long time to get anywhere- the most-popular attractions are around an 80km round trip from the main camp. Sure, you can try and camp at these sites (saving the round trip), but they were all full when we arrived. Yes, there's plenty of room on such a big property, but not at the popular/nice spots.
-All that said, IF you can escape the crowds, and you're properly equipped (NOT a regular caravan or 2wd), then there's some really nice natural areas. Certainly no better than Kakadu or Litchfield (for example), but the sense of adventure and achievement in getting to them is wonderful. But again, you need to escape the crowds, and realise what you're getting into...

Date of stay: July 2021

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bob b

Reviewed 13 July 2021 via mobile

Paradise in the Northern Territory

We are a couple so review will be from each of us.
My review: Lorella Springs is paradise. It has such diverse environments. One day you can be experiencing the majesty of million year old escarpments with aboriginal art, the next coastal Plains catching mudcrab. We spent 3 weeks at Lorella, some at the homestead, but most remote camping. The homestead has everything you want, hot showers, flushing toilets, cold drinks, friendly staff and a thermal pool to wash the dirt off. The campground is huge, so you don't feel like you are camping in each others lap, and has sections for generators, non generators and even nudists. But it was the remote camping that made it for me. You can camp anywhere you like and there are alot of places to like. The scenery matches if not succumbs both Litchfield and Kakadu national park. I will definitely be back but next time will be a little earlier in the year to catch the run off. A must see and do place, just keep in mind, you are in the middle of nowhere so don't expect city luxuries. Just sit back and enjoy what the outback has to offer. Loved it.
Ok part 2, if you want to see and live the ruggedness of the Northern Territory this is the place. Yep you do have a bit of a safety net, access to hot showers, flushing toilets and a bar and a rescue service.
I did hear a few people whine about some costs, eg fuel, simple buy jerry cans and fill them up and cart them with you.. then network service, well you are in the middle of the scrub, one hour out of Darwin and you don't get service, should be there enjoying the outback and forget the bid smoke. You got bogged in your 4 x4 , well stay on the black stuff or sell the 4x4. If you want those luxuries go club med or those other places and pay $1000 a day.
If you want to see some of the best countryside Australia has to offer and have fun doing it, this is the place to go. So get prepared and set off for an adventure, that's what this place is about

Room tip: Remember this is the outback not a resort. Choose the time of year to go depending on what you want to see due to weather influences. Just make sure you are prepared.

Date of stay: July 2021