Alice Springs to Broome to Perth then back to Alice

Hi Sorry was not very clear was I, We will be leaving in June and traveling for around 6-8 weeks with a maximum of 10 if needed. We have never been west, I have no Idea about rabbit flats but fuel wont be a issue as can get aprox 1500km with fuel. This will be our first ever trip towing a camper trailer and actually using a camper trailer. I have towed many times before on dirt etc so well experienced at that, more towards the self living etc we can do now. We don't mind driving some dirt roads but as we will have a brand new car as well as a brand new camper trailer I was unsure in total how both will react on the travel etc. I am new to all this forum stuffs but I will check out those blog things and try and get more information.
thanks :-)

Then choose the easier Gary Junction Road over the Tanami which is hard on any vehicle and trailer and doesn't have a huge amount of variety; where you will spend your time looking for the ruts hidden in bulldust that have cause broken springs and rollovers.

Marble Bar is an interesting town and a visit to the old Comet Gold Mine a must see.

The Mount Whaleback mine tour (book and pay at Newman Visitor Centre) is a good one.

Hi,
Sorry, my wife and I are interested in many things, I.e ship wrecks, mines, and landscape views like Ayers rock, canyons salt lakes etc. Yes we were using the Tanami to get from Alice to the west Coast as didnt see much up north, and really wanted to see if we could some what see the Tanami gold mine as we past? I thank you heaps for the comments and areas, I will be researching them more and see, We are more than happy to change / divert our tracks to see more places. I said above I will have to check out these blogs on trips and have a look as I know its only short trip but this is the first time we have headed into WA and would like to get the "main" attractions seen that's for sure. We are spending some time at Shark Bay as always wanted to see that area and hopefully some shark tours :-)

Hi Brenden,
Im not sure that the Tanami mine is open to the public - others may know. But at both Newman and Tom Price you can do tours of the massive iron ore mines there, and Kalgoolie has the Super Pit (gold mine) with a great viewing platform.

You have given yourselves plenty of time to research your trip, which in many ways is half the fun, especially if it is your first big trip. There is a wealth of information on this site so you should be able to come up with a plan that suits your interests. My only suggestion would be to not overplan - by which I mean have a flexible schedule so that if you find something interesting or unexpected (which you almost certainly will) you have time to explore. Likewise if there are adverse conditions eg because of weather you can change plans accordingly.

Cheers,

Val

Thanks Val,
From your last response I am currently chaniging the route to go to Katherine, then to Kununurra then take the Gibb river road to into Derby. then all the same way to Norseman again but diverting up to the Kalgoolie mine to have a look then same way home at this stage.

Hi Kevin,
Yeah the main plan this trip is to do a "quick" drive around the WA area to get a feel for the place and get a general idea of what we like and where etc to plan future trips around that area, we have done the East coast 10+ times and originally planned to do it again this year until the wife suggested WA. Currently we have planned in direct route driving is 10,506 km mapping it out on Google Maps from start to finish, then as well as other driving it will be a good trip yes. Once we have a better feel for the place then we can plan more detailed trips as you say in the future to certain areas. As we are down grading our vehicle to a SUV from a full on well set up 4wd we wont be doing the major 4ed areas any more.
thanks again

I understand what your intentions are Brenden, make this trip an exploritory trip for future trips. I used to do that years ago and found out i was knocking my self around with all the driving that i didnt really find out much. It might be better to do say the Kimberley and the Pilbra first, then the southern half another year. There is plenty of info regarding the Gibb river road and pilbra to keep you going back there for years to come. In the past 13 years ive been to the Kimberley/ Pilbra 7 times and planing another trip up there for next year again.

Hi Brenden

Did the trip from Alice to Broome last year (we live in Alice). Very easy relaxed trip across the Tanami, you can fuel up at Timouth Well or Yuendumu before you go across....

Just let the tyres down and cruise across. Rabbit Flat is totally closed, you cant even go off the road towards it, he has it baracaded off. Make sure you see Wolfe Creek on the way, stay there overnight...its gorgeous. We left Tilmouth after breakfast and arrived in Wolfe Creek late afternoon, trust me there is bugger all to see across the Tanami.

I'd actually turn right after Fitzroy and head up to Tunnel creek, go walk the length of the underground cave, well worth it.Windjana gorge was ok, nothing to write home about. We followed the road to the start of the Gibb and then stayed in Derby overnight. Go and check out the Boab tree in Derby and the HUGE long water trough there....drive your car out onto the wharf at the boat harbour at low tide, you'll get a real sense of how high the tides get.

About 75km nth of Broome, stop for 2 nights at James Price point, up on the headland, free camping...totally stunning.

If you have a few more weeks could I suggest you go furthur north, worth going to Mataranka springs (Mataranka and Bitter), come south to (Stay a night at Daly Waters iconic pub) Dunmurra and then head west on the Buchannan, turn left onto the Buntine then onto the Duncan and you come out through the back of the OLD Halls Creek....amazing countryside, I reckon its better than the Tanami.

Gotta stop in for a beer at 3ways too....

Hmm, think I need a holiday myself :-) Think early next year we're heading across the great central down to Esperence, cant wait :-) Thats the beauty of the Alice, central to everywhere :-)

Pete

Hi Pete,
That helps heaps, thanks, This site is amazing, well worth the members that are on it for the advice you all give.
I am currently re-planning the trip with the wife to go further north and cut in from Katherine then do the Gibb River Road.