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Adelaide --> Alice --> Brisbane

Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 14:19

Gascoigne

The seeds of a trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs and then across to Brisbane have been sown.

We (my wife and I and 2-1/2 yo son) have three weeks and are considering going late August/early September, probably camping most of the time but with a few stops in more up-market accommodation.

Will be doing my own research but would be grateful if I could get a realistic idea of expected road types and conditions, weather conditions, accommodation options, and, of course, the viability of doing that trip in that timeframe (hopefully spend a week around the Alice). Info on places to fuel up would be helpful.

Basically, just how "remote" can we expect it to be.

We'll be bringing plenty of water and should have appropriate spares for the vehicle so hopefully no problems on that front.

Experiences and advice from anyone who has done similar trips would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Gascoigne
ThreadID: 35515 Replies: 5
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AnswerID: 181780   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 16:23

Member - MUZBRY VIC) replied:

Gday
In 2001 the road was black top all the way and a town at just the rite distance for a drink and a pee and petrol....But in 1965 it was dirt to almost Alice and then it was black top to Mt Isa...dirt to Charters Towers and then black top again.

Have a nice trip and enjoy
About 1 hr past Huggets Crossing
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MUZBRY
Reply 1 of 5
AnswerID: 181792   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 17:31

Member - Prickle (SA) replied:

Gascoigne,
We are leaving Adelaide 19th Aug, eventually to Alice and back here 3rd Sept. so about 2 weeks and for me this will be a rush. Will miss out on quite a bit. So my thoughts for where you are thinking about in 3 weeks you will be rushing more than us.

Send me your email address and I will send you back our itinery.

Regards
A Prickle - bathurst burr
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Russ

Life-often hell but never boring.
Reply 2 of 5
AnswerID: 181829   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 19:54

Max - Sydney replied:

Gascoigne

I reckon you can do it ok as its all bitumen and good camps, road houses and facilities - but will it be fun? Adelaide - Alice - Mt Isa - Brisbane - Adelaide is 6500 km, or 300 km a day in three weeks.

OK for big people who just want to see the road, but how about the little guy? Most people of his age need to stop for extended runs and use of playgrounds, pat the animals etc and get pretty bored in the car all day.

Have you considered just going to Alice, spend a week exploring there and another week going to and exploring Ayers Rock? Lots of exciting stuff for Mum & Dad to see and explore, and the little guy will have a ball too.

On the other hand you may have several weeks, in which case if you have lots of days off and exploring on the way, the round trip is fine. Certainly you get a sense of "outback" and isolation, but you are not far from help. Plenty of others on the road, loads of road houses and info boards, and beautiful country.

If you want to do some dirt road driving, plenty to do around the Centre too. Places like Coober Pedy and Woomera have lots to see and do too on the way up and back.

Enjoy the planning!

Max
Reply 3 of 5
FollowupID: 438153   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 20:08

Gascoigne posted:

Thanks, Max.

The trip will be one way (Adelaide to Brisbane) as we live in Brisbane. My wife will already be in Adelaide - I'll have about four days beforehand to drive from Brisbane to Adelaide to meet her then we'll set off for the three weeks.

Yeah, I agree entirely, more time would be better, but work beckons unfortunately.

I was hoping that three weeks for the one-way trip would be enough to get to see at least some of what's out there.

If that's not realistic then we'll re-appraise - what do you think?

Cheers

Gascoigne
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 438177   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 21:35

Max - Sydney posted:

Hi Gascoigne

A one way makes it a lot shorter and if you cherry pick things that would interest the little bloke (Desert Wildlife Park for example), yep, you should have lots of fun.

I'd certainly try to get in to Uluru, but maybe King's Canyon might be pushing him a bit much. Coming down from Isa, there is plenty to look at too - again pick activities that will let little legs have a run and keep him amused.

No worries about facilities on the way - long as the car is in good nick and you have a few of the basics, there is plenty of support.

Happy researching

Cheers
Max
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 181840   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006 at 20:45

Member - vivien C (VIC) replied:

Gascoigne,

Three weeks to do the one way trip should be ok. If that's the amount of time you have then make the most of it.

Are you intending to go to Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon? You would be able to get to Ayers Rock from Adelaide in an easy four days. Even spending a couple of days there then going to Kings Canyon and spending a week in Alice would still give you another week to make your way to Brisbane.

Go for it. As was said before the roads are all bitumen with plenty of places to stop for fuel and food along the way.

Best wishes

Viv
Durba Springs Shadows
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I may be justifying my pockets of chaos, but I will always choose people over perfection and the heart over task and tidy.

Reply 4 of 5
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AnswerID: 181915   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 05, 2006 at 09:16

Member - Coyote (SA) replied:

Seems like ther emight be a few from ADL heading that way.. We plan to head up to Alice via Ooodnadatta etc leaving ADL some time mid Aug.. we are hoping to go Ayers rock as well and hope to do all in 9 day (only got 1 week off work) so might not make it all the way to Alice but might see you guys on the road up that way hey
Reply 5 of 5