flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 Yeah, way off topic. There is a POSSIBILITY of me going to Darwin and instead of flying back, driving is an option. The only thing/s known at this stage are: Stopping at "the rock" for a few days. Cameron's corner - well, we are kind of going past it. I honestly don't know the track from Alice to Sydney. Shall have to look at a map. But I am interested in tracks from Alice (ok, I said Darwin, but I guess there is basically only one way out of Darwin if you are goin to Sydney, and that is pretty well via the rock.) back to Sydney. It isn't that I want to spend too much time looking at too many things, but a list of "points of interest" would be nice.
Cooda Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 There are two main ways to drive from Darwin to Sydney. Down the Stuart Hwy through Alice Springs to Port Augusta and points east or Stuart Hwy to (almost) Tennant Creek then the Barkly Hwy to Townsville and points south. This time of year through to May you face the risk of the roads being cut with flooding; so keep an eye on the weather forecasts. Going out to "the rock" will add 800 km to the trip as it is further from Alice Springs than most realise. If you're not in a hurry, it's not a bad trip - but can be boring now that you have to drive according to an artificially low speed limit rather than to the conditions.
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks. The trip will be in April/Early May. So I hope a lot of the weather/rain problems are by then gone. So you say keep going south from the rock. Can't we go sout/east towards Cameron's corner? (NSW/QLD/SA border) The rock is "included" only because "while we are there it is something to go and see" rather than needing to go back there another time. Ofcourse $$$ and time do have a factor in the equation. I am just looking for information about the things to see/do while in that part of the country.
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 Just been studying google maps. Cameron corner. NOT HAPPENING! It would add a few squillion K's to the trip.
Head in the clouds Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 The best way is south to Katherine, west to Kununurra and Broome, spend six months in Broome, after that nothing else matters, ever...
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 Yeah, well Broome is just a bit too far from the intended track. The Gahn to Darwin is what IS happening. Gettting back to SYD is under investigation. Flying is obviously the cheapest. But depending on other things, driving would be nice. Ok, sorry for asking here but I have heard of car rental companies wanting people to drive cars back because of other people doing "one way" journeys like this - but in the other direction. Anyone know how to get info on that?
Cooda Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 By all means check out the hire companies. Deals can be done if they have surplus stock in hand. Allow 4-5 days for the trip. The rock will take you 400km to the south west of Alice and you retrace your steps to get back to the highway. There's no road south from the rock. Book your accommodation before you go out there. And treat the Lassetter Highway with extreme caution. We lose or damage a lot of tourists on it. The rains are late this year, so we could be looking at a very wet Feb-March. One year this happened, I lost a Camry in floodwater at Gilbert Swamp south of Tennant Creek and it turned out the road crew closing the road was travelling down behind me. This was in the first week of May. Going the other way across the Barkly can bring you up against the flooded Georgina River at Camooweal. I suggest you review the weather conditions in late February/early March as they may give a pointer to how things will be in late April.
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks very much agian Cooba. So where are you in the scheme of things? (Just asking) Things that have since been learned: Can NOT do Alice/Rock/Darwin - Sydney. NO ONE will let their cars enter/leave NT. So the next idea is direct Adelaide DARWN - Gahn. Spend time there. Then: 1 - Get Rent-a-car and drive Darwin - Alice. Look around there. Alice - Rock. Look around there. Fly Rock Syd. 2 - Fly Darwin - Rock. Look around there and Alice (dunno). Fly Rock Syd. Ah, the fun of going on holidays. Accomodation will be done before we go. The Darwin/Rock part may be left "in the air" and weather depending we either fly or drive. Understandably flying we would "gain" a day (or two) in lieu of driving. I was going to go to Emmkeytee and do a bit of flying, but they don't have a club and/or Jabs for rent. I am not drifter endorsed and there would be two people wanting to go. Me and PAX. So that is a bit of an annoyance. Oh well.
gareth lacey Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 Hi Flying Dog last august i was in Darwin for work meetings and my wife and i relocated a 4 berth motorhome from Darwin to Melboune via Adelaide (to catch up with my son ) it cost $5 per day for the vehicle plus the fuel ,they re embursed $465 for fuel in Melbourne,they give you 8 days to get there lots of driving,some parts are boring ,Alice is a great place to visit ,at one place in the bush the road widened and no trees posts etc BUT the Piano lines in the road ,must be the RFDS emergency landing spot ,we have also relocated from Brisbane to Melbourne.the link is
gareth lacey Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 OOPS link is standbyrelocs.com cheers gareth note : they also relocate cars ,vans etc
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 standbyrelocs.com Doesn't work. "Site under construction" is what I get. :( Ah! www.standbyrelocs.com
gareth lacey Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 Try standbyrelocations.com cheers gareth
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 The www is kinda needed. No worries though.
flying dog Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 Yeah, it looks good. Now we just have to work out the distance/s and time.... As much as I don't mind too much, spending a week on the road seeing the white lines may be just a bit too much.
damkia Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 http://www.exploroz.com/ A good place to start for trip planning. Note that most of the outback (the good spots via the scenic routes you described) is best done in a 4WD with a good deal of preparation. Think Toyota Landcruiser or Nissan Patrol, ideally a diesel, as a base vehicle, because if you EVER need parts (more than likely enroute) you will have difficulty sourcing parts for anything else in the outback. Do not attempt this area in any of the modern SUV type vehicles. A 100 km drive along any of the roads out there will give you more than enough reason not to. (Dead vehicles on the side of the road - too much money to tow back home so they are insurance writeoffs). Most hire companies will not hire to outback areas (ie, you bend you spend on REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT if taken there, as you are out of acceptable area of usage = NO INSURANCE). From what you have described, your best bet would be to fly to Alice/Ayers, across to BNE then to SYD. Alice to Ayers can be done in a bus (~ 4 hrs IIRC)
Ultralights Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 i remember the days when my father paid drivers to relocate vans... was good fun... if you rent a 4x4, you can head south from Alice, to Odnadatta, then south east along the track past Lake Eyre, to Maree, then south through the flinders to Hawker, then Peterborough to Mildura, then across the Hay plains to Syd.
damkia Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 Hi Flying Dog...at one place in the bush the road widened and no trees posts etc BUT the Piano lines in the road ,must be the RFDS emergency landing spot ,we have also relocated from Brisbane to Melbourne.the link is That is exactly what it is. Brings me to the other point about doing this trip, make sure you are physically fit enough for it. The big killer in the outback is lack of preparation, including your health. Water = estimated days x number of people x 10 litres x 2 (to allow time for someone doing the same trip to rescue you!) I've been 4WDing for the better part of 30 years, and going on camping holidays since I was 6 (45 yrs). You see the stories of people that "made it" with a poorly equipped vehicles and little preparation and come to the realisation after a while that these are the exceptions, not the rule.
Cooda Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 All the more reason to stay on the bitumen. Check on Emmkaytee closer to the date. I'm told that we might be up and running again soon.
flying dog Posted January 22, 2013 Author Posted January 22, 2013 http://www.exploroz.com/ A good place to start for trip planning. Note that most of the outback (the good spots via the scenic routes you described) is best done in a 4WD with a good deal of preparation. Think Toyota Landcruiser or Nissan Patrol, ideally a diesel, as a base vehicle, because if you EVER need parts (more than likely enroute) you will have difficulty sourcing parts for anything else in the outback. Do not attempt this area in any of the modern SUV type vehicles. A 100 km drive along any of the roads out there will give you more than enough reason not to. (Dead vehicles on the side of the road - too much money to tow back home so they are insurance writeoffs). Most hire companies will not hire to outback areas (ie, you bend you spend on REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT if taken there, as you are out of acceptable area of usage = NO INSURANCE). From what you have described, your best bet would be to fly to Alice/Ayers, across to BNE then to SYD. Alice to Ayers can be done in a bus (~ 4 hrs IIRC) Ok, hang on. I am in Darwin. It is not yet determined how to get from there to Alice/the rock. For now I'll say fly to the rock. I forget which is the "major" airport - the rock or Alice. That's where most of the interest is. Look around the rock for a few days and have fun. Somewhere Alice may get a look in if it isn't the main/major airport. Then fly from there to Syd direct. Why go via BNE? The distance from Alice to the rock is 437k one way, and a few less the other way. (Got my Garmin Mapsource program running.) The drive from there to Syd is not looking good simply for the distance. I knew it was a long way, but sheesh, that is a LONG way! Other things will determine if it happens or not. But thanks.
Ultralights Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 Qantas/Virgin will fly from Ayres Rock to most if not all capital cities. dont forget, The "Rock" is 450Km west of Alice Springs.
flying dog Posted January 22, 2013 Author Posted January 22, 2013 Yeah, thanks. So it may be: Fly Darwin - The rock. Look around. Stay there and have fun. Fly from the rock to Syd.
pudestcon Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 Yeah, thanks. So it may be: Fly Darwin - The rock. Look around. Stay there and have fun. Fly from the rock to Syd. How about fly Darwin to Alice, spend time looking around for a day or 2 - plenty to see in the area will keep you busy for more than a few days if you have the time. Air museum is worth a look around. Fly or bus or hire (if possible one way) to the rock, then fly to Sydney. Pud
Ultralights Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 feel like an adventure? buy a postie bike in Darwin, a few Jerry cans, some lightweight hiking tent/sleeping bag/food, then ride all the way via anywhere you want. has been done before. some all the way from syd to London.
flying dog Posted March 16, 2013 Author Posted March 16, 2013 Well, the idea has kinda died in the a$$. Too much "bugs bunny" it seems. :(
Cooda Posted March 20, 2013 Posted March 20, 2013 Sorry to hear that FD. We are noticing a strong movement of both locals and tourists dispensing with the delights of the NT and heading off to Bali and Thailand. Aussie dollar's too strong and the NT's too expensive. Even the local marriage celebrants are doing it tough, with young couples taking their weddings off shore. When you look at the comparable costs, you can't blame them.
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