outback drive
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 03:39
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melbourne magpies
Hello to all the true believers in all that is good about this site for travellers. I hope someone will be able to offer me some advice and guidance. My wife and I will be driving in our A1 mechanically 2004 Subaru Forester XS Luxury AWD.
We have done some drives in North West of Victoria, North East of South Australia, Western NSW and North East of Queensland. So we are travellers of some distance and varied terrain.
This trip we are considering will be from
Melbourne to
Broken Hill,
Milparinka, Cameron’s Corner via Toona
gate and
Fort Grey Road then onto
Innamincka. After that we will travel through
Jundah then onto
Longreach then on the Landsborough Hwy Mt. Isa then back through
Longreach,
Emerald,
Roma,
Charleville and down the
Kidman Way to
Griffith, Finley, Shepparton and
Melbourne. Will this type of car be ok thru to
Cameron Corner then to
Innamincka? When would be the best month to head off with 5-6 weeks travel in mind? We are 63 years old and know we need to break our driving often. What should we make sure we see besides the obvious sights like Qantas, Stockman’s Hall, Burke & Wills tree etc. on this route?
We will be taking about 6 weeks to drive it and staying at motels/cabins at caravan parks whenever we want to stop. I would appreciate any help with our trip.
Anton & Mary.
Reply By: Member - John and Val - Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 07:04
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 07:04
Hi Magpies,
Given that the outback roads that you mention are generally quite reasonable, graded gravel roads you should not have any trouble, provided there is no rain. Best time to go would be during the winter months - May to September, and even then it can be hot. Carry plenty of water and a couple of spare tyres. We did a similar trip in 2011 and you can read it by clicking
here. That will give you an idea of conditions and some
places and things to see.
Cheers,
Val.
| J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
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AnswerID:
551366
Follow Up By: The Landy - Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 07:40
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 07:40
And will echo Val's comments. We came down from
Innamincka last ear via Toona
gate and with all the oil/gas activity roads are in great condition.
The
Jundah area is great, take your time to enjoy...
Cheers, Baz - The Landy
FollowupID:
836838
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 08:59
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 08:59
Hi Anton & Mary
Seeing you will be in Mt Isa, you will be so close to
Lawn Hill and you would not want to miss this piece of paradise.
Just my thoughts while you are in the area.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
551370
Follow Up By: Member - Tony H (touring oz) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 09:32
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 09:32
Ditto to Stephen's comments about NOT missing
Lawn Hill.
The trip you are planning (I believe) in a Suby will be a breeze for it, they are a very capable vehicle as you would already be aware of.
The only suggestion I have for you is make sure the tyres are in good nick & look out for stray wildlife near the side of the road.
Your going to be seeing a lot of country..... maybe six weeks wont be long enough?
FollowupID:
836850
Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 18:49
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 18:49
You'll be fine in a Suby if you drive sensibly and look after your tyre pressures etc.
We have changed to more off-road kit these days, but did three major round Aus trips in two Outbacks and then a Forester and had no problems at all. Great vehicles for any reasonable standard gravel tracks.
Enjoy!!
| Wildmax
2018 Hilux and Black Wolf 210 tent - for the outback tracks less travelled
Formerly an AOR Eclipse and a TVanMember My Profile Send Message |
AnswerID:
551411
Reply By: Kevin S - Life Member (QLD) - Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 20:07
Sunday, Mar 22, 2015 at 20:07
If you do
Lawn Hill Gorge and/or Adels Grove, unless you can establish that the road in from the
Camooweal end has been recently graded you should go in via
Cloncurry,
Bourke & Wills and
Gregory. The road from
Camooweal was awful. It is a shorter distance on gravel and better maintained roads through
Bourke & Wills and
Gregory. When we were there in July 2014 there was a petition on the counter at Adels Grove to request that the road be graded regularly. It may have achieved results, but probably not.
While in
Cloncurry don't miss the Rev
John Flynn Memorial Museum. It tells the story of the formation of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Well worth a couple of hours.
Check out my signature picture. It is of the falls and Upper
Gorge. By the way, since last year a small tour boat operates on
the Gorge. Again time and money
well spent.
Cheers, Kevin
AnswerID:
551420
Reply By: Kilcowera Station Stay - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 09:25
Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 09:25
Why don't you try some station stays while your cruising about. 3 come to mind looking at your itinerary.
Bindara on the Darling and Nelia Gaari - not far from
Broken Hill. And Pimpara Lake between
Packsaddle and
Milparinka. All are members of Outback Beds. Sounds like a fabulous trip your planning. Cheers Toni
AnswerID:
551525
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:53
Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:53
Anton & Mary,
If you are going to the Isa, why not go through
Boulia, say on trip up there, and return down the Landsborough H'way. Some really good scenery between
Winton and
Boulia, and the Min Min Centre in
Boulia is
well worth a visit.
There's a lot to see in
Winton and surrounds too!!!
Australian Age of Dinosaurs,
Lark Quarry dinosaur stampede(should be open if you come after June?),
Waltzing Matilda Centre, Corfield & Fitzmaurice store, the Musical Fence, Truck & Machinery Museum and outdoor dining at both Tatt's & the
Winton Pubs. Searle's Store is definitely worth a visit and have a yarn to Bernie, Peewee and Fran. They have almost everything there.
Mt Isa has the
Riversleigh Centre, where they exhibit fossils from
Riversleigh, near
Lawn Hill, as
well as a
mine tour. You can get a good feed at either the Buffs or Irish Clubs too.
John Flynn Centre in the "Curry has a lot of history about RFDS, and the district. Think there's somewhere else in town too, but its name escapes me. :-(
You can get a good feed at
McKinlay Roadhouse, and the Crocodile Dundee pub is worth a visit.
Kynuna has the Blue Heeler Pub, where you can
camp, and get a good feed.......'n a cold beer. Not far out of
Kynuna, towards
Winton, is the turnoff to
Combo Waterhole, which is the
waterhole where the shearer drowned in the song "Waltzing Matilda"
If you are going south from
Emerald, towards
Roma, there's some good scenery near
Springsure, and again down near
Injune.
Hope that gives you something to work on?
Bob
AnswerID:
551559
Reply By: melbourne magpies - Monday, Mar 30, 2015 at 23:10
Monday, Mar 30, 2015 at 23:10
thanks heaps to all that took the trouble to put down a few words.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
I will print out the replies and take them with me after pencilling in the info on my notes,
Anton & Mary
AnswerID:
551838