Sydney to Darwin good road, not the quickest route

I second the requirement to pre book space in Darwin at the moment, whether its caravan park sites, cabins and camping, or Hotel/Motel Resort type accommodation.

Currently we have issues with accommodation up here due to the construction of the IMPEX gas Liquefication plant.

All Hotels are fully booked with construction personal. Likewise caravan parks with cabins.

Private accomadation rentals are through the roof pricewise, with a vacancy rate of less than 1%. landlords market at the moment.

There is an issue with our declining tourist industry, directly related to the unavailablily of tourist accomadation. Tourists have not been able to find a place to stay, so all the tour operastors are suffering a lack of business due to a reduced number of travellers in the area.

I hope you have per arranged a site for your stay.

Sorry, John and Val and especially Val,

Thanks for this option, I had not thought of this way. I will checkout the mileage. How is the road from Peterborough to Port Augusta?

Yep I am going to give the driving a BIG go! Smaller van I should be ok.

Thanks again, Cecilyt

If you continue west from Peterborough to Jamestown and Gladstone then north along the coast past Port Germein (duck in for a peek at the old jetty) you will avoid the steep descents into Port Augusta that you would encounter if you go north from Peterborough. There are a few hills - just rolling country really, so you should be fine.

Cheers,

Val.

Which one mate? "Are there petrol stations available fairly regularly along that route?"

I know on the Adelaide run there is.

Phil

When I say "Adelaide" I mean either Val's through Broken Hill or mine through Mildura. Both will be fine.

One stop could be at Balranald. They have a nice caravan park on your left just as you go over the bridge on the way into town.

Can't help more than that as we don't tend to use parks much these days through there as we are normally use motels until we get to the area that w are going to "explore". Time is still a big problem with us. With my wife only having four weeks annual holidays.

Phil

HI Phil..sorry I didn't explain.

I meant on the route from Dubbo, Bourke, Charleville, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Camboweal, Barkely RH, three ways and then a long stretch Renner
Springs, Elliott, Newcastle waters, Daly waters, and on up to Katherine.

If anyone has advice about petrol along this route ( pulling a van) I would appreciate your adcive, do you take petrol tanks with you? )

I appreciate your reply, but we haven't got time unfortunately to come from Sydney ( or rather Nowra on the Sth Coast of NSW) to Adelaide as my husband has an appointment with the heart specialist just before be we leave.

Thanks again, Cecily

No worries. Enjoy. Only too happy to help.

I don't know what tow vehicle you own, but I would think you would be safe with 350km range.
Check out this link, and others.
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080311052027AAk7F4c

Bob

That's not a bad drive is it. Kind of puts this country into perspective. A bloke from Fiji was here yesterday and he asked how long the drive was. His eyes nearly popped out.

We are off on a drive later this year. Ten thousand K's and we have to do it in four weeks. Three days to do the 3000 kms to the start and just on 5 days to do the 4000 K's back home from the end. An the trek. 2000Ks of the Canning Stock Route. I don't like the before and after but we do not have a choice. I can't put these "bucket list" trips off.

Phil

About your longest between fuel stops in the Territory will be on the Barkly Highway, between Barkly Homestread and Camoweal at about 270 Kms.

All others are a comfortable distance apart.

Cecilyt,

Hope you both have a safe and enjoyable trip to D'town. As others have said, fuel should not be a problem, and even from Camooweal to Barkly Homestead, at a bit under 270 kms, you'll probably have a tail wind across there, so economy should be better than normal.

Re your concern about road trains. I thought there was a good article on this site, by Doug Tilley, about road train etiquette, but can't find it. Maybe it's on his own webpage?

Most truck drivers are responsible, and wouldn't want to have an accident anymore than you would. Just drive normally as you would, and the "big fellars" will work around you. However, if you are about to be overtaken by a road train, keep at your normal speed. DO NOT slow down when YOU think he can pass, as the clear distance ahead may not be enough for a 53 metre vehicle to pass. When he does pull out to pass you, you can ease up on the accelerator, but it is best not to brake at this time.

Road trains usually travel at 90 clicks, but there are some that are a little quicker. Once you're in hilly country, then they are often the ones holding you up :-)))

The weather in June will be cool and comfortable, even in Darwin. Enjoy,

Bob.

Hi again Cecily,
From someone of similar vintage, be reassured that you are definitely not attempting the impossible! There are many of us with health "issues"(along with all the paraphenalia, pills, pacemakers and the like) that go grey nomading, and even to quite remote places. The key to it from our experience is to travel at a pace that you find comfortable. Dont try to push yourself by driving too far or too fast, such that you get overtired. We regularly change drivers every couple of hours and aim to stop by 4pm at the latest. And if we feel that we are getting tired we take a lay-day providing there is a pleasant place to stop for a day.

I hope you have an enjoyable trip.

Cheers,

Val.

Hi Val and Bob, many thanks for your encouraging replies.

You have given me such helpful advice and I am very grateful for this.

You have also given me the confidence to do this trip as it is something that we really thought that we would not be able to do given the health constraints. My husband's specialist has said the same thing..go about it sensibly as many others have...

We really did not enjoy the plane trip one bit and as our son and his family are obviously going to stay there for a couple more years and there is a new baby coming, my husband started talking about the possibility of this trip. We want to take the van so that when the house gets noisy with 2 small chn and a baby, Ron ( hubby) can retreat to the van for some peace! They only have one car so last year we had to borrow or hire one. So all indications pointed to us taking our car and van and making a holiday of the road trip!

Now it is becoming a reality and we are starting to get excited. If the rain ever stops here on the coast, we are taking the van down the coast for a sort trip to estimate the petrol consumption and try it out for any problems. I am also going to have a drive to start getting used to towing again as I haven''t done it for many years now.

Thanks again everyone for your advice and encouragement. Cheers, Cecily