Savvas replied:

Sounds like an excellent adventure! Excuse me for asking you a question instead of answering yours. How much time are you allowing for the whole trip? I'm in Sydney and want to head across to WA, upto Broome, etc in the not too distant future. Sort of the opposite hand of what you are doing.

Old soldier replied:

G'day wendy, Sound like a great trip. Are you more interested in the 4wd off road aspect - or want to check out the "must see" touris sites ?? From a tourist point of view I would definitely stop at Etty Bay, Mission beach and Cardwell on the way to Townsville. this will give you your fill of tropical palms and beaches etc. Pop down to Mackay before truning inland. Have a look at the Whitsundays [magnificent] the sugar industry round Mackay, and the fabulous rainforest in Eungella NP. Then crack back north again, head inland through Charters Towers through to Cloncurry - check out the RFDS museum. Down to Winton [home of Waltzing Matilda] and on to Longreach where the Stockmans Hall of fame and the Qantas museum are definite "musts". Depending on your route home to the west you have several options from Longreach, but your should really take in Carnarvon Gorge NP if you can - nothing like it anywhere in the world. Down to Roma and the Oil and gas museum and a decision [east or east]. East to Toowoomba, Brisbane and the coast. West to Birdsville and the channel country. What delicious decisions. I'll hand you on to somebody else to take it from here :) Enjoy.

Peter Cosh replied:

Wendy, you could try Carnarvon Gorge, north of Roma and Injune (south of Rolleston). We've just returned from there and it is well worth a visit. We spent 3 full days there (4 nights) and found plenty to see and do to fill in the time. Try www.takarakka.com.au/ for more info. This is were we stayed. Of course, there are plenty of other worthwhile places such as Fraser Island, which is popular and has been discussed before on this forum. Access by barge from Inskip Point, Rainbow Bay or from River Heads just south of Hervey Bay. Lawn Hill gorge at Boodjamulla National Park 250km north west of Mt Isa is also a good spot but may be a little out of your suggested path. Just a few suggestions. Sounds like a great trip. Cheers.

Nigel replied:

If you want some R&R at a nice beach then Mission Beach is the place to go. Further south Paluma is worth a look if you have time and then take a back road into Townsville.

Around Rockhampton there's lots to do. Byfield state forest has nice camping and close to Byfield national park (if you like lots of sand). Blackdown tablelands is worth a look and then Carnavon Gorge and the rest of the park could take up some time.

Dave replied:

Hi wendy, my wife and i and sister inlaw and her husband are planning the same trip leaving Adelaide mid Jan and stopping in Perth with family for a couple of weeks so if you happen to come across a blue Patrol & blue Pajero towing camper trailers as well , pull us up for a chat, who knows we might be able to swap some ideas , Happy motoring .......Regards Dave & Barb

Wendy & Steve replied:

Thanks to everyone for the great responses. We've taken notes and will incorporate as many of these spots as possible into our trip (our research must have been reasonably good as we already have a lot of them on the list :-) - Regards, Wendy Rayner.