Car Camping in a Tesla Model 3
Sunday, 29th of September 2024 — My family and I set off on a new adventure, driving from Darwin to Jabiru, NT. Jabiru is about a three-hour drive from Darwin — well, 2 hours and 45 minutes if you don’t have a car full of kids. But as any parent knows, traveling with three children means that a three-hour stretch is almost impossible. Between the “Are we there yet?” questions, bathroom breaks, and snack time, we knew we’d have to make at least one stop.
We decided to charge at Marrakai Corroboree Park Tavern — a spot I found on the PlugShare app. For those not in the know, PlugShare is an essential app for anyone with an EV. Corroboree Park Tavern was everything I imagined a true-blue Aussie tavern to be. As soon as you walk in, you feel like you’ve stepped into a quintessential outback pub from an old Australian movie. The vibe is delightfully retro, and after the scorching 35-degree heat outside, stepping into the cool air-conditioned pub was an absolute relief.
We parked our Tesla to charge at their campground but noticed that, for some reason, the charger wasn’t working. Thankfully, the lady at reception was incredibly helpful — she called her manager, and they sorted it out promptly. While charging the car, we settled in for lunch. I ordered a pizza and a fisherman’s basket, which was packed with oysters, battered fish, scallops, calamari rings, chips, salad, and some delicious dipping sauce. It was the perfect meal, especially accompanied by a cold beer. My husband enjoyed a ginger beer, and we got sodas for the kids. The tavern had the footy on TV, and the relaxed atmosphere made it a memorable stop. The kids even had a go at the billiards table — although without a goldcoin ($2 coin), they just rolled the white ball around, and that seemed enough to keep them entertained.
After about 45 minutes to an hour of charging, we were ready to continue our journey to Jabiru, where we planned to stay the night at Aurora Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park. The drive was smooth and uneventful, but in the best way possible — lots of bush, blue skies, and quiet roads. There was a moment when the scenery felt almost magical, like we were entering Jurassic Park. The horizon was lined with dense greenery, and I couldn’t resist playing the “Jurassic Park” theme song on Spotify. It felt just like that iconic moment when Sam Neill first sees the dinosaurs (without the dinosaurs) — such a cool experience.
We decided to charge at Marrakai Corroboree Park Tavern — a spot I found on the PlugShare app. For those not in the know, PlugShare is an essential app for anyone with an EV. Corroboree Park Tavern was everything I imagined a true-blue Aussie tavern to be. As soon as you walk in, you feel like you’ve stepped into a quintessential outback pub from an old Australian movie. The vibe is delightfully retro, and after the scorching 35-degree heat outside, stepping into the cool air-conditioned pub was an absolute relief.
We parked our Tesla to charge at their campground but noticed that, for some reason, the charger wasn’t working. Thankfully, the lady at reception was incredibly helpful — she called her manager, and they sorted it out promptly. While charging the car, we settled in for lunch. I ordered a pizza and a fisherman’s basket, which was packed with oysters, battered fish, scallops, calamari rings, chips, salad, and some delicious dipping sauce. It was the perfect meal, especially accompanied by a cold beer. My husband enjoyed a ginger beer, and we got sodas for the kids. The tavern had the footy on TV, and the relaxed atmosphere made it a memorable stop. The kids even had a go at the billiards table — although without a goldcoin ($2 coin), they just rolled the white ball around, and that seemed enough to keep them entertained.
After about 45 minutes to an hour of charging, we were ready to continue our journey to Jabiru, where we planned to stay the night at Aurora Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park. The drive was smooth and uneventful, but in the best way possible — lots of bush, blue skies, and quiet roads. There was a moment when the scenery felt almost magical, like we were entering Jurassic Park. The horizon was lined with dense greenery, and I couldn’t resist playing the “Jurassic Park” theme song on Spotify. It felt just like that iconic moment when Sam Neill first sees the dinosaurs (without the dinosaurs) — such a cool experience.
We arrived at Aurora Kakadu Lodge, where check-in was easy. We paid $80 for the night and received a map and the code to the boom gate. It wasn’t crowded at all, and we found a great spot near the showers, toilets, and the pool — exactly what we were hoping for.
My husband took the lead in setting up our camp while I took the kids to the pool. This was the highlight for the kids, and honestly, I didn’t want them to miss out on it. The lagoon-style pool was shaded, the water temperature perfect, and it offered a wonderful way to cool off in the heat.
My husband took the lead in setting up our camp while I took the kids to the pool. This was the highlight for the kids, and honestly, I didn’t want them to miss out on it. The lagoon-style pool was shaded, the water temperature perfect, and it offered a wonderful way to cool off in the heat.
Hubby had hoped we’d set up the tent together, like we’d practiced before the trip, but he’s a bit timid when it comes to speaking up, so he just did it himself. Later, I told him I’d have happily come over if he’d asked, but at that point, he reckoned I wanted to focus on the kids’ experience.
After about an hour of swimming, it was close to 6 pm when we returned to the camp, and it was still bright outside. The camp setup looked fantastic — hubby did an amazing job. Now it was my turn: dinner time! I’d brought along an induction stove and a prepared meal of minced meat and cooked rice. I also made instant soup that turn into a gravy-like consistency, which paired well with the meat and rice. It was a simple but satisfying meal, and we enjoyed it under the comforts of our screen tent.
After about an hour of swimming, it was close to 6 pm when we returned to the camp, and it was still bright outside. The camp setup looked fantastic — hubby did an amazing job. Now it was my turn: dinner time! I’d brought along an induction stove and a prepared meal of minced meat and cooked rice. I also made instant soup that turn into a gravy-like consistency, which paired well with the meat and rice. It was a simple but satisfying meal, and we enjoyed it under the comforts of our screen tent.
We even brought our Nespresso machine, so hubby and I savoured a cup of coffee together after dinner, enjoying the calm of the outback night. It was a hot evening, but inside the Tesla, we were perfectly comfortable. We had set up the car for sleeping — the back seats folded down so that the parents could sleep inside with the air conditioning on, while the kids slept in the tent connected to the back of the Tesla via a vestibule. We also set up a fan to blow cool air from the car into the tent, making sure everyone was comfortable and cool throughout the night.
The next morning, we woke up well-rested and ready for our next adventure — a scenic flight with Kakadu Air at 10 am. But that is a story for another blog post.
Our overnight trip to Jabiru was full of little challenges and lots of beauty. Grateful for this experience, exploring the outback, and enjoying simple moments together. The journey itself is what counts of any adventure.
The next morning, we woke up well-rested and ready for our next adventure — a scenic flight with Kakadu Air at 10 am. But that is a story for another blog post.
Our overnight trip to Jabiru was full of little challenges and lots of beauty. Grateful for this experience, exploring the outback, and enjoying simple moments together. The journey itself is what counts of any adventure.
