Where to go????

Dave, yes it is and you will have seen a bit of just about everything in the center. Regard it as reconnaissance for a bigger trip. Keep us posted as you plan in detail and the one extra item of equipment you need is a HF radio. Have a great trip and enjoy the planning. Mal Try.

Mal, why does Dave need a HF radio? Even in the Simpson there are sure to be travellers within UHF range. There has to be a good reason to justify a $3000+ purchase and you haven't provided one.

Pete, Stev and all the rest : you dont even need a 4wd if you really want to be stupid, an old HK holden will do the trick, ITS ALL A QUESTION OF " what if" and a complete set up is what you need if you want to be independent !! Of course there are people out there without all the " flash gear " who are happy to impose on those who have it all in times of emergency, these people are known in the Australian vernacular as "BLUDGERS" join them if you feel the need

Dave, a good trip and not too rushed. Have been on this myself and my suggested trip would be as follows : Syd, Cobar, Willandra N.P. for the kids (a must ) Mungo N.P. , Kinchega N.P.The n fill up at Woolies in Broken Hill for trip toHawker, Wilpena, Parachilna ( for a great feed with the ball and chain ) Oodnadatta, Mt Dare, Andado,and on toAlice Springs. Have a day or two here to wash, refill the Engel, stack the booze , Cryovac your meat at the Butchers in the mall, then head into West Macdonnels and stay at Redbank Gorge (great camp spot ) Kings Canyon, Uluru, Olgas, Mt Connor to Kulgera. Then over to Finke en route to Mt Dare and then over the Simpson to Birdsville. When you have had a cleansing ale and the ball and chain has got the gear all washed and the kids bathed again set off down to Innamincka and then take the Bore road to Tibooburra. Now you are nearly home and a trip east through Wanaaring to Bourke and on to Coolabah (sorry about the black top bit ) and over to Quambone and then on to Coonamble, Coonabarabran, Werris Creek and then all the way back to the big smoke viaScone and you are home !!

Promise you you will have the best trip of your life ... If you don't think this is long enough I can add to it without any bother !

Steve

Dave, agree with Steve, but be aware of the fruit fly exclusion zone between Broken Hill and Hawker, we got caught a couple of years ago, (maps showing the exclusion zone were not accurate)
enjoy

Steve and Pete, I don't give a damn if Dave gets a HF. However I have camped at Poppel Corner for two days and not seen another vehicle. As much as anything else it is a security blanket for the "boss" and as some one else said for those "bludgers" or inexperienced. If you buy one for $5-800 from the trading post chances are you can sell it for the same when you get back. Anyway Steve and Pete, I apologise for having an opinion and will try to restrain myself in the future. Ma Try.

I'm in for two-bits. I think Steve's itinerary for you is excellent - except for the bit about the ball and chain doing the washing etc. - in Birdsville, that's a job for the men, that goes for cooking as well. Ho hum. Now, don't forget that you will become very tired of doing long stretches and as you haven't been to most of these places then you really must think about actually seeing something other than white knuckles on the steering wheel, especially if you are travelling with your 'loved' ones. So, every couple of days you need to do a two nighter (cuts down on the washing also) because I see people arrive in Birdsville who have been on the road for 10 days and spend the entire two days in Birdsville washing clothes, cars, themselves (and the fridge etc) when they should be relaxing and enjoying the sights.
About the HF - they take up a lot of room and speaking for the trip into the Simpson Desert, you can hire a satellite phone from the Birdsville Police Station (or Oodnadatta) and drop it off at the other end. I'm sure other places must be doing the same thing.
Gear - don't get too carried away with the things you feel you must take. It's amazing how much you really don't need. You've done some short trips - if you marked every item in the car you used with a felt marker I'd bet only 1/3 of them were used. These are the only things to take - other than recovery/vehicle things that is. You will have a great trip - just relax and try to enjoy it. Look at things and don't rush to get from A. to B.

Thanks to all who have responded. The suggested itineries will be most helpful as will the travelling tips. Although there appears that there will be many people in the areas I am planning to travel I will definitely be hiring either HF or Satphone for nothing more than peace of mind. I may risk a desert crossing by myself without adequate Comms but could not even contemplate the risk with the kids.

Thanks again,

Dave