Central Australia Trip Planning

Having just returned from Central Australia for the National Gathering, I can tell you the nights and early mornings are absolutely freezing in July, so perhaps an April departure will have you in the tropics when it's cold in the Centre. There's certainly plenty to see there so a week in Alice, and several days in the east McDonnells and best part of a week in the west McDonnells and 3 days at Yulara for Uluru and Kuta Tjuka.

I gather you were intending to enter WA via top end. Would not recommend Gt Central with a van as NT section to Kuta Tjuka is an absolute killer.

A few thoughts......for the trip outlined, 8 weeks is doable but the 10 week plan would add so much quality. We've done pretty much the same route a couple of years back on 90% sealed roads - the extra time gives you options for side track excursions and takes pressure off the deadlines factor. If following the coast of WA right round, there are places that you'll have trouble getting away from, particularly the Pilbara coast...weather, turquoise ocean, tropical fish (sigh).....and when you get down to SW-WA, the weather could be great (July take off plan) and there is so much to see down there. On departure timing - we usually go north in the first week of July (not this year, sigh 2)... weather wise, that plan has always turned out good for us. If you do a rough itinerary on paper, and then look up the weather stats and long range forecasts for the various regions for those times, you'll get a idea of what should happen.....but this is an El Nino year and could well be stronger than average....that could have some influence (mainly in the east though). In the end, you just have to pick a date and go, then be adaptable as you proceed....sounds easy....might work :-).

Greg, I would miss the Flinders Ranges as they are very "doable" as a separate trip from Yarrawonga.... this will give you more time in the Centre and Top end. Enjoy your planning and the trip.