A. Your best bet would be to see if you can book in at the Broken Hill Racecourse now, and if you can get a booking, follow up a couple of times in the interim so you don’t get forgotten, and to re-assure them that you are still coming. With only being allowed to take # 15 rigs at a time, they are really under pressure. # $25 per night powered. $15 unpowered, but we opted for powered. Phone number for caretaker for bookings is 0437250286. On the northern side of town, accessed via Racecourse Road from the Silver City Highway.

We thoroughly enjoyed two stays there, having pre-booked them. Quiet being away from the town, lovely green grassy sites, and we enjoyed watching horses being trained each morning. Golf course is adjacent.

Some people stay on a bare patch just outside the gates while waiting for a place, but this is not legal camping. Need to be totally self contained for that.

March 2018 and updated February 2019

Caravans at the Broken Hill Racecourse alongside the racetrack, with the elaborate stadium at right

Last year the small Starview Campground was opened in the Living Desert Reserve.

Limit of two nights. No pets. See details about and prices for Starview Campground here. Showers and toilets, but no power and only limited water.

Overlooking Starview Campground (at right) from the hill which features the sculptures in the Living Desert Reserve.

Alternative options

Caravan Parks

There are two caravan parks in Broken Hill.

The most popular of these, on highway on the way through town, is the Broken Hill Tourist Park. $41 - 45 per night powered site for two.

The other not very appealing, next to a junk yard, and looking to an almost non-existent ‘lake’ in the distance, but a bit away from the highway. Sites mainly dirt and not level. Amenities average. Lakeview Caravan Park. Photos on this website bear no resemblance to Broken Hill and appear to be from USA. Not certain of price. Both caravan parks used to be $35, so I expect will now be around $45 like the Tourist Park for at least the peak period festival weekend.

Station stays with camping are:

Eldee Station, 38 kilometres north west of Broken Hill and west of Silverton.

Mount Gipps Station 40 kilometres north of Broken Hill, accessed from the Silver City Highway.

Highway rest areas

These, which have a toilet, are also truck stops. We pull off the road near the Thackaringa Hills once after dark, not realising we were near a truck stop. Trucks pulled in and out, and some left lights on and motors running, so we got no sleep.

Thackaringa Rest Area 34 kilometres west on the Barrier Highway

Round Hill Rest Area 8 kilometres east on the Barrier Highway

Perhaps a bit far for commuting daily, Silverton is a tourism venue 25 kilometres from Broken Hill. There is a ‘bush caravan park’ with basic showers and toilets, power and water. Penrose Park Campground. $10 per person, plus $5 for power. Silverton is an interesting destination on its own. Penrose Park sign and prices below left, and camp kitchen below right.

Broken Hill Outback Resort, at the former Mount Gipps Hotel, Barrier Highway, 16 kilometres east to Broken Hill is new, with camping due to open 1st April 2018 (to be confirmed), and bookings are currently being taken. It is near Stephens Dam. Powered sites from $40 and unpowered sites from $30.

Photo shows the construction site, with the Hotel building undergoing major reconstruction.

Update: Bar and restaurant are now open, and campsites available at $40 powered and $30 unpowered. Cabin bookings being taken commencing 6th March 2019.

# Price update Broken Hill Racecourse. Now $30 powered site and $20 unpowered. 30 rigs per night now permitted. There is a new toilet and shower block for campers.

Updated March 2022