Little Roper Stock Camp is a quirky farm stay option in the town of Mataranka in the Northern Territory, and is well set up for the camper of any variety. The owners, Des and Telka, will ensure your stay is comfortable, so roll into your camping spot in your van, pitch your tent or stretch out the swags, because this place will take you on an interesting journey.
LITTLE ROPER STOCK CAMP
Hot springs, friendly pythons and homemade treats are all part and parcel at this rustic farm stay
WORDS AND IMAGES FOUR HANDS IN A TIN CAN
TRAVEL Mataranka, NT
Mia swimming at Mataranka Hot Springs
Images shown are for illustration purposes only. Actual prduct may vary.Price indicates drive-away for Bailey registered vehicles. No further discounts apply.Sale only applicable to Rangefinder Series 1. Valid between 27th of May to June 30 or until stocks last.
ALL-NEW
MODELS
AUSTRALIAN
DESIGNED
AUSTRALIAN
BUILT
The long awaited Rangefinder facelift is now here!
The Australian Bailey Rangefinder series II caravan offers a fresh new look to the product. A huge front club lounge, with all new plush seating for up to eight, allows everyone to enjoy the view from the panoramic skyview windows.
New state of the art decals and a complete change of front and rear bumpers offer a new look to the range. Aiming to increase practicality the club lounge models now come standard with a lounge conversion allowing customers to easily convert the front lounge into a double bed.
Diving further into the Rangefinder Series II interior you will find a water filter tap, a flip-up benchtop extension, a much larger yet sleeker kitchen sink with industrial style tap, new on-board electrical system with a touch screen tablet and much much more!
SERIES II
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
The Campground
The campground is set up in a traditional Northern Territory bush setting, with clean, rustic barn-style amenities, a communal campfire and outdoor dining area. Every morning, Des will make Johnny Cakes and serve with traditional billy tea that has been brewed over the campfire for ‘morning smoko’, but for us it was more like breakfast as it was 8am in the morning.
During the dry season, campers are offered camp oven dinners of a roast or stew, along with a show by Des that includes whip-cracking, yarns about growing up in the Territory and station life. He will take you back to his days as a ringer and introduce you to the Brahman bull that calls the property home. As a treat, you can order fresh homemade bread rolls from Telka for the next morning – although I am pretty sure it is Des who cooks these fluffy loaves of goodness!
There are various animals to pat and play with, and Des and Telka are more than happy for you to feed your kitchen scraps to the chickens. You might even score a few eggs for your breakfast. The buffaloes can be seen hanging their heads over the fence for a head scratch, and if you are game there are python snakes that you can hold and let slither over you. We did hold the little children’s python, but there was no way I was holding anything bigger, and boy do they have some big snakes.
ABOVE Little Roper reception and house
ABOVE Liam feeding the buffalo at Little Roper // RIGHT Liam with the children's python // BELOW Mia and another of the horned critters
Exploring Mataranka
A short distance down the road is the Mataranka hot springs. Dammed into a swimming pool by soldiers during WWII, it is an awesome spot to sit, soak and even swim. The water is about 32°C all year round, and is refreshing even on a 39°C day. The water is crystal clear, so be sure to take the snorkel gear as you will encounter fish swimming alone and in schools. The water is constantly flowing into the pool and out again, so every hour lends itself to a different experience.
A short drive back through Mataranka town will take you to the Bitter Springs hot springs. This is a natural water course, and if you take your noodle, or do what we did and just float, the water will carry you downstream and make you feel weightless. A worthwhile way to relax and lose a few hours of the day. We took our snorkelling gear and followed a few turtles on their adventure along the bottom of the river bank. This hot spring is a natural environment, so be prepared for submerged logs and a bit of moss.
ABOVE Entry into Mataranka // BELOW
The steps into Bitter Springs
ABOVE Mataranka's dreamy environment
Mia swimming in Bitter Springs
“We took our snorkelling gear and followed a few turtles on their adventure along the bottom of the river bank”
DESTINATION DETAILS
Little Roper Stock Camp
Address: 547 Homestead Road, Mataranka, NT
Contact: Des and Telka – 0427 880 819
Pricing
Little Roper Stock Camp charges $30 a night for a powered campsite, and $20 for an unpowered caravan site. As they are TAWK supporters, they do not charge for children, however, if more than two adults are on a site, they will charge $5 for each extra adult.
If you don’t own a caravan, camper, tent or swags, you can still join in the fun at $30 a night for a single swag or $45 a night for a double swag supplied by Des and Telka. With all bedding and towels provided, this means that even those without camping gear can enjoy this awesome, truly authentic location. There is no better way to experience this unique part of Australia.
LEFT Liam laying on the bottom at Mataranka // BELOW Safe swimming in the Top End is valuable
Little Roper Stock Camp is a quirky farm stay option in the town of Mataranka in the Northern Territory, and is well set up for the camper of any variety. The owners, Des and Telka, will ensure your stay is comfortable, so roll into your camping spot in your van, pitch your tent or stretch out the swags, because this place will take you on an interesting journey.
TRAVEL Mataranka, NT
LITTLE ROPER STOCK CAMP
WORDS AND IMAGES FOUR HANDS IN A TIN CAN
Hot springs, friendly pythons and homemade treats are all part and parcel at this rustic farm stay
Mia swimming at Mataranka Hot Springs
The long awaited Rangefinder facelift is now here!
The Australian Bailey Rangefinder series II caravan offers a fresh new look to the product. A huge front club lounge, with all new plush seating for up to eight, allows everyone to enjoy the view from the panoramic skyview windows.
New state of the art decals and a complete change of front and rear bumpers offer a new look to the range. Aiming to increase practicality the club lounge models now come standard with a lounge conversion allowing customers to easily convert the front lounge into a double bed.
Diving further into the Rangefinder Series II interior you will find a water filter tap, a flip-up benchtop extension, a much larger yet sleeker kitchen sink with industrial style tap, new on-board electrical system with a touch screen tablet and much much more!
SERIES II
ALL-NEW
MODELS
AUSTRALIAN
DESIGNED
AUSTRALIAN
BUILT
Images shown are for illustration purposes only. Actual prduct may vary.Price indicates drive-away for Bailey registered vehicles. No further discounts apply.Sale only applicable to Rangefinder Series 1. Valid between 27th of May to June 30 or until stocks last.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
The Campground
The campground is set up in a traditional Northern Territory bush setting, with clean, rustic barn-style amenities, a communal campfire and outdoor dining area. Every morning, Des will make Johnny Cakes and serve with traditional billy tea that has been brewed over the campfire for ‘morning smoko’, but for us it was more like breakfast as it was 8am in the morning.
During the dry season, campers are offered camp oven dinners of a roast or stew, along with a show by Des that includes whip-cracking, yarns about growing up in the Territory and station life. He will take you back to his days as a ringer and introduce you to the Brahman bull that calls the property home. As a treat, you can order fresh homemade bread rolls from Telka for the next morning – although I am pretty sure it is Des who cooks these fluffy loaves of goodness!
There are various animals to pat and play with, and Des and Telka are more than happy for you to feed your kitchen scraps to the chickens. You might even score a few eggs for your breakfast. The buffaloes can be seen hanging their heads over the fence for a head scratch, and if you are game there are python snakes that you can hold and let slither over you. We did hold the little children’s python, but there was no way I was holding anything bigger, and boy do they have some big snakes.
ABOVE Little Roper reception and house
ABOVE Liam feeding the buffalo at Little Roper // RIGHT Liam with the children's python // BELOW Mia and another of the horned critters
Exploring Mataranka
A short distance down the road is the Mataranka hot springs. Dammed into a swimming pool by soldiers during WWII, it is an awesome spot to sit, soak and even swim. The water is about 32°C all year round, and is refreshing even on a 39°C day. The water is crystal clear, so be sure to take the snorkel gear as you will encounter fish swimming alone and in schools. The water is constantly flowing into the pool and out again, so every hour lends itself to a different experience.
A short drive back through Mataranka town will take you to the Bitter Springs hot springs. This is a natural water course, and if you take your noodle, or do what we did and just float, the water will carry you downstream and make you feel weightless. A worthwhile way to relax and lose a few hours of the day. We took our snorkelling gear and followed a few turtles on their adventure along the bottom of the river bank. This hot spring is a natural environment, so be prepared for submerged logs and a bit of moss.
Mia swimming in Bitter Springs
ABOVE Entry into Mataranka // BELOW
The steps into Bitter Springs
ABOVE Mataranka's dreamy environment
Pricing
Little Roper Stock Camp charges $30 a night for a powered campsite, and $20 for an unpowered caravan site. As they are TAWK supporters, they do not charge for children, however, if more than two adults are on a site, they will charge $5 for each extra adult.
If you don’t own a caravan, camper, tent or swags, you can still join in the fun at $30 a night for a single swag or $45 a night for a double swag supplied by Des and Telka. With all bedding and towels provided, this means that even those without camping gear can enjoy this awesome, truly authentic location. There is no better way to experience this unique part of Australia.
DESTINATION DETAILS
Little Roper Stock Camp
Address: 547 Homestead Road, Mataranka, NT
Contact: Des and Telka – 0427 880 819
LEFT Liam laying on the bottom at Mataranka // BELOW Safe swimming in the Top End is valuable