Penong Caravan Park – Penong, South Australia

A Friendly and Affordable Caravan Park at the Gateway to the Nullarbor

For travellers heading west from Ceduna toward the Nullarbor, Penong Caravan Park is one of the most convenient places to stop before the distances between towns and services become considerably greater. Located at 4 Stiggants Road, Penong, the caravan park sits directly opposite the town’s famous Windmill Museum and the third hole of the Nullarbor Links golf course. The park offers powered and unpowered caravan sites, large drive-through sites and five ensuite cabins, together with a camp kitchen, laundry facilities, dump point and pet-friendly camping. Most importantly for travellers preparing to cross the Nullarbor, Penong Caravan Park describes itself as the last opportunity for reliable potable water before the Nullarbor, making this an excellent place to fill your tanks before continuing west.

Penong Caravan Park Overview (App. rates as at Aug 26)

Camping at Penong Caravan Park

Penong Caravan Park is particularly well suited to caravanners making the long journey across the Nullarbor. There are numerous powered and unpowered sites, with most caravan sites configured as drive-through sites. There’s also plenty of room for large caravans, motorhomes, buses and other big rigs. This can be particularly convenient after a long day on the Eyre Highway because you may not need to unhitch or manoeuvre your caravan into a tight site.

How Much Does Camping Cost?

Penong Caravan Park currently publishes the following starting rates:

South Australia’s official tourism listing also states that children under eight staying on sites are free.

Prices can change, so confirm the current tariff when making your reservation.

Do You Need to Book?

Bookings are available directly through Penong Caravan Park and are recommended during busy travelling periods. The park’s booking system allows you to specify whether you require a powered or unpowered site, whether you’re travelling with pets and the length and type of your vehicle. This is particularly useful for travellers with large caravans or motorhomes.

Cabin Accommodation

If you’d prefer a night away from the caravan, Penong Caravan Park also has five ensuite cabins. The park offers one and two-bedroom options with ensuite bathrooms and equipped kitchenettes. Cabin accommodation is a useful alternative for travellers crossing the Nullarbor by car or anyone who simply wants a proper bed before tackling the next section of the journey.

Camp Kitchen and Entertaining Area

One of the most useful facilities at Penong is the large covered entertaining area.

The area includes:

• BBQ
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Television
• Covered communal seating

It’s a handy place to prepare dinner and meet other travellers heading across – or returning from – the Nullarbor.

Laundry Facilities

The park provides modern coin-operated washing machines and dryers along with a clothesline. If you’ve already been travelling for several days, Penong is a sensible place to catch up on washing before heading into more remote country.

Dump Point

A dump point is available at Penong Caravan Park. For westbound travellers, this is another good reason to use Penong as a preparation stop before heading farther onto the Nullarbor.

Are Dogs Allowed?

Yes. Penong Caravan Park is pet friendly. The park’s booking form specifically asks guests whether they are bringing pets, so it’s best to mention your dog or other pet when making a reservation. As always, keep dogs under effective control and clean up after them around the park.

Penong Windmill Museum

One of the best things about staying here is that the Penong Windmill Museum is directly opposite the caravan park. The outdoor museum contains an extraordinary collection of windmills of different sizes and ages. Its star attraction is Bruce, described by the museum as the biggest windmill in Australia. It’s an easy attraction to explore without having to move your caravan or motorhome.

Nullarbor Links

Golfers tackling the famous Nullarbor Links won’t have far to travel. Hole No. 3 is located opposite the caravan park. Nullarbor Links is an 18-hole par-72 course stretching approximately 1,365 kilometres between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie, with individual holes located at towns and roadhouses along the route. It’s one of the most unusual ways imaginable to break up the drive across the Nullarbor.

Cactus Beach

Penong is also the gateway to the famous Cactus Beach, approximately 21 km south of town. Cactus Beach has an international reputation among surfers and is known for its left and right-hand surf breaks. Even if you don’t surf, the drive toward the coast is worthwhile for the scenery and nearby attractions.

Lake MacDonnell – The Pink and Blue Lake

Another popular side trip from Penong is Lake MacDonnell. The lake is famous for the striking contrast that can sometimes occur between pink-toned water on one side of the road and blue-green water on the other. The colours vary according to conditions, light and salinity, so don’t assume the lake will always display the intensely saturated colours sometimes seen in photographs. Nevertheless, the drive toward Lake MacDonnell, Cactus Beach and Point Sinclair makes an excellent half-day or full-day trip from the caravan park.

Point Sinclair and Port Le Hunte

Continue beyond the lakes and you’ll reach the coast around Point Sinclair and Port Le Hunte. The sheltered beach provides a dramatic contrast with the exposed surf coastline nearby and is another interesting destination for visitors staying at Penong. Take your fishing gear if you have room in the vehicle.

Services in Penong

Penong may be small, but it provides several important services for travellers.

These include:

• Fuel
• General store and café
• Hotel and meals
• Post office
• Automotive repairs
• Tyre supply and fitting
• RAA road service contractor

For westbound travellers, it’s sensible to make use of these services before continuing into increasingly remote country.

What Should You Bring for the Nullarbor?

If Penong is your final town stop before heading west, make sure you have read our Nullarbor Plain Checklist

Best Time to Visit

Penong can be visited throughout the year, but the cooler months are particularly popular with travellers crossing the Nullarbor. Winter and spring generally provide more comfortable daytime temperatures for long-distance driving and sightseeing. These months also coincide with southern right whale season farther west around the Head of Bight. Summer travellers should be prepared for hotter conditions and carry plenty of drinking water.

Contact Details

Final Thoughts

Penong Caravan Park is an excellent place to slow down for a night or two before tackling the Nullarbor. The park itself offers everything most touring travellers need – affordable powered and unpowered sites, hot showers, a camp kitchen, laundry, dump point and plenty of room for large caravans. But Penong also rewards travellers who stay long enough to explore. You can wander across to the Windmill Museum, play a hole of Nullarbor Links, drive out to Lake MacDonnell, visit Cactus Beach or explore the coastline around Point Sinclair. For westbound travellers, it’s also the place to make sure the caravan is ready, the water tanks are full and the supplies are stocked before the landscape becomes considerably more remote.

Rather than treating Penong as somewhere to rush through, consider spending a night or two – there’s considerably more to see here than you might expect.